ISRI and APR Release Updated Recycled Plastic Specifications
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ISRI and APR Release Updated Recycled Plastic Specifications

ISRI and The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) have announced the latest update to the ISRI Specifications and APR Model Bale Specifications to include updated recycled plastics specifications. Following a collaborative process between the two organizations and their members, the specifications were approved separately during October 2023 by both the ISRI Board of Directors and…

Annual Plastic Recycling Study Needs Your Data
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Annual Plastic Recycling Study Needs Your Data

The Stina, Inc. Annual Plastic Recycling Study is currently underway to document post-consumer, post-commercial and post-industrial plastic recovered for reclamation in North America or exported overseas. Each year, Stina releases a Plastics Recycling Data Dashboard that dives into the data and numbers behind plastic recycling in the U.S. The report covers U.S. sourced post-consumer (PCR)…

ISRI Submits Comments to EPA Regarding Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution
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ISRI Submits Comments to EPA Regarding Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution

On July 31, 2023, ISRI submitted comments in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) request for public comment on its Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution. ISRI’s comments applauded policies that prevent plastics pollution and promote a circular economy, as well as provided key recommendations. “Plastics are an extremely diverse, resourceful group…

EU’s Waste Shipment Regulation
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EU’s Waste Shipment Regulation

On Jan. 17, 2023, the European Parliament adopted its negotiating position with EU member states on a new law to revise the EU’s Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR). The Parliament’s revisions aim to recognize the need for improved recycling and waste management capacity within the EU. The proposed revisions to the WSR would phase out plastic…

First U.S. Plastics Pact Sustainable Packaging Innovation Award Goes to Coffee Pods
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First U.S. Plastics Pact Sustainable Packaging Innovation Award Goes to Coffee Pods

The U.S. Plastics Pact consortium has awarded its first-ever Sustainable Packaging Innovation Award to Darien, Conn.-based Smile Compostable Solutions® in the composability category. ISRI is a member of the U.S. Plastics Pact. The award showcases companies that are eliminating problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging while taking actions to ensure that 100% of plastic packaging is…

Member Develops AI-Powered System for Recovery of Film and Flexible Packaging
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Member Develops AI-Powered System for Recovery of Film and Flexible Packaging

Denver-based ISRI member AMP Robotics Corp. is developing artificial intelligence (AI)-powered automation to improve recovery of film and flexible packaging in materials recovery facilities (MRFs). The Recycling Partnership (where ISRI President Robin Wiener is a board member) estimates only 1% of U.S. households have curbside access for recycling film and flexible packaging. Yet film and…

Manufacturing Day Launches Celebration of Industry Addressing Sustainability Challenges
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Manufacturing Day Launches Celebration of Industry Addressing Sustainability Challenges

America’s manufacturing sector opens its doors to celebrate Manufacturing Day on the first Friday of October, falling on Oct. 7 this year. For the rest of the month, ISRI is spotlighting how recyclers contribute to manufacturing’s success by supplying high-quality materials, benefiting supply chains, the environment, and the economy. In a world where manufacturing is…

Vinyl Siding Collection Pilot Program Could Have Lessons for Recyclers
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Vinyl Siding Collection Pilot Program Could Have Lessons for Recyclers

A pilot program in northeastern Ohio is bringing materials use and management stakeholders together to increase vinyl siding recycling rates. Since the program officially launched in September 2021, the Vinyl Siding Recycling Coalition now includes 14 collection sites and three recyclers—each ready to set up recycling and collection services. Started by the Alexandria, Va.-based Vinyl…

Recycling Awareness Project Has Lessons for Students, Parents, and ISRI Member
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Recycling Awareness Project Has Lessons for Students, Parents, and ISRI Member

Recyclers since 2019 have helped Connecticut middle schoolers and their communities recycle about 2.5 million plastic bottle caps into useful kitchen drying racks and storage tubs. Last school year, 3,600 local middle school students, aided by an ISRI member and other industry participants, collected 812,000 caps as part of the One Million Bottle Cap Challenge…

Recycler Partners with Virgin Island Nonprofit on Single-Use Plastics
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Recycler Partners with Virgin Island Nonprofit on Single-Use Plastics

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]The nonprofit Island Green Living Association in partnership with Michigan-based recycler PADNOS officially launched their program to jumpstart the recycling of single-use…