Newsworthy

Legislation & Regulations

Final plan for Colorado’s EPR system OK’d

The plan to implement Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act (House Bill 22-1355) was approved by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).

The bill, which was signed into law in mid-2022, establishes Colorado’s producer-funded statewide recycling program for packaging and paper products.

Washington-based Circular Action Alliance (CAA) says the final plan reflects its leadership and the results of collaboration among packaging and paper products producers, CDPHE, local governments, businesses, nonprofits, recyclers and communities across Colorado. The program is projected to more than double the state’s recycling rate for packaging and paper by 2035.

Following a needs assessment, which was released in early 2024; consultation events attended by thousands of interest-holders; more than 110 hours of public meetings with the Producer Responsibility Advisory Board; public comment; and a series of revisions over the course of last year, CAA says the final plan is its pathway to complying with the act.

Through the final plan, CAA says it will accomplish a number of objectives:

• fund all the net costs of recycling services provided by participating local governments, recycling companies and nonprofits;
• expand access to convenient recycling services for Colorado households, particularly those in underserved areas;
• more than double the state’s recycling rate for packaging and paper by 2035;
• standardize a list of readily recyclable materials and deliver consistent, statewide education; and
• create an efficient and cost-effective recycling system that enhances the state’s circular economy.

According to the plan, CAA will leverage existing recycling, reuse and compost systems and infrastructure, promoting new infrastructure where necessary; promote increased use of postconsumer recycled (PCR) content in products and packaging; and incentivize packaging design to reduce negative environmental, social and health impacts.

Its key measurable outcomes after five years include increasing recycling rates from an estimated 25 percent (2022 baseline measurement) to 41 percent in 2030, improving processing of compostable covered materials and ensuring continuous improvement related to reuse and refill.

The program sets goals to increase PCR use and includes a pathway to provide producers improved access to PCR through service agreements, incentives and data sharing; establish minimum content targets for various materials; and incentivize market participation. CAA Colorado says it will establish material-specific PCR targets, create mechanisms for waivers when technical or economic feasibility is constrained and collaborate with interested parties to refine its approach over time. Eco-modulation incentives will be given to producers exceeding these targets.

Metals

US Steel to restart Illinois blast furnace

United States Steel Corp., a Pittsburgh-based business unit of Japan’s Nippon Steel Corp. (NSC), reportedly has initiated a process to restart one of two blast furnaces at its complex in Granite City, Illinois.

The company says the restart has been driven by customer demand and as part of its ordinary course of business planning for 2026.

“After several months of carefully analyzing customer demand, we made the decision to restart a blast furnace,” U.S. Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt says. “Steel remains a highly competitive and highly cyclical industry, but we are confident in our ability to safely and profitably operate the mill to meet 2026 demand.”

Although blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace mills like the one in Granite City do not melt as much scrap by percentage compared with electric arc furnace (EAF) mills, the restarted furnace near St. Louis could melt 10-15 percent recycled material as feedstock.

Although both of its blast furnaces have been idled during the past two years, steel rolling and finishing activity has continued at other parts of the Granite City property—though those activities appeared to be in danger because of the NSC purchase of U.S. Steel.

Heading into this year, however, Burritt says NSC and U.S. Steel are gearing up to revive hot metal operations at the Illinois site.

“We look forward to partnering with all stakeholders, including the United Steelworkers [union] and elected officials, to ensure a safe and efficient start up and to discuss support for Granite City Works,” he says.

Paper, Personnel

Graphic Packaging appoints new president, CEO

Graphic Packaging has named Robbert Rietbroek as president, CEO and a director of the company effective Jan. 1, succeeding Michael P. Doss, who has been president and CEO since 2016.

According to Atlanta-based Graphic Packaging, Doss mutually agreed with the company’s board of directors to step down from his roles at the company and on the board of directors Dec. 31, 2025.

“We are pleased to appoint Robbert as Graphic Packaging’s next CEO,” Graphic Packaging Chairman Philip R. Martens says. “His unique combination of extensive CPG [consumer packaged goods] expertise and solid track record of delivering value-creating results positions him well to drive organic growth and world-class execution and deliver strong and steady free cash flow. The board is confident that Robbert is the right leader to advance the progress toward achieving our Vision 2030 goals.”

Rietbroek has 25 years of global leadership experience across consumer products companies. Most recently, he was CEO and director of Primo Brands Corp., a Tampa, Florida-based bottled water company. Prior to working at Primo Brands, he was CEO of Primo Water Corp. He also led Primo Water’s merger with Stamford, Connecticut-based BlueTriton Brands Inc.

He also has held senior leadership roles at PepsiCo, Kimberly-Clark and Procter & Gamble in North America, Europe, South America and Australia.

“I have long admired Graphic Packaging for its sustainable packaging solutions and am honored to join at such a pivotal moment in its journey,” Rietbroek says. “Graphic Packaging has the right assets, team and capabilities to execute on its Vision 2030 priorities, and I am eager to lead the company into our next phase. I look forward to working with the board and leadership team to lead this world-class team, create new and innovative solutions for customers that improve the environmental footprint and drive long-term value for our stakeholders.”

As for Doss, the company says he has transformed Graphic Packaging into a packaging industry leader and expanded its scope and scale in the U.S. and Europe while completing the largest investment in company history—its recently opened recycled containerboard mill in Waco, Texas. He has been with the company for 35 years, serving as CEO for a decade.

“Leading the talented Graphic Packaging team over the past decade has been a privilege and the highlight of my career,” he says. “I am thankful to all our employees for their dedication to our customers and their commitment to delivering world-class results. Together, we expanded our company’s capabilities, built what we believe is the world’s best sustainable consumer packaging innovation platform and created durable competitive advantage in recycled paperboard efficiency and quality. With the completion of our Vision 2025 transformation, we have everything we need to deliver on our Vision 2030 goals.

“I believe that this is the right time for this transition. Along with the board, I am confident that Robbert is the right person to step into the CEO role to build on the exceptionally strong foundation we have put in place and to take Graphic Packaging to the next level. I look forward to working with Robbert to ensure a smooth transition.”

In memoriam: Bennie McGill

Bennie Roy McGill, a longtime sales and service professional with Idabel, Oklahoma-based off-the-road tire producer SETCO, died in late November 2025.

McGill joined SETCO, originally known as Southeastern Tire Co., after previous stints as a utility lineman and in a sales position with tire company Rockwall Retreads.

In his decades with SETCO, McGill was known for his devotion to in-person sales and follow-up visits with customers in the metals recycling, waste transfer, demolition and other industry sectors.

“Bennie represented the best of the best,” SETCO President Buck Hill tells Recycling Today. “He was a salt-of-the-earth man; honest, fair and full of integrity. He helped form SETCO’s customer-driven approach from the very early years. Much more a technician than a salesperson, Bennie always had the customers’ best interest in mind and balanced that with what was right for the company. He never wanted to disappoint a customer, which is why so many loved Bennie.”

McGill was a lifelong resident of Sulphur, Oklahoma, and also had worked as a reserve officer for the Murray County Sheriff’s Department and as a bouncer at two different venues in the Sulphur area.

McGill also was a dedicated member of the Murray County Antique Tractor and Implement Club, with McGill and his wife having been founding members.