Recycling
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golubovy via Getty Images
4 ways tariffs could impact recycled plastic markets
Recycling industry analysts say high-level trends affecting markets and manufacturing will affect recyclers as trade war uncertainties continue.
By Megan Quinn • Updated April 10, 2025 -
Mark Wilson via Getty Images
Maryland EPR for packaging bill heads to governor’s desk
The bill calls for reimbursing key recycling collection, transportation and processing costs in the state, including for organics. Maryland would be the sixth state with packaging EPR if Gov. Wes Moore signs the bill.
By Megan Quinn • April 8, 2025 -
Scott Olson via Getty Images
Shareholder advocacy targets flexible packaging, reusables and recycling labels
Coca-Cola, Hyatt, Sealed Air, Starbucks and Wyndham recently reached agreements with shareholder advocates. Proposals remain pending at Amazon, Home Depot, Kraft Heinz, MondelÄ“z, PepsiCo and Wendy’s.
By Cole Rosengren • Updated April 7, 2025 -
Courtesy of American Battery Technology Company.
American Battery reports production milestone, land sale
American Battery said it has reached key recycling milestones and plans to sell 12 acres of property for $6.75 million to help fund the next phase of producing battery-grade critical minerals.
By Megan Quinn • April 7, 2025 -
Permission granted by IRG
Large plastic and battery recycling projects hit by DOE loan pause, tariffs
Li-Cycle, International Recycling Group and Redwood Materials all received commitments from the federal agency. But a changing financial landscape has led IRG to cancel its project while Li-Cycle struggles to access funds.
By Jacob Wallace • Updated April 7, 2025 -
Courtesy of Tetra Pak
Crate idea: Transport packaging made from recycled Tetra Pak cartons
The polymer and aluminum material, polyAl, that gets separated from fiber during carton recycling is a key material for the new transport crates made by Schoeller Allibert.
By Katie Pyzyk • April 2, 2025 -
Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
Ideas for easing recycled content woes through policy, packaging
Brand innovations, policy changes and better communication could help ease challenges associated with adding recycled content to packaging, said speakers at the Plastics Recycling Conference.
By Megan Quinn • April 2, 2025 -
Thomas Demarczyk via Getty Images
Alberta launches EPR for packaging program
The first phase of the program places responsibility on producers to fully fund packaging recycling, a move government officials say will raise recycling rates and decrease costs.
By Megan Quinn • April 1, 2025 -
Permission granted by Charles Tyler
MassRecycle urges faster waste reduction action amid climate change
The group’s annual conference included perspective from Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer, as well as an update on a possible universal organics disposal ban and efforts to advance EPR for batteries.
By Cole Rosengren • March 31, 2025 -
Brandon Bell via Getty Images
Hitting a plateau: Circular packaging designers face flexibles hurdle
Many companies have targets to make 100% of their packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. Now, as they face the hardest categories to transform, some are weighing whether it’s feasible.
By Shefali Kapadia • March 31, 2025 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Data, transparency could shed light on curbside collection challenges
To fight decreasing curbside collection volumes, speakers at the Plastics Recycling Conference emphasized embracing hard conversations with customers and investing in data collection.
By Megan Quinn • March 28, 2025 -
Thomas Faull via Getty Images
US states renew push for tethered bottle caps to help recycling
Since last July, companies selling single-use plastic beverage containers in the EU have had to tether caps or lids. California legislators advanced a similar regulation that beverage makers oppose.
By Maria Rachal • March 27, 2025 -
Courtesy of Glass Half Full
Glass Half Full opens facility to boost Southeast glass recycling
The new site offers 30 times more capacity and expands the company’s offerings into the cullet market.
By Megan Quinn • March 26, 2025 -
AtlasStudio via Getty Images
AI-enabled MRF technology aids food-grade polypropylene recovery: report
A study led by Closed Loop Partners, in collaboration with Greyparrot, analyzed more than 650 tons of material from four U.S. MRFs.
By Katie Pyzyk • March 25, 2025 -
The image by Jimmy Emerson, DVM is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
California packaging EPR implementation moves ahead amid regulatory redo
State officials shared updates in the first SB 54 advisory board meeting since Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a regulatory restart. CalRecycle said it will continue working on other statutory requirements in the meantime.
By Megan Quinn • March 24, 2025 -
xphotoz via Getty Images
Three ways to refresh workplace safety initiatives
Mixing up employee safety programs, taking a fresh look at data and getting leadership more involved can add pep to flagging safety initiatives, said speakers at the Waste Advantage Safety Summit.
By Megan Quinn • March 21, 2025 -
Permission granted by Capital Waste Services
Waste and recycling is now a $100B industry, report says
The industry continued to see consolidation among public companies, especially in disposal activities, in 2024.
By Jacob Wallace • March 21, 2025 -
Getty Images via Getty Images
Packaging groups back bipartisan recycling bill in Congress
Ball, Kraft Heinz, SC Johnson and other companies pledged their support. This adds to other packaging-related bills in the 119th Congress, including the Steward Act and the Farewell to Foam Act.
By Maria Rachal • March 21, 2025 -
Courtesy of Circular Services
Circular Services and Balcones break ground on $61M Texas MRF
The facility is meant to expand Balcones’ MRF operations in the state by entering a region with notable population and business growth.
By Megan Quinn • March 20, 2025 -
Courtesy of Republic Services
Republic opens Indianapolis plastics complex meant to fuel recycled content markets
This location houses the company’s second polymer center, along with a Blue Polymers facility. Together, they’re expected to process 175,000 pounds of recycled plastic annually.
By Megan Quinn • March 19, 2025 -
Retrieved from Plastic Ingenuity on March 19, 2025
PET thermoform recycling is rising, but still not matching PCR demand
Only 54% of U.S. residents with recycling programs have access to thermoform recycling. That must increase to meet growing postconsumer recycled content demand, according to the National Association for PET Container Resources.
By Katie Pyzyk • Updated March 20, 2025 -
Retrieved from Brightmark on March 18, 2025
Brightmark files for bankruptcy at Indiana chemical recycling facility
The Ashley pyrolysis facility is expected to remain in operation as it undergoes a possible sale process. The facility is only at 5% capacity, according to court documents.
By Megan Quinn • March 18, 2025 -
Tomohiro Ohsumi via Getty Images
Toyota subsidiary to acquire Radius Recycling in $907M deal
The deal is expected to expand Toyota’s closed loop system for materials like steel, precious metals and batteries used by automotive manufacturers.
By Jacob Wallace • March 17, 2025 -
Courtesy of Greyparrot
Recyclers give packaging designers a glimpse into limitations, opportunities in today’s MRFs
Leaders from Republic Services, Rumpke Waste & Recycling and elsewhere discussed their role in recycling plastics at the Sustainability in Packaging US conference.
By Maria Rachal • March 17, 2025 -
Maria Rachal/Waste Dive
LRS breaks into Indianapolis market with new collection contract
The Midwest company will take over collection contracts currently held by Republic Services and WM. LRS will also help roll out citywide recycling collection services in 2028.
By Megan Quinn • March 14, 2025
