Lawmakers in Oregon passed the Sustainable Shopping Initiative (H.B. 2509), banning single-use plastic bags from retail stores and restaurants in the state. Starting Jan. 1, 2020, Oregon’s retail stores and restaurants will no longer provide single-use checkout bags, according to a news release from Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality.

Additionally, the state’s retail stores must, in most instances, charge at least 5 cents for paper bags (with 40 percent or more postconsumer recycled content), reusable plastic bags and reusable fabric bags. Restaurants may still provide paper bags at no cost.

Under H.B. 2509, the state’s Department of Environmental Quality is responsible for preparing a legislative report in 2025 on customers’ use of bags at grocery stores. The department has also created a webpage as a resource for local governments, businesses and the public to understand the basics of the new bag requirements. 

According to Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality, the state adopted a plastic bag ban to encourage residents to switch to reusable or recycled paper bags so the state can reduce the number of bags that are used once and thrown out. Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality states that “When plastic bags end up in recycling bins, they can contaminate the recycling stream and endanger the safety of workers who must untangle them from recycling equipment.”

World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (Worldsteel), Brussels, was 147.8 million metric tons in November, or 1 percent less than in November 2018.

Aside from China, crude steel production in November was down in most Asian countries compared with November 2018. 

• China’s crude steel production was 80.3 million metric tons in November, up 4 percent compared with November 2018.

• India’s crude steel production was 8.9 million metric tons in November, down 2.8 percent compared with November 2018.

• Japan’s crude steel production was 7.7 million metric tons in November, down 10.6 percent compared with November 2018.

• South Korea’s crude steel production was 5.9 million metric tons in November, down 0.5 percent compared with November 2018.

In Europe, crude steel production in November was down in most countries compared with production levels in November 2018 as well. Italy produced 2.0 million metric tons of crude steel in November, which is down 9.8 percent compared with November 2018 production. France produced 1.1 million metric tons of crude steel in November, which is down 18.2 percent compared with November 2018. Spain also produced 1.1 million metric tons of crude steel in November, which is down 10.9 percent compared with November 2018. 

Additionally, Turkey’s crude steel production was 2.9 million metric tons, down by 8.1 percent compared with November 2018.

Worldsteel reports that the U.S. produced 7.2 million metric tons of crude steel in November, which is a decrease of 2.2 percent compared with November 2018 production, Worldsteel reports. Also, Brazil’s crude steel production for November was 2.6 million metric tons, down 10.5 percent compared with November 2018. 

Armacell, a Luxembourg-based company that specializes in flexible foam for the equipment insulation market, has celebrated the landmark of 1 billion recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles consumption in its foaming process to manufacture PET foam products. According to an ews release from Armacell, the company hosted a celebration event with 80 guests from the recycling and composites industry at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. 

The event, which took place Dec. 12, included speeches by Armacell President and CEO Patrick Mathieu on the company’s sustainability story as well as Marius Smit, CEO and founder of Plastic Whale, on creating value from plastic waste. Other presenters included Christian Crepet, executive director of Petcore Europe; Dr. Karl Paetz-Lauter, retired vice president of Armacell; and Dr. Justyna Dolega, Armacell’s global innovation manager. 

“Converting plastic bottles into structural foam products used in applications such as wind turbines, high-speed trains, walkways and surfboards represents a significant step toward closing the loop in plastic production,” Armacell states in a news release on the milestone.

In 2010, Armacell launched the world’s first foam cores made from 100 percent recycled PET (rPET). Today, the company’s entire PET foam product portfolio is based on this process technology, the company states in a news release. Armacell’s rPET technology uses recycled PET bottles that are rejected for reuse by the PET recycling industry, and Armacell converts the material into high-quality resource to feed it back into the production cycle.

“There is a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics, and Armacell is playing its part in working towards a circular model,” says Thomas Kessel, general manager at Armacell PET Foams. “In reusing plastic bottles, Armacell is making a difference around the world.”

Kore Power Inc., a developer of high-density, high-voltage energy storage solutions based in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enter into a strategic partnership with Renewance Inc., Chicago, to collaborate on battery recycling projects for Kore Power batteries.

Renewance provides software solutions, consulting and project management services for battery end-of-life liabilities. The company has knowledge of regulations related to industrial battery storage, packaging, transportation and recycling. It also has a network of logistics, field service and recycling partners, which will help Kore Power be able to transport and recycle lithium-ion batteries that have reached their end of life. 

According to a news release from Kore Power, the partnership will facilitate the proper disposal of Kore Power’s Mark 1 battery cells at their end of life and will create an opportunity for used battery materials to be reused in new batteries. Also, Renewance will help Kore Power in implementing environmentally responsible recycling processes.

“This partnership with Renewance is a significant step towards enabling us to implement strong sustainability practices,” says Lindsay Gorrill, CEO of Kore Power. 

“This alliance will enable Kore Power to deliver cost-effective and environmentally friendly reuse and recycling solutions to their customers,” says Dave Mauer, vice president of sales and services at Renewance. “Renewance brings a wealth of experience and expertise on industry best practices and regulatory considerations to all reverse supply chain projects.”