4 collaborative projects that aim to advance packaging recycling

Speakers at the Packaging Recycling Summit detailed scenarios in which brands, manufacturers, recyclers, academics and others across the supply chain are working to improve how packaging is managed at end of life.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 2, 2025

Oregon EPR program delays ‘responsible’ end market provision until 2026

Circular Action Alliance said “more time was needed” to work out kinks in the provision meant to determine responsible end markets for recycled materials. CAA plans to propose an updated verification process soon.

By Megan Quinn • July 1, 2025

Where new recycling laws are taking effect in July

Multiple states are banning EPS foam food containers, and Oregon’s packaging EPR program begins. Elsewhere, there are bottle bill and hotel product updates.

By Maria Rachal • June 30, 2025

Rhode Island lawmakers replace EPR and bottle bill proposal with study bill

The bill, an overhaul of a previous version establishing new recycling systems, instead calls for a report and recommendations that might lead to future extended producer responsibility and deposit return system proposals.

By Megan Quinn • June 26, 2025

Circular Services to operate two MRFs in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Under a five-year contract, the company will manage operations and recycling commodity marketing while the county makes way for C&D recycling capabilities.

By Megan Quinn • June 25, 2025

WM projects up to $29B revenue in 2027, driven by recycling and RNG

Executives announced new long-term earnings targets across its business segments and offered updates on plans for healthcare waste, employee retention and landfill capacity.

By Megan Quinn • June 25, 2025

Maine Gov. Mills alters packaging EPR law, to industry’s relief

With LD 1423, groups wanted to bring Maine’s first-in-the-nation packaging EPR law from 2021 into closer alignment with more recent versions of EPR legislation in other states.

By Maria Rachal • June 24, 2025

Texas approves laws to allow electronics repair, restrict compost sites

Gov. Greg Abbott’s approval of a consumer electronics right-to-repair law is a first for a Republican-led state. A bill to limit composting in Lee County also became law without Abbott’s signature.

By Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • June 24, 2025

WM’s upgraded Wisconsin MRF aims to capture more types of plastic packaging

Part of the $39 million investment went toward a film mitigation system, which reduces contamination in other streams. WM also is in the early stages of selling this captured material as a commodity. 

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated June 24, 2025

PureCycle plans to add 1B pounds of capacity by 2030

The recycled resin producer received $300 million in series B capital to build facilities in Thailand and Belgium as part of a larger plan. It will continue building its facility in Augusta, Georgia.

By Megan Quinn • June 23, 2025

US senators call on EPA to study reuse, refill

Recycling policy advocates Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., are teaming up again, this time on the Reuse Act, to assess opportunities in consumer packaging, food service and more.

By Maria Rachal • June 20, 2025

New York legislative session ends without Assembly vote on packaging EPR

Packaging industry groups celebrated the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act’s failure to advance as the legislature’s formal session came to a close early Wednesday.

By Megan Quinn , Maria Rachal • Updated June 18, 2025

E-mobility battery stewardship bills advance in New York and Connecticut

New York legislators sent a battery EPR update bill to the governor, inspired by an uptick in scooter and e-bike fires. Connecticut's governor also signed a broad battery EPR law last week.

By Megan Quinn • Updated June 20, 2025

Boxed vs. bottled: Not all sustainability claims hold water, nonprofit says

The brand Boxed Water is Better agreed to change certain environmental statements on its packaging in response to a nonprofit’s review, which was requested by the International Bottled Water Association.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 17, 2025

Reworld outlines growth of non-incineration capacity

The company’s portfolio of waste combustion facilities has declined in recent years, but its network of materials processing facilities and alternative fuel production has grown significantly.

By Jacob Wallace • June 17, 2025

Sullivan County, Tennessee, opens $3.5M recycling facility

The county-run facility, funded in part by grants from the state’s Department of Environment and Conservation, aims to improve recycling access and infrastructure in a region with a growing population.

By Megan Quinn • June 17, 2025

Textile recycling programs move forward across US

CalRecycle is ramping up textile EPR implementation, while existing municipal programs in Ohio and New Jersey aim to strengthen textile recycling. 

By Megan Quinn • June 16, 2025

State packaging EPR leaders swap stories as implementation advances

Lawmakers and regulators from California, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon and Tennessee shared insights on scaling up at a Product Stewardship Institute event.

By Maria Rachal • June 12, 2025

Cyclic Materials to open $25M rare earth recycling facility in Canada

The recycling and R&D facility is meant to process 500 metric tons of magnets a year. The resulting material would supply companies with feedstock for new components for EVs, wind turbines and electronics. 

By Megan Quinn • June 12, 2025

Senate committee moves Busterud nomination forward for EPA waste office

The full Senate will next consider the nomination. Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito commended John Busterud's qualifications, though some Democrats criticized the U.S. EPA’s recent policies related to pollution.

By Megan Quinn • June 11, 2025

Where 3 key waste and recycling bills stand in California

Bills managing marine flares, establishing a tax exemption for certain Chiquita Canyon compensation payments and expanding composting regulations for certain farmers are still in play after a legislative deadline.

By Megan Quinn • June 9, 2025

‘A wild ride’: California EPR regulatory revision process advances

After reviewing new comments on SB 54, “while I can see we did some things well, there's some components of our regulations that are still going to need work” prior to formal rulemaking, said CalRecycle Director Zoe Heller.

By Maria Rachal • June 6, 2025

Oregon governor signs bottle bill update for ‘alternative’ redemption centers

The law aims to offer more redemption points in an effort to reduce the strain on Portland-area retailers and support canners who make an income from collecting containers.

By Megan Quinn • June 5, 2025

Trump’s EPA budget would cut funds appropriated for waste offices

The budget would cut certain waste and recycling grant programs and enforcement related activities. It would also transition Superfund remediation work to a revenue source boosted in recent years through legislation.

By Jacob Wallace • June 5, 2025

Déjà vu? New York EPR bill unpopular with packaging groups awaits fate in Assembly

The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act has again passed the Senate. A host of trade groups that dislike the bill’s material restrictions and recycled content requirements have voiced support for an alternate bill.

By Maria Rachal • June 4, 2025