U.S. companies exported 8.7 million short tons of recovered paper and OCC during the first half of 2022. | Richard H Grant/Shutterstock
U.S. exports of fiber bales came down slightly during the first half of this year, trade data shows. At the same time, overseas shipments of scrap plastics took a tumble.
Fiber insiders Ryan Fox (left) and Myles Cohen on stage at the 2022 Resource Recycling Conference. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling, Inc.
This story has been updated
Two corrugated industry experts have crunched the numbers and concluded that the OCC recycling rate is likely much lower than estimates published by the paper manufacturing sector.
A pilot project will bring carton recycling to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. | Ho Su A Bi/Shutterstock
Circular Action, Tetra Pak and Packaging Recycling Organisation Vietnam teamed up to create a carton recycling initiative in Vietnam they hope will increase recycling rates and provide income to freelance waste pickers.
Total Fiber Recovery of Chesapeake is building a pulping mill in Chesapeake, Va. that will bring in mixed paper and OCC bales. | Courtesy of Bulk Handling Systems
A pulping plant that will consume mixed paper and OCC is now under construction in Virginia. Meanwhile, Sonoco has started testing recycling of plastic-lined paper cups. Continue Reading
Great Lakes Tissue aims to eliminate material headed to landfill. | Courtesy of Great Lakes Tissue
Collaboration between an industry group and several Michigan organizations helped Great Lakes Tissue think outside the carton when it comes to its use of recycled material.
An extended producer responsibility bill is currently under consideration in California. | Luis M. Seco/Shutterstock
This story has been corrected.
Nearly a dozen legislators signed a letter asking to remove fiber from California’s proposed extended producer responsibility bill, as it undergoes more amendments in the final days before a June 29 deadline.
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
AF&PA data notes that in 2021 about 80% of U.S. paper mills used some recycled paper and about one-third used only recycled paper. | noomcpk/Shutterstock
The U.S. paper and OCC recycling rates for 2021 were 68.0% and 91.4%, higher than the previous year, the American Forest & Paper Association announced in a press conference May 24.
OSHA issued two dozen violations against Central Paper Stock, Inc. | Justin Foster/Shutterstock
The federal government is fining a St. Louis recycling facility $261,000 after an employee was crushed to death in a paper baler last fall.