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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. After developing a special focus on recycling policy, they are also the editor of the monthly newsletter Policy Now. Heffernan can be contacted at [email protected].

State legislators explain why they’re drawn to EPR

Published: August 1, 2022
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Documents stacked in an office.

Legislators recently spoke about their challenges and successes with EPR legislation. | Banlai/Shutterstock

Four state-level elected officials who have worked on extended producer responsibility bills for packaging recently discussed how they became champions of recycling policy and offered tips to help advance legislation.

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Recycling and composting bills pass Senate

Published: August 1, 2022
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View of the U.S. capitol in Washington, D.C.

The industry-supported bills would establish a grant program and mandate better reporting. | Orhan Cam/Shutterstock

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed two bills that would improve rural recycling and composting accessibility as well as boost data collection, sending the legislation to the House for a vote.

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How new California law is ‘putting the industry on notice’

Published: July 6, 2022
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California state building

New legislation evokes varied reactions among industry and activists. | Michael Warwick/Shutterstock

Industry leaders mostly expressed support for California’s recently signed extended producer responsibility bill, though some said they still had concerns about its far reach. Continue Reading

How different diversion systems stack up on GHG emissions

Published: July 26, 2022
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Curbside recycling

Using 2014 data from the U.S. EPA, researchers examined GHG benefits of recycling. | Lawrence Glass/Shutterstock

A new life cycle assessment quantifies the impacts of different curbside collection scenarios, concluding that a typical single-stream recycling program reduces overall emissions by almost 40% when compared with simply landfilling the material.

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Steel Dynamics to build $2.2B aluminum recycling complex

Published: July 26, 2022
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Aluminum beverage cans for recycling.

A $2.2 billion investment will bring aluminum recycling facilities to the Southwestern and Southeastern United States and north-central Mexico. | Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock

A metals manufacturer is planning to build a massive aluminum flat rolled mill in North America to supply the automotive and packaging industries with recycled-content material.

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Michigan paper mill finds new solution for residuals

Published: July 19, 2022
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Great Lakes Tissue plant interior.

Great Lakes Tissue aims to eliminate material headed to landfill. | Courtesy of Great Lakes Tissue

Collaboration between an industry group and several Michigan organizations helped Great Lakes Tissue think outside the carton when it comes to its use of recycled material.

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CMI report suggests national bottle bill, improved sortation

Published: July 19, 2022
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Empty aluminum beverage cans arranged in rows.

The Can Manufacturer’s Institute has offered data on the benefits of a national bottle deposit system. | anmbph/Shutterstock

Can manufacturers are focusing on container deposit programs, expanded access and better sortation to improve aluminum beverage can recycling rates.

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