Resource Recycling highlights the latest announcements from industry companies and organizations. An archive of these announcements can be found below. For information on submitting press releases or contributing op-eds to us, review our FAQ page.
Startup Circulr rolled out a pilot reusable packaging service in Toronto.
Garbage bag producer Glad and recycling technology firm Recyclops began offering recycling collection in areas without existing service, using a “smart-routing app and a gig-economy model.”
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries announced that Adina Renee Adler, its vice president of advocacy, was reappointed to the U.S. Department of Commerce Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee.
Georgia retailer Tower Beer, Wine & Spirits and local hauler Haulin’ Glass collaborated to recycle nearly 200 tons of glass in less than a year.
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) announced that the U.S. paper recycling rate hit 65.7% in 2020, down from 66.2% in 2019. AF&PA also reported the OCC recycling rate was 88.8% in 2020, down from 92.1% in 2019. The association attributed the declines to international trade disruptions.
CP Group and Republic Services published details of their recent retrofit of a Seattle MRF.
The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) launched a resource providing glass recycling information for municipal leaders.
Aluminum recycler Novelis reported on its 2021 fiscal year highlights, noting that the company’s recycled aluminum use hit 61%. That’s up slightly from 60% in the 2020 fiscal year.
O-I announced a goal to use an average of 50% recycled glass in its products by 2030.
Recycle Track Systems (RTS) released a report on food waste in the U.S.
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) published information about worker shortages facing the solid waste and recycling industry.
Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation establishing post-consumer resin requirements for beverage containers, certain consumer goods and trash bags.
Rehrig Pacific will manufacture and distribute recycling carts made with recycled plastic in Milwaukee, through a partnership with Dow and The Recycling Partnership. Additionally, Rehrig Pacific was selected by Casella Waste Systems to provide recycled-plastic carts for the town of Stratham, N.H.
Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) announced the addition of Anna Lynott, Catherine Goodall, Juri Freeman and Resa Dimino as shareholders who will be involved with the firm’s operations and management.
Norway-headquartered equipment supplier Tomra announced the company has selected Tove Anderson as its next CEO, replacing Stefan Ranstrand.
AMP Robotics released AMP Clarity, an artificial intelligence-powered software program providing detailed waste characterization data for MRFs.
Equipment supplier Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) named Christopher Ulum as managing director of subsidiary National Recovery Technologies (NRT).
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality published a report examining recent MRF upgrades across the state.
PepsiCo announced PepsiCo BottleLoop, a program aiming to improve beverage container collection in schools, restaurants and other business settings. The program uses software developed by Replenysh.
SCS Global Services, a standards development and certification company, launched a Zero Waste Standard, which recognizes facilities that achieve waste diversion of 50% or higher.
Equipment supplier Van Dyk Recycling Solutions published an interview with FCC Environmental Services discussing the MRF operator’s decision to install Van Dyk’s RoBB-AQC sorting robot.
Waste data firm Compology named former EPA Administrator Carol Browner as the company’s external senior adviser for sustainability and climate change.
The Glass Recycling Foundation (GRF) received a donation from Knauf Insulation to support glass recycling pilot projects.
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) released an estimate that the recycling industry contributes $116 billion in economic output to the U.S. economy. ISRI also named Cascade Engineering as its 2021 Design for Recycling Award winner, recognizing the company for its EcoCart, made with up to 50% recycled plastic.
New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is restarting its curbside organics collection program, which was eliminated amid coronavirus-triggered budget cuts.
The New York State Center for Sustainable Materials Management launched a statewide recycling website to address residential recycling confusion and contamination across the state.
Recycled paper products manufacturer Sustana Fiber partnered with Quebec recycling company Société VIA for the recovery of multi-layer food and beverage containers.
A Change.org petition asks the U.S. government to mandate warning labels on plastic products, highlighting the relatively low average recycling rate for plastics, potential environmental hazards and more.
Scotch producer Johnnie Walker announced it will use a minimum of 60% recycled glass in its core range of bottles by 2025 and 100% recycled content in its plastic packaging, among other sustainability initiatives.
The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) is seeking input for a planned national virtual training on diversity, inclusion and racial equity in the recycling and solid waste industries. The group also recently announced a scholarship fund with a similar focus.
Republic Services released data showing recycling trends during the pandemic, including significant increases in OCC, UBC, plastic and glass bottle recycling over the past year.
Consulting firm RRS released a report examining recycling, organics recovery and other sustainability activities on university and college campuses in the U.S.
Veolia will install three Machinex robotic sorting units at a MRF in Bordeaux, France.
Specialty waste management provider Clean Earth launched Fullcircle, an “advanced waste lifecycle program” that determines a tailored management process for materials.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control rolled out Recyclopedia, an online tool to inform residents of recycling options for numerous items.
The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) announced that Tim Connors, managing director of O-I Americas North, will serve as chairman of GPI’s board of trustees.
Machinex will sell its SamurAI sorting robots in Italy through a partnership with local equipment sales firm BioMRF Technologies.
Aluminum recycling firm Novelis announced new sustainability targets and stated that the company will “continue increasing the use of recycled content in its products.”
Pratt Industries opened a 409,000-square-foot logistics center in Austell, Ga.
Recology announced that its food scrap composting program in San Francisco is in its 25th year, and the hauler provided a brief history of the effort.
Fleet management software provider Routeware Global acquired ReCollect, which develops recycling communication and education tools.
Swedish tech company ClimateView rolled out ClimateOS, a software platform designed to help cities build climate action plans.
Portland, Maine-based ecomaine launched a cart inspection effort to educate residents about contamination.
The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) Connecticut chapter testified in opposition to legislation that would increase the number of products covered by the state’s bottle bill program, among other changes.
Federal lawmakers introduced the Recycling Enhancements to Collection and Yield through Consumer Learning and Education (RECYCLE) Act of 2021, which was previously introduced in 2019. The bill received quick support from the American Chemistry Council, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, National Waste & Recycling Association and others.
UBQ Materials, an Israeli company that processes municipal solid waste into a composite plastic-replacement material, received ISO certifications for quality and environmental management systems.
Alberta Environment and Parks launched a public engagement process for establishing EPR for packaging and hazardous household waste.
The City of Santa Cruz Recycling Center launched a virtual tour of its facility after COVID-19 halted in-person visits.
The Foam Recycling Coalition opened a grant submission process to support additional projects that advance expanded polystyrene recycling.
Equipment supplier Green Machine Sales released a video showing its residential single-stream and commercial dry waste recycling system in action.
The Product Stewardship Institute announced that a bill establishing extended producer responsibility for all battery types has passed into law in Washington, D.C.
The Recycling Partnership and Facebook rolled out “Communities for Recycling,” a national effort to provide local recycling information through Facebook’s Messenger platform.
The Alliance to End Plastic Waste launched a request for proposals for projects that create new market demand and improve the quality of recycled plastic. Additionally, the Alliance announced five new members: Amcor, Atlantic Packaging, Inter Pipeline, Kirin Holdings and Novacel.
AMCS launched the AMCS Platform, a cloud service providing various business management tools.
Shareholder advocacy group As You Sow reported that Mondelez International and PepsiCo agreed to reduce their use of virgin plastic, after As You Sow filed shareholder proposals with each company. Mondelez issued its own press release on its commitment.
Closed Loop Partners CEO Ron Gonen published a book titled “The Waste-Free World.”
The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) presented its 2021 Pat Franklin Courageous Spirit Award to Jack Coughlin, Jr., a longtime Massachusetts litter activist who was struck by a car and paralyzed while cleaning up litter in January 2021.
Plastics recycling research firm More Recycling changed its name to Stina Inc. The organization rebranded in 2017, when it changed its name from Moore Recycling Associates to More Recycling.
Equipment supplier New Way Trucks announced an expansion to its distributor network.
New York Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Commissioner Edward Grayson was interviewed on the Impact Podcast that’s hosted by John Shegerian, executive chairman of electronics recycling company ERI.
Smithfield Foods announced packaging sustainability commitments.
The city of Berkeley, Calif. selected AMCS to provide the city’s Zero Waste Management Software System.
The American Forest & Paper Association released a guide to help designers and brands manufacture recyclable paper-based packaging.
AMP Robotics announced that its pilot secondary sortation facility, which uses robots to sort valuable commodities from MRF residue bales, has shown promising results. The Denver-based company is looking to roll out secondary sorting facilities elsewhere in the country.
Hershey announced 2030 environmental goals, including making all of its packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable.
The Monterey Regional Waste Management District in Monterey, Calif. wrote about the benefits of retrofitting its MRF in 2020 with new Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) equipment. BHS also recapped the project.
The Northeast Recycling Council is convening a work group to develop model legislation for recycled-content requirements for glass bottles and fiberglass insulation.
The RecycleCT Foundation published the Connecticut Recycling Economic Information Study, which documents the economic contributions of residential recycling in the state.
AMCS will host a webinar covering the AMCS Platform, a cloud service providing various business management tools.
The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) announced that its Demand Champions program generated more than 175 million pounds of new demand for post-consumer recycled resin during the past year.
The Baker Institute for Public Policy, a think tank run by Rice University, published a set of recycling-related policy recommendations for the Biden administration.
The Recycling Partnership published “Start at the Cart,” a report examining methods of influencing public behavior on recycling.
Closed Loop Partners announced the winners of its Beyond the Bag initiative, which kicked off last year to explore alternatives to traditional plastic bags in the retail sector. Closed Loop Partners also released its 2020 impact report.
The Glass Recycling Foundation awarded its first grant, $10,000 to support glass recycling in Erie County, Pa.
Industrial Magnetics acquired a majority of the assets of Walker Magnetics Group, a longtime North American industrial magnet manufacturer.
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) launched Safety Matters, a weekly safety newsletter for SWANA members.
The State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science and Forestry announced that Kate Walker McArdle will serve as project director for the New York State Center for Sustainable Materials Management. The center launched with grant funding last year.
Eriez completed an expansion of its equipment production plant in Erie, Pa.
Machinex supplied equipment for a USA Waste & Recycling C&D materials recovery facility that recently began operating.
National Battery Day will take place on Feb. 18, highlighting batteries and their proper end-of-life management.
Deodorant producers Old Spice and Secret released deodorant products that use paperboard packaging made from 90% recycled fiber, rather than traditional plastic packaging.
Re-Trac Connect announced the municipalities that participated in its Municipal Measurement Program for two years in a row.
BlackBridge Investments is celebrating 10 years in business and recently moved into a new headquarters in Wall, N.J.
Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) was selected to supply equipment for a major retrofit of the Mt. Diablo Recycling Center in Pittsburg, Calif.
Organics-focused nonprofit ReFED released figures showing food waste generation has leveled off in the U.S. since 2016, after increasing significantly earlier in the decade.
Rumpke Waste & Recycling acquired Central Kentucky Fiber Resources, a deal that includes a recycling facility in Lexington, Ky. Rumpke also announced plans to build a $5 million transfer station in Georgetown, Ky.
The Carolina Recycling Association launched a podcast, and the first episode featured an interview with Nina Butler of More Recycling.
Northeast-based hauler and MRF operator Casella released its 2020 sustainability report.
The Continuous Improvement Fund (CIF) hired Geoff Rathbone as managing director.
The National Recycling Coalition (NRC) awarded scholarships to three college students through the Murray J. Fox Scholarship Fund.
Aluminum recycling giant Novelis named Chris Courts as senior vice president and general counsel, corporate secretary and compliance officer.
PAC Packaging Consortium launched the Packaging Innovation Pathway to Circularity Benchmarking tool, which will gauge various metrics for packaging sold into the Canadian market.
Steinert rolled out the UniSort Unibot, a sorting robot that uses sensor technology, robotics and artificial intelligence-based recognition software.
Tomra published a white paper identifying several components common to effective deposit return systems.
Maine MRF operator ecomaine sustained damage from a fire at a single-stream recycling facility, sparked by an improperly disposed lithium-ion battery from a power tool.
Machinex will supply equipment for a new U.K. MRF that will feature 14 SamurAI sorting robots and 14 optical sorters.
McDonald’s restaurants in Brazil will begin using food trays made from a composite material made by UBQ Materials from post-consumer household scrap.
Recycling Connections, a nonprofit recycling organization in Stevens Point, Wis., is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a number of events throughout the year.
Closed Loop Partners released a report on reusable to-go cup systems as part of its NextGen Cup project.
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) is accepting nominations for its 2021 Design for Recycling Award.
Manufacturing firm Jabil acquired Ecologic Brands, a producer of paper packaging products including a recycled paper bottle. Ecologic previously received public funding to expand its production capacity.
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) published a statement in support of federal emergency aid to state and local governments, as was recently proposed in President-elect Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan. Meanwhile, the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) released its 2021 Federal Legislative & Regulatory Agenda
Sortera Alloys, a company that’s developing an artificial intelligence-driven sorting system for various metals, appointed Bill Caesar to its board of directors. Caesar was formerly CEO of WCA Waste Corporation and has held leadership positions at Waste Management.
The Carton Council announced that Jordan Fengel has joined the organization as director of government affairs. Fengel previously led the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR) and recently joined Tetra Pak as sustainability manager for the U.S. and Canada.
Gardening supply company Gardens Alive published a map ranking U.S. states for composting availability.
Lakeshore Recycling Systems acquired Maywood, Ill.-based hauler and transfer station operator Roy Strom Company in a deal that includes a single-stream MRF.
Machinex commissioned a MRF in rural Marquette County, Mich., to handle residential and commercial single-stream material.
The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) updated its ongoing tally of recycled paper end market capacity increases.
Recycling Perks, a recycling rewards program operator, rebranded as EnviroPerks.
Recology announced that Salvatore Coniglio has been appointed CEO, replacing retiring chief executive Michael Sangiacomo. The company also published a letter Sangiacomo wrote to President-elect Joe Biden, urging U.S. ratification of the Basel Convention.
Strategic Materials named Sherry Williams as the company’s chief legal officer and senior vice president of human resources.
Atlas Organics announced plans to build a composting facility in San Antonio.
Casella Waste Systems published its 2020 Sustainability Report, which includes new 2030 sustainability goals. Among them is a goal to nearly double the company’s annual recycling tonnage to 2 million tons.
The Continuous Improvement Fund published a farewell letter from Mike Birett, the organization’s longtime managing director who is moving into semi-retirement at the end of the year.
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) released a statement congratulating Michael Regan of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality for his nomination to lead the U.S. EPA. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) also released a statement congratulating Regan.
Oceana released a report exploring Amazon’s plastic packaging and criticizing the company for making various recyclability claims.
Schupan & Sons announced that Johnson Go has joined the company as vice president of supply chain in Schupan’s Materials Trading division.
The Unify Nations in Trash Elimination (UNITE) for our Oceans Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate. The bill establishes a $300 million fund for projects that reduce marine debris and plastic pollution.
The American Beverage Association, in partnership with The Recycling Partnership and Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO), announced a $250,000 investment to lift plastic bottle recycling in central Ohio.
The Consumer Goods Forum announced updates from its Plastic Waste Coalition of Action, an industry group focused on packaging design and policy development. The coalition also welcomed Amcor as a new member.
The Harris Waste Management Group named Richard “DJ” VanDeusen as company president. VanDeusen previously served as vice president of recycling for WestRock.
Leadpoint announced Mike Huycke as vice president of business development. Huycke formerly served as senior vice president of human resources at Republic Services.
The Northeast Resource Recovery Association (NRRA) will host a free webinar discussing best practices for continuing recycling services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reloop announced an update to its Global Deposit Book, which includes statistics on container deposit systems around the world.
Republic Services published a report covering its plastic collection and recycling operations. The report was spurred by pressure from investors.
Call2Recycle announced Leo Raudys will be the organization’s next CEO and president, effective Jan. 1.
The Flexible Packaging Association and the Product Stewardship Institute announced their agreement on several legislative elements of an extended producer responsibility bill for packaging and paper products.
Graphic Packaging is expanding the company’s global research and development center, located in Louisville, Colo.
The Illinois Recycling Foundation launched as an offshoot of the Illinois Recycling Association. The organization’s first president is Marta Keane, recycling specialist for Will County, Ill.
Machinex will install SamurAI sorting robots at a Veolia site in France, the first European installation of the robots.
Re-TRAC Connect will collaborate with nonprofit organization One Tree Planted to plant up to 500 trees, one for every municipality that joins the Municipal Measurement Program and completes its three core surveys.
The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) announced a project to assess and compile existing research on the performance, environmental impacts and benefits of using ground tire rubber in asphalt.
Aquafil Group, a carpet producer and reclaimer, will acquire Planet Recycling, which collects carpet in Arizona and California.
Circulate Capital will invest in Nepra, a waste management firm based in Ahmedabad, India.
Rachel Wagoner was appointed director of the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). Former director Scott Smithline left the position at the end of 2019.
Freight forwarder Sealink International added new features for metals recycling companies to its online platform.
Tupperware will supply TerraCycle’s reuse platform Loop with reusable plastic containers, adding to Loop’s existing line of glass and metal containers.
AMP Robotics signed an agreement with Waste Connections to deploy 24 robotic sorting systems on container, fiber and residue lines at numerous MRFs.
Clean Earth, which recycles a variety of specialty material streams, anticipates it will process 13 million aerosol cans this year, up 85% from 2015.
Machinex held a virtual open house to mark its 50th anniversary in business.
The Recycling Partnership launched a “Feet on the Street” recycling improvement campaign in partnership with the Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) in Lafayette, La.
Simple Recycling, a curbside textile recycling provider, ended service in more than 30 municipalities across Texas, citing financial impacts from COVID-19.
The Washington State Recycling Association (WSRA) announced its 2020 Recycler of the Year Award recipients and its Recycling Hall of Fame inductees.
Glass container producer Ardagh received a sustainability award from Packaging Europe for the company’s development of briquettes made from fine particle glass rejected during the recycling process.
The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) issued a statement in response to new Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing a significant drop in MRF employee injuries last year.
Ring Container engaged a consulting firm to study how the company’s SmartCAN PET canister flows through an advanced MRF in Phoenix.
The Chinese government published updated standards for imports of recovered brass, copper and aluminum. Recycling stakeholders said the move is an indication of an acknowledgement from China that there’s a difference between “scrap” and “waste.”
Emmet County, Mich. launched a new sort line at its MRF, featuring three robotic sorters picking containers from the stream.
The Every Bottle Back initiative, a project managed by beverage industry stakeholders, marked one year since its launch.
Magnetic separation equipment company Industrial Magnetics, Inc. (IMI) has completed the equipment installation phase of its new recycling test facility in Fort Wayne, Ind.
The International Aluminum Institute (IAI) published global aluminum recycling figures.
The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) announced the winners of its 2020 Environmental Sustainability Leadership Awards.
Equipment supplier Pellenc ST launched the Service PACK, a customer service offering that includes on-site assistance, maintenance, training and an unlimited supply of replacement and wear parts.
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and Glad announced an expansion of the Sanitation Workers Support Fund, which provides financial assistance to solid waste and recycling workers impacted by COVID-19.
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil suit and settlement requiring Waste Management to divest assets in order to proceed with its acquisition of Advanced Disposal Services. The move was anticipated, and the companies had previously arranged to sell assets to GFL Environmental. The acquisition is now complete, according to Waste Management.
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) published a guide to help MRFs safely manage lithium batteries. ISRI also announced that Indonesia has delayed new registration requirements for companies shipping recyclables into the country.
The Mattress Recycling Council announced that the mattress recycling rate in Connecticut increased for the fifth year in a row.
Manufacturer Rehrig Pacific released a line of residential recycling carts made from post-consumer plastic, including oceanbound material.
The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) published its findings that tire recycling has stalled due to a lack of end-market development.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation published Financing the Circular Economy, a report examining recent growth in circular economy investments across asset classes and sectors.
Environment and Climate Change Canada announced a nationwide plan to ban plastic checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery and foodware made from hard-to-recycle plastics.
The Mattress Recycling Council published a report based on its research into a new approach for recycling pocketed coils in mattresses.
Textiles producer SAYA launched with a product line that includes material made from fabric scrap.
The South Carolina Department of Commerce and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) launched an online recycling markets directory.
Equipment supplier SSI Shredding Systems updated its line of PRI-MAX primary reducer shredders.
The Recycling Partnership awarded $2.7 million in grants to 10 cities to reduce contamination and increase capture rates.
Wastequip WRX, which offers parts, service and installation for most types of waste-handling equipment, opened a service center in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Avery Dennison and Valo Ventures invested $10 million in RoadRunner Recycling, a materials recovery-focused tech company.
Cascades launched a recyclable thermoformed cardboard tray made from 100% recycled fiber, most of which is post-consumer material.
Nonprofit organization Clean Ocean Access announced a boat shrink wrap recycling initiative in partnership with TerraCycle.
Fortune included AMP Robotics on its first Impact 20 list, which recognizes relatively young companies that are making a difference in tackling key societal problems.
Machinex supplied equipment for a major upgrade to a single-stream Republic Services MRF in Greensboro, N.C.
The Recycling Partnership wrote about the need to promote diversity and racial justice within the recycling sector, as well as some new initiatives the organization is launching with those goals.
The WestRock paper mill in Newberg, Ore. has been sold and will be demolished for its scrap value. The mill had drawn interest as a site for a recycled paper mill project.