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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].

Avoiding EPR pitfalls requires careful, thoughtful approach

Published: September 1, 2025
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Reverse-vending-machine-aleks333-Shutterstock

Aleks333/Shutterstock

Takeaways in two minutes (or less)

  • Watch, wait and learn from the “starter seven”
  • Focus first on expanding bottle deposit systems
  • Highlight economic impact to gain bipartisan support
  • Kentucky, Tennessee, Carolinas primed for action
  • Learn from the Canadian experience

 

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. Continue Reading

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Associations update bale specs for fiber, plastics

Published: August 12, 2025
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Coffee cups stacked in a cafe.

The two organizations maintain the industry standard for acceptable materials, which have been updated for PE packaging as well as for paper cups. | Andy Shell/Shutterstock

The Association of Plastic Recyclers and the Recycled Materials Association have updated specifications for post-consumer plastic bales, following a collaborative development process between the two organizations. Continue Reading

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Haulers feel effects of lower recycled commodity prices

Published: August 5, 2025
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Five publicly traded North American waste haulers decreased expectations for full-year commodity pricing, and gave insights into new and upgraded capacity. | Photo Courtesy of Republic Services

Story Highlights

  • Republic Services nods to future Pennsylvania site
  • Tariffs take a toll
  • Construction sector slowness to continue
  • Canadian EPR provides tailwind for GFL

Continue Reading

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Carton recycling access updated on CalRecycle report

Published: July 29, 2025
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The state’s recycling and waste management agency revised its final findings for SB 343 to reflect data submitted by the Carton Council. | SunnyToys/Shutterstock

California’s recycling and waste management office has updated its report on accurate recycling labels to show an increase in counties served by food and beverage carton recycling and sortation programs, reflecting data provided by the Carton Council of North America. Continue Reading

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WM report suggests 2025 goal is out of reach

Published: July 22, 2025
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The sustainability report for the nation’s largest hauler shows WM has increased recovered materials tonnage by only 5% since 2021, but has a 2025 goal of a 25% increase. | Ken Wolter/Shutterstock

Hauler WM appears unlikely to reach its 2025 interim goal for materials recovered for recycling, despite an increase from the baseline level, according to data from its latest sustainability report.  Continue Reading

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Closed Loop report shows results of state bag bans

Published: July 22, 2025
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Reusable plastic bags on a table.

Analysis from a Closed Loop consortium studied numerous state-level methods for reducing bag waste and informed considerations for policymakers. | The Image Party/Shutterstock

A new report on state-level single-use bag laws indicates that New Jersey’s ban has had numerous effects, both positive and negative.  Continue Reading

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Graphic Packaging reports rising post-consumer content

Published: July 15, 2025
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In its 2024 report, the major paper fiber consumer also noted that purchases of recovered fiber edged higher from 2023 but still were below 2022 levels. | Worradirek/Shutterstock

Atlanta-based Graphic Packaging recently released its 2024 Impact Report, in which the company showed mixed results surrounding its sustainability targets. Continue Reading

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Packaging Corp. to buy Greif containerboard segment

Published: July 8, 2025
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The deal will increase PCA’s ability to produce items using higher recycled content, and further Greif’s goal of focusing on its polymer offerings. | Max Zvonarev/Shutterstock

Packaging Corporation of America will buy Greif’s containerboard business, with the $1.8 billion all-cash deal expected by the end of PCA’s third quarter, in the latest development for an industry experiencing tumult.  Continue Reading

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Proposed EPR changes in Canada could inform US plans

Published: June 24, 2025
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With Ontario two years into its 2023-2025 transition to a producer responsibility model for paper and packaging recycling, stakeholders have asked for more time and lower costs. | Maxim Studio/Shutterstock

Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, is looking to make adjustments to its signature law for extended producer responsibility in packaging, in response to producer feedback about costs and other program concerns.  Continue Reading

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California extends compostable labeling law

Published: June 17, 2025
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The Biodegradable Products Institute had previously appealed to CalRecycle for a five-year extension to give the market more time to adapt. | Black Salmon/Shutterstock

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery has pushed back the effective date for a state law on labeling compostable packaging materials to mid-2027. Continue Reading

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