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Tag Archives: regulation/oversight

Ethics complaint adds to SB 54 back-and-forth

Published: March 11, 2025
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Baled plastics for recycling.

An anonymous complaint asked California’s Fair Political Practices Commission to investigate Rachel Wagoner for a violation of a ban that prevents former regulators from receiving compensation to work against the state on matters that were under their purview. | Zlikovec/Shutterstock

A formal ethics complaint has been lodged against Rachel Wagoner, formerly the director of the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery who is now with producer responsibility organization Circular Action Alliance. The complaint alleges that she is lobbying her former agency in violation of a state “switching sides” ban. Continue Reading

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EPA plans broad cuts as existing grants thaw

Published: March 4, 2025
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The EPA administrator pointed to staffing, office space and grants as areas to cut agency spending. | Tada Images

Details are scarce on U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s plans to cut his agency’s spending by 65% or more, but some of its 15,000 full-time-equivalent positions and grants to recycling programs across the country could be on the chopping block.  Continue Reading

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Oregon fully approves first packaging EPR plan

Published: February 25, 2025
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Oregon capitol building with trees in bloom.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality announced it approved a program plan on Feb. 21. | Yanqiang Dai/Shutterstock

After several years of work, Oregon has approved an extended producer responsibility plan, laying out how packaging producers are expected to fulfill the requirements of the law.   Continue Reading

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Zeldin confirmed as EPA administrator

Published: February 4, 2025
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The U.S. EPA carries out a variety of recycling industry-supportive work through its Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery. | Tada Images/Shutterstock

There are few indications how incoming U.S. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin might shift the agency’s solid waste and recycling work, but he won the support of multiple recycling industry associations, and stakeholders say he likely brings an understanding of local solid waste management challenges. Continue Reading

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CA shares source reduction baseline, list update

Published: January 7, 2025
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A recent study in California found that in 2023, 2.9 million tons of plastic were used in single-use packaging and food-related items, made up of 171.4 billion plastic components. | Marina Onokhina/Shutterstock

The recyclability and compostability of materials covered under California’s extended producer responsibility law for packaging got an update recently, as did the baseline for single-use plastic reduction.  Continue Reading

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UN treaty talks extended after usual roadblocks

Published: December 3, 2024
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On Nov. 27, the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Plastics demanded the right to speak at plenary sessions, after being denied the usual time allotted for civil society members to share their views. | Kiara Worth/International Institute for Sustainable Development

Negotiations for a global, legally-binding treaty to address plastic pollution will spill over into another meeting, but participants noted the need for a seismic shift to reach the finish line after a fifth round of United Nations negotiations splintered along similar lines as the last four. 

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Ellen MacArthur report: Less plastic used in 2023

Published: November 26, 2024
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recycling plastics packaging

The largest brand owners in the world together used an average of 14% post-consumer resin in their packaging last year, a 2 percentage point increase over 2022. | Photka/Shutterstock

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s 2023 report indicated a year-over-year decrease in both virgin and overall plastic use from signatory companies. That came from companies incorporating more post-consumer resin, combined with lower overall consumer demand due to economic challenges.

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How Trump administration policies could affect recycling

Published: November 13, 2024
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US Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

The first Trump administration brought proposed EPA budget cuts, large tax cuts, withdrawal from international environmental agreements and more, all of which touched the recycling sector. | Orhan Cam/Shutterstock

The clear ballot-box victory of Republicans across the branches of U.S. government could affect the municipal recycling world in a number of ways. It’s early, but some signs from the past – and some recent analysis from industry observers – offer a glimpse of what’s to come.

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Penultimate UN treaty draft worries environmental groups

Published: November 13, 2024
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united nations

The latest draft, called a “non-paper,” was released by Luis Vayas Valdivieso, chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, convened by the United Nations. | Bascar/Shutterstock

A new draft of the U.N.’s global treaty on plastics has sparked disappointment from environmental groups after leaving some of the most contentious issues unaddressed. Continue Reading

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Comment period opens for final California EPR rules

Published: October 15, 2024
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California's state capitol building seen with blue sky above.

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery on Oct. 14 opened a 15-day written comment period on permanent regulations for the state’s EPR program. | Jonathan-Lenz/Shutterstock

Producers, recyclers and the public have another chance to comment on California’s SB 54 extended producer responsibility for packaging permanent regulations.

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