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Author Archives: Jared Paben

About Jared Paben

Jared Paben Associate Editor Jared Paben has worked for Resource Recycling since December 2014. Most of his earlier career was spent as a reporter for the daily newspaper in Bellingham, Wash., but he also has experience working for the Oregon volunteerism commission and for Oregon nonprofits serving low-income populations. He can be contacted at [email protected].

SWANA reports drop in waste and recycling industry deaths

Published: July 7, 2021
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Municipal waste and recycling collection worker with bins.

For 2020, SWANA tallied a total of 52 on-the-job waste and recycling industry fatalities. This year the numbers are trending downward. | Somchai_Stock / Shutterstock

Half as many solid waste workers were killed on the job during the first half of this year compared with recent years, according to the Solid Waste Association of North America.

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Industry’s $9.5 million effort brings carts to Baltimore

Published: June 29, 2021
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Aerial view of Baltimore and inner harbor.

A collaboration will provide over $9 million to boost recycling in Baltimore. | iofoto / Shutterstock

Over 200,000 Baltimore households will receive free recycling carts after corporate, nonprofit and government partners collaborated to provide cash grants and more.

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Report estimates drop in plastic recycled in 2019

Published: June 22, 2021
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PET bottles collected for recycling.

Data shows that the U.S. PET bottle recycling rate in 2019 was 27.9%, down from 29.0% in 2018. | TeuNg-StyLe / Shutterstock

Slightly less scrap plastic from the U.S. was recycled in 2019 than the year prior. The data comes as brand owners signal greater demand for recycled resins.

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Major corporations endorse EPR for packaging

Published: June 22, 2021
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Retail aisle with paper and plastic packaging.

Paper and packaging EPR is already firmly established as part of the Canadian and European waste management landscape. |

Coca-Cola, Unilever and Walmart are among the companies that have backed a statement from a global group in support of extended producer responsibility, the latest example of the seismic shift in corporate sentiments around the policy approach.

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How the recycling industry is preparing to tackle solar panels

Published: June 15, 2021
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Solar panels on a residential roof.

E-scrap processors are developing strategies for an increasing number of PV modules entering the market. | Hill120 / Shutterstock

In some ways, solar panels present some of the same recycling challenges as old TVs. They carry a high cost to recycle properly, have limited commodity value and contain hazardous metals. At the same time, relatively few downstream processors recycle them, and markets are working against reuse.

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Bottle bill update heads to Conn. governor’s desk

Published: June 8, 2021
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Reverse-vending-machine-aleks333-Shutterstock

An expanded list of beverages will be covered in Connecticut’s bottle-deposit program under a new piece of legislation on the governor’s desk. | alexs333 / Shutterstock

Connecticut lawmakers passed legislation overhauling the state’s 41-year-old container deposit program, with one supporter calling the move the most significant U.S. bottle bill expansion in a decade.

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