Resource Recycling keeps you on top of critical industry trends and brings unparalleled analysis of the evolving materials stream, market turbulence, policy trends and more.
Sign up for our free weekly e-newsletters to receive the latest news directly.
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
Although extended producer responsibility is poised to capture substantially more material, The Recycling Partnership’s CEO says it’s important to ensure that material has an end market. | New Africa/Shutterstock
Backed by major brands, The Recycling Partnership has become well-known in the materials recovery sector over the past decade for boosting access to recycling, in particular by helping municipalities roll out recycling carts, improve outreach and reduce contamination. Continue Reading
Extended producer responsibility for packaging bill S 1464 passed out of the Senate on May 28 with a vote of 33-25, but did not get a vote in the Assembly. | Real Window Creative/Shutterstock
The 2025 legislative session in New York ended, and legislators’ hopes to pass extended producer responsibility for packaging this year did as well. Continue Reading
Producer responsibility organization Circular Materials is launching the first phase of packaging extended producer responsibility in Alberta, Canada, on April 1. | Sherif Ashraf 22/Shutterstock
Another Canadian province is rolling out its extended producer responsibility program for packaging and paper products. Continue Reading
Recyclables saw an across-the-board price slump for June, with key fiber, plastic and metal grades notching slight or moderate decreases in value. Continue Reading