The second year in which COVID-19 cases in the workplace were reported, 2021 saw a steep decline in the illness rate for solid waste collection workers. | Joyseulay/Shutterstock
According to federal data, the waste and recycling industry injury rate fell in 2021, bringing it to the lowest point since 2006. Continue Reading
A total of $1.17 million for recycling companies came as part of a larger $3.2 million round of funding in the latest installment of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. | Tada Images/Shutterstock
An AI-powered robotic sortation system, a glass-to-cement company and a zero waste software maker all received small business grants from the U.S. EPA.
Company leaders said during recent investor calls they expect fourth-quarter 2022 recyclables values to be far below third-quarter figures. | David Tonelson/Shutterstock
Plummeting recyclables prices took a bite out of the largest haulers’ revenues during the third quarter, and executives foresee worse prices to come.
Nationwide PET reclaimer Evergreen has installed advanced sorting equipment at its Riverside, Calif. facility over the past year. | Courtesy of Google Maps
Two reclaimers have recently made or are planning multi-million-dollar upgrades at their California PET recycling facilities. The following are details on the projects by Evergreen and Peninsula Plastics Recycling.
The founder of the Product Stewardship Institute recently advised the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on plastic pollution reduction policies. | 360b/Shutterstock
The Bureau of International Recycling says recycling companies in Europe and elsewhere are struggling with high energy prices. | Hanna Taniukevich/Shutterstock
An international group is sounding an alarm for help for the recycling industry amid high costs, particularly for energy. Continue Reading
California’s plastic quality incentive payment (QIP) program offers $180 per ton for clean PET bales. | MarieKaz/Shutterstock
California last year started a unique program of providing cash payments to MRFs that produce ultra-clean PET bottle bales. Recently released data suggest the payments aren’t juicy enough morsels.
MRFs are using what they see as a more equitable pricing structure with municipal customers. Courtesy of WM.
Commodity prices crashed recently after a year of highs, but industry leaders said changes instituted after the 2008 recession make them better prepared to handle current volatility. Continue Reading
Greenpeace’s report calling into question the viability of the plastics recycling industry drew attention last month. | MuhammadAzman/Shutterstock
Greenpeace’s controversial assertions about plastics recycling drew our readers’ clicks last month, along with a market pricing look at a couple of fiber recycling opinion pieces. Continue Reading