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We can improve recycling in Michigan - A FREEP front page article on the first work day of the new year says that we suck at recycling. Ironically, that headline is just what we need to supercharge efforts to finally pass proposed changes to Part 115. The article highlighted the fact that the legislative clock on the package of bills that would revamp Part 115, the solid waste provisions of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act of 1994, simply ran out at the end of the year. Efforts have already begun to reintroduce the package in the Michigan House and we hope you'll support. Among the House bills' proposed provisions are establishing measurable, benchmark recycling standards and materials utilization goals that counties would have to develop plans to meet. Read the article...
All regions meeting Jan 19 - The Michigan Recycling Coalition will facilitate one meeting for all 8 MRC regions of the state on January 19 from 10:30 am to noon. This "All Regions" Regional Meeting will feature a Materials Recovery Facility Panel where attendees can hear more about three MRF projects in various stages of development. These facilities will increase the state's processing capacity and are likely to impact the movement of materials in Michigan. Bring your questions for the panel as we explore together the implications of this additional capacity.
This All Regions meeting will also focus on making the opportunities of NextCycle Michigan accessible to ideas and projects large and small across the state. Get some detailed information about the overall timeline and specifically the FLOWS and MICROS tracks which will kick off the initiative. Learn how to engage stakeholders in your region and begin to position local and regional interests to step up to the opportunities of NextCycle to advance local and regional goals.
MRC Regional Directors will also host follow-up regional meetings in February and March to explore ideas and teams for FLOWS and MICROS. Plan to tune into these meetings as well to advance circular economy ideas to the benefit of your region. Haven't been to a regional meeting yet? Time to tune in! Register here...
All of Michigan is Recycle, MI - The Michigan Recycling Coalition lifted off the Recycle, MI Campaign several years ago with the intent to provide good information about recycling for Michiganders where they live, work, and play. We continue that work and recognize that the best and most accurate messages from the local programs themselves. This means that we have to work together to develop and push those messages forward. Recycle, MI Partners are an important part of the campaign and benefit by putting to work an already developed quarterly social media plan, meant to make engaging with the community relatively easy and effective. Join us for a Recycle, MI Partner webinar to learn about the value of social media, how to use the Recycle, MI tools and social media plan, as well as other tools to provide consistent and ongoing messages to build awareness and understanding in your community on January 28 at 2 pm. Register here...
We're also always looking for more members for the Recycle, MI Committee! If you want to help bring the message of Recycle, MI to the state, you've got strong communication skills, and you are excited about making a direct impact on recycling in Michigan, join us today!
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Recycling PPE - Kerrin O'Brien, Executive Director of the Michigan Recycling Coaliltion, talks about what PPE can and can't be recycled.
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MSU receiving $2M grant to reduce plastic waste - Michigan State University researchers are attempting to decrease the amount of commonly disposed of plastics, which includes turning grocery bags into higher uses. The research team is funded by the National Science Foundation grant and it is worth $2 million. The team is targeting polyethylene, which can be broken down into nylon, which is often used in sporting goods and various car parts. Read more...
Using social data to launch successful campaign - There is no doubt that social media marketing is here to stay. Currently, in digital marketing, there is no other way to reach so many people at once. Reportedly, only by using Facebook alone you can already reach over two billion users. The beauty of social media marketing is that it can fit the needs of any industry, and recycling is not an exception. Read more...
Breakthrough - As we emerge from a year of great crisis, the time is now to establish a new equilibrium among political, economic, social, and environmental systems toward creating a more sustainable world. The Waste Management Sustainability Forum is a two-day event that brings together a mix of experts, customers, academia, government employees, non-government organizations, businesses, and the next generation of leaders to share insights, exchange ideas, and create innovative strategies. Register here...
How big cardboard is handling 2020 box boom - Corrugated box shipments grew 9% in March from the year-ago period, industry data shows, despite a brief dip in revenue when the pandemic's initial shock froze up the supply chain. Shipments continued to climb through the fall, peaking in October, and box makers are on pace to end 2020 with record production to meet this year's skyrocketing demand. In fact, retail analysts say, e-commerce sales squeezed in more than two years' worth of growth since the pandemic began nine months ago. And the corrugated industry is scrambling to keep up: Paper mills are running at full speed and some producers are capping orders and contracting out to smaller companies. Read more...
Recycling "simple" solution to tech problem - The proliferation of tech waste continues to pose a dilemma not only for the waste and recycling industry, but for governments and environmentalists who are looking to scale sustainable solutions. Because there are numerous companies that can extract rare metals for repurposing in other devices, recycling is a "simple," necessary solution. Read more...
The unfulfilled promise of plastic film recycling - Producers of film, including companies represented by the American Chemistry Council, also don't want it going to landfills or incinerators. The mono-material polyethylene from which a majority of film, wraps, and bags are made is in theory highly recyclable. However, ambiguity around the recyclability of plastic film, bags, and wraps can have the unfortunate consequence of allowing the material to end up in curbside bins: the very stream that store drop-off programs were designed to help bypass. Read more...
Meijer joins consortium to reinvent the retail bag - Meijer announced that it's joined the Beyond the Bag Initiative aimed at identifying, testing, and implementing sustainable solutions to move beyond the single-use bag. Meijer is among numerous other retailers industrywide that are partnering in the Beyond the Bag Initiative that launched earlier this year by Closed Loop Partners' Center for the Circular Economy. Read more...
Secondhand gift giving spiked in 2020 - Every year brings a global increase in the volume of discarded electrical and non electrical devices. And, as noted by decluttr.com, only 27% of this annual e-waste is recycled. The website exists in order to help with this problem, offering customers an easy way to sell "unwanted stuff" and to purchase refurbished tech and medial. Waste360 recently spoke with CMO Liam Howley about business during the 2020 holiday season, trends in secondhand gift giving, the impacts of COVID-19 on e-waste, and more. Read more...
McDonald's tracks waste w/ dumpster cameras - McDonald's is upping its waste reduction efforts with the use of AI technology in its dumpsters. The company leverages Compology's cameras to track when they are full and if contamination of recyclable materials is occurring. To help them do it correctly, Compology puts trash-monitoring cameras and sensors inside industrial waste containers. The cameras take photos several times each day and when the container is lifted for dumping. An accelerometer helps trigger the camera on garbage day. Read more...
NAFICI makes packaging from agriculture waste - The demand for packaging has been steadily climbing for years. Growing alongside it is the food supply - and alongside the food surge is a spike in byproducts from agriculture. NAFICI Environmental Research connected the dots between these three growth trends and came up with a business plan around all of them. NAFICI's brainchild is a process to transform agriculture residues into paper pulp for the packaging industry. Read more...
3 circular economy trends that defined 2020 - As 2020 has come to a close, it's worth taking a moment to consider how the circular economy concept has emerged and evolved during this very particular year. Here are some trends that defined the circular economy in 2020.
- Reuse is on the rise
- Metrics begin to materialize
- It's (still) all about plastic. Read more...
Dispose of holiday decorations properly - The holiday season is over and that means if you haven't already, those decorations are probably coming down soon. But do you know what to do with your old tree or lights? Did you know there are dos and don'ts when tossing them out? Mic-Michigan NOW's Lia Kamana found some answers. Read more...
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Opportunities, Resources, Grants...
Want more recycling news? - If you're not currently receiving this newsletter on a weekly basis it's because you're not a member of the MRC. Join to receive this newsletter weekly and receive many other benefits of membership. Also, send us your news, jobs postings, and fresh content!
Recycle, MI signs, shirts, recycling bins, compost bins, and more! Check out our Recycle, MI website and Swag Shop to gear up for all of your summer recycling program needs!
Looking for a contact? MRC Member Directory! - Members have access through our member website to the "Member Directory" and "Member Organization Directory" listed under "Quick Links" in the right side of the screen. Join us to get access to these directories and other great benefits.
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