A recently introduced bill could allow a proposed solid waste facility in Lane County, Oregon, to bypass its turbulent permitting process. | Courtesy of Bulk Handling Systems
Officials in Lane County, Oregon, are pushing state lawmakers to support a new bill that would allow the construction of a controversial recycling and composting facility. Continue Reading
With Ontario two years into its 2023-2025 transition to a producer responsibility model for paper and packaging recycling, stakeholders have asked for more time and lower costs. | Maxim Studio/Shutterstock
Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, is looking to make adjustments to its signature law for extended producer responsibility in packaging, in response to producer feedback about costs and other program concerns. Continue Reading
The Biodegradable Products Institute had previously appealed to CalRecycle for a five-year extension to give the market more time to adapt. | Black Salmon/Shutterstock
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery has pushed back the effective date for a state law on labeling compostable packaging materials to mid-2027. Continue Reading
An April 30 Defense memo echoes recent congressional efforts to allow the military to repair its own equipment, which helps reduce costs. | Bumble Dee/Shutterstock
As part of a broader initiative to increase efficiency, the U.S. secretary of defense has called for the Army to include the right to repair products in its procurement contracts, adding support to previous congressional efforts. Continue Reading
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery released a revised informal draft of SB 54 regulations. | Michael Warwick/Shutterstock
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery released a revised draft of SB 54 regulations, two months after the governor rejected the first version of the extended producer responsibility for paper and packaging rules.
The initial recyclable materials list classifies just under a dozen material types as readily recyclable under Maine’s EPR program, but state representatives emphasized it was a first draft. | KWJPHOTOART/Shutterstock
More than 100 people showed up in-person and virtually to an informal stakeholder meeting on Maine’s draft material types list for the state’s extended producer responsibility program for packaging. Continue Reading
Among other changes, Circular Action Alliance proposed cutting down their time period to review comments on the plan from regulators to 60 days, freeing up three months. | Brandon Bourdages/Shutterstock
The Circular Action Alliance is asking for several changes to extended producer responsibility deadlines in response to the delayed rulemaking on SB 54. Continue Reading
Smartphones and laptops are exempt from U.S. tariffs targeting Chinese imports, but other goods are currently subject to 145% in duties. | Metamorworks/Shutterstock
Country-specific reciprocal tariffs have been pushed out until July, but a universal base rate tariff rolled out last week, which covers all countries, and earlier metals tariffs remain in effect. Meanwhile, an all-out trade war between the U.S. and China is intensifying. Continue Reading
A proposed International Recycling Group facility in Pennsylvania, seen here in a 2021 rendering, has been canceled concurrent with the project’s loss of federal funding. | Courtesy of International Recycling Group
Dramatic federal funding cuts have affected at least two plastics recycling efforts, contributing to a major project being canceled in Pennsylvania and forcing an accelerated timeline for self-sufficiency at an Alaska composite lumber operation. Continue Reading
Regulations that can change from hour to hour are causing headaches for buyers and sellers but could present opportunities should they remain in place. | aapsky/Shutterstock
After many weeks of shifting narratives and uncertainty, participants in recycled commodity markets are working to navigate the new tariff environment, in which buyers and sellers as well as customs officials struggle to align federal mandates with on-the-ground implementation. Continue Reading