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Author Archives: Marissa Heffernan

About Marissa Heffernan

Marissa HeffernanMarissa Heffernan started working for Resource Recycling in January 2022 after spending several years as a reporter at a daily newspaper in Southwest Washington. She can be contacted at [email protected].

UN treaty talks extended after usual roadblocks

Published: December 3, 2024
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On Nov. 27, the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Plastics demanded the right to speak at plenary sessions, after being denied the usual time allotted for civil society members to share their views. | Kiara Worth/International Institute for Sustainable Development

Negotiations for a global, legally-binding treaty to address plastic pollution will spill over into another meeting, but participants noted the need for a seismic shift to reach the finish line after a fifth round of United Nations negotiations splintered along similar lines as the last four. 

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Glass collection options shift in Pacific Northwest

Published: December 3, 2024
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Glass bottle and cullet

Ridwell recently added glass to its collection list in Tacoma and Olympia, supplying the material to O-I’s Portland facility and to Strategic Materials. | pjhpix/Shutterstock

Glass is well known in the industry as both easy and challenging to recycling – easy from a technical sense and challenging logistically. That was recently highlighted by multiple developments in western Washington.

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Ellen MacArthur report: Less plastic used in 2023

Published: November 26, 2024
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recycling plastics packaging

The largest brand owners in the world together used an average of 14% post-consumer resin in their packaging last year, a 2 percentage point increase over 2022. | Photka/Shutterstock

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s 2023 report indicated a year-over-year decrease in both virgin and overall plastic use from signatory companies. That came from companies incorporating more post-consumer resin, combined with lower overall consumer demand due to economic challenges.

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Groups pay for UBCs in underserved communities

Published: November 19, 2024
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The Cans for Cash program launched in Blytheville, Arkansas, and will soon expand to Florida, Illinois and Mississippi. | Courtesy of Replenysh/Cash for Cans

In an effort to return more aluminum beverage cans to the recycling system, Every Can Counts U.S. and Replenysh started a community-driven recycling program in states without deposit return systems or strong curbside collection programs.  Continue Reading

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Penultimate UN treaty draft worries environmental groups

Published: November 13, 2024
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united nations

The latest draft, called a “non-paper,” was released by Luis Vayas Valdivieso, chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, convened by the United Nations. | Bascar/Shutterstock

A new draft of the U.N.’s global treaty on plastics has sparked disappointment from environmental groups after leaving some of the most contentious issues unaddressed. Continue Reading

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SB 54 draft rules generate debate on rates, review

Published: November 5, 2024
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California’s extended producer responsibility for packaging law, SB 54, just completed another round of public comment. | Alexander Lukatskiy/Shutterstock

Industry players said the latest draft of California’s extended producer responsibility for packaging permanent regulations is an improvement, but there is always more work to be done when it comes to complex policy implementation.  Continue Reading

Goodwill, WM team up for textile recycling

Published: November 5, 2024
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Textiles collected for recycling

WM, Goodwill and textile recycler Reju are working to create a regional system for collecting, sorting, reusing and recycling textiles. | Chatham172/Shutterstock

Goodwill is continuing to develop its potential as a hub for not only reusing textiles but also recycling them with a new multi-year pilot program.  Continue Reading

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Policy updates from the E-Scrap Conference

Published: November 5, 2024
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Emmanuel Nyaletey, founder and CEO of BridgeSolar, speaks during a panel on navigating Basel Convention changes in electronics recycling at the 2024 E-Scrap Conference. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling, Inc.

Chatter about legislative effects on the industry permeated much of the 2024 E-Scrap Conference, especially uncertainty around upcoming changes to the Basel Convention, and several sessions dug deep into new laws and coming policy trends in the e-scrap industry. 

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Organics collection programs take care, creativity

Published: October 29, 2024
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Person with food scraps for composting.

Compost Power uses metroStor bins to collect organics without attracting rats and has added its own graphic wraps to the bins to engage the community. | Gargonia/Shutterstock

Setting up successful organics diversion – whether statewide or just in one city – requires creativity, flexibility and a strong education campaign, presenters at WasteCon 2024 told attendees.  Continue Reading

Novelis sets new recycled content goal

Published: October 29, 2024
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Aluminum can bale close up.

Novelis used about 2.3 million metric tons of recycled aluminum across its operations in 2024. | Pim Pic/Shutterstock

Novelis set a new recycled content goal across its operations of 75% by 2030 – a percentage that its rolled beverage sheet already exceeds.  Continue Reading

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