Where Do Our Recyclables Go?

Chaz Miller

I asked myself this question as I was preparing to speak at my home county’s Recycling Awards ceremony. I wanted to let our award winners know their efforts are not in vain. While they may have seen or read stories claiming recycling is a hoax, I knew our county’s recyclables are being turned into new products.

Read the commentary here.

Are National Standards Around Recyclability Claims on The Way?

Arlene Karidis

Research shows how much, how often, and how well consumers recycle depends on their trust in the recycling system. Most of them – 78 percent –turn to labels to try and determine if a material will actually be recycled. Yet nearly two-thirds of them say they are confused by the label, found a survey of 1,300-plus participants conducted by The Recycling Partnership.

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A Reality Check on the 5 Rs

Bryan Staley

For years it’s been the 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. But recently the 3 have expanded to 5 and, in some cases, even the 7 Rs. It’s like watching the evolution of Marvel movies expand from Iron-Man to Captain America to the Avengers.

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Study Peeks Into Consumers’ Bottle Deposit Redemption Habits

Arlene Karidis

A new TOMRA report exploring what consumers expect from bottle deposit programs found people want fast, reliable, easy service and, if they get it, they’re likely to keep dropping off their empty bottles at the same store and spend the cash they redeem on groceries there. So, it seems recycling loyalty fosters shopping loyalty.

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Environmental Justice and Plastics Debate Heats Up

Arlene Karidis

Plastic industry backers and environmental justice (EJ) advocates exchanged sometimes fiery comments at a recent hearing over plastics production and its impact on poor communities of color.

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