December 2016

Published: January 10, 2017
Updated: January 23, 2017
by Editorial Staff

Features from the December 2016 print edition:

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The latest recycling industry news

Northeast commodity prices continued falling in Q2
In the Northeast, recycled commodity prices continued to decline in April-June, with MRFs experiencing an average decrease of nearly 6% compared to the first quarter of 2025, according to the Northeast Recycling Council’s (NERC) second-quarter MRF Values Survey Report.
Reopened Iowa plant recycles cartons into roofing materials
Editor’s Note: End markets will be featured in sessions at the 2026 Resource Recycling Conference, Feb. 23-25 in San Diego, California. The new owners of an Iowa roofing material facility have reopened the plant nearly a year after it shut down, looking to capitalize on regional and national upcycling trends to gain market share.
Trump adds PET resin to ‘reciprocal’ tariffs
US President Donald Trump has expanded tariffs to include PET resin as of Sept. 8, according to a new executive order. The move drew comment from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) because of its expected impact on imported resin, but added uncertainty to the market.
Top stories from August 2025
An updated report on California access to carton recycling drew reader attention last month, as did stories covering the fiber sector in a high-cost environment, a lawsuit over Oregon’s new EPR law, recycled commodity prices and organic materials.
Greif streamlines operations through asset sales
Packaging manufacturer Greif reported strong third-quarter financial results and shared details about its recent divestitures during an investor call.
CalRecycle opens comment again for SB 54 rules
California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has opened the public comment period for its latest draft of regulations for the state’s extended producer responsibility law for packaging, which have drawn criticism from industry stakeholders.
Avoiding EPR pitfalls requires careful, thoughtful approach
In an active year for legislation aimed at reducing plastic pollution and waste, recycling stakeholders have a bevy of lessons to draw from, even with bills that have come under attack or didn’t quite pass.