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].
Despite falling earnings from its recycling business in 2022, Waste Management is planning significant MRF investments. | Create Jobs 51/Shutterstock
Waste Management will spend $1 billion over four years upgrading and building new MRFs, with much of the spending occurring this year, the company disclosed last week. Continue Reading
Robotic machinery recently installed by AMP Robotics at the Kent County Recycling and Education Center. | Courtesy of AMP Robotics
Sorting robots have been installed at Northeast and Midwest MRFs, and Balcones Resources appears set to operate a new MRF far away from its current service areas. Continue Reading
Two new wet grinders have been installed next to the old one at the ORPET recycling plant in St. Helens, Ore. | Jared Paben/Resource Recycling
A Pacific Northwest PET reclaimer is working to expand its capacity, with an eye toward continued population growth in Oregon and a potential bottle bill on the horizon in Washington state. Continue Reading
In her opinion, Maryland judge Stephanie A. Gallagher ruled that the prison work program was rehabilitative and the workers aren’t employees of the county, and therefore they are not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act. | Aerial Mike/Shutterstock
Local governments don’t have to pay minimum wage or overtime to prison inmates who are sorting recyclables at MRFs, regardless of whether the recycling program financially benefits from the cheap labor, a federal judge ruled. Continue Reading
This latest suit marks at least the third time Reynolds has found itself in legal hot water over its Hefty recycling bags. | Anton Gvozdikov/Shutterstock
Reynolds Consumer Products faces yet another lawsuit over its recyclables collection bags, this time from Minnesota’s top legal officer. Continue Reading
Not only did the price per ton for landfilling go up in 2022, it showed a significantly higher year-over-year increase. | StockStudio Aerials/Shutterstock
Recently published data shows landfilling was considerably more expensive last year than in 2021. Continue Reading
An AMP Robotics unit, nicknamed Arturito, is allowing the city of Dallas to accept cartons at curbside. | Courtesy of FCC Environmental
A recently installed carton-sorting robot at FCC Environmental Services’ Dallas MRF has reduced residue by about 11%, one reason the unit is “going to have a pretty big financial impact for us,” a company manager said. Continue Reading
ADS’ plans for improved efficiency include automating material handling, pelletizing upgrades and expanded storage capacity. | Courtesy of Advanced Drainage Systems
Advanced Drainage Systems is in the midst of multiyear, multimillion-dollar recycling debottlenecking efforts that include upgrading recycling equipment and improving materials handling capabilities, an executive said.
A worker seals a recyclable fiber package at a Walmart shipping facility. | Courtesy of Walmart
An e-commerce packaging change by Walmart may mean fewer plastic mailers and more recyclable fiber ones coming into U.S. MRFs. Continue Reading
During the 2022 fiscal year, WestRock handled 7.1 million tons of recyclables at its recycling facilities. | Postmodern Studio/Shutterstock
Container and paperboard manufacturer WestRock continues to consume internally a larger and larger portion of the recovered fiber the company handles each year, achieving a high of 79% last year. Continue Reading