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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].

Global company looks to recycling in ESG push

Published: October 3, 2022
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ESG letters and symbols on wooden blocks.

Leaders with Hillenbrand discussed the company’s ESG efforts, including a recycling equipment manufacturer acquisition. | d.ee_angelo/Shutterstock

Sustainability and environmental, social and governance plans are typically multifaceted, but a recent acquisition by Hillenbrand brought recycling to the forefront for the manufacturing conglomerate.

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How cities are strengthening programs for long-term success

Published: September 13, 2022
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Speakers on stage at the 2022 Resource Recycling Conference.

The “Resiliency at the Local Level” session at the 2022 Resource Recycling Conference featured (l to r): Eduardo Rodriguez, Alexis Yaple, Kanika Greenlee and Zach Woodruff. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling, Inc.

Resilience in recycling requires a number of elements: upgrading technology, extending contracts or even buying carts for residents.

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California passes bevy of recycling bills in final days

Published: September 7, 2022
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Calif. state captiol building in Sacramento.

California legislators sent a number of recycling-related bills to the governor at the end of this session. | Leonid Adnronov/Shutterstock

When California’s legislative session ended Aug. 31, a number of recycling-related bills passed just before the deadline. Here’s a roundup of bills currently waiting to be signed into law and that have already been signed. 

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Walmart offering in-store recycling for beauty products

Published: September 7, 2022
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Walmart beauty products aisle with cart and shopper.

A collaboration will bring recycling collection for certain health and beauty products to 25 Walmart stores in four U.S. states. | Chanandra Ramsurrun/Shutterstock

In collaboration with Procter & Gamble and TerraCycle, Walmart is allowing customers in four states to recycle beauty product packaging in certain stores.

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Recycle BC reports jump in recovery rates

Published: August 1, 2022
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Blue recycling bins lined up against a brick background.

For the second year in a row, Recycle BC observed “significant growth” in collected metric tons, with a 17% increase over the past two years. | Lightspring/Shutterstock

British Columbia’s paper and plastic packaging collection rates have rebounded after pandemic-related challenges, reaching a record-high recovery rate of just over 94%.

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A last-minute twist in effort to expand California bottle bill

Published: August 29, 2022
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Empty glass bottles for recycling.

Some glass recycling advocates have withdrawn their support for proposed California bottle bill legislation in the wake of last-minute amendments. | Fotosr52/Shutterstock

Just days before the end of the legislative session, lengthy amendments were tacked on to California bottle bill expansion legislation, greatly increasing the cost of the program. In response, some previous backers rescinded their support.

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Amazon upped recycled content, reduced packaging in 2021

Published: August 29, 2022
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Amazon warehouse with Chicago skyline in distance.

Amazon recently noted it has on-site plastic film recycling systems at facilities across North America and Europe. | Bret Habura/Shutterstock

Amazon has eliminated more than 1.5 million tons of packaging since 2015 and created programs to increase recycling and diversion, according to its latest sustainability report.

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Tetra Pak launches carton recycling initiative in Vietnam

Published: August 29, 2022
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Juice cartons in store in Vietnam.

A pilot project will bring carton recycling to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. | Ho Su A Bi/Shutterstock

Circular Action, Tetra Pak and Packaging Recycling Organisation Vietnam teamed up to create a carton recycling initiative in Vietnam they hope will increase recycling rates and provide income to freelance waste pickers.

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Collaboration sits at heart of the best MRF contracts

Published: August 23, 2022
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Resource Recycling Conference session.

The “Rethinking MRF Contracts” session at this year’s Resource Recycling Conference featured (l to r) moderator Keysha Burton of The Recycling Partnership and speakers Natalie Betts of Balcones Resources and Stephanie Sidler of GFL. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling Inc.

Volatile markets, changing material compositions and aging infrastructure can all be addressed with the right municipal MRF contract. Industry experts discussed how to achieve such arrangements at the Resource Recycling Conference.

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Industry group launches project to gather data, share solutions

Published: August 23, 2022
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Putting bottle into recycling bin.

A new effort from industry group The Recycling Partnership aims to assess and change behavior. | Air Images/Shutterstock

Recycling doesn’t work unless people can put material into the stream, so The Recycling Partnership is expanding its efforts to both understand and change consumer behavior at the bin.
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