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Tag Archives: research

Report: Cities should prioritize PET, HDPE, PP collection

Published: July 28, 2021
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Curbside waste and recycling for collection.

A study from GAIA found that, in five selected cities, only 24% of PET, HDPE and PP was getting recycled. | Meg Wallace Photography / Shutterstock

A study published today by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives outlines familiar problems and constraints with the U.S. plastics recycling system.

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Academic journal devotes issue to ‘plastics dilemma’

Published: July 8, 2021
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Glasses resting on a stack of open magazines,

The latest issue of Science discusses mechanical and chemical recycling, global policy and more. | qvist / Shutterstock

Science Magazine has published a special edition covering various facets of the global plastic pollution problem. Articles touch on efforts to reduce the amount of material ending up in the environment as well as advancements (and shortcomings) in recycling.

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Why it’s ‘an exciting time’ in plastics recycling research

Published: June 9, 2021
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Max-Delferro

Chemist Max Delferro holds high-quality liquid product obtained by treating plastic bags with a new catalytic process. | Image courtesy of Mark Lopez and Argonne National Laboratory.

For one scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, moving the needle on plastic recovery is analogous to stopping the spread of COVID-19. In both cases, many minds must come together.

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Feds to fund plastic film recycling research

Published: June 3, 2021
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Various plastic packaging sample illustrations.

Millions of dollars are available to redesign multi-layer films to make them recyclable or biodegradable. | Natykach Nataliia / Shutterstock

The U.S. government will provide up to $14.5 million to support R&D focused on single-use film packaging recycling.

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Researchers tout benefits of a US bottle bill

Published: May 5, 2021
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PET bottles for recycling.

Researchers estimate over 74 billion PET bottles were landfilled, burned or littered in the U.S. in 2019. | Teerasak Ladnongkhun / Shutterstock

This story has been updated and corrected.

A new report estimates that a nationwide bottle deposit program would reduce the number of drink containers each American wastes to 67 per year, down from 426 under the status quo.

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EPA hears divergent opinions on chemical recycling

Published: April 7, 2021
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Plastic baled for recycling.

The U.S. EPA is considering changing the calculation methodology for determining the nation’s recycling rate. | Rokas Tenys/Shutterstock

If a process breaks down scrap plastics into chemicals that are later used to make new plastic, should the federal government consider that “recycling?” What if the end product is a fuel that is combusted?

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REMADE will fund numerous plastics recycling efforts

Published: March 3, 2021
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Laboratory scene with pipette and tubes.

The REMADE Institute issued funding to projects exploring a variety of plastics recycling technologies. | Olivier Le Queinec/Shutterstock

A federal initiative focused on energy efficiency in U.S. manufacturing recently selected more than a dozen plastics recycling projects to support. They include efforts advancing PET recovery, mixed-plastics processing, chemical recycling and more.

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