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].
DJ VanDeusen of WestRock speaks at the Resource Recycling Conference.
Some of the key recovered commodities generated by materials recovery facilities have been fetching high prices lately, including aluminum and fibers. But China’s import restrictions have introduced an element of the unknown in the market.
California lawmakers have sent the governor a bill mandating that carpet stewards achieve a 24 percent recycling rate and discouraging the use of incineration. Meanwhile, carpet makers are sticking with their beleaguered stewardship group, instead of submitting alternative collection and recycling plans.
Real Alloy is restarting an idled aluminum recycling plant in Kentucky because of increased customer demand and a new contract.
Anti-incineration activists have released a report criticizing efforts to burn waste in the U.S., calling them misguided attempts to achieve sustainability.
Jeff Eager
Recycling decisions tend to be made on the local level by nonpartisan leaders, but national politics – and fundamental ideological differences – still shape the dialogue. A recent study of local government agendas showed stark differences between left-leaning and right-leaning communities when it comes to action around materials diversion.
Optical sorter units helped clean up newsprint bales and boost OCC and old boxboard recovery in a region of Ontario. Those involved with the project have shared some important tips for others considering similar efforts.
Nestlé Waters North America has begun adding the How2Recycle label to half-liter PET bottles of all its major U.S. bottled water brands.
Aluminum rolling and recycling company Novelis saw its revenue during the April-June period rise 16 percent year over year, an increase driven by higher sales volumes and metal prices.
A freight forwarding company has filed a lawsuit against a recyclables exporter, demanding to be reimbursed for tens of thousands of dollars in charges that accrued when cargo containers were left unclaimed at a Chinese port.
When you hear “mega MRF,” this is probably the facility you should think of: a 1,000-tons-per-day materials recovery facility in the Sunset Park section of New York City’s Brooklyn borough.