Back to Top

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].

Republic Services recycling volumes drop for 2023

Published: July 30, 2024
Updated:

by
Metal bales at a recycling facility.

Republic Services recovered 2.2 million tons of cardboard, metal, organics, paper and plastics in 2023. | Rhfletcher/Shutterstock

For a second consecutive year, waste hauler Republic Services recovered fewer tons of recyclable materials than in the previous year, according to the company’s 2023 ESG report. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , |

WM upgrade in Wisconsin leverages location, community

Published: July 23, 2024
Updated:

by

The recent upgrade of WM’s Germantown MRF in Wisconsin added 20% more capacity to one of the company’s largest facilities in the heart of a rapidly growing manufacturing corridor. | Courtesy of WM

With a nearly $39 million upgrade completed at one of its biggest MRFs, WM officials are looking to further refine automation capabilities as well as add volumes in the Midwest. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged |

Novolex used less recycled plastic last year

Published: July 23, 2024
Updated:

by
Novolex building seen from above.

Although overall PCR usage dropped in 2023, Novolex’s paper segment reached its highest share of recycled content since 2020. | Photo Courtesy of Novolex

Packaging producer Novolex reported slightly lower post-consumer recycled content usage in its plastic products for 2023, according to the company’s latest sustainability report.

Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged , |

Amazon cites business growth for rise in plastic use

Published: July 16, 2024
Updated:

by

Amazon largely focused on its efforts to reduce plastic use, such as substituting recycled paper for flexible fillers and making packaging suitable for curbside collection. | Skorzewiak/Shutterstock

In its 2023 sustainability report, global retail powerhouse Amazon highlighted its efforts to reduce packaging materials and to make its packaging suitable for curbside collection but provided few details on PCR usage. Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , |

Recycling sector weathers the effects of Beryl

Published: July 16, 2024
Updated:

by

Texas experienced its first major hurricane of the season in early July, with significant power outages, but peak storm season has yet to occur. | Andrea Quintero Olivas/Shutterstock

As the first major hurricane of the season hit Texas last week, MRFs and processors braced for disrupted services, flooding and power outages, which are familiar obstacles for Gulf Coast operators each June through November. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , |