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Recycled Content

Where is plastics recycling really headed? Recycled Content, brought to you by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), goes beyond the headlines to unpack what’s driving progress in plastics recycling. Each month, we sit down with industry leaders across the value chain, including brand owners, recyclers, policymakers, and innovators, to discuss the breakthroughs, roadblocks, and market shifts reshaping sustainable packaging. From design for recyclability to EPR laws and emerging technologies, this podcast offers real-world insights and honest conversations for anyone working to close the loop. New episodes drop monthly. Subscribe to stay informed and stay in the loop. Visit plasticsrecycling.org for more information.

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 32: Design for Recyclability & the Evolution of the APR Design® Recognition Program w/ Rebecca Mick & Ruben Nance May 16, 2024

Show notes

Recycled Content Host and the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) VP of Communications and Public Affairs, Kara Pochiro, is joined this episode by two fellow APR colleagues, Rebecca Mick, Program Director for Film & Packaging Innovation, and Ruben Nance, APR Program Director responsible for the management and growth of APR's Preferred Design Recognition (PDR) Program. The team discusses the APR Design® Guide , as well as the growth and expansion of the APR Design® Recognition Program over the past year. Tune in to hear how the APR Design® Guide is helping companies find success in package recyclability, how companies investing in sustainable packaging innovations can get formally recognized, success stories, and continued progress.

Ep 31: Recycle More, Use Less: A conversation with the U.S. Plastics Pact's Emily Tipaldo. Apr 18, 2024

Show notes

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!

Ep 30: Getting ready for the Plastic Recycling Conference w/ Maite Quinn & Steve Alexander Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

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!

Ep 29: How Recycling Works at KW Plastics with Stephanie Baker Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

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.

Ep 28:The Year in Review with APR President and CEO Steve Alexander Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

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.

Ep 27:Examining the EPR Legislation Wave and CA SB 54 with Bruce Magnani Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

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.

Ep 26: A New Model for Plastics Circularity - The Full Recycling Process Under One Roof at Firststar Fiber Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

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.

Ep 25: Package Design for Recyclability – A Deep Dive into PET Plastics Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

On this week's episode, APR's VP of Communications and Public Affairs, Kara Pochiro, is joined by Curt Cozart, Chief Operating Officer of APR and lead of the APR Design® Guide Training Program and other technical projects. Kara and Curt continue the conversation on package design from the last episode, diving into the world of PET, a plastic often used for beverage bottles, and also one of the most commonly recognized types of recyclable packaging. The discussion focuses on what packaging features can affect recyclability, APR's recyclability categories, the collection, sortation, and processing of PET plastics, as well as some of the issues with colored PET. To read more in-depth about the APR Design® Guide or to learn more about plastics recycling, head to www.plasticsrecycling.org.

Ep 24: Designing with Detail: A Look at Package Design for Recyclability with Ruben Nance Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of Recycled Content, host Kara Pochiro is joined by Ruben Nance, Program Director for the Meets Preferred Guidance (MPG) Recognition Program at APR. Ruben and Kara talk about what makes packages truly recycling compatible through an examination of APR's Design Guide, the different Recognition Programs that APR offers, and the current strides being made by companies, including APR members, to push the industry in the right direction. Based on extensive work with reclaimers, designers, and a wide variety of technical experts the APR Design® Guide, along with the MPG and Critical Guidance recognitions, allow APR to be the leading authority and one of the most trusted voices when it comes to designing packages that are recycling compatible in every way.

Ep 23: Improving Recycling in a Comprehensive Way: The Positives Behind PCR, Recycled Content Requirements, and EPR Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

This week on the pod, APR's VP of Communications and Public Affairs Kara Pochiro is joined by not one but two Kates- APR's Chief Policy Officer Kate Bailey and APR's Program Director Kate Eagles. Kara sits down with both Kates to discuss their recent APR blog post highlighting the importance of post-consumer resin (PCR) as an integral part in reducing the environmental impacts of plastic packaging. They also chat about new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, post-consumer recycled content requirements, and their ability to encourage homes and businesses to recycle more. To read more in-depth about this issue or to learn more about plastics recycling in general, head to www.plasticsrecycling.org.

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