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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].

US tallies higher paper recycling rate in 2021

Published: May 24, 2022
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Paper bales for recycling.

AF&PA data notes that in 2021 about 80% of U.S. paper mills used some recycled paper and about one-third used only recycled paper. | noomcpk/Shutterstock

The U.S. paper and OCC recycling rates for 2021 were 68.0% and 91.4%, higher than the previous year, the American Forest & Paper Association announced in a press conference May 24.

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EPA seeking industry help in shaping new grants

Published: May 24, 2022
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US EPA building exterior in Washington, D.C.

The bipartisan infrastructure bill passed last year provides about $350 million to the U.S. EPA over several years to fund recycling infrastructure and education grants. | RozenskiP/Shutterstock

The U.S. EPA is working to build several grant programs from the ground up thanks to an influx of money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and it is reaching out to stakeholders to make sure the programs will meet industry needs.

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Industry reacts to passage of Colorado packaging EPR bill

Published: May 17, 2022
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Various household packaging and recyclable materials.

Colorado is the third state in the U.S. to pass a packaging extended producer responsibility bill, and the first in the 2022 legislative session. | Arturs Budkevics/Shutterstock

While many industry leaders praised the recent passage of a Colorado bill establishing extended producer responsibility for printed paper and packaging, others are calling for Gov. Jared Polis to veto it.

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NERC bale value study shows declining prices

Published: May 17, 2022
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Baled cardboard for recycling.

NERC’s survey showed that the blended value for a ton of recyclables in the first quarter of 2022 was down 15% from the previous quarter but up 57% year over year. | Olexandr Panchenko/Shutterstock

The value of curbside recyclables dropped again in the first quarter of 2022, according to a newly released bale study. But pricing remained higher than what was seen during the same period last year.

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Paper and packaging EPR bill passes in Colorado

Published: May 11, 2022
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Flags of the U.S. and Colorado

The Colorado legislature has sent a packaging EPR bill to Governor Jared Polis. | rarrarorro/Shutterstock

Colorado’s governor has been sent a bill establishing extended producer responsibility (EPR) for printed paper and packaging, a major development in the wider industry conversation about reshaping the funding model for municipal recycling.

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EPR and packaging-reduction bill introduced in New York

Published: May 10, 2022
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NY state capitol building.

The introduction of the EPR bill came after lawmakers stripped a prior EPR proposal out of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget proposal. | Paul Brady Photography/Shutterstock

This story has been updated and corrected.

An extended producer responsibility bill that has the support of environmental activists was recently introduced in New York, while a Colorado EPR bill moved to the Senate floor.

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Circular economy drawing investment interest

Published: May 3, 2022
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Market graph.

Investor interest in waste reduction and recycling is rising steadily, according to an investment manager. | Sittipong Phokawattana/Shutterstock

As aspirations for a circular economy continue to gain traction, some financial index providers are urging investors to take notice of what they call an emerging opportunity.

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Paper recycling sits at center of evolving EPR debate

Published: April 27, 2022
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Bales of recycled paper products.

Paper recycling has moved to the center of the EPR debate in Colorado. | olephoto/Shutterstock

Municipal recycling advocates and the fiber manufacturing industry are at odds over a producer responsibility proposal in Colorado, underscoring a major rift in the push for stronger recycling policy.

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US plastic recycling numbers continue to fall

Published: April 26, 2022
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PET bottles collected for recycling.

Broken down by scrap type, a study found that bottles, non-bottle rigid plastics and other plastics all saw declines individually in 2020. | TeuNg StyLe/Shutterstock

The U.S. is processing more of its scrap plastic domestically, but the overall weight of plastic recycled in 2020 dropped just under 6% from 2019, according to an annual industry report.

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