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].
A Resource Recycling analysis shows that 1,116 companies identified as “materials recovery facilities” and 4,300 companies identified as “recyclable material merchant wholesalers” received Paycheck Protection Program funds this year. | NIKCOA/Shutterstock
Over $850 million in Paycheck Protection Program funds flowed to MRF operators and recyclables trading companies this year, according to data released following a court order.
A judge has ruled that the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) must pay $1.1 million in damages to a subsidiary of Republic Services. | BCFC/Shutterstock
A Connecticut judge last month ordered a public authority to pay Republic Services damages in a MRF operations contract dispute. Soon after, the saga took another turn, with Republic indicating it’s set to bow out of the agreement altogether.
Estimated to cost $123 million, the Valdosta, Ga. plant will have a capacity to produce about 100,000 metric tons of bottles per year. | OVKNHR/Shutterstock
A new U.S. bottle plant that will use recycled glass has begun firing up its furnaces.
The Rochester, N.Y. plant will be able to process up to 5,000 metric tons of spent lithium-ion batteries per year. | Parilov/Shutterstock
A lithium-ion battery recycling plant has come on-line in upstate New York.
An employment lawyer recently said there isn’t a clear answer yet on whether non-healthcare employers can force employees to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, but there are some indications they’ll be allowed to. | Rohane Hamilton/Shutterstock
As the country gets closer to coronavirus vaccine approvals and distribution, recycling business managers may soon face a thorny question: whether to force employees to inoculate.
Last year, 1.77 billion pounds of PET bottles were collected and sold to reclaimers. | Picsfive/Shutterstock
The U.S. PET bottle recycling rate declined by a percentage point to 27.9% in 2019, though the amount of RPET used to make new bottles increased.
The average value of a ton of recyclables dropped in the U.S. Northeast and Ontario in the third quarter. | Camillo Clauser/Shutterstock
Average commodity values tumbled by about one-fifth during the third quarter, according to a survey of northeastern U.S. MRFs. A price sheet for Ontario showed the same downward trend.
Glass recycling stakeholders produced a video for America Recycles Day explaining the material’s role in a circular economy. | Fototocam/Shutterstock
Glass bottle maker O-I uses “Green Bond” money to buy cullet, stakeholders explain the glass recycling process to the public, and the Glass Recycling Coalition releases its latest industry survey results.
PepsiCo’s Naked juice brand is one the company is moving toward 100% RPET packaging. | Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock
PepsiCo spent about $200 million of its “Green Bond” to purchase recycled PET plastic over the past few years, according to the company.
Leaders in Ontario have proposed adding bags, straws and other materials to the province’s recycling program. | Bowonpat Sakaew/Shutterstock
Leaders in Ontario unveiled regulations adding materials to its Blue Box recycling program, expanding service to smaller communities and setting high diversion targets.