Recycling: Page

  • Workers Discuss Waste Management
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    Packaging has changed. Recycling systems haven’t kept up, report says.

    U.S. households’ generation of cartons surged from 2020 to 2026, while mixed paper dropped notably. The Recycling Partnership released data intended to inform simultaneous evolutions of the packaging and recycling sectors.

    By • Sept. 18, 2026
  • A small green bucket that says "Garbage to Garden" sits in the forefront of a street, with a large black bin and cars in the background.
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    Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
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    Massachusetts issues $2.8M in waste reduction grants in last month

    The two funding rounds address a range of materials, including food waste, textiles and plastics. More than two dozen companies, including Casella and Black Earth Compost, received grants.

    By • Sept. 17, 2026
  • The United States Capitol surrounded by trees
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    House passes trio of waste bills, including lithium-ion battery updates

    Other bills focused on recovering critical materials at contaminated waste sites and updating the Solid Waste Disposal Act. They are all moving to the Senate for consideration and involve new work led by the U.S. EPA.

    By • Sept. 16, 2026
  • Conveyor belt with plastic film, within warehouse
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    Courtesy of WM
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    800K tons of film, flex end markets to accelerate PCR demand: report

    A report from Eunomia and Delterra outlines the challenges and possibilities for scaling the market. It coincided with the launch of a demand accelerator project involving Amcor and Kraft Heinz.

    By Marissa Heffernan • Sept. 16, 2026
  • Four different colored tubes of Colgate toothpaste with the message "Recycle Me!" printed on the tubes.
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    Courtesy of Colgate-Palmolive
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    Judge sets date for Colgate toothpaste tube recyclability trial

    Attorneys now indicate they plan to subpoena MRFs and waste management companies, including WM and Republic Services, for additional information.

    By • Sept. 16, 2026
  • Atlantic Packaging
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    Permission granted by Atlantic Packaging
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    Passing the sniff test: Overcoming PCR’s odor and color challenges

    Sensory issues related to scent and tint pose unique hurdles for brands looking to incorporate more recycled plastic in consumer goods packaging. It’s spurring more creative applications for PCR.

    By Shefali Kapadia • Sept. 15, 2026
  • 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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    New Jersey delays PCR requirements for food-contact packaging to 2030

    The state’s Department of Environmental Protection said technologies still don’t exist at scale to reliably meet the requirements. The Association of Plastic Recyclers disagreed, citing concerns about stranded recycling assets.

    By Marissa Heffernan • Sept. 11, 2026
  • Corporate and political leaders gather to mark the opening of Cyclic Materials’ new facility in Mesa, Arizona.
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    Courtesy of Cyclic Materials
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    Rare earths recycler opens first US facility in Arizona

    Cyclic Materials’ $20 million site can recover magnets from wasted automotive parts, robotics and other electronics and repurpose them into rare earths and critical minerals.

    By Nathan Owens • Sept. 10, 2026
  • Two people in protective gear shift through various-sized pieces of metal on a wooden table.
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    Alamy
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    In the bin or not? How MRF operators decide which packaging to take

    As EPR laws and reputational concerns drive brands to push for their product packaging in accepted material lists, those debates have become increasingly complex.

    By Marissa Heffernan • Sept. 9, 2026
  • People in protective gear manage household chemicals dropped for disposal and recycling
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    The image by Montgomery County Planning Commission is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Vermont, lacking PRO, gets assist on household hazardous waste EPR program

    The Agency of Natural Resources is running the program itself. Reverse Logistics Group, a regulatory compliance company, will offer operational support such as billing and data collection.

    By • Sept. 3, 2026
  • A closeup of recycled polypropylene made by PureCycle
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    Courtesy of PureCycle Technologies
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    Rumpke, PureCycle talk polypropylene PCR partnerships

    The companies say their work together has helped fuel new PCR uptake from packaging companies like IPL Schoeller, which needs to meet state mandates.

    By • Sept. 1, 2026
  • A person in a hard hat inspects a bale of recyclables
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    Getty Images
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    Paper, cardboard recycling rates were flat in 2025: AF&PA

    Recycling rates held steady despite declines in U.S. paper and paperboard production in 2025, which illustrates the industry’s resilience, according to the American Forest & Paper Association.

    By • Aug. 31, 2026
  • Truck with sign that states "This recycling truck funded by Circular Action Alliance"
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    Courtesy of Circular Action Alliance
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    Oregon EPR law doesn’t violate Constitution, judge rules

    The federal judge disagreed with plaintiff National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors’ claims, saying Oregon showed “innovative leadership” with its EPR law. The decision could influence other in-progress litigation over EPR laws.

    By • Updated Aug. 28, 2026
  • 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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    Messy packaging EPR process provides opportunities for brands, recyclers

    Moving forward with EPR implementation is a complex process, but one that offers new ways to build better systems for long-term recycling improvements, speakers said during a Be Waste Wise panel on Wednesday.

    By • Aug. 27, 2026
  • An artist rendering of the exterior of a recycling facility
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    Courtesy of Recycle Utah
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    Communities in Michigan, Florida and Utah seek recycling partnerships, RFPs

    Plus, WM is building a MRF in Tampa, a new recycling drop-off facility is open in Oregon, and glass recycling infrastructure is on the way in one Virginia county.

    By • Aug. 26, 2026
  • Workers in hard hats look up at equipment inside an industrial facility.
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    Courtesy of Princeton NuEnergy
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    Battery recycling projects among DOE’s latest $500M grant funding round

    Princeton NuEnergy and Nth Cycle are focusing on lithium-ion battery recycling projects to recover critical minerals for manufacturing. The funding comes amid new black mass export restrictions meant to boost domestic supplies. 

    By • Aug. 25, 2026
  • A screenshot of a dashboard with bar charts and recommendations for a MRF
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    Courtesy of EverestLabs
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    EverestLabs adds AI agent to its MRF robotics offerings

    The Navigator tool aims to make data from sorting equipment easier to interpret through AI-powered recommendations and customized insights. Caglia Environmental and others are piloting the offering.

    By • Aug. 24, 2026
  • Sign on side of Portland, Oregon's Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse
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    Mathieu Lewis-Rolland via Getty Images
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    California EPR lawsuit escalates as forthcoming Oregon ruling looms

    The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and 17 AGs are seeking to block SB 54 enforcement. Their complaint also now accounts for tie-ins with recyclability law SB 343, for which enforcement is temporarily blocked.

    By • Aug. 21, 2026
  • A hand holds a Toast point-of-sale card reader. A customer's face is in the background.
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    Courtesy of Toast
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    Toast among first companies sued under Colorado’s electronics repair law

    Acme Revival, which connects customers with electronics repair technicians, also sued Owl Labs and Blackmagic Design, saying the companies refused to provide parts and schematics required by law.

    By • Aug. 20, 2026
  • An open corrugated box contains expanded polystyrene foam packaging.
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    Getty Images
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    US Plastics Pact removes transport EPS from ‘problematic’ list

    This is the first time the group has removed an item from the approximately four-year-old list. A broader review of the materials on the list is underway.

    By • Aug. 19, 2026
  • Large rolls of sheet aluminum stacked in a factory setting
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    Getty Images
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    Nearly 60 members of Congress call for aluminum pricing investigation

    At issue is the Midwest Premium, which reportedly incorporates the 50% aluminum tariffs on domestic manufacturers — even those that use domestically recycled aluminum. 

    By • Updated Aug. 19, 2026
  • A large flatbed truck hauls manufacturing equipment
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    Courtesy of Clean-Seas
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    Clean-Seas pyrolysis plant gets key permit approval in West Virginia

    The chemical recycler's first U.S. facility is moving forward despite opposition from residents, who say the facility is too close to schools and may contribute to cumulative regional pollution.

    By • Aug. 18, 2026
  • Aerial view of industrial recycling facility in Washington state
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    Retrieved from Facebook on December 01, 2022
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    Washington regulators eye hauling rule changes following DTG settlement

    A Washington commission will examine how MRF residuals are handled under state regulations, a move that stems from a legal settlement with DTG. WRRA, WM, Waste Connections and others weighed in.

    By • Aug. 17, 2026
  • Old battery packs for mobile phones
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    Getty Images
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    Circular Services eyes battery detection tech for proactive fire safety

    The company discussed plans to test the tech during a webinar, while speakers from NWRA and other industry groups promoted state and federal bills meant to improve fire safety and collections for batteries.

    By • Aug. 14, 2026
  • a worker wearing PPE sorts recycled materials on a belt.
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    Courtesy of rStream
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    What’s next for rStream’s AI recycling tech after Gillette Stadium debut

    The robotics company plans to double down on its niche sorting market with its recent $1.25 million DOE grant. Airports and “lower resource” locations may be next, co-founder Ethan Walko said.

    By • Aug. 13, 2026