Tag Archives: research

The evolution of eco-modulation to drive eco-design

Published: August 2, 2023
Updated: August 2, 2023
by Marissa Heffernan

Researcher Reid Lifset sees a lack of good data as a major barrier to eco-modulation achieving its full potential. | Marko Rupena/Shutterstock

Reid Lifset, a longtime member of the faculty at the Yale School of the Environment, wrote the first peer-reviewed academic article on extended producer responsibility in 1993. He’s “been intrigued by it and studying it ever since.” In an interview with Resource Recycling, he talked about his latest research article on eco-modulation and his thoughts on best practices for using eco-modulation to drive eco-design in packaging.

Posted in News | Tagged EPR/Stewardship, research |

Study suggests glass widely used as ADC in Northeast

Published: July 17, 2023
Updated: July 21, 2023
by Jared Paben

Three-quarters of states and provinces surveyed by the Northeast Recycling Council reported the use of recovered glass as alternative daily cover at landfills. | One Photo/Shutterstock

This story has been updated.

There may not be solid data available on the amount of MRF glass used as alternative daily cover at Northeast landfills, but a recent survey suggests the low-value end use is fairly common. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged glass, industry groups, research |

US landfilling costs jumped sharply last year

Published: June 12, 2023
Updated: June 12, 2023
by Jared Paben

Not only did the price per ton for landfilling go up in 2022, it showed a significantly higher year-over-year increase. | StockStudio Aerials/Shutterstock

Recently published data shows landfilling was considerably more expensive last year than in 2021. Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged research |

Plastics recycling rebounds from pandemic lows

Published: April 17, 2023
Updated: April 18, 2023
by Jared Paben

An increased bottle recycling rate was driven mainly by PET bottles. | Nixx Photography/Shutterstock

The U.S. plastic bottle recycling rate was 28.2% in 2021, up 1 percentage point from a year earlier, according to an industry report released April 11.
Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged industry groups, research |

REMADE eyes $20 million in R&D projects

Published: February 27, 2023
Updated: February 28, 2023
by Jared Paben

The REMADE Institute has funded $98 million worth of projects in the past five years. | NicoElNino/Shutterstock

A federally funded institute is offering up another $10 million in public funds to support recycling, reuse and remanufacturing R&D projects.

Posted in News | Tagged research |

MIT, brands innovating ways to handle small plastics

Published: February 13, 2023
Updated: February 14, 2023
by Marissa Heffernan

Small plastic items such as travel shampoo bottles often cannot be processed at MRFs. | Kris Black/Shutterstock

Five brands have partnered with a nonprofit and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to find a way to keep small plastic items in the recycling stream.
Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged brand owners, MRFs, plastics, research |

Study compares chemical, mechanical recycling methods

Published: January 23, 2023
Updated: January 23, 2023
by Marissa Heffernan

The study looked at mechanical recycling and solvent-based dissolution of PE, PET and PP, as well as enzymatic hydrolysis, glycolysis and vapor methanolysis of PET. | tezzstock/Shutterstock

A study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory evaluated various PET recycling methods from technical, economic and environmental standpoints to provide a big-picture overview of today’s options. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged plastics, research |

Study: Recycling accounts for tiny share of plastic’s total GHGs

Published: December 12, 2022
Updated: December 12, 2022
by Jared Paben

The REMADE Institute-funded research found that, over the course of their full life cycles, several common polymers account for about 1.5% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. | rochariberio/Shuttestock

By the time plastic products reach their end of life, the bulk of their climate damage has already been done, according to a study that reaffirms greenhouse gasses tied to plastics are mostly generated in prime resin production, shipping and molding.

Posted in News | Tagged research |

Report pinpoints composting, recycling to cut emissions

Published: October 10, 2022
Updated: October 13, 2022
by Marissa Heffernan

Source-separated collection and treatment of organics could significantly reduce methane emissions from landfills, as highlighted in a report from GAIA. | Gargonia/Shutterstock

A report from the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives targeted organics diversion, increased recycling and reduced plastic use as key elements in keeping planetary warming below a critical threshold.

Posted in News | Tagged EPR/Stewardship, plastics, research |

Analysts: US OCC recycling rate may be below 70%

Published: August 29, 2022
Updated: September 2, 2022
by Jared Paben

Ryan Fox and Myles Cohen on stage at the 2022 Resource Recycling Conference.

Fiber insiders Ryan Fox (left) and Myles Cohen on stage at the 2022 Resource Recycling Conference. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling, Inc.

This story has been updated

Two corrugated industry experts have crunched the numbers and concluded that the OCC recycling rate is likely much lower than estimates published by the paper manufacturing sector.

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged data, fiber, industry groups, research |