The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) has released a video illustrating the association's commitment to helping companies manufacture products and packaging that are compatible with today's North American plastics recycling infrastructure – products that are Circular by Design. APR envisions a world with a circular economy for plastic goods in...

The COVID-19 pandemic combined with low virgin resin pricing and a vastly reduced overseas export market affected plastic recycling in North America in 2020, according to a report sponsored by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), the Foundation for Plastic Recycling, The Recycling Partnership and the U.S. Plastics Pact. The "2020 U.S. Post-c...

The company has engineered multiple new products to meet demand from brands and consumers.Sustainability is one of the biggest trends in the label and package printing industry, and companies throughout all levels of the supply chain have responded to consumer demand. From suppliers to brands, companies have committed to lowering their carbon footp...

The 2020 U.S. Post-consumer Plastic Recycling Data Report released today highlights that like most industries, plastics recycling faced significant challenges through the COVID-19 Pandemic. Major disruptions in collection, transportation and staffing shortages, as well as supply chain issues impacted the supply of material available for recycling. ...

Every so often the Association of Plastic Recyclers feels the need to come out with its views on degradable additives. That time has come once again, APR CEO Steve Alexander said, as there's been more talk in the past year or so regarding the use of such additives and their impact on mechanical recycling. Read the full article from Plastics News. R...

On 1 January, 2022, California's minimum recycled content mandate for plastic beverage containers came into effect, contributing to the growing demand for recycled resins.  Brands have an essential role in contributing to increasing sustainability in the value chain. Aside from having to comply with such mandates on recycled content for bevera...

After more than two years of input from a variety of participants, today the Pathway to Circularity for Residential Recycling Framework (Framework) is available for brands, retailers, packaging manufacturers, MRFs, communities, policymakers and others to use through the Circular Packaging Assessment Tool (Tool). While recyclability messaging (on pa...

As we see more and more legislation aimed at improving both recyclability and safety of packaging, it is best to first understand your company's baseline in sustainable packaging. Then, there are a growing number of tools designed to help companies keep track of and meet these evolving requirements. Read the full article from Sustainable Brands.

Steve Alexander, President & CEO of the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), issued the following statement regarding the effects of degradable additives on mechanical recycling of postconsumer plastics: Claims regarding the recyclability of degradable additives are unfounded, untested, and possibly misleading as outlined by the U.S. Federal...

The chief executive of the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) has issued a statement citing the organisation's concerns that degradable additives will have negative effects on PCR. Read the full article from Plastics in Packaging. Read the full article from Recycling Today. Read the full article from Waste Today.

The Recycling Partnership today announced its fourth round of grant funding through its Polypropylene Recycling Coalition ("the Coalition"), issuing nearly $1.6 million in catalytic grants to advance polypropylene recycling in the U.S. These funds will improve curbside polypropylene recycling access for approximately 6.9% of U.S. households when co...

A recently introduced bill in New Jersey (Bill S2145/A1554) would prohibit the sale, distribution, and import of certain products and packaging marked as recyclable, unless the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) determines that the products are widely recycled. The bill specifies that the use of a chasing arrows symbol surrounding a re...

It's traditionally been less common for haulers and MRF operators to have a further role in the supply chain, but growing PCR demand and other market factors could make the strategy more profitable. Read the full article from Waste Dive.

The association says New York's Extended Produce Responsibility Act could triple recycling rates for residential materials and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Read the full article from Waste Today.

There's a rub within the plastics recycling industry these days regarding just what to call technology that returns waste plastics to their molecular form. These processes, including pyrolysis, methanolysis and glycolysis, are known as chemical recycling, advanced recycling or even molecular recycling, depending on who is speaking. Read the full ar...

Extended Produce Responsibility Act could triple recycling rates for residential materials and lower GHG emissions Steve Alexander, President of The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), The Voice of Plastics Recycling®, issued the following statement on New York Governor Kathy Hochul's Executive Budget proposal to enact an extended producer resp...

The Washington-based Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) has announced its newly elected executive committee and board of directors for 2022. Roxanne Spiekerman of PreZero US has been elected chair for the upcoming year, with Greg Janson of Granite Peak Plastics and Eric Targgart of Custom Polymers serving as vice chair and treasurer respectivel...

Plastic waste is a significant environmental problem for the world. But the good news is that new technologies, from design through end of life, are making it easier to recycle plastics and have them be a good citizen in the circular economy. The ultimate goal is to eliminate plastic waste. In this interview, we speak with Kara Pochiro, the Vice Pr...

Strong Leadership to Support the Plastics Recycling Industry The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) recently announced its newly elected Executive Committee and Board of Directors, to lead the organization for 2022. Roxanne Spiekerman of PreZero US has been elected Chair for the upcoming year, with Greg Janson of Granite Peak Plastics and Eric ...

Determined to help pet companies achieve more sustainable operations, the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) held its UnPacked22 event, which brought together the industry to discuss the importance of sustainability in packaging from Feb. 22 to 24. During the event, Sandi Childs, a consultant from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), and Mic...