GFL is one of several major waste and recycling haulers that recently reported quarterly results.| Advantage Photography / Shutterstock
Markedly higher commodity prices continue to provide big year-over-year boosts in revenue for the largest publicly traded haulers in North America.
Traditional coatings on coffee cups add contamination to the recycling process, but Smart Planet Technologies has developed a solution. | Andy Shell / Shutterstock
Leaders at Smart Planet Technologies, which produces a coating that minimizes contamination during the fiber milling process, say they have seen adoption in several global regions. But several factors have limited U.S. growth.
The lawsuit alleges TerraCycle is enabling brand owners to mislead the public on the recyclability of their products. | photo_gonzo / Shutterstock
A nonprofit environmental organization is suing TerraCycle and several major brands, saying the companies are misleading consumers about the recyclability of their products through mail-in collection programs. TerraCycle’s CEO discussed the company’s labeling in an interview.
O-I has begun collection programs in communities it operates. | smoothsails / Shutterstock
O-I, a major user of recycled glass, recently launched an initiative that will support recycling options where curbside service is unavailable. The program also boosts the impact of recycling collection through matching charitable donations.
Worldwide, nearly 269 million short tons of recovered fiber were generated in 2019. | nickpeps / Shutterstock
A global report charting recovered fiber trends throughout 2019 found that packaging made up 86% of the end products made from the material. The study also examined fiber generation by region, international trade flows and more.
Recycle BC’s recent annual report noted a 90% recovery rate for paper, 52% for plastic, and 85% for metal. | pryzmat / Shutterstock
In 2020, a producer-funded system for paper and packaging recycling achieved a significantly higher recovery rate – and spent more money – than the year prior.
Indonesia’s 2% contamination rule for recovered fiber imports is likely to take effect in September. | Triawanda Tirta Aditya / Shutterstock
Recovered fiber will be allowed a maximum of 2% contamination when shipped into Indonesia, which is currently the ninth-largest market for U.S. exports of the material.
Sellers of recyclable materials have continued to enjoy strong markets, with virtually all grades of curbside fiber, plastics and metals seeing value boosts from June to July.
Maine’s new law requires packaging producers to fund the recycling of their products. | Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
The governor of Maine has signed legislation establishing extended producer responsibility for packaging materials in the state. It’s the first bill of its kind to become law in the U.S.
The Crossroads plans call for a 350,000-tons-per-year containerboard mill that uses 100% old corrugated containers (OCC) and mixed paper. | Pakorn Jarujittipun / Shutterstock
Crossroads Paper recently drew capital from an investment firm as it continues to develop a $320 million containerboard mill that would serve as a big buyer of recycled fiber in the western U.S.