Recycling sector grapples with plastic realities

Published: September 4, 2019
Updated: September 4, 2019
by Dan Leif

Juri Freeman of Resource Recycling Systems (left) moderated a plastics-focused panel consisting of (from left to right) Michael Sangiacomo of Recology, Zeina El-Azzi of Brightmark Energy, Kate Bailey of Eco-Cycle and Tim Ponrathnam of Berry Global. | Resource Recycling Conference/Brian Adams Photography

Should some types of single-use plastic be banned? Or is infrastructure improvement a better answer to current plastic waste concerns? A varied group of industry leaders tackled those questions last week.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged legislation, local programs, plastics |

Facility Focus: rPlanet Earth

Published: August 23, 2019
Updated: August 29, 2019
by Jared Paben

A California PET reclaimer that launched last year has grabbed plenty of attention for its $100 million price tag and the extensive capabilities of its processing and production line.

Posted in Resource Recycling Magazine | Tagged July 2019, plastics |

Indorama will invest to meet increased RPET demand

Published: August 27, 2019
Updated: August 28, 2019
by Colin Staub

Indorama Ventures plans to make significant investments in its recycled PET production capabilities. | Kwangmoozaa/Shutterstock

Citing the need to meet rising demand in the near future, plastics producer Indorama is investing $1 billion in its recycling operation.

Posted in News | Tagged plastics |

Bottled water brand mixes RPET and bioplastic

Published: August 20, 2019
Updated: August 20, 2019
by Colin Staub

Coca-Cola has a goal to make its bottles and cans with an average of 50% recycled material by 2030. | Sundry Photography/Shutterstock

Coca-Cola will use recycled PET and plant-derived plastic in a Dasani water bottle, creating a package known as the “HybridBottle.” The move is one of several recycling-related changes being rolled out.

Posted in News | Tagged brand owners, plastics |

Data Corner: What accounts for the higher cost of PCR?

Published: August 19, 2019
Updated: August 20, 2019
by More Recycling

Historically, companies have used post-consumer resin (PCR) because it was a lower cost feedstock than virgin. In recent years, however, pricing for virgin plastic (mostly “wide spec” resin) has fallen below that of PCR (mostly high quality PCR that is suitable for food contact).

Posted in Data Corner | Tagged July 2019, plastics |

Plastic shipments to India stall as ban draws near

Published: August 13, 2019
Updated: August 13, 2019
by Colin Staub

During the first six months of 2019, India brought in 156 million pounds of U.S. scrap plastics. | Avigator Fortuner/Shutterstock

Recovered plastic has largely stopped flowing from the U.S. into India, which until recently has been among the top importers of the material.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged Asia, exports, plastics |

Scrap plastic exports plummet 43% this year, paper stable

Published: August 6, 2019
Updated: August 6, 2019
by Colin Staub

U.S. exporters shipped out 773 million pounds of scrap plastic in the first half of 2019. | aapsky/Shutterstock

Federal trade statistics released last week show U.S. export volumes for the first six months of 2019. Recycled plastics have seen a major drop when compared with figures from a year ago.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged Asia, exports, fiber, markets, plastics |

How a startup is recovering multi-layer flexible packaging

Published: August 6, 2019
Updated: August 6, 2019
by Jared Paben

Argentina-based Arqlite’s first gravel products were sold to customers earlier this year. | Courtesy of Arqlite.

Consulting firm B-Green was helping consumer brand owners reduce waste to landfill, but the companies’ packaging lacked a diversion solution. So B-Green went to work developing a recycling technology and end product.

Posted in News | Tagged challenging materials, markets, plastics |

Major user of recycled film says it will be buying more

Published: July 23, 2019
Updated: July 23, 2019
by Jared Paben

Trex uses millions of pounds of PE film annually. | artgray/Shutterstock

Already North America’s largest consumer of recovered film, Trex plans to use considerably more in the future, according to the company’s CEO.

Posted in Top stories | Tagged brand owners, plastics |

Cambodia returns scrap plastic to US and Canada

Published: July 23, 2019
Updated: July 23, 2019
by Colin Staub

The returned containers held a total of 3.2 million pounds of material. | porjai kittawornrat/Shutterstock

More Southeast Asian nations are sending contaminated recyclables back to their originating country, as governments in the region continue to grapple with higher scrap plastic and paper import volumes.

Posted in News | Tagged Asia, exports, plastics |

Tag Archives: plastics