Recycled Content Association of Plastic Recyclers

The Recycled Content Podcast welcomes back Emily Tipaldo, Executive Director of the U.S. Plastics Pact, for a sit-down with show host and VP of Communications & Public Affairs at APR, Kara Pochiro. With the Pact turning four, as well as Earth Day and INC-4 just around the corner, the two discuss the meaning of the current moment in the plastic recycling industry’s efforts to manage material that could otherwise be waste. Kara and Emily highlight the need for both voluntary and mandatory commitments to improve recycling. Tune in to hear about these strategies and the important goals and initiatives of the U.S. Plastics Pact. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Ahead of the 2024 Plastic Recycling Conference, Recycled Content is back with a new episode hosted by the Association of Plastic Recycler’s (APR) VP of Communications and Public Affairs, Kara Pochiro as she sits down with Steve Alexander, President & CEO of APR, and Maite Quinn, a lead member for Resource Recycling’s Plastic Recycling Conference planning team. Kara, Steve, and Maite discuss the upcoming Plastics Recycling Conference, a gathering of over 2,000 power players in plastics and recycling industries, including key speakers who will discuss the annual plastics recycling study, key issues and challenges to address during the conference, and more! Want to hear a sneak peak into what the Plastic Recycling Conference will be focusing on in just a few weeks? Then tune in!

Host and APR's VP of Communications and Public Affairs, Kara Pochiro, is joined by Stephanie Baker, Director of Market Development for KW Plastics' Recycling Division. Kara and Stephanie discuss how KW got its beginnings from the disposal process for automotive battery casings and has now turned into a closed loop recycling business in Alabama, revitalizing the recycling economy with over 500 employees. The two also focus on the process of creating recycled resin that can be used in common products like shampoo bottles to unconventional items like deodorant sticks. They also talk about KW’s sister company which uses the recycled resin to create paint jars that have lasting and reusable impact. Tune in to hear Kara and Stephanie discuss policy and how it is important to work on building recycling infrastructure so that people at all levels can contribute to recycling and make an impact. To learn more about plastics recycling, head to www.plasticsrecycling.org.

APR President & CEO, Steve Alexander, is back on Recycled Content with host Kara Pochiro to discuss and reflect upon 2023. The two give updates on their predictions and resolutions from earlier this year, talk about the current state of the recycling industry, and how APR is a key component of progress made. Steve and Kara break down the recycling industry’s main issues in 2023 including changing the narrative about recycling and increasing supply for recyclers. They discuss the extensive policy work, both domestic and international, that APR does to make sure the regulatory implementation of these new policies make a positive impact on recycling and that the recyclers are a true part of the conversation. They also give updates on key APR programs. To learn more about plastics recycling and how APR is the advocating as the voice of the recyclers, head to www.plasticsrecycling.org.

Host and APR's VP of Communications and Public Affairs, Kara Pochiro, is joined by Bruce Magnani, APR’s Legislative Advocate in California, and VP of Houston Magnani Associates. Kara and Bruce start by breaking down the basics of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and California’s SB 54 that focuses on packaging. The two discuss the EPR wave that is passing through various state legislatures, why it took multiple legislative sessions for it to pass in CA, catalysts for the bill, covered materials, key targets, and timelines. They then answer member’s questions about SB 54 regarding recycling rates, whether this law is being used as a copy & paste law for other states, and determining the classification of certain types of packaging now with this new law in place. To learn more about plastics recycling, head to www.plasticsrecycling.org.

Host and APR's VP of Communications and Public Affairs, Kara Pochiro, is joined by Dale Gubbels, the 2023 Advocacy Champion Award recipient and CEO of Firstar Fiber. Dale and Kara break down Dale's early days of recycling and how Firstar Fiber has evolved into one of the largest materials recycling facilities (MRFs) in the Midwest. They decode Firstar's successful business model - diversifying sources other than single stream, enhancing people's awareness of recycling, and value-adding to hard-to-recycle plastics  with the Hefty® ReNew® orange bag program. They also talk about the importance of working with local markets and it being the foundation of Firstar's success.