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How one operator forged a path on electric collection trucks

Published: February 22, 2022
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EcoCycle electric truck launch

Eco-Cycle recently held a launch event for their 100% electric truck. | Credit: Kay Beaton

Nonprofit hauler and processor Eco-Cycle is bringing the first electric collection truck to Colorado’s streets, but it took a series of other firsts – and plenty of patience – to get there.

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West Coast state kickstarts statewide ‘accepted’ lists effort

Published: February 15, 2022
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Plastic packaging collected for recycling or disposal.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued a request for technical information to help staff in considering which materials will make the state’s accepted recyclables list. | Konektus Photo/Shutterstock

Regulators in Oregon are asking producers to pony up the proof that their products are effectively recyclable.

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National bottle bill likely to land in Congress soon

Published: February 8, 2022
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Bottle return at a reverse vending machine.

In the draft bill, deposits are set at at least 10 cents for containers under 24 fluid ounces and 15 cents for containers larger than that. | Veja/Shutterstock

West Coast lawmakers plan to introduce a national container deposit bill that one advocate says has a better chance of passing than past proposals because of wide “industry engagement.”

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Federal program pumped nearly $1.2B into recycling companies

Published: February 8, 2022
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Signing business paychecks.

An analysis of federal data shows recycling firms received over a billion dollars in Paycheck Protection Program loans. | NIKCOA/Shutterstock

U.S. MRFs and recyclables traders received about $1.19 billion in Paycheck Protection Program loans, including nearly $318 million received after Congress allowed certain companies to take a second bite at the PPP apple.

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The details behind WM’s Continuus deal

Published: February 1, 2022
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Continuus Everboard product at a project installation.

Every 1,000 square feet of Everboard prevents about 1 ton of mixed paper-plastic from going to landfill. | Courtesy of Continuus

Within three years, Waste Management could be sending 150,000 tons of mixed paper and plastic each year to a factory that will recycle the otherwise-landfill-bound material into a high-quality roofing board.

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Residential access to paper recycling stays strong in US

Published: February 1, 2022
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Baled fiber for recycling.

According to AF&PA, in 2021, U.S. mills took in a total of nearly 33 million tons of recovered fiber, the largest amount in over a decade. | noomcpk/Shutterstock

About 94% of U.S. residents had either curbside or drop-off recycling service for at least one type of paper last year, indicating recycling programs largely retained the material despite pandemic pressures.

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Recycling operators cheer list of problematic plastics

Published: January 25, 2022
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PS foam containers on blue background.

PS packaging made the list of problematic materials.| Minh Mi Goi/Shutterstock

The U.S. Plastics Pact says PS and PVC packaging and other materials should be phased out in coming years. A curbside recycling operator called the potential elimination of PVC and PS packaging “two really big steps in the right direction,” though several groups criticized the Pact’s work.
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Experts discuss trade-offs of recycled-content mandates

Published: January 24, 2022
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Empty PET bottles for recycling.

A recent webinar brought together experts to cover the benefits and complications of recycled-content mandates.| Monticello/Shutterstock

Recycled-content laws are a tool for driving post-consumer resin demand. But what if producers are given too many outs, feedstock is in short supply, or the mandates actually result in greater environmental harm?

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