Get the details on a number of plastic recycling innovations, including a label adhesive, a method of recovering plastics from durable goods and a recyclable plastic aerosol dispenser.

Europe's PET trade group reports on efforts to boost thermoform recycling, and Tomra wins an award in China for its advanced flake sortation technology.

Worldwide shipments of new mobile phones will increase 3.1 percent in 2016, a substantial slowdown from growth in previous years, according to International Data Corporation (IDC). Meanwhile, IDC predicts tablet shipments will decline for the second straight year, dropping 9.6 percent in 2016 compared with last year's volume. In the mobile phone space, the Massachusetts-based research firm predicts a continued...

Indonesia considers following its fee on plastic bags with one on plastic beverage containers, and South African pickers could be hurt by a transition to extended producer responsibility for packaging. Indonesia: Lawmakers in the country of 250 million people will consider a fee equivalent to 1.4 U.S. cents on plastics containers, part of an effort to reduce their usage. The...

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has organized a major plastics circular economy effort, and Dr Pepper Snapple shareholders continue to resist recycled-content goals. Circular economy effort: The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has organized a three-year effort aimed at encouraging a circular economy for plastics. The New Plastics Economy initiative, which counts major companies as members, builds on the January release of a...

A study released by the American Chemistry Council explores the equipment at play in MRFs and mixed-waste processing facilities. The report, "The Evolution of Mixed Waste Processing Facilities: Technology and Equipment Guide," comes one year after the release of an earlier analysis exploring the mixed-waste processing approach. The June 2015 document indicated optimism for mixed-waste systems as a potential for...

A bill to update the state electronics recycling framework in Minnesota is now awaiting the signature of the state's governor. The bill, HF 2841, was introduced into the state's House of Representatives in March. After receiving amendments and approval from the Senate in a 54-0 vote, the bill was passed by the House on a 130-0 vote last week and...

The weight of electronics recycled by Canadians continues to grow at a substantial pace, a report from Statistics Canada shows. Canadian residents and businesses diverted 71,396 metric tons of electronics in 2012, an increase of 40 percent over the volume recycled two years previous. In 2004, the first year for which statistics are available, 10,245 metric tons were recycled.The study,...

A county in West Virginia could legally allow the landfilling of electronics but is choosing not to, and an investment expert predicts continued low prices for metals commodities. Modular phone:Gizmag explores the possible outcomes for Google's Project Ara, which aims to develop a modular smartphone in which damaged components can be easily swapped out and new ones plugged in. Google...

A bill in New Jersey's legislature has been changed to impose a 5-cent fee on single-use plastic bags. Originally, the legislation flat-out banned the items. The New Jersey Assembly's Environment and Solid Waste Committee on May 19 voted to advance A3671 after making significant changes to the draft bill. The bill is now awaiting possible consideration by the full chamber....