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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].

Plastic procurement tactics adapt to supply realities

Published: April 22, 2025
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Crystal Bayliss of the U.S. Plastics Pact emphasized that procurement involves far more than just haggling prices, a sentiment echoed by an Orbis executive. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling

With post-consumer plastic resin requirements increasing rapidly, companies throughout plastics value chains face similar challenges in controlling feedstock supply, scaling up supply and managing capital costs. This sentiment was clear during a Plastics Recycling Conference session as well as a recent industry interview. Continue Reading

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Rhode Island lawmakers introduce bottle bill, EPR

Published: April 22, 2025
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The proposed legislation would implement a deposit return system for beverage bottles and establish an EPR program for packaging. | Wangkun Jia/Shutterstock

Legislators in Rhode Island have introduced bills to create a bottle bill for the state as well as an extended producer responsibility program for packaging.  Continue Reading

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Federal funding cuts hit plastic recycling projects

Published: April 15, 2025
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International Recycling Group plant rendering.

A proposed International Recycling Group facility in Pennsylvania, seen here in a 2021 rendering, has been canceled concurrent with the project’s loss of federal funding. | Courtesy of International Recycling Group

Dramatic federal funding cuts have affected at least two plastics recycling efforts, contributing to a major project being canceled in Pennsylvania and forcing an accelerated timeline for self-sufficiency at an Alaska composite lumber operation. Continue Reading

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Walmart, Berry keep working toward 2025 plastics goals

Published: April 15, 2025
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Walmart logo on shopping cart in store.

With its latest sustainability report, Walmart became the latest mega-brand to announce it was unlikely to meet its voluntary commitments for plastics. | Harun Ozmen/Shutterstock

With the arrival of the benchmark year of 2025, two industry giants announced challenges and progress in meeting the ambitious plastics-related goals set for this year. Continue Reading

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UMass alumni go small with trash-sorting robot pilot

Published: April 15, 2025
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Two graduates of the University of Massachusetts Amherst created a robotics-based sorting trailer that recently was tested at the school. | Courtesy of rStream

The University of Massachusetts Amherst recently conducted a pilot project using a small-scale automated recycling system created by rStream, a robotics-based startup founded by two alumni.  Continue Reading

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Tariff chaos weaves through recycled commodity markets

Published: April 8, 2025
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Cargo ship docked at logistics hub.

Regulations that can change from hour to hour are causing headaches for buyers and sellers but could present opportunities should they remain in place. | aapsky/Shutterstock

After many weeks of shifting narratives and uncertainty, participants in recycled commodity markets are working to navigate the new tariff environment, in which buyers and sellers as well as customs officials struggle to align federal mandates with on-the-ground implementation.   Continue Reading

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Missouri details state facility recycling data

Published: April 1, 2025
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Yellow recycle container with chasing arrows symbol.

During the fiscal year, state employees recycled 12.9 million pounds of materials, generating $83,326 in revenue for Missouri’s recycling fund and avoiding $716,065 in landfill fees. | Roman Zaiets/Shutterstock

The Missouri state recycling program generated tens of thousands of dollars in revenue and saved the state hundreds of thousands in waste disposal fees, according to a recent report. Continue Reading

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Maryland webinar gives tips on countering misinformation

Published: April 1, 2025
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A March 27 webinar featured tips and best practices from recycling experts Chaz Miller and Gretchen Carey. | One Photo/Shutterstock

In recent years, the recycling industry has seen negative media coverage that has not only perpetuated myths but also contributed to public mistrust of collection and recycling – and ultimately could be contributing to lower collection rates.  Continue Reading

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Traceability tools increase recycled material trust

Published: March 18, 2025
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Traceability tools can act as a scorecard, providing proof that recycling works and helping counter an often one-sided narrative in consumer media outlets. | 9dream Studio/Shutterstock

Editor’s note: Learn more about traceability technology and many other topics at the 2025 Plastics Recycling Conference on March 24-26 in National Harbor, Maryland. Continue Reading

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Nova commissions first US film recycling facility

Published: March 11, 2025
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Partners Novolex and Nova Chemicals are proactively working to increase feedstock supply for the new Indiana facility, which can process 140 million pounds a year of LLDPE film. | Antoinette Smith/Resource Recycling

Editor’s note: Learn more about accelerating film recycling and many other topics at the 2025 Plastics Recycling Conference on March 24-26 in National Harbor, Maryland.  Continue Reading

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