A major industry merger lives on, but a mixed-waste MRF project in Ohio dies.
Hauler consolidation: New tax regulations unveiled by the Obama administration will not derail the acquisition by Texas-based Waste Connections of Toronto-based Progressive Waste Solutions. But The Wall Street Journal reports the combined company’s profits will dented by the government action, which aims to block the “inversion” mergers that place corporate addresses outside the U.S. so companies can avoid paying higher U.S. tax rates.
Partnering up: Dow Chemical Co. has signed on a funding partner for The Recycling Partnership, lending further support to the industry-supported nonprofit group. Dow said the collaboration is a step toward reaching its 2025 sustainability goals, which include increasing recovery rates for plastic packaging.
Mixed-waste MRF project: A mixed-waste processing facility project in Central Ohio is dead, reports The Columbus Dispatch newspaper. The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio canceled its contract with Team Gemini, which was late paying rent on land it leased next to a landfill.
Bale specifications: The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries and its paper division have announced a series of changes to the group’s paper bale specifications. Click here to see the grades set to expire Dec. 31 as well as three new grades that will go into effect June 1. The changes were discussed at length in a meeting in early February.
Industry investments: The recycling industry announced nearly $260 million in combined capital investments in South Carolina in 2015, creating more than 565 jobs, according to a report released by the South Carolina Department of Commerce. The annual report from the Recycling Market Development Advisory Council also noted the state recycled about 26.5 percent of its municipal solid waste in 2015.
Indy future: After a court nixed a deal between Indianapolis and Covanta for a mixed-waste processing center, a public meeting was held to explore what the future of recycling could look like for the city of 850,000. The Indianapolis Star reports the barriers include costs and a populace that’s generally uninformed about the benefits of recycling.
Financial results: Cascades Inc., a producer of tissues and recycled paper packaging, will release its 2016 first quarter financial results on May 5, the Quebec, Canada-based company announced. A conference call will be held that day to discuss the results.
Glass collection: A new recycling collection center in Birmingham, Ala. will continue to accept glass, but residents will be charged $1 for each 18-gallon bin full of glass. Al.com also reports the center, operated by the Alabama Recycling Council, includes a refurbish glass pulveriser.
Urging improvement: Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle, which specializes in recycling difficult-to-recover materials, writes in Huffpost Green that producers should design recyclable packaging and use the How2Recycle logo and government should make manufacturers financially responsible for the products they create.
