Recycling: Page 36

  • A close-up of Rob Bonta
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    To fight US plastic pollution, California AG calls for more resources and more accountability

    The federal government should act more quickly to address plastic pollution and hold polluters responsible, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said during a recent seminar.

    By • Sept. 30, 2022
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    California’s last 2 WTE facilities under pressure following new state law

    Now that jurisdictions can no longer count waste sent to “transformation” facilities toward their recycling targets, Covanta-operated sites in Long Beach and Stanislaus County may see a shift.

    By • Sept. 29, 2022
  • 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. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Alamy
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    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
  • A black trash bin and blue recycling bin sit on a curb
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    Q&A

    Zero waste advocates: California is making strides, but more action needed beyond EPR

    Longtime zero waste advocates Ruth Abbe, Rick Anthony and Neil Seldman weigh in on implications from the state’s busy legislative session and how they hope producer responsibility systems can evolve nationally.

    By • Sept. 28, 2022
  • Ripple Glass collection truck in Kansas
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    Permission granted by Ripple Glass
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    Strategic Materials acquires Ripple Glass, plans to grow collection beyond current Midwest footprint

    SMI, North America’s largest glass recycler, sees Ripple as an expert in engaging residents. Started by a Kansas City, Missouri, brewery in 2009, Ripple has since grown to offer services in multiple states.

    By • Sept. 28, 2022
  • A field of solar panels off of the roadside in Florida.
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    With more solar panels entering the US waste stream, EPR policy and standards emerge

    A Northeast Recycling Council webinar covered how manufacturing and standards must converge to handle this growing material stream. An upcoming EPR program in Washington was highlighted as one example.

    By • Sept. 27, 2022
  • Person standing next to a pallet full of plastic beer can carriers
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    Permission granted by Liezl Cosentio
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    Could plastic beer can carriers be a gateway to the reuse economy?

    The HDPE carriers for many craft beers are made from recycled content, but they aren’t widely accepted for curbside recycling. From California to Vermont, people are creating systems to keep them in circulation.

    By • Sept. 23, 2022
  • Pizza box in a blue recycling bin sitting on a lawn
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    Courtesy of WestRock
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    Domino’s and WestRock launch initiative to boost pizza box recycling

    Recyclers have debated how to handle the greasy boxes for years, but industry research indicates this may no longer be an issue. The pizza chain and box maker are now asking customers to “Do Their Slice” by recycling.

    By • Sept. 22, 2022
  • A Tesla car recharges its battery at the Petaluma Supercharger on March 09, 2022 in Petaluma, California.
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    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
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    How the Inflation Reduction Act is heating up an already active market for critical metals in EV batteries

    Domestic sourcing requirements in the law have further highlighted supply gaps in the electric vehicle battery production chain. Experts say recycling is imperative because “we can’t mine our way out of this.”

    By • Sept. 22, 2022
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    Paula Bronstein via Getty Images
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    Resurgent recycling market development programs from South Carolina and Goodwill

    A recent Southeast Recycling Development Council webinar highlighted “renewed interest” in market opportunities, with a focus on success stories that have emereged from creative business partnerships.

    By • Sept. 21, 2022
  • Members of the Mississippi National Guard hand out bottled water at a Jackson, Mississippi, middle school.
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    Brad Vest via Getty Images
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    Jackson, Mississippi, water crisis prompts PET bottle surge and recycling efforts

    The city has been inundated with water bottles but lacks a recycling program. As studied in Flint, Michigan, emergency response groups may not always consider waste management issues in their advance planning.

    By • Sept. 21, 2022
  • DSNY workers collecting waste in New York
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    Permission granted by Clare Miflin
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    Council hearing features ideas to boost New York City’s stagnant diversion rate

    During a public hearing on Tuesday, residents urged the Department of Sanitation to direct more time and resources to organics programs, education efforts and outreach to overlooked communities.

    By • Sept. 21, 2022
  • Deliver Zero reusable takeout packaging
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    Courtesy of Deliver Zero
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    US Plastics Pact launches program to boost reuse and refill concepts

    Members of the brand-backed group aim to make their plastic packaging 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025, but the current scope of U.S. reuse systems remains limited.

    By • Sept. 20, 2022
  • Plastic takeout containers with chicken sandwiches in a commercial refrigerator
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    Getty Images
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    California Gov. Newsom vetoes bill to set recycled content standards for plastic thermoforms

    The bill could have interfered with a broader extended producer responsibility law he signed this summer, Newsom said in a veto message. Bill supporters disagreed, while plastics industry groups applauded the decision.

    By • Sept. 20, 2022
  • Gavin Newsom gives a speech.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    California Gov. Newsom signs many recycling and waste bills, vetoes two

    Bills concerning the state’s container redemption program, incineration rules, battery recycling programs, plastic bag regulations and organic waste diversion were among those Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in September.

    By • Updated Oct. 3, 2022
  • People walking on New York City street, with One World Trade Center rising in the background
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive // NYC commercial waste reform

    Los Angeles had a rocky commercial waste zone rollout but is seeing results. What’s in store for New York?

    New York has big goals for its zone system to boost diversion rates, infrastructure investment and labor standards. First, the city and haulers must navigate a transition process that one LA official called “six months of hell.”

    By • Sept. 19, 2022
  • Mitt Romney stands at a podium
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    US Senate passes bill to maximize EV battery recycling for federal fleet vehicles

    Sponsors of the bipartisan bill say the federal government needs a plan to bolster recycling and reuse of EV batteries to lessen U.S. dependence on international markets for battery components.

    By • Sept. 16, 2022
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    US Plastics Pact activators see federal policy as key to achieving 2025 packaging reduction goals

    During a recent webinar, speakers from Mars and Keurig Dr Pepper outlined incremental progress on rethinking their packaging strategies and called for further federal action to accelerate this shift.

    By • Sept. 15, 2022
  • Person in hard hat and safety vest stands over fast-moving conveyor belt with recyclables in Oregon
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    Natalie Behring via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    National Sword kicked off a wave of MRF investments. 5 years later, tech and funding continue to advance.

    While the initial shock led facility operators to scramble, many have since invested millions in new equipment to improve material quality. Now, brand commitments and state policies are expected to be the next big market drivers.

    By • Sept. 14, 2022
  • Conveyor belt with plastic film, within warehouse
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    Courtesy of WM
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    Q&A

    WM’s VP of recycling discusses what the Avangard acquisition means for plastic markets

    WM has invested in secondary processing ventures before, but VP Brent Bell said the market conditions make this round different. He also shared what the deal could mean for a Honeywell chemical recycling proposal and more.

    By • Sept. 14, 2022
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    Waste Management
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    WM to acquire majority stake in plastic film recycling business Natura PCR from Avangard

    North America’s largest MRF operator intends to focus on recycling commercial films and shrink wraps, with a goal of producing 400 million pounds of PCR per year. This follows its investment in mixed plastics recycler Continuus Materials.

    By • Sept. 13, 2022
  • Man in polo shirt standing in front of truck
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    Courtesy of Total Reclaim
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    Total Reclaim CEO acquires majority stake after buying out convicted former owners

    Bobby Farris joined the Washington-based electronics recycler as CEO in 2019. This transaction marks the official exit of former leaders who were convicted on federal fraud charges.

    By • Sept. 12, 2022
  • Recology electric truck by BYD in Seattle
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    Permission granted by Recology
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    Recology SF corruption investigation

    Updated indictment could be coming in alleged bribery case of former Recology employee

    John Porter, former vice president and manager of Recology’s San Francisco group, was indicted earlier this summer. He is one of two former Recology employees charged in a much broader corruption investigation.

    By • Sept. 9, 2022
  • Republic Services collection truck
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    Courtesy of Republic Services
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    Republic Services expands Colorado footprint with two hauling acquisitions

    The purchases of Monument Waste Services and Rocky Mountain Sanitation give the company a larger presence in the state’s Western Slope region. One company also operates a newer landfill in that market.

    By • Sept. 8, 2022
  • Close-up of plastic packaging in the trash
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    Model legislation for postconsumer recycled content in plastic packaging aims to ‘harmonize’ state policy

    The Northeast Recycling Council and Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association also note that any legislation should be paired with supporting efforts to boost recycling collection and infrastructure.

    By • Sept. 7, 2022
  • DOL's sign stands outside its headquarters.
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    US job growth tempered in August as waste management and remediation added 2.3K employees

    After big increases in July, the pace of U.S. job growth in August slowed, and overall unemployment grew. For waste collection, MRFs and landfill workers, month-to-month results in August remained stronger than average.

    By • Sept. 7, 2022