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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].

One leader’s push to grow the ‘legacy’ of Oregon bottle bill

Published: February 3, 2023
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Jules Bailey, CEO of the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC), spent his first day as head of the company processing Green Bags. | Courtesy of OBRC

As the new CEO of the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative, Jules Bailey is focused on growth, convenience and supporting the community. 

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How Maine is involving stakeholders in EPR rollout

Published: January 6, 2023
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The Maine capitol building in Augusta.

Maine’s EPR draft rules will go to the Board of Environmental Protection to begin the formal rulemaking process in December 2023. | Yurii Prohonnyi/Shutterstock

Maine’s governor signed an extended producer responsibility law for packaging in 2021, and the state is now seeking stakeholder feedback to guide the rulemaking process. 

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CalRecycle director ‘excited and ready’ for policy challenge

Published: December 2, 2022
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Recycling bins against a red brick wall.

CalRecycle staff are busy developing implementation plans for the state’s EPR program and other new recycling laws. | Lowe Llaguno/Shutterstock

After California’s legislature passed a host of recycling and reuse-related bills, the state’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery is shifting into high gear to turn the mandates into reality. 

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Colorado PRO revises EPR recycling scenarios

Published: March 12, 2024
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Flags of the U.S. and Colorado

Circular Action Alliance revised its draft needs assessment to alter its modeling of recycling scenarios. | Rarrarorro/Shutterstock

At the request of the state, Circular Action Alliance revised its draft needs assessment in Colorado in response to over 100 public and industry comments. Continue Reading

Zero Waste DC plan centers community, collaboration

Published: March 12, 2024
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Trucks at a landfill site from above.

The Zero Waste DC plan’s goal is to divert 80% of the city’s waste stream away from landfill and incineration by 2040. | Janossy Gergely/Shutterstock

The nation’s capital recently finalized a zero-waste plan nearly a decade in the making, one that ecompasses 43 actions such as composting mandates, extended producer responsibility for many materials and single-use plastic bans. Continue Reading

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Report lays out recycling history, ‘fraud’

Published: February 27, 2024
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The report from the Center for Climate Integrity calls for Big Oil and the plastics industry to be held accountable “for their campaign of deception.” | Maryshot/Shutterstock

A new report, “The Fraud of Plastic Recycling,” argues there has been a “decades-long campaign of fraud and deception about the recyclability of plastics.” In response, recycling groups highlighted current plastics diversion successes and technology investments. Continue Reading

California recycler to pay back $140 million in fraud case

Published: February 27, 2024
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Court gavel with books in background.

Fabricated bottle and can weights led to a $140.5 million bill for Recycling Services Alliance. | Zolnierek/Shutterstock

Recycling Services Alliance must pay $140.5 million under the state of California’s final decision in a yearslong bottle and can smuggling case.  Continue Reading