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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].

Policy Update: Electronics and battery recycling bills

Published: April 16, 2024
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battery recycling

There are a dozen bills relating to battery and e-scrap recycling in play across nine states in 2024. | Ververidis Vasilis/Shutterstock

With most legislative sessions reaching the halfway point, there are a dozen bills in play that would create or amend state electronics recycling programs or regulate battery disposal.  Continue Reading

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NYC study finds lower capture rates, higher contamination

Published: April 9, 2024
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Waste and recycling on a street in New York City.

The study, conducted in fall 2022 and spring 2023, sorted samples from residential households, New York City Public Schools, the New York City Housing Authority and on-street litter baskets into 96 main categories. | Helen89/Shutterstock

A waste characterization study in New York City found that recycling rates for metal, glass, plastic and paper declined from previous study years. It also found capture rates decreased and contamination rates increased. Continue Reading

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Circular Action Alliance submits EPR plan in Oregon

Published: April 9, 2024
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An initial extended producer responsibility for packaging plan in Oregon covers the years 2025 through 2027. | Yanqiang Dai/Shutterstock

The shape of Oregon’s extended producer responsibility for packaging plan is becoming clearer after the Circular Action Alliance released its initial program plan to the state.  Continue Reading

Panelists: AI has a bigger role to play in recycling

Published: April 9, 2024
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Panelist Rebecca Hu said during the session that AI is moving beyond robotics and the technology is on track to provide data and create partnerships that could improve the whole value chain. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling

Artificial intelligence is a key element of increasing plastic recycling, panelists at the 2024 Plastics Recycling Conference in Grapevine, Texas, said last month. Continue Reading

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Producers still lacking urgency on data deadlines

Published: March 29, 2024
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The first packaging data reporting deadlines for extended producer responsibility programs will hit in 2025, but gathering the needed data will take time and help from up and down the value chain. | A9-STUDIO/Shutterstock

In about a year, companies will be required to start reporting various data under four different extended producer responsibility laws as well as some recycled content and labeling laws. Many are still not ready, industry stakeholders cautioned. 

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Survey: Residents expect glass recycling option

Published: April 2, 2024
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Glass bottles collected for recycling.

In the latest edition of the annual survey, 58% of respondents were from the public sector, 12% were glass manufacturers, and 10% were MRFs. | Michael Warwick/Shutterstock

The vast majority of residents expect to be able to recycle glass, and concern about glass recycling programs has fallen sharply, the Glass Recycling Coalition’s 2023 Glass Recycling Survey found. Continue Reading

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California releases deposit system update draft rules

Published: April 2, 2024
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Different beverage containers, metal, glass and plastic.

SB 1013 brought more container types into the California Redemption Value system but also removed an option for retailers to choose to pay a $100 daily fee instead of accepting returned containers. | Andrii Koval/Shutterstock

Formal rulemaking for changes to California’s deposit system is about to begin, and draft rules shed more light on new requirements for beverage dealers and retailers. Continue Reading

Colorado regulators suggest mid-range EPR scenario

Published: March 19, 2024
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On March 12, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment recommended a medium-level recycling scenario to the Joint Budget Committee. | RozenskiP/Shutterstock

Colorado state regulators suggested choosing a mid-level recycling scenario for its extended producer responsibility program for packaging, but a final decision is yet to come.  Continue Reading