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How Phoenix fits into Balcones’ growth plans

Published: November 28, 2022
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Inside the city of Phoenix North Gateway MRF.

After winning a contract previously held by Republic Systems, Balcones Resources will operate Phoenix’s North Gateway MRF (pictured above and below), as well as the city’s 27th Avenue MRF, which will be rebuilt with Machinex equipment. | Courtesy of city of Phoenix

Balcones Resources’ recently signed MRF operations contract with the city of Phoenix is exactly the type of “huge step” toward growth envisioned when Closed Loop Partners bought a majority stake in the company, a Balcones executive explained. 

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Paper producers reflect on OCC prices, upcoming plants

Published: November 28, 2022
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Old cardboard containers (OCC) collected for recycling.

Even though OCC bales are currently selling for unusually low prices, many producers are seeing their savings offset by increased costs in other areas. | Kenishirotie/Shutterstock

Recycled paper product producers may be enjoying the lower OCC prices as 2022 comes to a close, but those giant manufacturers are still facing higher inflationary pressures in other areas, several executives recently noted.

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What’s the right role for chemical recycling?

Published: November 28, 2022
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Mixed plastic caps and residuals for recycling.

As of 2021 there were more than 40 companies working to develop or manage chemical recycling projects in the United States. | paul prescott/Shutterstock

Mechanical recycling should take priority over chemical recycling, but there will need to be several technical solutions to the world’s plastic problem, argued panelists on a recent Product Stewardship Institute webinar. 

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Greenpeace report: No US plastic is truly recyclable

Published: October 25, 2022
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Bales of plastics for recycling.

The latest Greenpeace report challenges the viability of U.S. plastics recycling. | MuhammadAzman/Shutterstock

This story has been updated. 

An updated report from Greenpeace USA maintains that no plastics in the U.S. actually meet the definition of recyclable and calls for companies to switch to other materials. 

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Northeast state funds organics-garbage ‘co-collection’ projects

Published: November 1, 2022
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Food scraps collected in a bucket.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will help fund the collection of bagged food scraps and garbage in the same curbside containers. | Maerzkind/Shutterstock

The state of Connecticut is supporting a unique approach to organics diversion: collecting food scraps and garbage in separate plastic bags placed in the same curbside container. Continue Reading

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Oregon MRF becomes first to achieve RIOS certification

Published: November 14, 2022
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recycling industry

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) created the Recycling Industry Operating Standard (RIOS) to promote environmental consciousness and ensure MRF workers’ health and safety. | MichaelFelixPhotography/Shutterstock

Looking to support employees and set a higher bar for quality, Oregon-based Far West Recycling certified its northeast Portland facility to the Recycling Industry Operating Standard. It is the first MRF to do so. 

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Industry illness and injury rates hit record low in 2021

Published: November 14, 2022
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data analysis

The second year in which COVID-19 cases in the workplace were reported, 2021 saw a steep decline in the illness rate for solid waste collection workers. | Joyseulay/Shutterstock

According to federal data, the waste and recycling industry injury rate fell in 2021, bringing it to the lowest point since 2006.  Continue Reading

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EPA grants just under $1.2M to small recycling companies

Published: November 7, 2022
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US EPA website on mobile device.

A total of $1.17 million for recycling companies came as part of a larger $3.2 million round of funding in the latest installment of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. | Tada Images/Shutterstock

An AI-powered robotic sortation system, a glass-to-cement company and a zero waste software maker all received small business grants from the U.S. EPA. 

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Haulers report impact of falling commodity prices

Published: November 7, 2022
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Waste Management truck on a public street.

Company leaders said during recent investor calls they expect fourth-quarter 2022 recyclables values to be far below third-quarter figures. | David Tonelson/Shutterstock

Plummeting recyclables prices took a bite out of the largest haulers’ revenues during the third quarter, and executives foresee worse prices to come. 

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