Recycling: Page 3


  • Recycling sorter at Waste Management MRF
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    Courtesy of Waste Management
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    WM to close Maryland MRF and reduce temp workforce as part of upgrade plan

    The Elkridge facility’s closure is the latest development in WM’s efforts to invest more than $1 billion in new and upgraded recycling facilities across the US through 2026.

    By Sept. 19, 2024
  • plastic goes down a conveyor belt at a MRF
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Northeast MRFs saw 40% jump in commodity values in a year: NERC report

    Recent earnings calls for waste companies have reflected the trend of increased values identified in the report. NERC is seeking more MRFs to contribute data for its anonymous quarterly report.

    By Sept. 18, 2024
  • A man wearing a dark suit and sunglasses stands and waves in a forested area.
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    EPA announces $117M worth of recycling grant opportunities with organics focus

    The new opportunities build on a historic amount of infrastructure funding the Biden administration has awarded for recycling projects since last year, as well as efforts to build a circular economy for organics and other materials.

    By Sept. 17, 2024
  • The EPA sign is pictured with the building in the background.
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    EPA waste office unlikely to get a Senate-confirmed leader before Biden term ends

    After prior nominee Carlton Waterhouse withdrew in 2023, the U.S. EPA hasn’t updated the status of the assistant administrator role at the Office of Land and Emergency Management. Nominees could reflect new administration priorities.

    By Sept. 17, 2024
  • Three people in safety vests and hats hold green bags to recycle Nespresso coffee pods at an industrial facility.
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    Courtesy of Nestle Nespresso
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    Ontario scales coffee cup and aluminum pod recycling as part of EPR program

    As of this summer, residents can recycle drink cups and Nespresso coffee pods. The Canadian government’s goal to reduce plastic waste is also playing out at the provincial level with Ontario’s Blue Box program.

    By Barbara Hesselgrave • Sept. 16, 2024
  • Bale of cardboard for recycling, with Amazon logo
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    MRF and mill advances expected to fuel North American recovered fiber demand, Fastmarkets says

    Analysts highlighted tight OCC and mixed paper supply, as well as ongoing demand from mills willing to pay for cleaner recovered paper material from higher-tech MRFs, during a recent webinar.

    By Sept. 13, 2024
  • sorting equipment in a soccer stadium
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    Courtesy of Austin FC
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    One Austin sports stadium’s zero waste solution: build a mini MRF

    Texas Disposal Systems custom-built the MRF for a cramped space inside Q2 Stadium to help the facility divert 90% of waste and achieve a key zero waste building certification.

    By Sept. 11, 2024
  • Close-up view of legacy Keurig Green Mountain single-serve K-Cup coffee pods.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Keurig Dr Pepper to pay $1.5M to settle charges about K-Cup recyclability

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission says the beverage company omitted from filed documents some important information about testing the curbside recyclability of its K-Cup coffee pods. 

    By Sept. 10, 2024
  • The flag of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hangs outside the agency building in Washington, D.C.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    What are the federal government’s waste and recycling priorities for the rest of 2024?

    The U.S. EPA released its schedule of regulatory actions for the remainder of the year. Plus, food waste, recycling data, and other topics Congress and President Biden could address by 2025.

    By , Sept. 9, 2024
  • four blue recycling carts stand next to each other
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    Thomas Demarczyk via Getty Images
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    Tribal projects to reduce waste receive millions in EPA, NOAA funding

    The EPA announced $300 million for tribal climate change programs, including $21 million in waste-related initiatives. NOAA also announced $23 million in grants for marine debris mitigation efforts.

    By Sept. 6, 2024
  • People cut a ribbon in front of a glass crusher machine
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    (2024). Retrieved from flickr.
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    Kentucky’s first dedicated glass recycling program partners with growing spirits industry

    O-I Glass will purchase cullet from the new program run by workforce development nonprofit Workwell Industries. The glass comes from distilleries in the region, which also invested in the project.

    By Sept. 5, 2024
  • bunches of yellow bananas on shelves for sale
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    Traimak_Ivan via Getty Images
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    Multimaterial plastic packaging, some produce stickers land on ‘problematic’ materials list for elimination

    Additions to the U.S. Plastics Pact’s list are targeted for elimination by 2030, building on 2025 goals. The group says many of these items are not commonly recyclable.

    By Sept. 4, 2024
  • Wide shot of a building exterior with the "Myplas" logo.
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    Permission granted by Myplas
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    Myplas film recycling plant in Minnesota to reopen under new ownership

    GDB Circular plans to upgrade the facility and improve operations at the film recycling plant, which opened in December but idled soon after due to financial issues.

    By Sept. 4, 2024
  • Agromin tractor moving compost in California
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    Permission granted by Agromin
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    California Gov. Newsom signs textile EPR bill into law; vetoes and signs other recycling bills

    Newsom also signed laws updating PaintCare, carpet stewardship and organics procurement programs. He vetoed bills related to marine flares and vehicle traction battery management.

    By , Updated Sept. 30, 2024
  • A pile of mattress toppers sits in a hallway, as a person walks by rolling a suitcase, at Boston University
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    Permission granted by Derek Palmer for BU Sustainability
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    How Boston University manages the disposal chaos of move-out season

    One of the largest universities in Massachusetts diverted an estimated 113 tons of material from disposal as students left in May. The school partnered with Casella, Goodwill, Helpsy and others to make it happen.

    By Aug. 28, 2024
  • Front entrance to Save Mart supermarket
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    Courtesy of The Save Mart Companies
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    CalRecycle aims to scale beverage container redemption with $70M in grants

    A new round of funding is supporting more than 250 new recycling sites across 30 counties. This includes reverse vending machines, mobile recycling and bag drop programs.

    By Aug. 28, 2024
  • Green ERI trucks pull out of a facility
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    Courtesy of ERI
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    ERI opens first alkaline battery recycling plant in Indiana, more to come

    The company’s new focus on alkaline battery recycling is meant to broaden its electronics management services, especially as the U.S. government supports battery recycling infrastructure to get back critical materials.

    By Aug. 21, 2024
  • A refuse truck tips its trailer onto the floor of a recycling facility filled with a large pile of materials.
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    Courtesy of Recology/Larry Strong
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    Recology reports further emissions reductions, plans for new regulations

    The employee-owned company based in California released its fifth annual sustainability report. Last year it set new targets to reduce emissions from landfills and facilities.

    By Aug. 21, 2024
  • A clear bag labeled "Plastic Film (Stretchy)" sits next to a bin branded with the logo of CompostNow on a front porch.
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    Permission granted by CompostNow
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    Composters add pickup services for hard-to-recycle items, addressing gap

    The small, independent haulers are partnering with recyclers in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts and elsewhere to divert materials. They say customers are willing to pay for pickups amid distrust with mainstream recycling services.

    By Aug. 19, 2024
  • A Goodwill employee wearing a shirt that says "Donate Stuff Create Jobs" moves a bin of used clothing
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Goodwill positions itself as a growing player in the recycling industry

    At its first sustainability summit, the organization highlighted plans to scale up textile recycling while continuing to foster regional film plastic partnerships. Leaders also weighed in on California’s pending textile EPR bill.

    By Aug. 19, 2024
  • recycled glass jars
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    Courtesy of Glass Half Full
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    Glass Half Full pours efforts into new facility after $6.5M funding round

    The Louisiana glass recycler’s funding round, led by Benson Capital, supports construction on the company’s new facility, as well as its expansion into new markets in the Southeast and its pilot of a mixed recycling program.

    By Aug. 14, 2024
  • Bales of crushed plastic bottles, most of them green in hue.
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    ermingut via Getty Images
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    Circular Action Alliance names its first CEO

    Jeff Fielkow has decades of recycling and packaging experience at Tetra Pak, WM and elsewhere. The producer responsibility organization is ramping up work in Colorado, Oregon and California.

    By Aug. 13, 2024
  • glass bottles awaiting recycling
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    Redemption rates for many bottle bill states declined in 2023; Massachusetts ranks lowest

    The Container Recycling Institute said recent changes to programs in California and Connecticut could help improve numbers, citing promising Q1 data from the latter state this year.

    By Aug. 12, 2024
  • Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz walks in a maintenance area of a truck facility
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    Stephen Maturen via Getty Images
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    How Minnesota’s packaging stakeholders got EPR across the finish line

    Policy and environmental leads told the story of how compromise led to the latest extended producer responsibility for packaging bill passed into law during a Product Stewardship Institute event.

    By Aug. 9, 2024
  • A front loader collects recycled materials in a recycling facility.
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    Courtesy of Rumpke Recycling
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    Rumpke opens $100M MRF in Ohio to meet rising regional needs

    The facility, said to be the largest and most advanced in North America, includes AI-assisted technology and three tipping floors, along with community spaces for education and a training center for employees. 

    By Aug. 7, 2024