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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. After developing a special focus on recycling policy, they are also the editor of the monthly newsletter Policy Now. Heffernan can be contacted at [email protected].

California advisory board examines barriers to EPR

Published: May 30, 2025
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The report touches on five main topics: recyclability of covered materials, compostability of covered materials, reuse and refill and other source reduction systems, cost coverage for local jurisdictions, and plastic leakage into the environment. | Ratchat/Shutterstock

Members of the California extended producer responsibility for packaging advisory board have identified dozens of barriers to implementation and offered up possible solutions in a recent report.

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CAA announces California program, personnel changes

Published: May 28, 2025
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Baled OCC for recycling.

Producer responsibility organization Circular Action Alliance is making staffing changes in California as implementation ramps up. | Max Barnum/Shutterstock

Changes are coming at producer responsibility organization Circular Action Alliance in California, with Rachel Wagoner moving out of the California executive director role and into an “external advisory capacity.” Continue Reading

Revised California EPR draft regulations released

Published: May 20, 2025
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California state building

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery released a revised informal draft of SB 54 regulations. | Michael Warwick/Shutterstock

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery released a revised draft of SB 54 regulations, two months after the governor rejected the first version of the extended producer responsibility for paper and packaging rules. 

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Haulers discuss weather, tariff impacts in Q1

Published: May 6, 2025
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truck

Winter weather and tariffs were top of mind for five of the largest publicly traded garbage and recycling companies in North America in the first quarter of the year. | Republic Services

Bad weather in parts of the country weighed on leading recycling companies’ first-quarter earnings, their leaders said, but overall they saw revenue increases. Continue Reading

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EPR for Maryland: The making of SB 901

Published: May 4, 2025
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Mixed materials gathered for recycling.

The final bill builds on previous legislation, resulting in an EPR program that will take shape in 2028. | Evan Lorne/Shutterstock

After five years of work and many interim steps, Maryland became the sixth U.S. state to pass extended producer responsibility legislation for paper and packaging, continuing the policy’s evolution in the country.

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Maine stakeholders debate draft recyclable materials list

Published: April 22, 2025
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Maine capitol building in Augusta.

The initial recyclable materials list classifies just under a dozen material types as readily recyclable under Maine’s EPR program, but state representatives emphasized it was a first draft. | KWJPHOTOART/Shutterstock

More than 100 people showed up in-person and virtually to an informal stakeholder meeting on Maine’s draft material types list for the state’s extended producer responsibility program for packaging.   Continue Reading

CAA proposes tweaks to handle SB 54 delays

Published: April 29, 2025
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Among other changes, Circular Action Alliance proposed cutting down their time period to review comments on the plan from regulators to 60 days, freeing up three months. | Brandon Bourdages/Shutterstock

The Circular Action Alliance is asking for several changes to extended producer responsibility deadlines in response to the delayed rulemaking on SB 54.  Continue Reading

Kentucky Recycling Coalition takes shape

Published: April 22, 2025
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The newly formed Kentucky Recycling Coalition plans to start a summit, do a membership drive and ultimately improve recycling access across the state. | Aspen Rock/Shutterstock

After several years of work, Kentucky is no longer the only state in its region without a state recycling organization. The new Kentucky Recycling Coalition wants to increase access, update a statewide sustainability plan and build up membership. Continue Reading

Washington is seventh state to act on packaging EPR

Published: April 23, 2025
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Flags of Washington state and the United States flying against clouds and blue sky.

The legislation is intended to increase access to recycling, as only 58% of jurisdictions in the state provide access to curbside recycling. | Jeffrey-B.-Banke/Shutterstock

Just a week after Maryland became state No. 6 to approve a bill on extended producer responsibility for packaging and paper, Washington made No. 7.

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