The Recycling Partnership’s “2020 State of Curbside” report delves into updated data on recycling in the U.S. | stephen rudolph/Shutterstock
To quickly grasp the struggles facing American curbside recycling programs, one can follow the money – or lack thereof. In July 2017, a ton of recyclables was worth over $90. In October 2019, it was worth $30. That’s according to new research from The Recycling Partnership.
Revenue from Waste Management’s recycling business fell by 20% last year, but earnings were nearly flat. | Dan Leif/Resource Recycling, Inc.
Lower commodity prices continued to batter recycling revenues for the largest garbage and recycling companies last year. But recent moves to charge communities for MRF processing helped soften the financial blow.
Industry group SWANA is working with the federal government to supply free face coverings for the waste and recycling industry. | beton studio/Shutterstock
Coronavirus infections among workers have caused a MRF to shutter and delayed collection of recyclables elsewhere. The federal government and one state are working to provide masks and funding to help programs cope.
A new guide helps public agencies and private MRF operators craft contract language both sides find fair. | fizkes/Shutterstock
A MRF and municipality may feel their contract is fair, until a dive in commodity prices or spike in contamination leaves someone unhappy. A new report from The Recycling Partnership strives to help the parties prepare for difficult circumstances.
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The Glass Recycling Coalition’s MRF glass certification program recognizes sorting facilities that invest to improve glass quality. | sirtravelalot/Shutterstock
MRFs that are early participants in a glass certification program recently described the benefits of the new initiative.
A handful of industry groups and plastics producers are teaming up on a 60-day effort to try to capture a wider variety of materials from the flow of curbside recyclables in Portland, Ore.
The state of Michigan aims to achieve a 30% recycling rate by 2025. | Alexander Lukatskiy/Shutterstock
A state-of-the-art MRF, a recyclables sorting robot, resumed glass collections – these are a few projects that recently received grants from the state of Michigan.
The Northeast Recycling Council released its first estimate of average bale value in the northeastern U.S. | Grischa Georgiew/Shutterstock
An average ton of recyclables in the northeastern U.S. is worth $46, according to the Northeast Recycling Council. The estimate came from what will be an ongoing survey.
Residents of Petoskey, Mich. in Emmet County will benefit from a $1.8 million MRF upgrade. | Kenneth Sponsler/Shutterstock
A tight labor market, aging equipment, an evolving ton and difficult recyclables markets have spurred a Michigan county to upgrade its MRF. Robots are among the technologies to be installed.
According to a 2018 industry survey, 27% of MRFs have glass cleanup equipment. | AlxCreate/Shutterstock
An industry group will recognize and promote recycling facilities that take steps to clean up the glass they move downstream.