Re-TRAC CEO Josh Reid explains why consistently collected, standardized data is vital for the recycling industry’s future. | Joyseulay/Shutterstock
With negative mainstream media coverage eroding public trust in recycling, now is the time to make changes, and an important piece of those improvements is accurate, standardized data collection.
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Over the last few years, materials recovery facilities have introduced next-generation optical sorters and AI waste analytics systems to learn more about their material. As a result, their facility managers are now awash in data. Continue Reading
Prices for all major curbside paper commodities held firm in August, bringing the second straight month without major changes in fiber values. It was a different story on the plastics side, where some grades saw major price fluctuations. 
July brought higher prices for bales of PET and natural HDPE containers, while color HDPE continued to slip downwards in value. On the fiber front, major grades maintained stable pricing after a long runup throughout the year. Continue Reading
Diane Cohen of Finger Lakes Reuse stands before artwork by Nick Gilbert, one of a series of murals in the Ithaca ReUse Center highlighting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and supported by a grant from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. | Photo by Kateri Connolly
A warm welcome back to “Women in Circularity”, where we shine a light on women moving us toward a circular economy. This month, I was pleased to connect with an expert in reuse: Diane Cohen. Diane is the chief executive officer of Finger Lakes ReUse, a New York nonprofit that provides its community with triple-bottom-line benefits through a variety of reuse services and social programs. She has more than 23 years of experience in nonprofit management, strategic partnerships and workforce development. Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series on the history of the zero waste movement and its impact; see part 2 here.
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This article appeared in the April 2024 issue of Resource Recycling. Subscribe today for access to all print content.
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This article appeared in the April 2024 issue of Resource Recycling. Subscribe today for access to all print content.
PepsiCo now is involved in two lawsuits surrounding plastic waste. | PJiiiJane/Shutterstock
The City of Baltimore, Maryland, has filed a lawsuit against PepsiCo, Coca-Cola and other major companies to recoup costs associated with cleaning up plastic pollution. Continue Reading
Michigan is on track to achieve its goal of 30% recycling rate by 2029. | OnePhoto/Shutterstock
The recycling rate in Michigan reached a record high of 23% in 2023, keeping the state on track to achieve its goal of a 30% recycling rate by 2029, according to a press release from the state’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Continue Reading