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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].

Industry illness and injury rates hit record low in 2021

Published: November 14, 2022
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data analysis

The second year in which COVID-19 cases in the workplace were reported, 2021 saw a steep decline in the illness rate for solid waste collection workers. | Joyseulay/Shutterstock

According to federal data, the waste and recycling industry injury rate fell in 2021, bringing it to the lowest point since 2006.  Continue Reading

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EPA grants just under $1.2M to small recycling companies

Published: November 7, 2022
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US EPA website on mobile device.

A total of $1.17 million for recycling companies came as part of a larger $3.2 million round of funding in the latest installment of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. | Tada Images/Shutterstock

An AI-powered robotic sortation system, a glass-to-cement company and a zero waste software maker all received small business grants from the U.S. EPA. 

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California governor signs bottle bill expansion, other bills

Published: October 3, 2022
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Wine bottles

California has added wine and liquor bottles to the state’s beverage container redemption program. | Kieferpix/Shutterstock

California is adding wine and distilled spirits to its container redemption program, among other changes, after the governor signed the program expansion bill into law.

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Texas recycler selects outfitter for San Antonio MRF

Published: October 17, 2022
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Map showing a pin in San Antonio and surrounding area blurred.

Balcones Resources’ upcoming San Antonio facility will sort residential and commercial recycling streams using equipment supplied by CP Group. | Dmitrijs Kaminskis/Shutterstock

After winning the recycling contract for San Antonio, Balcones Resources decided to partner with CP Group to equip its upcoming facility.

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PureCycle opposition part of wider anti-plastic push

Published: October 17, 2022
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Aerial view of downtown area of Winter Garden, Florida.

PureCycle met community resistance to the company’s desired site near Winter Garden, Fla. | Noah Densmore/Shutterstock

Americans are united in their desire for better plastic recycling, but the question of where to locate facilities is running into familiar not-in-my-backyard resistance, complicated further by concerns about racial and social justice. 

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Report pinpoints composting, recycling to cut emissions

Published: October 10, 2022
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Person with food scraps for composting.

Source-separated collection and treatment of organics could significantly reduce methane emissions from landfills, as highlighted in a report from GAIA. | Gargonia/Shutterstock

A report from the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives targeted organics diversion, increased recycling and reduced plastic use as key elements in keeping planetary warming below a critical threshold.

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Sonoco upgrades machines, Novelis breaks ground

Published: October 10, 2022
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Aluminum rolls at manufacturer

Sonoco and Novelis are both looking to the future, the former by installing a URB line and the latter by increasing its aluminum capacity. | Pepe Baeza/Shutterstock

Two major end users of recycled materials – one in paper, one in aluminum – recently announced milestones in their upgrade efforts.
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