The Association of Plastic Recyclers

Reflections on Progress, Development, and Meeting the Challenges Facing the Plastics Recycling Industry in 2022

As in years past, 2022 saw significant developments, progress, and challenges for plastic packaging and the plastics recycling industry. Supply issues, legislative and regulatory proposals, negative media, as well as other areas of concern all combined to require greater levels of APR engagement and expertise. Policy, APR Design® for Recyclability,...

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Recyclers praise ‘powerful' plastics bill in Washington state

The legislation, the Washington Recycling and Packaging Act, could have a big impact on recycling more plastics packaging, including by increasing post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, APR said. "The bill's powerful combo of EPR, a deposit system and PCR requirements is the gold standard to improve recycling," APR said on Twitter. "If passed, this ...

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EPR still top recycling issue for state policymakers, but plastics and repair laws also on the horizon

States like Washington, Tennessee, and New Jersey have already introduced EPR for packaging bills in January and numerous other states plan to introduce their bills soon. The difference this year is that states are expected to pursue more types of EPR bills that tackle the nuances of the state's wider waste management picture, not just the mechanic...

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RecyClass updates Design for Recycling Guidelines and Recyclability Evaluation Protocols

The Recyclability Evaluation Protocols have been adjusted to fall in line with the testing procedures of the US-based Association of Plastic Recyclers with the aim of standardizing recyclability evaluations across regions. This is said to include clarifications on testing conditions and definitions and alterations to accommodate for current recycli...

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FTC seeks comments on potential updates to its Green Guides

Dec. 15, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it is seeking public comment on potential updates and changes to the Guides for the Use of Environmental Claims, also known as the Green Guides. The Commission's Green Guides are designed to help marketers avoid making environmental marketing claims that are unfair or deceptive under Sectio...

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APR Statement on Federal Trade Commission Potential Updates to Green Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims

Steve Alexander, APR President & CEO, issued the following comments on the FTC action regarding Green Guides: "The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) supports updating the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Green Guides for the Use of Environmental Claims. The FTC's goal in updating the Green Guides should be to help consumers seeking to reduce...

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The Plastics Police Had a Banner Year

There were many other attempts to regulate plastics on the state and federal level this year.Following on EPR laws passed in Maine and Oregon in 2021 and Colorado and California this year, more states are pursuing their own versions, according to a recent rundown of US plastics legislation on the books or in the works. In an Oct. 19 webinar, "Plast...

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People in Plastics: Week of Dec. 12, 2022

ASSOCIATION OF PLASTIC RECYCLERS — The trade group in Washington named Kate Bailey chief policy director and Jazlin Lopez digital communications and analytics associate. Longtime film and flexible program director Sandi Childs is retiring. Read the full article from Plastics News.

APR Recognizes BarrierGuard OxygenSmart Bottle Recyclability

Plastic container manufacturer Ring Container Technologies announced November 30 that BarrierGuard OxygenSmart, a bottle technology designed to protect both product freshness and the environment, received Critical Guidance Recognition from The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR). A program for assessing recyclability in plastic packaging de...

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APR Recognizes OnColor™ NIR Sortable Colorants from Avient as Preferred for Recyclability

November 17, 2022 – Avient Corporation announced its line of near-infrared (NIR) sortable dark colorants was recently recognized by the Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR) under its Meets Preferred Guidance (MPG) program. With the recognition, OnColor™ NIR Sortable Colorants are preferred for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) resin in black and ...

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Demystifying PCR Certification

View the recording View the slides We all play an important role in the world of plastics recycling, and with the right tools we can work together to make the circular economy a reality. The production and consumption of post-consumer resin (PCR) are essential in a circular economy. The APR PCR Certification program provides transparency to support...

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APR meeting dives into PR, policy and more

In recent weeks, media outlets around the world have published stories questioning the viability of plastics recycling – many based on a recent Greenpeace report. Meanwhile, states are implementing laws intended to bolster materials recovery overall. Add to the mix a softening resin market with rapidly falling prices.It was against this backdrop of...

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What are current policy priorities at national and state levels?

A federal bottle bill, more extended producer responsibility bills and pressure on single-use plastics are all in the future of plastics legislation, industry policy experts predicted. The insights came during the "Plastics Recycling Legislative Update," an Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) webinar held on Oct. 19. Panelists were Anna Karakits...

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The Northeast Recycling Council’s Fall Conference Focused on Two Days of the Next Frontier of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) held their first in-person conference since the pandemic, and it was a packed event. Moderator Laura Thompson, Director of Technical Marketing and Sustainable Development for GreenBlue introduced the final set of sessions focused on increasing the supply of post-consumer plastics. Association of Plastic Recycl...

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Association of Plastic Recyclers Responds to "Misleading" Greenpeace Report

A recent Greenpeace Study about plastic recycling had some harsh criticism for producers of plastic products and for the recycling industry itself. Some industry leaders took issue with some of the claims. Steve Alexander, president of the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) issued the following statement on the Greenpeace report: "Circular Clai...

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APR expands Meets Preferred Guidance Program

The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) has announced a new packaging component to be included in the Meets Preferred Guidance (MPG) Program, which recognizes materials, packaging components, and complete packages composed of PET, HDPE, PP, and PE film that are considered Preferred according to the APR Design Guide for Plastics Recyclability. Ne...

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APR Press Release: APR Expands Meets Preferred Guidance Program

Near-infrared sortable dark color concentrates now eligible for recognition The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) today announced a new packaging component to be included in the Meets Preferred Guidance (MPG) Program which recognizes materials, packaging components, and complete packages composed of PET, HDPE, PP, and PE film that are consider...

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Obituary: Hall of Fame member David Cornell

David D. Cornell, a Plastics Hall of Fame member and former Eastman Chemical Co. employee who later served as a consultant for NAPCOR and the Association of Plastic Recyclers, died Oct. 18 at age 76. Called by one colleague "one of the giants of the plastics recycling industry," Cornell staked out a position for himself in the early days of PE...

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Join APR at Pack Expo for Plastic Package Design Guidance to Meet 2025 Circularity Commitments

The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), the Voice of Plastics Recycling®, will hold "Industry Meets" educational sessions on recyclable package design during PACK EXPO, October 23-26 in Chicago, Illinois. Attend one of the 5 sessions to learn how to create packaging that is Circular by Design™. "The APR Design® Guide for Plastics Recyclability ...

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APR Press Release: APR Commends Kraft Heinz for Commitment to Package Design for Recyclability

First company to hold third APR Design® Guide Training Program  The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), the Voice of Plastic Recycling®, commends Kraft Heinz for completing 3 full sessions of the APR Design® Guide for Plastics Recyclability Training Program. Demonstrating their commitment to develop packaging that is Circular by Desig...

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