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Author Archives: Antoinette Smith

About Antoinette Smith

Antoinette Smith started working for Resource Recycling in June 2024 after spending several years covering commodity plastics and supply chains, with a special focus on economic impacts. She can be contacted at [email protected].

Report: Retailer-led change helps shift bag behavior

Published: October 29, 2024
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The industry-led Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag conducted a three-month pilot project that implemented store signage, enlisted employees to help effect behavior change and included out-of-store marketing. | Photo by Nick Pizzolato

When retail stores encouraged consumers to bring their own bags or opt out of using one, nearly 5% fewer single-use plastic bags were used, according to a report from the industry-led Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag. Continue Reading

What happens when wind turbines cease spinning

Published: October 21, 2024
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States with abundant wind energy also face issues relating to disposal of old turbine blades. | Rudmer Zwerver/shutterstock

As energy sourced from wind turbines grows, the issue of disposing of end-of-life blades also has increased in complexity and severity, spurring legal challenges and new technologies.  Continue Reading

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Iowa Waste Exchange sees recycling challenges shift

Published: October 8, 2024
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Among the most challenging materials at the Iowa Waste Exchange is the abundance of post-use wind turbine blades. | Jim Cork/Shutterstock

Regional waste exchange platforms are not uncommon, but Iowa’s faces a bigger challenge than many: wind turbine blades.

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Hurricanes, port strike disrupt Southeast recycling markets

Published: October 8, 2024
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A natural disaster and a potentially catastrophic dockworker strike have highlighted weaknesses in the supply chain. | TajdidProtik/Shutterstock

In the past two weeks, the U.S. East Coast has experienced the double punch of a massive port strike and a devastating hurricane, exacerbating already uncertain market fundamentals. While the dockworker strike was very brief, storm-related destruction in the Southeast will last for weeks – if not months or years.

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Coca-Cola behind on 2030 plastics goals

Published: September 24, 2024
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Bottles of Coca-Cola with focus on red cap with logo.

The beverage behemoth is among the latest major brands to report lackluster data on recycled content in its packaging. | Dilok Klaisataporn/Shutterstock

Global beverage giant Coca-Cola is running behind in its 2030 targets for recycled content and collection, according to the company’s most recent environmental update. Continue Reading

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Analysts: Outlook murky for new containerboard capacity

Published: September 24, 2024
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Fiber for recycling.

Global overcapacity and ongoing economic uncertainty will continue in the near term, Fastmarkets panelists said, with implications for both virgin and recycled paper. | Huguette Roe/Shutterstock

Although the North American containerboard market saw a surge of new recycling machines in 2023, producers are waiting to see how the market develops before investing in new capacity, according to experts at Fastmarkets.  Continue Reading

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Northeast commodity values for Q2 reach 2-year high

Published: September 10, 2024
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View inside a MRF.

Average prices for blended residential commodities rose by 5% to 6% during the quarter, according to data collected from 15 MRFs in the Northeast. | Nordroden/Shutterstock

Average commodity prices for April-June 2024 were higher by about 40% on the year, marking their highest level since the second quarter of 2022, according to the latest MRF Values Survey Report from the Northeast Recycling Council. Continue Reading

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Coalition: Chemical methods are not recycling

Published: September 4, 2024
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Yellow recycle container with chasing arrows symbol.

The National Recycling Coalition is seeking feedback on its draft policy, which discourages the labels of “advanced” or “chemical” for non-mechanical recycling. | Roman Zaiets/Shutterstock

The Policy Committee of the National Recycling Coalition has published a draft policy called “Chemical Recycling Is Not Recycling” and is seeking review and comment. Continue Reading

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