U.S. recovered fiber exports fell by roughly 3 million tons from 2018 to 2019. | StockStudio Aerials/Shutterstock
In 2019, recovered fiber exports from the United States experienced their largest year-over-year decline on record. U.S. scrap plastic exports also continued a substantial fall.
Coca-Cola HBC, a major bottler for the Coca-Cola Co. in Europe, has announced seven new sustainability goals for 2020.
Curbside recycling can put additional collection trucks on the road. But the recycling process ultimately brings environmental benefits that far outweigh the extra vehicle emissions, according to a study from Waste Management.
The Association of Plastic Recyclers will research ways in which materials recovery facilities might be able to recover more smaller sized plastic containers, which are often lost during sortation. That was one of several actions the group announced at a recent meeting.
When it comes to plastic bag legislation, 2017 may be the storm after the storm. After the high-profile battle over California’s statewide plastic bag ban, legislators in at least 16 states have introduced bills related to bags this year.
For years, Florida has prohibited local bans on plastic bags and EPS food-service products – or has it? A state judge recently ruled that the prohibition no longer applies and, in response, one city has passed a plastic bag ban.
Despite a year of market uncertainty, U.S. recovered paper exports increased in 2018, driven largely by OCC shipments. However, scrap plastic exports fell substantially as countries enacted stringent trade policies.
California is aiming to recoup more than $14 million in funds it says 12 companies, including a subsidiary of Waste Management, owe the state’s container deposit program.
The Califo
rnia legislature passed a bill requiring beverage companies to publicly report the amount of post-consumer PET they use. And a separate piece of legislation sent to the governor extends a plastics-recycling subsidy programs for one year.
The growing smiles you see among recycling collectors and processors are because of continuing market improvement.