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US scrap paper exports sink slightly as plastics drop sharply

Published: June 14, 2022
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India, Mexico and Vietnam are still the top three destinations for U.S. OCC and paper in the first quarter of 2022.  | Siwakorn1933/Shutterstock

U.S. exports of recovered fiber held relatively steady during the first quarter of 2022, but scrap plastic shipments plunged by more than one-fifth.  Continue Reading

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OECD says plastic pollution will grow faster than recycling rate

Published: June 14, 2022
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Plastics littering a beach in Malaysia.

An OECD report anticipates marine debris will increase significantly in volume over the next several decades. | Rich Carey/Shutterstock

Globally, discarded plastic levels could nearly triple by 2060, with about half of the plastic ending up in landfill and less than a fifth recycled, an OECD report projected.

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Our top stories from May 2022

Published: June 14, 2022
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Close up view of an bale of UBCs for recycling.

News of an upcoming $2.5B aluminum recycling plant from Novelis was of interest to readers last month. | Courtesy of Novelis

Articles about extended producer responsibility legislation attracted ample clicks last month, along with news about a planned new aluminum recycling plant and the U.S. paper recycling rate.

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EPR bill in Colorado signed while New York bills fail

Published: June 7, 2022
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Colorado state capitol building at sunset.

With the governor’s signature last week, Colorado became the third U.S. state with an extended producer responsibility law for printed paper and packaging. | Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock

Producer responsibility advocates celebrated the signing of Colorado’s extended producer responsibility bill into law, but were left wanting in New York as two bills failed this session.

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Collaboration opens commercial glass recycling in Chicagoland

Published: June 7, 2022
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Glass collected for recycling.

A group organized by the Glass Packaging Institute has brought glass recycling service to restaurants and bars in the Chicago area. | Courtesy of GPI

A 2021 commercial glass recycling pilot program in the Chicago area has taken off again, and this time it has signed up double the number of restaurants and bars.

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Northeast state enacts first EPR law for fuel cylinders

Published: June 7, 2022
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Propane tanks for camping stoves.

Residents in the Constitution State will be able to recycle fuel cylinders thanks to a new EPR law. | Saide Mantell/Shutterstock

Connecticut has become the first state in the U.S. to address the hazard of fuel cylinders in the solid waste stream with an extended producer responsibility law.

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New research focuses on global metals recycling

Published: June 7, 2022
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Glencore's Mount Isa Mine seen from above.

A report said the world’s stock of raw elements is at risk of running out and called for industries to shift away from mining the Earth to mining old devices for needed material. | Cam Laird/Shutterstock

A study on global metals recycling identified feedstock reliability, technology limitations and product design choices as barriers to increasing recycled metal usage.

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Bottle bill reform heads to Iowa governor

Published: June 1, 2022
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Iowa capitol building in Des Moines seen from above.

Changes to Iowa’s bottle redemption program are awaiting the Governor’s signature. | Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

Iowa lawmakers have approved container deposit legislation that triples the bottle handling fee but allows grocery stores and other retail entities to opt out of the collection system, a fact that could significantly reduce redemption access.

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