Packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR), lithium-ion battery requirements, and bag restrictions will all be on the menu in 2020, along with perennial issues such as materials theft. You can keep track of these and other bills and regulations targeting the industry on ISRI’s State Resources and Tracking Pages. Paper, Plastics, Packaging EPR Looming for…
ISRI Director of Law Enforcement Outreach Brady Mills, and General Manager of River Metals Recycling and President of the Kentucky Recyclers’ Association Neal Coulardot provided attendees with information on ScrapTheftAlert.com (STA), StopMetalsTheft.org, and on members’ efforts to work with law enforcement in the fight against metals theft. Why it’s important: It is critical to be proactive…
The STB explored some possible solutions including restoring some credit days. They also pursued several common service issues including bunching of railcars, unreliable car delivery, and other excessive charges to move shipper’s railcars to and from storage. The STB was also interested in how Precision Schedule Railroading (PSR) was forcing manufacturers to change their operations…
The last few days of a session can be the most important, as conference committees and substitute amendments can quickly change a bill just before passage. Why this matters: Bills and regulations targeting metals theft, packaging, product stewardship, and other commodities and issues can directly change how your business operates. You can keep track of these…
Several other states enacted similar legislation prior to this year. Recycling is mechanical and chemical, it is not incineration. One thing most agree upon is that burning is not recycling. ReMA has long held the position that incinerating recyclable commodities is not recycling and harms ReMA members by destroying valuable supply. Pyrolysis and gasification use…
On the Senate side, ReMA members met with Sens. Portman, Braun, Baldwin, Boozman, Roberts, and Cotton, as well as with the staffs of 37 other senators. On the House side, ReMA members met with 14 elected representatives and the staffs of another 33 House members. The day kicked off with a breakfast at the Capitol…
Sometimes referred to as “turnover taxes,” their appeal comes as many states are looking to replace revenue lost by eroding corporate income tax bases and as a way to limit revenue volatility. For business, it may be time to consider bringing in the Avengers (Okay, so this author is a bit of an Endgame fan…
Auto shredder wear parts – approximately 85% of which the industry sources from China – was on the list, alleviating the recycling industry from tariffs that led to $15-20 million of extra costs. How? ISRI filed a petition for tariff relief on behalf of the entire industry, but it had been denied apparently on the…
However, in January 2019, most Class 1 railroads implemented what is referred to as ‘precision rail scheduling’ accompanied by very large demurrage charges. Precision railroad scheduling requires railcars to be loaded and released usually in one day regardless of whether the railcar was delivered on a weekday or weekend. Why it is important: It enables…
At a time when challenges stemming from changing global market dynamics within the recycling industry are getting the attention of state policymakers, now is the perfect opportunity for ReMA members to publicly recognize LGs who are supportive of the recycling industry. There are few public officials who will want to turn down the opportunity to…
The last few days of a session can be the most important, as conference committees and substitute amendments can quickly change an amendment just before passage. Why this matters: Bills and regulations targeting metals theft, packaging, product stewardship, and other commodities and issues can directly change how your business operates. You can keep track of…
Recent thefts totaling approximately 35,000 linear feet of #4 uninsulated and #6 insulated wire has burdened taxpayers with $500,00 to $700,000 in replacement costs. The thefts have mainly occurred in Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard, and Carroll Counties. The Secretary of MDOT is asking recyclers to be extra vigilant when receiving similar materials. Why it’s important:MDOT…