Five large publicly traded North American haulers recently reported their second-quarter earnings. | LV Olga/Shutterstock
Rising commodity prices were a boon for major recycling operators in the second quarter of the year, and they’re now anticipating better full-year results than they initially expected.
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The two companies will stop selling products in Minnesota for two and a half years, can re-enter the market only if bags are clearly marked as non-recyclable, and will pay more than $200,000.
Walmart and Reynolds Consumer Products have reached settlements with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office in a lawsuit over marketing language for bags labeled as “recycling bags.” Continue Reading
AMP’s systems combine color cameras and AI to improve sorting accuracy in MRFs, but the company founder said there are more ways to harness that power. | Marina Onokhina
Putting AI and robotics into a MRF is one thing. Designing a MRF with AI and robotics makes for an entirely different experience, according to AMP founder and CEO Matanya Horowitz. Continue Reading
Republic Services recovered 2.2 million tons of cardboard, metal, organics, paper and plastics in 2023. | Rhfletcher/Shutterstock
For a second consecutive year, waste hauler Republic Services recovered fewer tons of recyclable materials than in the previous year, according to the company’s 2023 ESG report. Continue Reading
The Northeast Recycling Council published a “Guide to Increasing Recycling Supply,” a resource to help build up local material supply. | Aquarius Studio/Shutterstock
With industry-wide attention on building up recycled material end user demand, the Northeast Recycling Council is urging materials recovery stakeholders not to forget about ensuring there is adequate supply. Continue Reading
The recent upgrade of WM’s Germantown MRF in Wisconsin added 20% more capacity to one of the company’s largest facilities in the heart of a rapidly growing manufacturing corridor. | Courtesy of WM
With a nearly $39 million upgrade completed at one of its biggest MRFs, WM officials are looking to further refine automation capabilities as well as add volumes in the Midwest. Continue Reading
Swedish app Bower was selected for a six-month Google.org fellowship and $1.9 million in funding to further develop its recycling app. | Photo Courtesy of Bower
With the help of a Google program, Swedish recycling app Bower is expanding its AI-visioning model worldwide, aiming for a world without waste. Continue Reading
The Eureka Recycling MRF in Minneapolis will install several Machinex optical sorters in response to an increase in smaller plastic containers that have challenged the MRF’s ability to maintain quality. | Courtesy of Eureka Recycling
Minneapolis nonprofit MRF operator Eureka Recycling is seeing larger volumes of smaller plastics coming through its doors, creating challenges to maintain the same level of material quality. These changes spurred the company to plan substantial facility upgrades, a co-president said this week. Continue Reading
Recycled fiber prices have increased steadily throughout 2024, a boon to MRF operators but contributing to the economic challenges cited in the closure of a Washington mill. | Kenishirotie/Shutterstock
Just five years after converting to use 100% recycled fiber in containerboard production, McKinley Paper Company will idle its mill in Port Angeles, Washington, in August. A company representative said West Coast OCC prices and depressed containerboard demand contributed to the closure. Continue Reading
Texas experienced its first major hurricane of the season in early July, with significant power outages, but peak storm season has yet to occur. | Andrea Quintero Olivas/Shutterstock
As the first major hurricane of the season hit Texas last week, MRFs and processors braced for disrupted services, flooding and power outages, which are familiar obstacles for Gulf Coast operators each June through November. Continue Reading