Our top stories from 2020

Published: January 4, 2021
Updated: January 4, 2021
by Editorial Staff

Sorted plastics at a recycling facility.

Readers last year were drawn to news that Brightmark is seeking over 1,000,000 tons of difficult-to-recycle plastics for chemical recycling. | hiv360/Shutterstock

Economic uncertainty and operational changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic affected virtually every business sector in 2020, and the recycling industry certainly felt the impacts. But materials recovery professionals were also navigating ongoing volatility in commodities markets, heightened awareness of plastics management problems, and much more.

Posted in Top stories |

Collector deaths decreased in 2019

Published: December 22, 2020
Updated: December 22, 2020
by Jared Paben

Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows 43 workers suffered fatal injuries on the job in 2019. | Sepp photography/Shutterstock

Forty-three garbage and recycling collection workers were killed on the job in 2019, fewer than the prior year but still more than the average over the past several years.

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged data, industry groups |

Judge: Connecticut MRF to remain open during legal appeal

Published: December 22, 2020
Updated: December 22, 2020
by Jared Paben

Court gavel resting on a book on a desk.

The Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) insisted chaos would ensue if Republic Services shut down the MRF, which sorts and markets hundreds of tons of recyclables each day. | Tiko Aramyan/Shutterstock

A Connecticut court has ruled that Republic Services can’t terminate a contract and shut down a MRF while the company’s dispute with a recycling authority is appealed.

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged courts/lawsuits, local programs |

Mapping out the recycling firms that received PPP loans

Published: December 15, 2020
Updated: December 17, 2020
by Jared Paben

A Resource Recycling analysis shows that 1,116 companies identified as “materials recovery facilities” and 4,300 companies identified as “recyclable material merchant wholesalers” received Paycheck Protection Program funds this year. | NIKCOA/Shutterstock

Over $850 million in Paycheck Protection Program funds flowed to MRF operators and recyclables trading companies this year, according to data released following a court order.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged data |

Lawsuit takes aim at Walmart’s plastic recycling labels

Published: December 15, 2020
Updated: December 15, 2020
by Colin Staub

Greenpeace sign on a brick building exterior.

A lawsuit from Greenpeace seeks to force Walmart to change its labeling and conduct a “corrective” advertising campaign. | nitpicker/Shutterstock

Environmental activist group Greenpeace this week accused Walmart of falsely labeling items as recyclable and asked a California court to compel the retailer to stop making the claims.

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged courts/lawsuits |

Scrap paper, plastic and metal prices all rise in December

Published: December 15, 2020
Updated: December 15, 2020
by RecyclingMarkets.net Staff

As the year comes to a close, MRFs are largely seeing good news across the board, fetching higher prices for OCC, mixed paper, aluminum, natural HDPE and other materials.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged markets |

Spat continues between Republic and Connecticut officials

Published: December 8, 2020
Updated: December 8, 2020
by Jared Paben

A judge has ruled that the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) must pay $1.1 million in damages to a subsidiary of Republic Services. | BCFC/Shutterstock

A Connecticut judge last month ordered a public authority to pay Republic Services damages in a MRF operations contract dispute. Soon after, the saga took another turn, with Republic indicating it’s set to bow out of the agreement altogether.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged contamination, courts/lawsuits, local programs |

Recycling facilities receive $2 million to boost PP recovery

Published: December 8, 2020
Updated: December 8, 2020
by Colin Staub

A conveyor belt carries materials inside a MRF.

Through the new grants, The Recycling Partnership estimates curbside PP recycling will become available to an additional 4 million people nationwide. | RYosha/Shutterstock

Four MRFs in the eastern half of the U.S. will begin sorting polypropylene with financial assistance from major brands, retailers and other industry members brought together through The Recycling Partnership.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged industry groups, plastics |

In Our Opinion: How EPR can target innovation

Published: December 8, 2020
Updated: December 8, 2020
by Pierre Benabidès & Peter Hargreave

The authors lay out different approaches to goal setting and measurement for EPR programs. | Skylines/Shutterstock

Posted in Top stories | Tagged EPR/Stewardship |

China confirms expanded import ban starting Jan. 1

Published: December 1, 2020
Updated: December 1, 2020
by Colin Staub

Chinese flag with the Yangtze River in background.

The Chinese government has been enacting restrictions over the past few years, with a full ban coming into effect Jan. 1, 2021. | Wangkun Jia/Shutterstock

The Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment last week announced details about the country’s upcoming ban on all materials it classifies as “solid waste,” including recovered fiber.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged Asia, exports |

Category: Top stories