MRFs in the Northeast saw recycled commodity prices dip in Q2 2025, with haulers reflecting a continuing decrease in their quarterly earnings results. | Rozenskip/Shutterstock
In the Northeast, recycled commodity prices continued to decline in April-June, with MRFs experiencing an average decrease of nearly 6% compared to the first quarter of 2025, according to the Northeast Recycling Council’s (NERC) second-quarter MRF Values Survey Report. Continue Reading
The packaging manufacturer announced positive third-quarter financial results despite uncertain macroeconomic drivers and lower volumes. | T.Schneider/Shutterstock
Packaging manufacturer Greif reported strong third-quarter financial results and shared details about its recent divestitures during an investor call. Continue Reading
In a recent webinar, speakers from the Alliance of Mission-Based Recyclers explored possible solutions for film recycling. | Happy Stock Photo/Shutterstock
Members of the nonprofit Alliance of Mission-Based Recyclers discussed the increasing use of film plastics, and the difficulties in recycling them, in a recent webinar. Continue Reading
Plastics wait to be washed, ground and used as a concrete additive at a local startup, Surpstone. Attendees toured several local businesses using recycled materials. | Marissa Heffernan / Resource Recycling
Extended producer responsibility, community engagement and chemical recycling were all hot topics for Colorado service providers, business owners and municipal representatives at a recent conference. Continue Reading
Crystal Bayliss of the U.S. Plastics Pact emphasized that procurement involves far more than just haggling prices, a sentiment echoed by an Orbis executive. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling
With post-consumer plastic resin requirements increasing rapidly, companies throughout plastics value chains face similar challenges in controlling feedstock supply, scaling up supply and managing capital costs. This sentiment was clear during a Plastics Recycling Conference session as well as a recent industry interview. Continue Reading
The data gleaned from AI imaging systems can help improve MRF operations on a wider scale. | Photo courtesy EverestLabs
Equipment supplier EverestLabs recently highlighted a handful of examples of how artificial intelligence-equipped data analytics can help MRF operators modify equipment settings to improve commodity recovery. Continue Reading
Some companies, including major material haulers, are taking a tempered view of the tariffs, especially given the amount of macroeconomic turmoil that has accompanied the past five years. | chuyuss/Shutterstock
Update: Most of the new tariffs on imports from both Mexico and Canada were paused until April 2, following executive orders President Donald Trump signed on March 6.
The Recycled Materials Association warned of potential “severe” disruption to the materials recovery sector after tariffs targeting the U.S.’s largest trading partners took effect March 4, bringing higher costs to import nearly all goods, including recycled commodities.
Plastic pallet wrap is one material that’s eligible for an exemption from the state’s extended producer responsibility for packaging program. | St.Marco/Shutterstock
The Product Stewardship Institute and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality explained the different exemptions available to producers under the state’s incoming extended producer responsibility for packaging law in a recent webinar. Continue Reading
End users of recycled materials across several sectors have announced plans to shut down or relocate facilities of late. | Worradirek/Shutterstock
The latest earnings calls for recycled paper, glass and plastic end users and processors have brought facility closure and layoff announcements, at times contrasting with recent expansion plans. Continue Reading
As part of a recent report, the U.S. EPA provided new recycling rate estimates, which hadn’t been updated since the agency released 2018 data. | Billion Photos/Shutterstock
The U.S. EPA’s recent recycling infrastructure report was largely focused on the investments needed to improve the system but also included new recycling rate estimates for specific materials, some of the first data updates the agency has released since its last Facts and Figures report several years ago. Continue Reading