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Changes to Oregon’s container deposit program drew reader attention last month, as did coverage of end market demand concerns, a legislative effort to support a mixed-waste MRF, and extended producer responsibility analysis in the U.S. and Canada.
Marissa Heffernan moderates a panel at the 2024 Plastics Recycling Conference. | Big Wave Photography / Resource Recycling.
When I started working for Resource Recycling, I thought I knew quite a bit about recycling. After all, I grew up in a bottle bill state, turning in cans for candy money, and was the child checking neighbors’ recycling bins to make sure they were using it right. Continue Reading
During an investor presentation, WM leaders outlined investments in recycling and automation. | 2p2play/Shutterstock
Leaders at hauling giant WM discussed expansions in the company’s recycling infrastructure and automation at a recent investor day, expressing optimism for WM’s future as landfill closures increase demand for collection and recycling. Continue Reading
The group will promote MRF upgrades and product design changes to facilitate higher capture of small packaging items, like metal bottle caps. | xpixel/Shutterstock
Led by the Glass Packaging Institute, a new initiative seeks to improve MRF sortation of smaller packaging materials that often get missorted and end up in the glass stream. Continue Reading
Glass sourced from Seattle and the surrounding areas saw temporary disruptions due to the loss of a major end user. | Photo courtesy Seattle Public Utilities
Several months after the primary end user for Seattle-area curbside glass pulled out of the area and disrupted regional glass collection, logistics upgrades have enabled programs to resume moving material as usual. Continue Reading
The Basel Convention regulated plastic scrap in 2021, but each party country must adopt domestic laws to enforce those rules. | hanohiki/Shutterstock
The Malaysian government recently published regulations indicating the country will stop all U.S.-sourced imports of scrap plastic on July 1, and reports from traders indicate the flow already has slowed. Continue Reading
Coloradans are working to implement a series of recycling-related policies, which sometimes support and sometimes oppose each other. | Gargonia/Shutterstock
When it comes to recycling, most policy is set at the state level — but not all of it. When city ordinances, state law and a governor’s priorities all interact, it can be a recipe for both significant change and serious complexity.
A warm welcome back to “Women in Circularity,” where we shine a light on women moving us toward a circular economy. This month, I was pleased to connect with a leader in community-based circular solutions: Teresa Bradley. Teresa is the CEO of Race to Zero Waste. Race to Zero Waste is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing zero waste principles and an equitable circular economy through education, action and advocacy to reduce single-use plastics and address the urgent challenges of our changing climate. Teresa has over 20 years of experience in zero waste operations and advocacy. Continue Reading
A recently introduced bill could allow a proposed solid waste facility in Lane County, Oregon, to bypass its turbulent permitting process. | Courtesy of Bulk Handling Systems
Officials in Lane County, Oregon, are pushing state lawmakers to support a new bill that would allow the construction of a controversial recycling and composting facility. Continue Reading
With Ontario two years into its 2023-2025 transition to a producer responsibility model for paper and packaging recycling, stakeholders have asked for more time and lower costs. | Maxim Studio/Shutterstock
Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, is looking to make adjustments to its signature law for extended producer responsibility in packaging, in response to producer feedback about costs and other program concerns. Continue Reading