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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Navigating next steps on EPR in California and beyond

CalRecycle said it will revise the regulations and associated documents, and initiate a new formal rulemaking process, starting with a 45-day public comment period.

By Maria Rachal • Updated March 13, 2025

Walmart says it’s unlikely to meet 2025 plastic, recycling targets

The largest U.S. retailer discussed challenges to increasing PCR adoption. More than two-thirds of its global private-brand packaging was recyclable, reusable or industrially compostable in 2023, according to a company update.

By Maria Rachal • March 12, 2025

Newsom sends California back to the drawing board on EPR implementation

Following public input, multiple revisions and a missed deadline to finalize SB 54 rules, one state Democrat called progress “significantly delayed.” Some environmental advocates say they would again consider a ballot initiative.

By Maria Rachal • March 10, 2025

Texas MRF operator for sale amid $8M loan dispute, possible asset liquidation

Independent Texas Recyclers, which once served some 1 million Houston households, allegedly missed payments on equipment and later discontinued operations.

By Megan Quinn • Updated March 24, 2025

Maryland’s recycling needs assessment sheds light on possible EPR impacts

A newly released assessment, along with a recommendation report from a stakeholder group, could both help shape EPR for packaging legislation this year.

By Megan Quinn • March 6, 2025

Interstate Waste Services opens $30M MRF to take on NYC commercial volumes

IWS designed the MRF to accommodate specific volumes from New York City’s commercial waste zones, while also allowing the company to internalize volumes it once sent to other recyclers.

By Megan Quinn • March 5, 2025

LRS sells its Wisconsin assets to GFL Environmental

LRS will exit the Wisconsin market, including a MRF contract, to focus on organic growth in its other core regions, CEO Matt Spencer said. The company also sold a small business in Illinois.

By Megan Quinn • March 4, 2025

Major public waste companies spent nearly $11B on M&A in 2024

WM drove major spending with its $7.2 billion Stericycle deal in 2024. Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental and Casella Waste Systems also completed numerous deals during the year.

By Megan Quinn , Jacob Wallace , Cole Rosengren • March 3, 2025

PureCycle reports ‘significant progress’ toward profitability in Q4

The company reported $346.6 million in debt for 2024. It expects upcoming deals with consumer goods companies will drive resin sales, while plant improvements aim to raise production volumes.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 28, 2025

Waste companies plan continued fees, tech investments to offset 2025 commodity dips

To mitigate possible commodities-related headwinds in 2025, major waste companies will continue to fine-tune their ongoing automation investments, fee-for-service programs and involvement in EPR contracts.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 26, 2025

The Climate Corps may have ended, but waste-related service jobs continue

The phase out of this Biden administration program is expected to be more about changing program labels than funding itself. Local corps members have worked on waste reduction, recycling and food recovery in multiple states.

By Leslie Nemo • Feb. 26, 2025

Rumpke CEO: ‘Our growth has been dramatic.’

Bill Rumpke Jr. noted a busy 2024 for acquisitions and infrastructure investments led to $1.2 billion in revenue. He previewed more hiring, employee training and tech investments for 2025.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 25, 2025

Caps, pumps, pods: Preventing small packaging from slipping through recycling systems

Tens of thousands of tons of small-format packaging could be captured each year with technological upgrades, according to a Closed Loop Partners report. A consortium aims to advance recovery of the small packaging.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 24, 2025

Chemical recycler Resynergi receives $18M for decentralized facility plan

The startup envisions co-locating its modular pyrolysis facilities with MRFs and other recycling facilities to gather more plastic and reduce transportation costs. The funding round is meant to help Resynergi’s scale-up process.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 24, 2025

Call2Recycle drop-off program targets outdoor equipment batteries

Call2Recycle’s high-energy battery program aims to fill a gap in collection and ease permitting challenges for transport. Equipment companies like Makita, Stanley Black & Decker, Stihl and Techtronic Industries fund the program.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 21, 2025

Minnesota taps Circular Action Alliance for EPR program

Producers must register in the state later this year. The CEO of CAA says the producer responsibility organization’s work in other states “enables us to immediately find efficiencies for producers” and “scale best practices.”

By Maria Rachal • Updated Feb. 19, 2025

Braven Environmental to build chemical recycling facility in Texas

The project is part of a new tax incentive program from the state of Texas, designed to attract manufacturing businesses in exchange for job growth assurances.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 19, 2025