The recycling rate report for 2012 is nearing completion; it will be announced publicly at the October APR meeting and then posted at www.napcor.com. Prior to the public release, NAPCOR staff is offering members an in-depth look at the report via webinar. Register now to participate in the October 3 presentation (2-3 pm, ET); you'll receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the webinar.      

 

 

Joint ASTM/NAPCOR members should have received an email from Kate pertaining to the current ballot for subcommittee D20.96, which is due by October 6. Please contact Kate if you didn't receive the message, or have further questions.

 

In a September 12 press release, PAC's board of directors announced its support for APR's evaluation protocol for PET thermoform labels and adhesives vis-à-vis their compatibility with PET recycling. NAPCOR partnered with APR to develop the protocol.

 

 

for a beverage container recycling refund program in the state. MPCA's proposal is a fresh approach that addresses many of the typical complaints about such programs. It includes a broad range of beverages, retains the unclaimed deposits to finance the system, and makes return-to-retail redemption voluntary. The draft program design will be presented at a September 30 meeting. For more information, or to register for the meeting, in-person or by webcast, visit the program website.

 

Advocates of an expanded bottle bill in Massachusetts have filed to place an initiative on the November 2014 ballot. There's broad public support and a ballot measure would have a good chance of passing. An expansion measure has passed the State Senate two years running, but has not been moved forward in the House. Insiders are hoping that the filing of the initiative will break the logjam and spur the legislature to act preemptively on the issue in early 2014.

Michigan officials are evaluating options for improving recycling in the state. Earlier this month, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality issued a discussion paper on a recommended approach to comprehensive recycling. The agency's next meeting on the subject will be on October 15. Recent coverage in the Detroit Free Press focused on the opt-out provision for retailers. 

AMERIPEN has issued two documents related to packaging recovery. The first is a report on strategies and financial platforms to improve packaging recovery. The second presents the findings of the 100 Cities Project, documenting best practices used in those jurisdictions. The two reports support a policy platform that includes mandatory recycling requirements, bans on disposal of recyclable packaging, and pay-as-you-throw/volume-based pricing requirements for waste disposal.

Recycling Reinvented has issued Working Paper #1 in a series on the organization's cost/benefit analysis of EPR for consumer packaging and printed paper. The first document defines the study design. Subsequent papers will drill down on the costs of an EPR system in the model state, Minnesota, and apportion them to the various packaging materials.

 

  

Best regards,

 

NAPCOR Communications Director

keagles[at]napcor[dot]com