Despite a year of market uncertainty, U.S. recovered paper exports increased in 2018, driven largely by OCC shipments. However, scrap plastic exports fell substantially as countries enacted stringent trade policies.
PET collection is lagging behind recycled resin demand by more than 1 billion pounds per year, according to a new study. | Resource Recycling file photo.
The current recycling system is insufficient, according to a report from The Recycling Partnership. But several key initiatives – and $500 million – can move the industry forward.
California is aiming to recoup more than $14 million in funds it says 12 companies, including a subsidiary of Waste Management, owe the state’s container deposit program.
The Califo
rnia legislature passed a bill requiring beverage companies to publicly report the amount of post-consumer PET they use. And a separate piece of legislation sent to the governor extends a plastics-recycling subsidy programs for one year.
This story originally appeared in the September 2016 issue of Resource Recycling.
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Recovered materials processors have received a little holiday cheer. The value of most recyclables moved higher at the start of this month.
The growing smiles you see among recycling collectors and processors are because of continuing market improvement.
The value of curbside-collected paper and steel is down slightly at the start of April, though some plastics have experienced boosts.
As May begins, recovered HDPE bale prices have slid, making operators of packaging sorting plants a bit glum.
The past few months have seen significant upticks in the value of recovered materials.