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.
Three recycling program leaders from across the U.S. said that education and outreach efforts have seen budget cuts due to the pandemic. | Stephen Griffin/Shutterstock
Leaders from three municipal recycling programs of varying size, including the largest city in the U.S., say they are grappling with budget issues and making alterations to collection service as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
Despite the upcoming ban, the Chinese government continues to approve permits for more recovered paper to enter the country. | hxdbzxy/Shutterstock
Another major container ship operator says it’s ending scrap shipments to China as that country prepares to widen its prohibition on imports of recovered material. Meanwhile, insurance providers recently analyzed the Chinese policy and its ramifications for shipping lines.
Just over 1 billion pounds of post-consumer bag and film plastics were recovered in 2018. | Pavel Kubarkov/Shutterstock
The amount of U.S. plastic film and non-bottle plastic rigids collected for recycling decreased in 2018, but domestic processors took in more of the material, according to More Recycling.
Sen. Tom Udall and Rep. Alan Lowenthal recently outlined how components of their national recycling act might be adapted to fit different states. | DeawSS/Shutterstock
Two members of Congress who have pushed for EPR, a national deposit system and more are now encouraging state and municipal lawmakers to introduce their own versions of the legislation.
By material type, the percentage of plastic containers redeemed through the Oregon deposit program increased more than other materials in 2019. | Picsfive/Shutterstock
Consumers in Oregon last year returned 86% of all beverage containers covered under the state’s container deposit program, according to newly released figures.
Several categories of curbside paper have risen in price this month, and the value of natural HDPE bales has jumped by 22%.
GFL is the fourth-largest publicly traded residential waste and recyclables hauler in North America, when measured by total revenue. | Advantage Photography/Shutterstock
Materials recovery facilities in Missouri and Texas will change hands as part of GFL Environmental’s acquisition of WCA Waste Corporation.
The U.S. exported 7.35 million short tons of recovered fiber during the first half of 2020, down 25% year over year. | Halawi/Shutterstock
New trade figures show lower U.S. exports of both recovered paper and plastic from January to June, compared with the same period last year. The decline was largely driven by less material going to China and India.
Higher OCC prices during the second quarter helped boost recycling revenues for the largest waste and recycling haulers in North America. | Scott Beck/Resource Recycling, Inc.
For many of the largest garbage and recycling companies in the U.S., recycling proved a bright spot during an otherwise dismal second quarter.
A company spokesperson told Resource Recycling that upon conversion the mill will use about 660,000 tons per year of OCC and mixed paper as feedstock. | SocoXbreed/Shutterstock
Paper giant Domtar will convert a printing and writing paper mill to produce recycled packaging using OCC and mixed paper.