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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].

NY mayor cuts curbside e-scrap pick-up service

Published: December 4, 2023
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Mayor Eric Adams attributes the cessation of services to growing costs from the migrant crisis, among other factors. | Monster Ztudio/Shutterstock

New York City residents on Staten Island lost the option to have their scrap electronics picked up curbside after the mayor made large-scale budget cuts.  Continue Reading

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Reusable packaging generating reports, action

Published: December 4, 2023
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Pile of mixed single use plastics.

Canadian technology company Reusables.com is working to reduce single-use plastic foodware at universities. | Kanittha Boon/Shutterstock

Several recently published reports from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Oceana explored how to scale reusable packaging, while a Canadian company took another step toward establishing one such system. Continue Reading

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NY attorney general sues PepsiCo over river pollution

Published: November 27, 2023
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A lawsuit from New York State Attorney General Letitia James makes a number of allegations against PepsiCo, including failure to warn the public about the environmental impact of its products. | Pixinoo/Shutterstock

New York State’s attorney general is the latest to launch a lawsuit against a major brand over plastic, this time focused on pollution. Continue Reading

EPA studies costs of recycling programs, awards grants

Published: November 27, 2023
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Folders showing grants, projects and funding titles.

As the EPA issues tens of millions in grants, it is also funding research to ensure that grant money is used effectively. | Olivier Le Moal/Shutterstock

The U.S. EPA is sponsoring a study of the costs and benefits of municipal recycling programs, and at the same time the agency is directing more funding toward the sector.  Continue Reading

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Panelists shed light on solar panel recycling

Published: November 6, 2023
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Bob Nicholson (left) and AJ Orben (middle) speak at the 2023 E-Scrap and E-Reuse Conference in New Orleans, with Jared Paben (right) moderating the session. | Big Wave Productions/E-Scrap News

Now is the time for interested parties to enter the solar panel recycling sector, but experts say there are plenty of challenges to navigate as well. Continue Reading

Brands upped recycled and virgin resin usage

Published: November 6, 2023
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Row of Pepsi bottles on a supermarket shelf.

A report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation reveals that major brand owners and retailers increased their use of post-consumer resin (PCR) from 10.0% in 2021 to 11.7% in 2022. One of the largest, PepsiCo, increased from 6.3% PCR to 7.3%. | pixinoo/Shutterstock

The fifth report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation found that a few big-name brands’ increased use of virgin plastic has been offsetting the overall reduction achieved by the rest of the reporting companies.  Continue Reading

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Report: Paper cup acceptance low despite mill capacity

Published: November 6, 2023
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Colorful paper coffee cups on a gray background.

Closed Loop Partners suggested that more MRFs explore collecting paper cups. | NatalyaBond/Shutterstock

A report from Closed Loop Partners found that only about 11% of U.S. communities accept paper cups in their recycling operations, despite paper mills’ more widespread acceptance of cups in bales.  Continue Reading

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Environmental groups launch plastic laws database

Published: October 30, 2023
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A person using a computer with hand on mouse and keyboard.

The groups behind the database have already compiled a dataset that includes about 1,000 plastic reduction laws in the U.S. | DC Studio/Shutterstock

In order to tamp down on plastic pollution, several environmental groups have worked together to launch a global database for tracking plastic-related laws. It even covers the upcoming United Nations plastics agreement. Continue Reading

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Casella pilot scaling up recycling in medicine

Published: October 23, 2023
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Now that its medical waste recycling pilot has yielded “favorable results,” Casella Waste Systems is looking to broaden the project to include more healthcare facilities. | Courtesy of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)

As part of a pilot project to explore the recyclability of medical waste, Casella Waste Systems and medical company BD recycled 40,000 pounds of material, including syringes and needles.  Continue Reading

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