Legislation awaiting the governor’s signature would classify mixed plastics that are generated in California and exported from the U.S. as “disposal” rather than “recycling.” | Sumrit Tesrumphun/Shutterstock
California lawmakers have approved a bill that would no longer allow scrap plastic that is exported to be considered recycled. The legislation now heads to the governor for final consideration.
In North America, Walmart increased its percentage of PCR in private brand packaging from 7% in 2019 to 9% in 2020. | Anton Gvozdikov / Shutterstock
Walmart has increased the percentage of post-consumer resin used in its private label packaging in North America, but the number is flat globally.
Google’s report noted headwinds to plastics recovery including unfavorable economics for recycled resins compared with virgin resins. | maciej nicgorski / Shutterstock
A report from Google lays out how mechanical and chemical recycling, a virgin plastic production tax, consumer incentives and more can increase plastics recovery over the next two decades.
The American Beverage Association, Ohio Beverage Association and investment firm Closed Loop Partners announced their combined $5 million investment in Evergreen’s Ohio expansion. | Takorn / Shutterstock
Beverage giants and an investment firm are putting millions of dollars behind PET reclaimer Evergreen.
Recovered fiber exports jumped from 7.4 million short tons in the first half of 2020 to 9.0 million short tons this year. | Sreytoch Lann / Shutterstock
Recovered fiber exports increased significantly during the first six months of 2021 compared with the same period last year, with a spike in material moving to India and Thailand. Plastic exports were steady year over year.
A study from GAIA found that, in five selected cities, only 24% of PET, HDPE and PP was getting recycled. | Meg Wallace Photography / Shutterstock
A study published by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives pins low recycling rates in U.S. cities squarely on hard-to-recycle plastics that are collected through curbside programs.
PureCycle Technologies’ initial investment, estimated at $440 million, includes three production lines, each of which can process 130 million pounds of PP scrap per year. | Tudoran Andrei / Shutterstock
A polypropylene recycling startup developing a commercial-scale facility in Ohio announced a deal to build a plant in Georgia.
SK Global Chemical has a goal of recycling 900,000 tons of plastic scrap per year by 2025. | Freedomz / Shutterstock
Global resin maker SK Global Chemical has put millions into an industry group’s initiative to boost the circular economy for plastics.
The California Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets & Curbside Recycling in late June published an expansive report with recommendations for lawmakers. | Nordroden / Shutterstock
A government-convened commission of California recycling stakeholders has outlined steps to boost markets and cut contamination. But the group’s report also leaves PP plastic off a key initial list of accepted materials, drawing quick pushback from national associations.
