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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].

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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City of Austin works toward equity in every department

Published: October 10, 2022
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Speakers on stage at the 2022 Resource Recycling Conference

In a session moderated by Dan Leif (left), speakers Brion Oaks (middle) and Ken Snipes (right) spoke about how the city of Austin has taken specific steps to combat historical racial disparities. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling, Inc.

Most Americans see racism as a collection of individual actions, but it’s really an institutional problem that needs to be addressed at every level, speakers on a recent equity panel advised.

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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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