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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].

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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Study: Cart tagging reduces contamination, for a cost

Published: January 24, 2022
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Clackamas Sustainability & Solid Waste Program cart tagging program

Clackamas County, Ore. was one of a number of case studies used to illustrate the data in SWANA’s report. | Clackamas Sustainability & Solid Waste Program/SWANA Report

Leaving “oops” tags on contaminated recycling carts and providing positive feedback to those with clean carts is one of the most effective ways to reduce contamination, though it can be pricey, according to a new report.

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Paper processor plans $267 million pulping plant in Virginia

Published: January 18, 2022
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Chesapeake, Va. shown on map.

Celadon’s 335,000-square-foot Chesapeake, Va. facility is anticipated to be up and running by 2024. | Tudoran Andrei/Shutterstock

Celadon Development Corporation announced plans to expand its North American footprint with a recycling and production facility in Virginia to export recycled pulp to China.

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