To tag or not to tag: A new report from SWANA analyzes the delicate approach municipalities take when enacting fines for curbside recycling. | ADragan/Shutterstock
A new report from the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) examines the role penalties and education play in reducing curbside contamination, enhancing bale quality and increasing the effectiveness of curbside programs. Continue Reading
The market for recycled carpet in California continues to scale, boosted by supplemental subsidies and infrastructure improvements. | FrankHH/Shutterstock
California’s carpet recycling rate has improved for the fifth consecutive year, with Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) citing financial incentives, including grants, as a key driver of the continued growth. Continue Reading
Interstate Waste Services bought North Atlantic Waste & Recycling, extending its reach across central and southern Connecticut and advancing a strategy centered on rail and recycling. | Dr. Pixel / Shutterstock
Interstate Waste Services has expanded its Connecticut operations with the acquisition of North Atlantic Waste & Recycling, a family-owned hauler formerly known as Country Disposal. Continue Reading
Renewablade in Iowa is turning old wind turbine blades into precast concrete blocks, barriers and bunkers after years of trial and development. | Ultramansk / Shutterstock
After years of research and trial runs, an Iowa recycling company has begun turning retired wind turbine blades into precast concrete products. Continue Reading
O-I will close the only bottling plant in Oregon, ending a local end market for recycled cullet. | Photo by Jared Paben
A Portland, Oregon glass bottling operation that uses high levels of recycled glass cullet will shut down as part of owner O-I’s wider move to reduce costs and consolidate capacity. It comes after a few years of starts and stops at the plant due to regulations and demand. Continue Reading
Coloradans are working to implement a series of recycling-related policies, which sometimes support and sometimes oppose each other. | Gargonia/Shutterstock
When it comes to recycling, most policy is set at the state level — but not all of it. When city ordinances, state law and a governor’s priorities all interact, it can be a recipe for both significant change and serious complexity.
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
The report touches on five main topics: recyclability of covered materials, compostability of covered materials, reuse and refill and other source reduction systems, cost coverage for local jurisdictions, and plastic leakage into the environment. | Ratchat/Shutterstock
Members of the California extended producer responsibility for packaging advisory board have identified dozens of barriers to implementation and offered up possible solutions in a recent report.
Interstate Waste Services’ new facility has an annual capacity of 215,000 tons, the company said. | Courtesy of Machinex
Two U.S. MRFs have been on opposite ends of good and bad fortune this month, with a new $30 million facility opening in North Arlington, New Jersey, two days after a 23-year-old MRF was destroyed by a tornado in Columbia, Missouri. Continue Reading
The newly formed Kentucky Recycling Coalition plans to start a summit, do a membership drive and ultimately improve recycling access across the state. | Aspen Rock/Shutterstock
After several years of work, Kentucky is no longer the only state in its region without a state recycling organization. The new Kentucky Recycling Coalition wants to increase access, update a statewide sustainability plan and build up membership. Continue Reading