Back to Top

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].

GreenDot ends North American operations, RLG shifts focus

Published: February 6, 2024
Updated:

by
Close up of a meeting with microphone and papers on the desk.

Two producer responsibility organizations have changed their focuses recently. | ESB Professional/Shutterstock

Producer responsibility organization GreenDot has ceased operating in North America, citing a strategic alignment to focus on more mature regulatory markets. Continue Reading

Strategic emerges from bankruptcy with reduced debt

Published: January 29, 2024
Updated:

by
Glass bottles piled for recycling.

Strategic Materials reduced its total debt by over $300 million and secured about $60 million in new capital to get itself out of bankruptcy. | Torychemistry/Shutterstock

Nearly two months after filing for bankruptcy, Strategic Materials has restructured itself, reduced its debt and secured more funding.  Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged , |

Colorado shares needs assessment, modeling draft

Published: January 29, 2024
Updated:

by
Colorado state capitol building at sunset.

Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Organization Circular Action Alliance released a needs assessment that lays out accepted recyclable lists, models the effects of several improvement scenarios and evaluates access to services and costs. | Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock

In another step toward implementation of extended producer responsibility for packaging, Colorado regulators published a report laying out which materials would be covered and exploring different options for how the program could operate. Continue Reading

Study finds rising risk of lithium-ion fires

Published: January 22, 2024
Updated:

by

A study from the National Waste and Recycling Association found that the rate of catastrophic fire losses has risen by 41% over the last five years. | Piotr Zajda/Shutterstock

The National Waste and Recycling Association estimates that more than 5,000 fires occur annually at recycling facilities, and it recently warned many were likely linked to lithium-ion batteries. Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged , |

Report estimates 21% residential recycling rate

Published: January 16, 2024
Updated:

by

A study from The Recycling Partnership found that seven out of 10 cardboard boxes, three out of four milk jugs, four out of five steel cans, three out of four tons of mixed paper and seven out of 10 glass bottles, aluminum cans and PET bottles are put in trash bins in homes. | Volt Collection/Shutterstock

A study from The Recycling Partnership proposed ways to raise the recycling rate of residential recyclables – which the group puts at 21%.

Continue Reading

Posted in News |

Study: Easy sign-up, strong design key for reuse systems

Published: January 16, 2024
Updated:

by

Early adopters of reusable product systems identified simplicity, consistency and ample options as keys for scaling up. | OlegKovalevichh/Shutterstock

A study of 300 people who regularly use reusable packaging showed that reuse systems need minimal and streamlined technology, reminders to return packaging and more options to be successful.  Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , |