Recycling sector grapples with plastic realities

Published: September 4, 2019
Updated: September 4, 2019
by Dan Leif

Juri Freeman of Resource Recycling Systems (left) moderated a plastics-focused panel consisting of (from left to right) Michael Sangiacomo of Recology, Zeina El-Azzi of Brightmark Energy, Kate Bailey of Eco-Cycle and Tim Ponrathnam of Berry Global. | Resource Recycling Conference/Brian Adams Photography

Should some types of single-use plastic be banned? Or is infrastructure improvement a better answer to current plastic waste concerns? A varied group of industry leaders tackled those questions last week.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged legislation, local programs, plastics |

Tomra CEO: Industry has an opportunity for greater value recovery

Published: August 27, 2019
Updated: August 28, 2019
by Colin Staub

Tomra CEO Stefan Ranstrand shared his perspective on what’s needed to usher in a circular economy. | Courtesy of Tomra.

The leader of a global recycling equipment company says improved processing infrastructure will be vital to the industry’s future. But collaboration among all stakeholders is just as important.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged markets |

Industry leaders tackle challenges in Big Easy

Published: August 27, 2019
Updated: August 26, 2019
by Dan Leif

Recycling leaders are gathering in New Orleans this week. | Brian Adams Photo/Resource Recycling, Inc.

Measurement and markets – two keys to strengthening recycling – were highlighted on the first day of the Resource Recycling Conference in New Orleans.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged industry groups, markets |

Several sizable cities cut curbside recycling

Published: August 20, 2019
Updated: August 20, 2019
by Jared Paben

Jackson, Miss. will suspend its curbside recycling program effective Sept. 1. | C5 Media/Shutterstock

In response to strained recycling markets, a handful of U.S. municipalities larger than 50,000 people have recently canceled recycling programs or reduced the materials accepted.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged local programs, markets |

Large cullet end user coming to Southeast

Published: August 20, 2019
Updated: August 20, 2019
by Jared Paben

Furnace start-up at Georgia-based Arglass Yamamura is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2020. | From Arglass Yamamura website.

A newly formed company plans to build what it calls the first new U.S. glass bottle factory in over a generation. The $123 million plant will use recycled glass.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged glass |

Plastic shipments to India stall as ban draws near

Published: August 13, 2019
Updated: August 13, 2019
by Colin Staub

During the first six months of 2019, India brought in 156 million pounds of U.S. scrap plastics. | Avigator Fortuner/Shutterstock

Recovered plastic has largely stopped flowing from the U.S. into India, which until recently has been among the top importers of the material.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged Asia, exports, plastics |

Companies plan investments in US recycled paper mills

Published: August 13, 2019
Updated: August 13, 2019
by Colin Staub

A 700,000-tons-per-year recycled pulp and paper operation is coming soon to Kentucky. | olephoto/Shutterstock

The past week brought several significant recycled paper capacity announcements, indicating future domestic outlets for mixed paper and OCC.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged fiber, markets |

Prices for recycled paper and plastic stay painfully low

Published: August 13, 2019
Updated: August 13, 2019
by RecyclingMarkets.net Staff

Multiple recovered fiber grades continued to decline in price over the past month. The same downward trend was seen for PET and HDPE.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged markets |

Dime deposit drives up Oregon return rate

Published: January 29, 2019
Updated: August 13, 2019
by Colin Staub

The longest-running container deposit program in the country expects to hit its highest redemption rate in years, shortly after the program doubled its deposit to 10 cents.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged container deposits |

Scrap plastic exports plummet 43% this year, paper stable

Published: August 6, 2019
Updated: August 6, 2019
by Colin Staub

U.S. exporters shipped out 773 million pounds of scrap plastic in the first half of 2019. | aapsky/Shutterstock

Federal trade statistics released last week show U.S. export volumes for the first six months of 2019. Recycled plastics have seen a major drop when compared with figures from a year ago.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged Asia, exports, fiber, markets, plastics |

Category: Top stories