Container Recycling Institute

05/29/2026

Part 2 in Resource Recycling's multi-part series exploring a report from Beyond Plastics about "the recyclability claims for polypropylene cold drink cups from Starbucks. In Part 2, the recycling industry responds to the group’s allegations. Beyond Plastics did not respond to several attempts to gain clarity about its methods and results."

While anti-plastics group Beyond Plastics cast doubt on Starbucks' recyclability claims and left many questions unanswered, its report also provides an opportunity for meaningful dialogue to improve processes and influence consumer behavior.

05/29/2026

The initial story in a Resource Recycling multi-part series that "explores a report from Beyond Plastics about the recyclability claims for polypropylene cold drink cups from Starbucks. Part 1 explores what the report reveals about recycling. Beyond Plastics did not respond to several attempts to gain clarity about its methods and results."

Stakeholders are accustomed to questions and concerns about whether "recycling is real," but they took particular issue with several aspects of the anti-plastics group's risky methods and murky conclusions.

05/27/2026

From Waste Dive: "The eight Northeast states that are members of the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association reported disposing of an estimated 33.56 million tons of waste in 2024. About 23% went to landfills that could close within less than five years."

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An estimated 26% of the region’s waste is already exported to more distant states. The Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association introduced its data at an Environmental Business Council event.

05/26/2026

A story in Resource Recycling about conditions that "explain why recycling infrastructure is so difficult to scale and so easy to break."

Joaquin Mariel, Circular Services president, broke down why recycling infrastructure is so hard to scale and used PET's rapid market erosion to show how quickly it can unravel

05/21/2026

CRI supports California Senate Bill 955. The bill would specify that a single Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) does not make an unserved convenience zone served, as well as make some changes to the definition of a supermarket. Read all CRI testimony letters at https://www.container-recycling.org/index.php/publications/cri-letters-and-briefings

05/20/2026

From Resource Recycling: From "In a move that surprised some stakeholders, a revised California budget proposal includes more than $200 million for beverage container recycling, to help stabilize markets, improve material quality and expand redemption access." Story:

Stakeholders applauded the additional allocations proposed, but would like to see distribution re-formulated to more effectively address market realities.

05/19/2026

From Modernetdigital re Spain's upcoming launch of a beverage container deposit return system ( ) "... to comply with a European directive that requires Spain to collect at least 70% of packaging waste. Currently, only 41.3% is recycled ..."

Discover how the new regulation will affect bars and supermarkets with an extra charge for each returnable container.

05/18/2026

From Resource Recycling:

Niagara Bottling has "acquired the former rPlanet Earth facility in Vernon, California, and will reopen the facility in a push toward vertical integration." Read more:

Adding the Southern California facility to its operations, Niagara is expanding its beverage manufacturing operations and pursuing vertical integration.

05/14/2026

From the Washington Post:

"Most of the plastic waste in California is about to lose the recycling symbol. The 'chasing arrows' symbol, created in 1970 by a college student inspired by the burgeoning environmental movement, has been stamped indiscriminately on plastic bottles, clamshell takeout containers, chip bags and more for decades. The majority of the items emblazoned with the mark have been virtually impossible to recycle for most people."

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A new California law will ban companies from using the symbol if their products aren’t commonly recycled. Here’s how you can play your part in reducing plastic waste.

05/13/2026

From Resource Recycling: "Paper cup recycling capabilities have quadrupled in the past decade, according to industry experts, with work ongoing to expand recycling services nationwide."

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This figure represents a quadrupling in the past decade, spurred by significant investment and action.