Recycling


  • The American Battery Technology Company facility in McCarran, Nevada, with a parking lot at the front, and a road next to the facility under the sun. Snow-covered mountains are in the background.
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    Courtesy of American Battery Technology Company.

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    American Battery, Call2Recycle, partner on lithium-ion battery collection program

    ABTC says the partnership offers more sources of lithium-ion batteries to recycle, namely through Call2Recycle’s consumer-facing collection service, and can help strengthen domestic supply chains for critical materials.

    By Oct. 1, 2025
  • Demonstration of Association of Plastic Recyclers Design Assessment Tool
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    Retrieved from Association of Plastic Recyclers YouTube on October 01, 2025
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    APR launching its 1st total-package recyclability assessment tool

    Citing demand from members and EPR-related needs, the Association of Plastic Recyclers’ tool will test packages against the most up-to-date versions of the longstanding Design Guide for Plastics Recyclability.

    By Oct. 1, 2025
  • Trendline

    The Rise of Recycling AI

    Artificial intelligence has become increasingly common at MRFs, in collection trucks and even as a tool for consumer education at the point of generation.

    By Waste Dive staff
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    2026 waste and recycling industry conferences

    Mark your calendars for conferences in 2026 that will cover key topics such as recycling, waste management, compost, biogas and more. 

    By Waste Dive Staff • Oct. 1, 2025
  • Lithium-ion 18650 battery, commonly used in vape devices
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    Permission granted by Call2Recycle
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    Vape waste pilot in Missouri aims to shed light on long-term disposal solutions

    Data will be used to craft suggestions for permanent vape waste programs, such as statewide collection sites or an EPR program, said the Product Stewardship Institute and the Missouri Solid Waste Management District O.

    By Sept. 30, 2025
  • A pile of plastic bottles.
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    ABimagestudio via Getty Images
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    California recyclers look for new PET solutions in wake of rPlanet closure

    Some recyclers are calling for more direct help from California state lawmakers and agencies, while others say they're choosing between holding onto the material or selling for little profit in the Eastern U.S. or elsewhere.

    By Sept. 29, 2025
  • An aerial shot of the inside of an industrial facility
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    Permission granted by Resynergi
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    Chemical recycler Resynergi announces plans to leave California

    The company faced opposition from local residents. The company is moving to an unnamed industrial location it says offers more streamlined permitting, tax incentives and space to expand. 

    By Sept. 26, 2025
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Tomra to acquire Clynk, operator of bag drop programs in Northeast US

    Tomra, known for its reverse vending machine technology, sees Clynk's bag drop offerings as a complementary service. The company aims to expand in bottle bill states.

    By Sept. 25, 2025
  • A tightly packed bale of crushed plastic bottles, compressed into a rectangular block and wrapped in clear plastic film. The bale contains various colored plastic bottles, flattened and compacted together, ready for recycling.
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    Alamy
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    How far can EPR drive recycled content uptake?

    Questions remain around how to effectively track recycled content in packaging and how to incentivize sourcing recycled material within North America. States such as Colorado are debating this as they enact EPR programs.

    By Marissa Heffernan • Sept. 24, 2025
  • People drop off containers at an outdoor redemption center
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    Permission granted by Taylor Cass Talbott
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    The People’s Depot announces expansion plans in Oregon

    The beverage container redemption center, which employs and serves canners, is at capacity and expects to process 10 million containers this year. Its expansion is prompted in part by a new state law. 

    By Sept. 24, 2025
  • Closeup of the E360S logo on a waste collection truck
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    Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
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    Q&A

    E360S, major Canadian waste company, preps to enter US market

    The company is now approaching 1 billion Canadian dollars in revenue and hoping to double the size of its business. CEO Danny Ardellini discussed expansion plans, EPR contracts, employee culture and more.

    By Sept. 24, 2025
  • Plastic Coca-Cola bottles lined up inside a refrigerated case
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Coca-Cola reports jump in packaging deemed recyclable

    The beverage giant’s metrics for recycled plastic ratios and overall virgin plastic volumes both rose in 2024. 

    By Sept. 23, 2025
  • The exterior of GreenMantra's office
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    Courtesy of GreenMantra
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    GreenMantra receives $10M loan from Closed Loop infrastructure group

    The company plans to increase processing capacity at its Ontario-based chemical recycling facility. Closed Loop Partners has backed GreenMantra several times as part of its overall interest in chemical recycling projects.

    By Sept. 17, 2025
  • Alley with recycLA containers in Los Angeles
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    Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
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    LASAN cuts customer fees, mandates organics in RecycLA franchise RFP

    The city is resetting its commercial waste program with an emphasis on cost, while making organics part of baseline service to comply with SB 1383. It also aims to give more work to subcontractors despite Teamsters opposition.

    By Updated Sept. 18, 2025
  • California state flag and state capitol building in Sacramento
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    DustyPixel via Getty Images
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    California lawmakers approve organics capacity bill for growers

    Meanwhile, a bill related to marine flare recycling is now a two-year bill and a compensation bill for residents near Chiquita Canyon landfill was added to the state budget bill.

    By Sept. 16, 2025
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    John Nilsson via Getty Images
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    California lawmakers ban PFAS in food packaging, limit microbeads

    The bills now await a decision from Gov. Gavin Newsom. Legislators declined to act on a bill that had backing from Republic Services related to recycled content in beverage containers.

    By Sept. 15, 2025
  • Clear plastic bottles
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    golubovy via Getty Images
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    PET reclaimer rPlanet Earth closes in California

    The closure of the vertically integrated PET recycler and food packaging manufacturer destabilizes the state’s Grade B PET markets. It is the second such closure in 2025, as PET reclaimers have weathered market challenges.

    By Sept. 12, 2025
  • a close up of syringes in packaging
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    Mikhail Dmitriev via Getty Images
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    Only 5% of healthcare plastic gets recycled: Eunomia report

    Numerous interventions are needed to recycle more healthcare plastic, but the system is complex, according to a new report. WM, Veolia and other recyclers contributed insight to the report. 

    By Sept. 11, 2025
  • An illustration of a MRF design
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    Courtesy of Bulk Handling Systems
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    MRF projects from FCC, BHS and Metaspectral attract new funding in US and Canada

    Spurred in part by EPR changes, new and upgraded MRFs in Texas, Colorado, California and Canada come with more AI features and film recycling fixes.

    By Sept. 10, 2025
  • Stacks of black plastic food containers being packaged
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    sergeyryzhov via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Can recycling advancements get black rigid plastics off packaging’s blacklist?

    More MRFs are adding technologies to sort the material, but some brands and manufacturers are still switching away from the color. As black plastic reaches a tipping point, end market challenges create uncertainty about its future.

    By Sept. 10, 2025
  • The flag outside the United States Environmental Protection Agency building is seen on August 21, 2024 in Washington, DC.
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    Tierney L. Cross via Getty Images
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    EPA opens up $20M in SWIFR grant funding for tribes and intertribal consortia

    The Trump administration plans to select 20 grantees in the latest funding round. It also says the selection process for a $58 million funding round for communities, states and territories is ongoing.

    By Sept. 9, 2025
  • four blue recycling carts stand next to each other
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    Thomas Demarczyk via Getty Images
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    To raise recycling rates, look to system design: SWANA

    Tailored programs and systems that consider human habits can help boost recycling rates, said design engineers and landfill operators at SWANA’s Pennsylvania chapter conference.

    By Sept. 5, 2025
  • Industrial equipment and conveyors process materials for recycling.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Waste Dive
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    Wisconsin updates MRF operations requirements for first time in 20 years

    An update to the state’s recycling program rules means MRFs will need to meet new residual limits and glass recycling rates and start budgeting for specific cleanup and closure costs.

    By Sept. 4, 2025
  • A screenshot of a digital tool to make educational campaign flyers.
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    Screenshot: Foodservice Packaging Insitute/YouTube

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    Adding new commodities brings recycling education challenges

    The Foodservice Packaging Institute updated its toolkit to help create recycling education campaigns. Stakeholders underscore the need for collaboration and taking a “careful step-by-step approach” when adding new items.

    By Sept. 3, 2025
  • An aerial view of three waste trucks in a landfill site; the surrounding area contains waste and dirt.
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    Alamy
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    Deep Dive

    Waste and the economy: 4 areas to watch for the rest of 2025

    The waste and recycling industry has adapted to a changing economy this year, including effects from a lucrative new tax law, M&A, tariffs and commodity markets.

    By , , Sept. 3, 2025
  • California state flag and state capitol building in Sacramento
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    DustyPixel via Getty Images
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    Circular Action Alliance taps new California executive director

    The role was vacated earlier this year by former CalRecycle director Rachel Wagoner. The new appointment comes as SB 54 rules are still being hashed out and CAA wants producers to report supply data by Nov. 15.

    By Aug. 28, 2025