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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].

Threatened tariffs could have indirect effect on recycled fiber

Published: December 17, 2024
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shipping terminal china

Proposed tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China could have effects that reverberate from consumer goods to paper packaging. | Chuyuss/Shutterstock

As the January inauguration approaches – and with it the prospect of hefty tariffs on Mexico and Canada –  market participants and industry analysts said any potential effects on recycled paper and containerboard markets would largely be indirect.   Continue Reading

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Aluminum can recycling remains below 30-year average

Published: December 10, 2024
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Aluminum cans for recycling.

The consumer recycling rate rose from the preceding three years, but industry association executives warned that the U.S. still has much work to be done to compete on a global level. | Ji Jinn/Shutterstock

Only 43% of aluminum cans shipped in the U.S. in 2023 were ultimately recycled, well below the 30-year average but slightly higher than in the previous three years, according to the most recent industry report. Continue Reading

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Haulers: Easing commodity prices present headwind

Published: November 13, 2024
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WM truck on a city street.

Although third quarter revenues reached record levels for some of the nation’s top five haulers, plummeting OCC pricing in October was an indicator for commodity values heading into 2025. | 2p2play/Shutterstock

Third-quarter commodity prices contributed to record quarterly revenues and margins for several of North America’s largest publicly traded garbage and recycling companies, according to recent financial disclosures. But that has changed moving into the final stretch of the year.

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Surveys examine gaps in consumer recycling education

Published: November 19, 2024
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Findings from the surveys showed that Americans lack knowledge on consumer batteries and confidence in the end result for their recyclable plastics. | Kinek00/Shutterstock

Fewer than half of respondents in a new WM recycling survey knew which household products contain lithium-ion batteries — an especially significant finding since fire is a huge safety concern for MRFs and is often caused by batteries.  Continue Reading

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AMP, Waste Connections partner on Colorado MRF

Published: November 19, 2024
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Sorted materials at the recycling facility.

The new MRF is expected to open in early 2026 near Denver and will be the first such facility for AMP. | Jantsarik/Shutterstock

AI-driven sortation systems provider AMP and hauler Waste Connections are partnering to build a new MRF in Colorado, slated to open in early 2026. Continue Reading

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Pack Expo highlights recycled materials challenges

Published: November 5, 2024
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Experts from PMMI, the Flexible Packaging Association and more offered insight into the roadblocks and projections for implementing recycled content. | Antoinette Smith/Resource Recycling, Inc.

As companies work toward meeting regulatory requirements for sustainable packaging, they will significantly increase usage of post-consumer resin, compostable materials and certified recycled paperboard, an industry analyst said at Pack Expo International this week in Chicago. Continue Reading

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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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