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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].

Quebec PRO looks to build MRF

Published: June 12, 2023
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Inside a materials recovery facility. By Nordroden/Shutterstock

Éco Entreprises Québec plans to include “several innovative elements” at the upcoming MRF. | Nordroden/Shutterstock

A producer responsibility organization in Quebec just made its first big decision, selecting Green for Life to build and run a sorting center in Montreal. Continue Reading

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New York City, Connecticut eye policy changes

Published: June 12, 2023
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Food waste gathered for composting.

The New York City Council aims to overhaul organics collection, and legislators in Connecticut face criticism from environmentalists over their embrace of gasification. | Esse David Falls/Shutterstock

Members of the New York City Council are looking to amp up organics recycling and push forward on zero-waste goals. Meanwhile, a bill that focuses on gasification facilities awaits the Connecticut governor’s signature.  Continue Reading

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EPA takes a closer look at lithium-ion batteries

Published: June 12, 2023
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Close-up of a Li-ion battery.

The federal agency is chiefly concerned with the batteries’ propensity for starting fires. | Allyson Kitts/Shutterstock

The U.S. EPA recently clarified that lithium-ion batteries should be treated as hazardous waste, but did not yet change current recycling rules and regulations.  Continue Reading

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Packaging EPR bill in New York revived as session winds down

Published: June 5, 2023
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New York state capitol building in Albany.

The amended extended producer responsibility bill enjoys support from Members of New York’s legislature, but faces opposition from several brands and industry groups. | Real Window Creative/Shutterstock

This story has been updated.

Some New York legislators are pushing to see extended producer responsibility for packaging pass this year. With days left in the session, they’ve reintroduced what they see as a compromise bill. Continue Reading

Brands make sustainability moves, but use more plastic

Published: January 9, 2023
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McDonald's drink cups and straws discarded on concrete.

WWF found that 34% of members’ plastic footprint was recycled, 9% incinerated, 43% landfilled and 15% mismanaged. | Kraft74/Shutterstock

In 2021, major brands increased their use of recycled material and cut back on “problematic plastics,” but the amount of plastic they put on the market grew by over 5%, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

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MRFs, reclaimers get PET grants

Published: April 17, 2023
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PET bales stacked for recycling.

Recipients will put the grant money toward growing their processing capabilities. | Menzl Guenter/Shutterstock

Five grants from an initiative of The Recycling Partnership are projected to boost PET capture by 5.1 million pounds per year, among other improvements.

Continue Reading

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Lessons from France: Eco-modulated fees not used effectively

Published: May 30, 2023
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Analysts speaking in a recent GAIA webinar said eco-modulated fees on packaging fail to incentivize reduction and reuse. | Photoeu/Shutterstock

As extended producer responsibility programs for packaging start to take hold in the U.S., many are looking to Europe for ideas. Several stakeholders in the decades-old French system shared some lessons they’ve learned, including that eco-modulated fees have not achieved their desired effect.   Continue Reading

Flexible film recycling pilot launches in Canada

Published: May 30, 2023
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PRFLEX will employ consulting firms to first gather data on film recycling, then propose solutions to improve collection and get more recycled film into packaging. | Courtesy of PRFLEX

A number of circularity organizations have collaborated to launch PRFLEX, an effort to improve flexible plastic recycling in Canada.  Continue Reading

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