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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].

What’s the right role for chemical recycling?

Published: November 28, 2022
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Mixed plastic caps and residuals for recycling.

As of 2021 there were more than 40 companies working to develop or manage chemical recycling projects in the United States. | paul prescott/Shutterstock

Mechanical recycling should take priority over chemical recycling, but there will need to be several technical solutions to the world’s plastic problem, argued panelists on a recent Product Stewardship Institute webinar. 

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Dow, WM team up on curbside residential film project

Published: November 28, 2022
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Plastic bag filled with plastic bags for recycling.

Waste Management (WM) has committed to investing more than $800 million to enhance recycling infrastructure, including $56 million to upgrade three Pacific Northwest MRFs. | Pavel Kubarkov/Shutterstock

Dow and Waste Management are partnering on a pilot program that will give some Chicago residents the option of recycling plastic films curbside. 

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Greenpeace report: No US plastic is truly recyclable

Published: October 25, 2022
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Bales of plastics for recycling.

The latest Greenpeace report challenges the viability of U.S. plastics recycling. | MuhammadAzman/Shutterstock

This story has been updated. 

An updated report from Greenpeace USA maintains that no plastics in the U.S. actually meet the definition of recyclable and calls for companies to switch to other materials. 

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Oregon MRF becomes first to achieve RIOS certification

Published: November 14, 2022
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recycling industry

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) created the Recycling Industry Operating Standard (RIOS) to promote environmental consciousness and ensure MRF workers’ health and safety. | MichaelFelixPhotography/Shutterstock

Looking to support employees and set a higher bar for quality, Oregon-based Far West Recycling certified its northeast Portland facility to the Recycling Industry Operating Standard. It is the first MRF to do so. 

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NRC panelists: Strong EPR requires reduction, transparency

Published: November 14, 2022
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US-Capitol-Building-Orhan-Cam-Shutterstock

Hosted by the Northeast Recycling Council, the 2022 National Recycling Congress was held virtually on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10. | Orhan Cam/Shutterstock

Model extended producer responsibility bills and federal funding were two hot topics at the 2022 National Recycling Congress, with panelists calling for packaging reduction and a broad overhaul of the recycling system.  Continue Reading

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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