This Week in Waste: Top Stories Dec 18 – Dec 21

#5 - Waste and Recycling Industry Sees Fatality Rates Fall, National Rate Increases

The industry remains the seventh deadliest in the U.S. The national rate has increased.

Read the full article here.

#4 - Foodservice Packagers Work to Pump Curbside Recycling of Their Materials

The Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI) is trying to beef up recovery at the curbside, finding that two-thirds of foodservice packaging is for to-go orders and winds up back in consumers’ homes. At the core of the industry trade organization’s work is figuring out the most effective way to reach and engage residents.

Read the full article here.

#3 - Commentary: Black Friday Was a Dark Day for the Environment. That Has to Change.

Despite its dangers, single-use plastic remains the choice of packaging for retailers.

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#2 - Bridgestone Carves New Pathways to Help Green Tire Industry

Bridgestone and a few of its competitors are now leveraging pyrolysis to make recovered carbon black to go back into new tires, avoiding sourcing additional petroleum from virgin carbon black.

Read the full article here.

#1 - Recycling Markets Trend Up, Down and Sideways: A Year in Review and What's in Store for 2024

Markets have been quite quirky this year as I noted in my last column. Paper prices continue to go up in most parts of the country. Even though plastic prices are showing some signs of life, the four curbside plastics, PET, both HDPEs and polypropylene, remain in the doldrums. Recycling prices normally weaken in winter as demand slows down. As with most recyclers, I remain cautiously optimistic markets will improve in 2024 but all too aware the economy is full of uncertainties.

Read the full article here.