Back to Top

Tag Archives: challenging materials

How the recycling industry is preparing to tackle solar panels

Published: June 15, 2021
Updated:

by
Solar panels on a residential roof.

E-scrap processors are developing strategies for an increasing number of PV modules entering the market. | Hill120 / Shutterstock

In some ways, solar panels present some of the same recycling challenges as old TVs. They carry a high cost to recycle properly, have limited commodity value and contain hazardous metals. At the same time, relatively few downstream processors recycle them, and markets are working against reuse.

Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged |

How COVID-19 affected TerraCycle US’s bottom line

Published: May 25, 2021
Updated:

by

Financial documents show TerraCycle US saw double-digit growth in the company’s Zero Waste Boxes program. | Postmodern Studio / Shutterstock

Coronavirus-related closures hurt financial performance for TerraCycle US last year, but increased profitability in the company’s Zero Waste Boxes business helped buffer the impacts.

Continue Reading

Battery processors lay out latest moves

Published: February 22, 2021
Updated:

by
Lithium batteries on white background.

Aqua Metals, a lead-acid battery recycling technology company, is moving into the lithium-ion battery recycling business. | showcake/Shutterstock

A battery recycling company goes public, North American collection numbers are released, and a lead-acid battery recycling technology company moves into the lithium-ion realm. Those announcements were made around National Battery Day last Thursday.

Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , |

How a chemical recycling firm handles EnergyBag plastics

Published: February 2, 2021
Updated:

by
Nexus truck and tanks.

Nexus Fuels uses pyrolysis technology to convert a mix of post-consumer plastics collected at the curb into chemical and wax products. | Nexus Fuels

For the past two years, difficult-to-recycle plastics have been collected in Cobb County, Ga. through the Hefty EnergyBag program. A downstream processor recently described what happens to that material.

Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged , |

Lithium-ion battery recycler to build New York facility

Published: September 22, 2020
Updated:

by
Li-ion batteries collected for recycling

Li-Cycle Incorporated recently announced plans for a Rochester, N.Y. facility capable of processing at least 10 million pounds of lithium-ion batteries per year. | Vietnam stock photos/Shutterstock

Canadian firm Li-Cycle Incorporated, which handles lithium-ion batteries from e-scrap and other sources, is developing a $175 million processing hub in the U.S.

Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged , |

Two paper mills begin accepting plastic-lined cups

Published: September 15, 2020
Updated:

by
Colorful paper coffee cups on a gray background.

Disposable coffee cups like these have a plastic coating that has historically left them out of the recovery and recycling process. | NatalyaBond/Shutterstock

Georgia-Pacific this week said two of its mills are bringing in mixed-paper bales that include single-use cups with a polyethylene barrier layer.

Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged , |

What industry learned from flexible film recycling effort

Published: June 23, 2020
Updated:

by
Plastics sortation at the MRFF research facility.

The TotalRecycle MRF saw a 70% contamination reduction in its mixed paper and old newsprint bales from installing the flexible packaging sortation equipment. | Jared Paben/Resource Recycling, Inc.

A multi-stakeholder project was able to hit some goals separating flexible plastic packaging from other recyclables at a MRF. But backers also reported significant hurdles moving material downstream cost-effectively.

Continue Reading