Topics
recycling
December 9, 2025
Report by Greenpeace USA outlines industry efforts to promote plastic recycling; provides evidence on why plastic recycling is not feasible to address plastic pollution; calls for more accurate and transparent claims on recycling capabilities
Reading time: 3 minutes
October 17, 2025
Türkiye amends its food contact materials regulation, allowing the use of recycled plastics in food contact materials; operators must implement quality control measures; entered into force on September 15, 2025
Reading time: 1 minute
October 8, 2025
South Korea’s Ministry of Environment amends Enforcement Decree of the Resource Recycling Act to require 10% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for plastic beverage bottles made by high-volume fillers and manufacturers starting January 1, 2026; Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry outlines plastic beverage bottle design requirements for certification under Plastic Resource Recycling Promotion Act of 2022 starting January 24, 2026, including minimum 15% recycled PET content
Reading time: 3 minutes
October 6, 2025
Ontario Government updates amendments to Blue Box Regulation before next phase of extended producer responsibility (EPR) starts; feedback from public consultation incorporated; aim to reduce costs and increase flexibility
Reading time: 2 minutes
August 12, 2025
Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) updates specifications to add paper cups as items that can be commonly accepted in residential recycling in US and elsewhere; change could expand paper recycling collection and sales; local acceptance still depends on individual programs’ capabilities
Topics: paper and board, recycling
Reading time: 1 minute
May 30, 2025
Study investigates commodity global plastic flows across production, trade, and waste management in 2022; finds that of 400 million tonnes, less than 10% come from recycling and less than 2 % from bio-based feedstocks; single-use packaging as biggest contributor to plastic waste
Reading time: 2 minutes
May 26, 2025
NGOs conduct largest citizen survey on waste in Switzerland; 11,586 people report disposing of 215,463 pieces of plastic in one week; 83% is food or beverage packaging; consumers raise concern concerns about health impacts of plastic chemicals and want companies to take more responsibility; NGOs highlight demands for action in Switzerland
Reading time: 2 minutes
February 24, 2025
Two studies compare (toxic) chemicals found in recycled versus virgin plastics; recycled plastics have elevated levels of chemicals of concern, e.g., of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and higher hazard index; decontamination measures during recycling processes are key to reducing chemical toxicity; scientists provide five policy strategies to tackle hazardous chemicals in recycled plastics
Reading time: 4 minutes
January 14, 2025
The Aluminum Association and Can Manufacturers Institute report lower aluminum beverage can recycling rates in 2023; Plastic Recyclers Europe announces decreased growth in capacity for plastic recycling in 2023 in EU27+3
Reading time: 2 minutes
October 22, 2024
Australian Government proposes packaging regulation reform; options are, (i) strengthening existing frameworks, (ii) imposing mandatory national standards, or (iii) implementing an extended producer responsibility scheme; aims to ban problematic chemicals and materials; public feedback until October 28, 2024; Australian state of New South Wales also consulting on a plastics plan until November 4, 2024
Reading time: 5 minutes
