Search

Information about the Association of Plastic Recyclers Technical Forum, during the Plastics Recycling 2016 Conference in New Orleans, Lousiana in February 2016, is presented. The event was attended by hundreds of participants and industry experts who shared their ideas about the significance of recovered plastic bales during manufacturing operations.

The article discusses five best practices for boosting multi-family recycling, or boosting material diversion at apartment and condo complexes in the U.S. The best practices mentioned were drawn from research and examples from leading cities as well as the on-the-ground experience of the author. It includes setting standards for access and service equity, putting in place the four aspects of supportive recycling infrastructure, and giving educational materials.

The article focuses on the food diversion strategy of American municipalities to focus on moving excess food scraps and use the waste material for composting or energy production. It cites a number of recent food recovery conferences and forum with experts in the fields of materials recovery and policy. It also mentions the effort of municipalities to help solve the issue of hunger while reducing the tonnages of organic material going to traditional disposal arenas.

The article discusses the recycling program that leverages aluminum collection in order to support animal shelters and its impact to non-recyclers. It explores the strategies in recycling management to encourage residents to divert the community recycling and boost recovery of materials. It also cites the collaboration of recycling advocates and leaders in animal welfare to work together in aluminum recycling.

The article discusses the role of materials recovery facility (MRF) in the recycling industry. It explores the changing recycling markets and the challenges faced by MRFs in terms of product quality and profitability. It focuses on the quality of inbound single-stream for collected materials and more voluminous tons resulting from lighter packaging.

The article presents a study that investigates on ways to optimize collection of recyclables and trash in the U.S. The author suggests that one can imposed several large programs with significant implications like yard waste programs, single-stream recycling, and pay as you throw (PAYT) schemes. The other tips mentioned include every-other-week (EOW) recycling and twice weekly collection of trash.

The article presents challenges and ways on how to impose public space recycling (PSR) in the U.S. The author states that facility planners and recycling managers experienced several problems with regards to the implementation of PSR including costly recycling bins and persistent contamination. Moreover, he mentions that PSR can be achieved by making it public habit.

The article offers information on the curbside cart-based recycling collection scheme in North Carolina. It mentions the state underwent complete transition of recycling collection to carts, hence resulting 1.32 million residents having efficient, flexible and convenient collection format. Moreover, charts showing the growth of curbside programs in the state are also presented.

The article explores the evolution of the approach to solid waste management in Florida and its 75 percent recycling goals. It highlights the inception of the 1988 Solid Waste Management Act (SWMA) as a result of the comprehensive plan for managing waste in Florida. It cites the enactment of 75-percent recycling goal in 2008 and spread in 2010-2012. It indicates that the new law redefines recycling which includes credit for the production of renewable energy from waste.

The article focuses on the innovative approaches of the Spokane, Washington Department of Solid Waste Management (SWM) to recycling, solid waste, and household hazardous waste management. It notes that the SWM collects refuse from about 66,000 residences weekly and its automated collection has multiple benefits. It says that the department began reviewing data specific to its collection and recycling tonnages in an attempt to better understand recycling practices within the city.

A summary is presented on various U.S. legislations for recycling which include the H.B 1036 of Arkansas that relieves the retail sales of renewable resource equipment from the sales of state and use taxes, the H. B. 1094 of Colorado that requires cities and county with a population of 25,000 or more to submit its report to the state regarding solid waste management yearly, and the BDR66 of Nevada that obliges the recycling of fluorescent light bulbs.

The article focuses on the benefits of changing the curbside recycling program into single-stream. It cites the Metro Waste Authority in Des Moines, Iowa, which successfully switched into single-stream and reported good results including 20% increase in recycling tonnage and improved resident participation. Metro Waste Authority also identified the big three concepts needed for a successful switch into single-stream.

The article focuses on factors to be considered to increase construction and demolition (C&D) recovery and recycling programs in Florida and several other states. It says that Florida officials have sent a plan to the legislature on how to achieve 75-percent average statewide recycling goal by 2020. Meanwhile, it says that education will be essential in launching effective programs in Florida. Recommendations for increased C&D debris recovery from high performing states are also presented.

The article offers information on the commingled recycling systems, also known as single-stream that involves the mixing of recyclable materials designed for efficient collections. The system will depend on the municipal recycling program and commingled collection systems may recognize a vast range of commodities. The author stresses that the move to commingled recycling has a variety of advantages such as the increased participation in recycling programs.

The article presents ways in which stimulus package affects recycling business. It is stated that with the global recession and financial crisis, dragging down the economy, challenges have been faced by the newly elected public officials in the U.S. There are as many as 25 shove-ready recycling projects that could receive direct support from the stimulus. The author stresses that those who apply for recycling grants would still need to compete against other programs relating to investment.

The article focuses on how the Regional Municipality of York has been able to manage its problem on materials recovery facility (MRF). The region's ongoing curbside collection program is cited as it has been able to encourage residents to divert waste from landfill. It decided to work with MRF operations contractor Miller Waste Systems for the reduction of the quantity of acceptable materials found in the residue. It also called forth the attention of alternative markets for them to receive these materials for reprocessing at their facilities. To ensure success on its program, the region had conducted a number of promotional campaigns as well so that its residents can be informed and fully participate in the program.

The article discusses the essential steps that are considered necessary for the success of paper recycling program. It is claimed that paper materials are over 83 million tons of the 254 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) materials generated in the country in 2007. For many businesses and institutions to reduce paper materials disposal costs and save on paper expenses, they are suggested to consider the Recycling at Work program formed by the Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District in Cincinnati. The program, accordingly, uses a three-pronged approach including offering technical assistance and providing indoor collection supplies. The program also illustrates several obstacles with their corresponding solution.

The article stresses the effort by the Recycling Council of Alberta (RCA) in addressing the environmental and health issues being caused by agricultural plastic materials in Canada. The RCA decided to work with representatives from the Alberta Plastics Recycling Association (APRA), the manufacturing sector, retailers, recycling project operators, and recycling processors, among which. The group gained understanding of the main issue and assessed the potential of collecting materials of sufficient quantity and quality. The group likewise developed a model for a provincial recycling program for agricultural plastics.

The article reports on developments in resin polypropylene (PP) recycling in the U.S. PP has a wide application base in both fast-moving consumer goods and durables and is used in a number of articles, including carpet face-yarn and carpet backing, woven and non-woven fiber uses. Key challenges in PP recycling include identifying how much of the waste is available and in what form, consumer engagement and municipalities' participation in the recycling of plastic and separation of the highly diverse mix of rigid plastic. Details about the four types of technologies tested for PP recycling such as film separation, whole item separation, flake dry cleaning and flake separation are cited.

The article reports on the benefits and limitations of single-stream recycling programs in the U.S. Many of the collected beverage containers in such programs are subsequently lost to the recycling system because the material recovery facilities (MRF) are not properly designed to recover them. Glass containers are most frequently lost to recycling at the MRF, due to breakage during storage and processing, not during collection. Optical-sorting systems are designed to process pieces of glass that are larger than 3/8-inch in diameter.

The article discusses the modified static aerobic pile (MSAP) composting method in recycling and composting in the U.S. The MSAP method was initially developed in Colorado as a joint collaboration between Harvest Quest International and the Eaton, Colorado-based A1 Organics, the largest organic processor in the Rocky Mountain Region. The process combines both static pile and window composting methods, providing many environmental and economic benefits. The major benefit of the method is the ability to largely eliminate the need for mechanical turning, while still maintaining aerobic conditions and excellent pathogen destruction.

The article offers information on the recycling industry in the U.S. It mentions that the record numbers occurred despite the fact sales for California Refund Value (CRV) beverage containers were relatively flat 21.9 billion in 2007 compared to 21.8 billion in 2006. It notes that various recycling-based measures were currently progressing within the state assemblies including California, Colorado and Delaware. It stresses that the Canadian Maritime Province of New Brunswick was experiencing a new stewardship program for scrap paint. The Ohio Department of natural Resources awarded numerous communities with approximately $915,260 in Community Development Grants which will help to support local recycling and litter prevention efforts.

The article presents the results of a national survey related to material recovery facilities (MRF). Conducted by the Governmental Advisory Associates, results of the study shows that the recycling industry noted a strong growth in 2007, with the continuous rise in the number of operating MRFs. Moreover, there is a persistent increase in the total tonnage processed by MRFs from 1991 to 2006. The number of materials being processed by MRFs and mixed-waste processing facilities also went up starting from 1991 until 2006.

The article discusses the steps how best to improve recycling systems. It focuses on the collaborative approach in identifying and applying the best practices to curbside recycling programs highlighting the barriers and opportunities. Curbside recycling has been widely practiced in Ontario, Canada and was first established in Kitchener, Ontario in the early 80s. Since the establishment of the programs, the industry have been paying 50 percent of the net recycling costs. This brings forth some questions what are the best recycling practices and what do they cost.

The article discusses the importance of proper processing of recycables that would indicate the level of recycling success. Material Recovery Facilities are responsible for handling commingled materials that would have to be separated accordingly. A key factor to efficient processing facilities lie in its design which must match the characteristics of the local recycling program. Factors such as materials to be processed, expected volume, available markets for sorted materials, market requirements, contractual requirements of the local community, and the revenue from the sorted materials must be considered. The article also discusses relevant issues such as the types of residue that are common at processing facilities and establishing the ratio between equipment and manual labor. INSET: Best practices in single-stream recycling..

The article reports on the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) disposal concerns in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Policy makers realized the increase in LAC's potential to generate electronic waste or e-waste. LAC's waste management and policies are its early evolutionary stage due to underfunded municipal waste budgets, social issues, and others. Corporate responses to WEEE in LAC include cellphone battery return programs, cellphone return programs, asset recovery services for equipment, and others. Moreover, extended-producer-responsibility (EPR) product rules have been implemented in Argentina, Brazil, and others.

This article offers information regarding the globalization of recycling markets. Single-stream programs are becoming more popular and local community programs are changing how they collect and process recyclables. Current improvements intended to increase the efficiency and economics of recycling collection systems have undermined the efficiency and economics of the manufacturing side of the system. Improved design of municipal government recycling programs can furnish the necessary coordination, driving recycling to its highest potential.

The article reports the growing popularity of flat-panel displays (FPDs), such as liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) and plasma displays, in the U.S. As of October 2007, comparatively few FPD devices have entered the waste stream, but as sales increase and today's units age and reach the end of their useful life, an enormous number of devices will need to be reused, recycled or disposed of in the future. The article addresses the need to evaluate the potential risks associated with handling and disposing of these pieces of equipment before significant quantities reach their end of life.

The article reports on several alternative uses for recyclable glass outside of bottle-to-bottle conversion. The section lists a few of the numerous local conversion programs and companies that are employing innovative, successful and alternative methods towards the use of recovered glass. Among the given company is Aurora Glass located in Eugene, Oregon, owned and operated at Eugene-based non-profit St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County, Incorporated. They accepts, processes and transforms unwanted clear, single-panel tempered and non-tempered windows into useful products, such as tile ornaments and decorative glassware.

The article presents the benefits and disadvantages of every-other-week (EOW) collection of garbage and recycling in the U.S. and Canada. The authors explain that this waste management scheme may aid communities in considering modifications to encourage recycling and diversion, reduce costs and improve efficiencies. Skumatz Economic Research Associates (SERA) has examined data from 700 communities in the two countries to identify the effects of EOW collection. The analysis showed that EOW collection of recycling provided savings on the order of 20 percent to 50 percent.

The article discusses the attributes that recycling programs in the U.S. should have in order be a complete and effective recycling system. With the challenges facing the sector on the proposed single-stream recycling collection and processing system, it is suggested that community collection programs should focused on materials recovery rather than integrated waste management programs. It is also proposed that recycling programs should support effectively the need of manufacturers to meet production specifications, focus on environmental goals for conserving natural resources, and set standards for a sustainable and healthy recycling system. INSET: Best practices in single-stream recycling..

The article discusses the 2006 Material Recovery Facility Assessment commissioned by the King County, Washington, D.C. that separately assesses four materials recovery facilities within the greater Puget Sound area. The facilities evaluated are Allied Waste, Rabanco Recycling Center in Seattle, Smurfit-Stone, Renton Reclamation Plant in Renton, Waste Connection Recycling Center in Tacoma, and Waste Management, Cascade Recycling Center in Woodinville. Results of the assessment, which focuses on residential and commercial recyclables collected and processed in 2005 by the facilities, suggest that the recycling marketplace is self-policing. Issues faced by the sector are discussed and recommendations to address the problems are provided.

The article discusses the three-city study of single-stream curbside recycling collection which shows that demographics and program characteristics are important factors in making participation easier in California. The absolute tonnages of recyclables collected at the curb indicated that each city clearly increased recyclables. It was found that the variation in amounts of recyclables was mostly attributed to the different population sizes for each city. Thus, when the total tonnages of recyclables were normalized for population, each resident in all three cities recycled at comparable rates prior to single-stream.

The article discusses several strategies that will encourage preferred recycling behavior in multi-family dwelling (MFD) settings. Several motivational strategies were identified that will augment recycling efforts and lessen contamination, these strategies vary in terms of their cost effectiveness, ease of implementation, and ability to produce desirable behaviors. Motivational strategies, example-setting, and feedback strategies are cited to encourage recycling participation. The dynamics of these strategies are also included.

The article presents the second part of the publication on the recycling of beverage containers in the U.S. It was considered that majority of beverage containers are consumed where they can be readily collected in the homes, work environment and in bars and restaurants. One key to high beverage container recovery rates from households is parallel refuse and recycling collection service. A slightly lower percentage of households in non-bottle bill states have access to curbside collection of refuse.

The article reports on the key mechanisms and strategies that can be used in building more sustainable recycling programs in Pennsylvania. A guide for building a financially sustainable recycling programs was developed wherein they held workshops held across Pennsylvania to provide training to successfully implement the strategies covered in the guide. The strategies includes the sufficient and reliable funding, tracking of program costs and revenues, public understanding, awareness and support and others. These strategies aimed to improved the sustainability of recycling programs through reducing costs and increasing revenues.

The article discusses the demolition of the Nashville Thermal Transfer Corp. facility as part of the waste management system in Tennessee. The dismantling required the assistance of the private sector and contracted Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc. for the project management. The project would tackle the planning of dismantle, the use of recycled products and disposing the waste materials. The dismantling of projects involve the help of the consultants and the unused materials and equipment are held for auctions. The auctions is presented in the Internet to make use of the financial benefit of the reusable equipment.

The article discusses the nature and popularity of single-stream collection and processing recycling programs as a whole system in North America. Recycling is defined as a system that needs long-term planning and consideration in order to keep its immediate functions effectively operating. It is seen as a collaborative system where the manufacturers need the material that collectors collect and processors process and collectors and processors need manufacturers who buy their materials. To discuss the impact of single-stream recycling, Conservatree initiated the Single-Stream Roundtable in Sacramento in May 2005. It attracted governments, collectors, processor and manufacturers hum across California to discuss these issues. Although manufacturers from California and West Coast value volume promised by single-stream collection and processing programs, they are apprehensive about the quality issues that they are experiencing may limit their ability to maintain and expand markets for recycled-content products.

The article presents a discussion on the unpopularity of curbside recycling programs in the U.S. With too many communities leaving valuable commodities out of the recycling bin, many curbside collection programs are struggling to remain viable. A recent survey conducted by the Aluminum Can Council (ACC), a coalition formed by the Aluminum Association and the Can Manufacturers Institute, found that average participation in curbside is about 58 percent, and that is among the roughly 50 percent of communities with access to curbside service. Recognizing that the trend can be reversed, the ACC has created the Curbside Value Partnership, a research-based approach to engaging communities to improve curbside recycling programs. Significant resources have been dedicated to making the partnership a success and to recruiting as many communities as possible into the program. As part of the Curbside Value Partnership, the ACC has spent two years conducting research, analyzing best practices, interviewing stakeholders and implementing pilot programs across the country.

The article presents a discussion on waste management in Europe. With waste levels on the rise across Europe, many local authorities are using policy initiatives and better communication techniques to target the source of non-recyclable products rather than the end of the line. Despite many policies involving waste prevention, waste production continues to grow in Europe. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris, France, waste production in Europe in the 1960s was approximately 441 pounds per person per year. Today, that figure has more than doubled to around 1,100 pounds per person per year. Continuing increases in waste levels cannot be completely blamed on inadequate waste policy. Technological innovation, cheaper production costs, changing demographics and intensive marketing by companies all add to the increasing pressures on local and regional authorities (LRAs) to stem the rising waste stream. LRAs have a big role to play in communicating sustainable consumption messages to citizens, but this end-of-pipe approach is not enough. The power of public authorities at the local, regional, national and international level needs to be taken back, and this needs to be supported by fiscal, legislative and voluntary mechanisms promoting prevention in the production phase as well as consumption.

The article discusses the challenges in increasing recycling rates in municipalities and cities in the U.S. It explores some strategies and recycling programs for advanced recycling and reuse processes. Industry experts are suggesting that the dirty materials recovery facilities (MRFs) is advancing waste management but can also threaten the recovered fiber supply caused by organic and non-organic contamination.

The article discusses the importance of involving communities in the recycling efforts. The authors concede the difficulty of achieving the task, but also claim that they can be solved by educating and promoting the efforts to the communities. Several methods on how to reach out to immigrants regarding local recycling programs are offered

The article presents the results of the 2008 surveys concerning the impact of the economic downturn on recycling programs in the U.S. The data was based on the information gathered from municipal program managers, directors and coordinators. Results show that most coordinators were not planning any changes on their programs in 2008. It reveals that an increase in the amount of outreach and education, followed by an overall increase in diversion, was the most common change to recycling programs.

The article focuses on the opportunities for waste reduction, materials diversion and the use of recycled-content products provided by the green building sector in the U.S. It relates that the use of green building practices helps reduce water consumption, and manage waste reduction and recycling. Optional credits from the Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) system, which will used in describing how waste is dealt within green buildings, are also outlined.

The article explores the process in which Monroe Industries Inc. employs in making recovered glass into a fascinating new product. Monroe is a family-owned business located in Avon, New York, and is in line with the manufacturing of shower stalls and recycled-glass building product. It is able to incorporate up to 70 percent recycled content in the manufacture of the cast surface material as its products are not mainly concrete-based. Unlike other companies, the company is also noted for its flexibility in utilizing materials recovery facility-generated material processed by Andela Products Inc. based in Richfield Springs, New York.

The article focuses on recreational recycling initiatives in Florida as of 2008. Special events in the state were surveyed to establish event demographics, environmental priorities, garbage services and recycling and waste reduction activities. The City of Tampa's Department of Solid Waste and Environmental Program Management has been working as a state leader since 2007 to develop a sustainable, cost effective commercial and institutional events recycling, collection and waste reduction outreach program focusing on events, festivals and entertainment venues.

The article offers information on the programs by various industries concerning waste recycling in the U.S. It notes that officials with Greenstar North America and NTR PLC had announced the two companies plan to invest at about $300 million in solar and single-stream recycling capabilities by the end of 2008. It mentions that the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority's Board of Directors had approved spending $3 million to retrofit the authority's Hartford-based regional recycling facility. It cites that the board governing the Concord Regional Solid Waste/Resource Recovery Cooperative had approved a motion that will allow the cooperative to seek a purchase-and-sales agreement on land, used for the construction of a single-stream-based materials recovery facility (MRF).

This article reports on residential recycling programs in Ontario. It discusses that communities must focus their attention to the growing commercial, industrial, and institutional waste streams being generated to reach municipal diversion targets. The task of managing Ontario's industrial, commercial, and institutional wastes gets more difficult every year. Several promising waste diversion initiatives are stuck in the approvals pipeline and the municipal landfill capacity is primarily devoted to residential waste.

The article discusses the efforts of the city of Fresno in California to go beyond the 50 percent waste diversion mark in the United States. In lieu of this, the Fresno City Council has embraced two goals towards waste diversion, to reach a 75 percent waste diversion by 2012 and to have a zero-waste community by 2025. With the goals set, Fresno Green was established in April 2007 together with "Fresno Green - The City of Fresno's Strategy for Achieving Sustainability," the city's guide in attaining a greener future. Several approaches being carried out by Fresno towards the attainment of its zero-waste goal are presented.

The article reports on the changes in the recycling programs of several municipalities in the United States. The city of Ashville in North Carolina introduced changes into their curbside recycling program, which had a dual-stream approach, by accepting empty aerosol cans and plastic bottles. Business recycling is mandatory in Bonita Springs in south west Florida where businesses are required to hire a waste management company to provide bins and collect recyclable materials. Introduction of and modifications in the curbside recycling programs in municipalities such as Cabarrus County in North Carolina, Pottsboro in Texas, Rock Island in Illinois, and St. Mary's in Georgia were implemented.