Recycling
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Jeremy Poland via Getty Images
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 -
Courtesy of New York State Senator Pete Harckham
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 -
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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 -
Courtesy of Reworld
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 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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 -
Aziz Shamuratov via Getty Images
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 -
Permission granted by Kristina Benoist/Product Stewardship Institute
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 -
Courtesy of Cyclic Materials
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 -
[Screenshot]. Retrieved from Senate Environment and Public Works committee.
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 -
The image by Jimmy Emerson, DVM is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
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 -
DustyPixel via Getty Images
‘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 -
Shunyu Fan via Getty Images
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 -
Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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 -
demerzel21 via Getty Images
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 -
Courtesy of Empire Green Generation
Planned West Virginia pyrolysis plant misses payments on $44M in bonds
The plant, commissioned by a subsidiary of Empire Diversified Energy, was set to convert waste plastic to electricity. Its future is unclear.
By Jacob Wallace • June 4, 2025 -
(2025). Retrieved from Flickr.
Hawai’i governor signs packaging EPR study bill
Lawmakers in Hawai’i have been introducing EPR proposals for years. The study funded by the newly signed law is due to the state legislature by the end of 2027.
By Maria Rachal • June 2, 2025 -
Courtesy of City of Seattle
Waste industry calls on manufacturers, policymakers to help prevent facility fires
Speakers at a recent webinar hosted by the Solid Waste Association of North America and the National Stewardship Action Council offered tips on coordinating programs and policy to deal with this issue.
By Megan Quinn • May 30, 2025 -
Courtesy of AMP
Amp grows focus on custom MSW sortation offerings
The company, known for AI-enabled robotics tech, is ramping up its MSW-focused services meant to help extract recyclables and organics to divert material from disposal in landfills-constrained areas.
By Megan Quinn • May 29, 2025 -
spwidoff via Getty Images
Will 2025 EPR laws pave the way for more packaging policy?
After Maryland and Washington recently adopted packaging EPR laws, leaders from Ameripen and the National Stewardship Action Council expect to see more policy action, including on bottle bills, in 2026.
By Maria Rachal • May 28, 2025 -
Courtesy of City of Phoenix
NERC notes slight commodity value improvements, while MRFs announce significant upgrades
Northeast MRFs reported blended commodity prices rose up to 9% in Q1. Meanwhile, Casella, Eureka and the City of Phoenix announced MRF upgrades in part to help fetch higher commodity prices.
By Megan Quinn • May 28, 2025 -
Courtesy of Nova Chemicals
Nova Chemicals, Novolex open mechanical recycling facility for PE film
The Connersville, Indiana, facility will process up to 145,000 bales of postconsumer plastic film a year to produce recycled LLDPE for use in food-safe applications.
By Megan Quinn • May 27, 2025 -
Stock Photo via Getty Images
CalRecycle unveils new SB 54 text; Wagoner out as CAA’s California lead
The agency will host a public meeting May 27 to take feedback. Circular Action Alliance, the packaging EPR program’s PRO, plans to hire a new state lead as former CalRecycle director Rachel Wagoner steps aside.
By Maria Rachal • May 22, 2025 -
Ian Waldie/Getty Images via Getty Images
Plastics reduction advocate and former EPA administrator joins Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Jennie Romer, known for plastics pollution work at Surfrider and at the EPA’s pollution prevention office, will address e-waste, textiles and circular economy policy in her new role at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
By Megan Quinn • May 22, 2025 -
Chris Jackson via Getty Images
Indigenous-led efforts bolster EPR collection in remote parts of Canada
A new partnership between the Stewardship Agencies of BC and the Indigenous Zero Waste Technical Advisory Group helps improve recycling programs and training.
By Megan Quinn • May 21, 2025
