MRFs often struggle to produce glass that's clean enough to sell to local markets. Panelists described how MRF sorting machinery in Ohio and New York have helped yield cleaner streams. A MRF certification program aiming to raise the profile of MRFs already creating clean glass streams was discussed as well as other successful recycling programs targeting "glass on the side."

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Pratt Industries and Kentucky state officials on July 29 announced the company will build its sixth 100% recycled paper mill in the U.S. The project will break ground next year and is slated to start up in fall 2023.

Pratt Industries, a major U.S. end user of recycled fiber, announced that the project has a $400 million budget and will consist of a 450,000-square-foot paper mill and a 700,000-square-foot adjacent corrugating plant.

Pratt Industries expects the mill will employ 120 workers once it’s operational. The mill is slated to begin construction in March 2022 and start up in fall 2023, according to the release. The company anticipates the corrugating facility will be completed by the end of 2026 and will employ 200 people.

The Meets Preferred Guidance (MPG) Review Program will be open to plastic packaging manufacturers that are introducing new types of plastic packaging and components into the marketplace and want to ensure the items meet the “APR Preferred” category when assessed using the APR Design Guide for Plastics Recyclability.

Participating manufacturers will see their items undergo a review process to analyze the material’s technical compatibility with the processes used by plastics recycling operators today.

APR is holding a webinar on Sept. 14 to detail the MPG Review Program as well as the group’s other recognition programs, including Critical Guidance, Applications Guidance and Responsible Innovation.

The Recycling Partnership has announced the third round of grant funding through its Polypropylene Recycling Coalition, distributing $1.8 million to help six grant recipients advance curbside polypropylene (PP) recycling. The coalition, which launched one year ago, has awarded grants totaling $4.2 million to date. 

According to a news release from The Recycling Partnership, the coalition has helped fund 13 facilities’ recycling efforts, which will positively impact nearly 15 million Americans. The organization estimates that curbside acceptance of PP will increase by 6 percent once these 13 facilities install equipment by early 2022. This will result in more PP being sent to established end markets and encouraging the shift to a circular economy.

The six newest grantees are: Green Waste (CA), Murphy Road (CT), Palm Beach County (FL), Pellitteri (WI), and Sonoco-Raleigh, Raleigh, N.C., Sonoco-Onslow, Jacksonville, N.C.