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AI camera allows TFC Recycling to expand program to include paper (Copy)
TFC Recycling acquired new AI technology that can separate paper products from all other items enabling more than 500,000 households in cities like Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake to recycle paper cups, containers, and packaging.
Latest Updates to ReMA’s ISRI Specifications Include Paper Cups
ReMA’s ISRI Specifications to include the board-approved addition of paper cups to the allowable commodities in the inbound residential single-stream and inbound residential dual-stream specifications.
City of Austin Expands Recycling to Include Paper Cups
The City of Austin now accepts paper cups and food and beverage cartons and in their blue curbside recycling carts.
Nebraska city to accept paper cups in curbside bins
The city of Omaha recently added paper take-out cups to its list of accepted items for recycling, with locally owned First Star Recycling leading the way in the resident-driven effort.
You can now recycle paper cups, containers in Hampton Roads, VA
TFC recently announced it can also accept paper drink carriers, cups and containers such as those that hold coffee, soup and soda.
Georgia-Pacific Opens More Opportunities for Paper Cup Recycling
Georgia-Pacific’s Savannah River mill in Rincon, Georgia, now accepts polyethylene (PE)-coated paper cups in its mixed paper stock for recycling. It’s the third Georgia-Pacific facility to begin accepting PE-coated cups.
New Item Added to List of What Can be Recycled in Spartanburg County
April 16, 2025, Spartanburg County, SC, announced it will now accept paper cups at recycling facilities. The county is the first community in SC to partner with Foodservice Packaging Institute to make this possible.
Making the case for polycoated paper recovery
“There’s a lot of domestic mills looking for more fiber…that’s where paper cups come into play.”
Webinar Recording: Compostable Takeout Containers in Residential Curbside Programs
Recording of the January 2025 FPI webinar featuring industry, community, and composter representatives who are including compostable packaging in residential composting programs.
“Big Ten” Action Areas Emerge from System-Wide Compost and Compostable Packaging Circularity Event
The strategic plan and action items that emerged from the Improving the Circularity of Compostables and Compost event are part of a two-year systems change effort that now moves into a broad activation phase, inviting all participants in the supply chain to become involved.
Webinar Recording: Plastic Cup & Container Recycling Update
Recording of the October 2024 FPI webinar featuring industry, MRF, and material processor representatives who are recycling plastic-based cup and container takeout packaging.
Keeping Takeout Out of the Trash
To better understand the place of foodservice packaging in residential composting programs, FPI conducted a study of diverse US curbside programs and developed case studies of eight residential curbside collection programs that accept foodservice packaging — four in California, two in Minnesota, one in Washington, and one in Texas.
Rumpke to begin curbside pickup of PET clamshells
Starting Nov. 1, Rumpke’s residential and commercial customers in central Ohio and parts of northern and southeast Ohio will be able to include clear plastic carry-out containers, as well as those from berries, lettuce and eggs.
Henderson County Public Schools’ Composting Program for Food Scraps and Compostable Foodservice Packaging Enhanced
The pilot composting program diverted 38 tons in year one and 47 tons in year two, including items like compostable paper trays, containers, and napkins. The inclusion of these compostable items in the program assisted in capturing more food scraps and further reduced quantities of landfilled packaging material.
Webinar Recording: Recycling Pizza Boxes, Paper Cups, and other Paper-Based Takeout Containers
Recording of the July 2024 FPI webinar featuring MRF, paper mill, and community representatives who are recycling pizza boxes, paper cups, and other paper-based takeout packaging.
Coffee cups are now accepted for recycling in Toronto
From the 7/4/24 CBC article: Paper beverage cups lined with plastic, for both hot and cold drinks, are now accepted for recycling at home (including in apartment buildings), long-term care homes, retirement homes and elementary and high schools in the City of Toronto. The cup recycling program is expected to be expanded to all of Ontario by 2026, and to similar containers such as ice cream cups.
Paper Cup Acceptance at US Mills Reaches New Milestone
The total number of U.S. paper mills accepting paper cups is now more than 40, marking “significant progress” since the end of last year.
Foodservice Packagers Work to Pump Curbside Recycling of Their Materials
Two-thirds of foodservice packaging is for to-go orders and winds up back in consumers’ homes. FPI conducted a resident survey looking for insight to inform messaging around recycling and to home in on missed recovery opportunities.
Webinar Recording: Insights into Effective Resident Education
In December 2023, FPI held a webinar that shared information on the effect of images, language and special instructions related to recycling take-out containers. We also learned about best practices and tools, and heard real-world examples of resident education from communities and haulers.
National Survey of Over 1,000 U.S. Residents Provides Insight on Recycling Decisions
FPI released a summary of findings from its Resident Messaging Survey, sharing information related to resident assumptions on recyclability, awareness of what items can be recycled, and top sources of recycling instructions. The survey focused on recycling messaging related to take-out items such as plastic cups and containers, paper cups and pizza boxes.