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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].

Apple and other OEMs fund doorstep e-scrap pilot

Published: March 22, 2022
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Aerial view of a Denver neighborhood with city skyline in background.

Denver residents will have doorstep scrap electronics collection thanks to a pilot program from Retrievr, Google, Apple, Amazon, Dell Technologies and Microsoft. | Arina P Habich/Shutterstock

Some of the technology world’s big names are funding an electronics collection effort in Denver, trying to boost recycling rates.

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Conference panelists outline state of plastics recycling policy

Published: March 15, 2022
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David Biderman, far right, addresses the audience at the 2022 Plastics Recycling Conference. | Brian Adams Photo

Interest in minimum-recycled-content mandates and extended producer responsibility bills is at an all-time high, but the reality of passing legislation is more complicated, according to industry experts.

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The Recycling Partnership to launch PET Recycling Coalition

Published: March 15, 2022
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PET bottles for recycling.

The PET Recycling Coalition will launch in the next few months and will provide grants to MRFs and other facilities to increase the capture of PET beyond bottles. | Kwangmoozaa/Shutterstock

The Recycling Partnership will launch a PET recycling coalition, a representative of the nonprofit group announced at last week’s Plastics Recycling Conference.

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Keurig agrees to $10 million settlement, recycling disclaimer

Published: March 1, 2022
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Court gavel resting on a folio on a desk.

As part of the settlement Keurig cannot label, market, advertise or otherwise represent the cups as recyclable without a clear and prominent revised qualifying statement that the materials are not recycled in many communities.  | zimmytws/Shutterstock

Keurig Green Mountain reached a class-action settlement with a consumer who sued over coffee pod recyclability claims, agreeing to pay $10 million and add language indicating the cups are “not recycled in many communities.”

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Recycling Partnership launches inclusion fund

Published: March 1, 2022
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curbside carts

The Recycling Inclusion Fund already has several projects underway, including foundational research and a multi-family recycling project in Orlando, Fla. | Thanatos Media/Shutterstock

The Recycling Partnership is working to close the equity gap in recycling access and address other racial issues with a Recycling Inclusion Fund.

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Environmental voice guides recycling labeling policy push

Published: February 22, 2022
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Oregon capitol building with trees in bloom.

Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act was signed into law in August 2021, creating a 12-person task force to research and evaluate recyclability claims. | Yanqiang Dai/Shutterstock

For several years, lawmakers across the U.S. have been drafting policy to address concerns about ocean plastic. In Oregon, a key recycling labeling task force elected a representative from an ocean environmental group as vice chair.

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How one operator forged a path on electric collection trucks

Published: February 22, 2022
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EcoCycle electric truck launch

Eco-Cycle recently held a launch event for their 100% electric truck. | Credit: Kay Beaton

Nonprofit hauler and processor Eco-Cycle is bringing the first electric collection truck to Colorado’s streets, but it took a series of other firsts – and plenty of patience – to get there.

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Program leaders outline circular economy strategies

Published: February 15, 2022
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Waste and recycling bins outside of homes.

During a recent SWANA webinar, leaders from Seattle and Phoenix offered insights from their work toward circular economy goals. | Diana Parkhouse/Shutterstock

Two municipal officials and a Plastics Pact representative shared tips for moving away from a “make, take, waste” framework during a recent webinar. Public-private partnerships and system redesigns were two of the ideas shared.

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National bottle bill likely to land in Congress soon

Published: February 8, 2022
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Bottle return at a reverse vending machine.

In the draft bill, deposits are set at at least 10 cents for containers under 24 fluid ounces and 15 cents for containers larger than that. | Veja/Shutterstock

West Coast lawmakers plan to introduce a national container deposit bill that one advocate says has a better chance of passing than past proposals because of wide “industry engagement.”

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