Tag: recycling
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Court Upholds NYC Ban on Foodservice EPS
A state court has denied a petition to overturn a New York City ban on the use of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) containers, finding the city’s determination “was a painstakingly studied decision and was in no way rendered arbitrarily or capriciously.” In re Application of Rest. Action All. v. City of New York, No. 100731/2015…
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NYC Considering Bill Requiring Curbside EPS Container Recycling
New York City is reportedly considering a bill that would require curbside recycling of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) containers. The city’s Sanitation Department is currently under a court mandate to develop a plan to collect and clean EPS containers. New York City previously attempted to ban EPS containers in 2013, but a court invalidated the…
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FTC and USDA Examine Consumer Perceptions of “Organic” Non-Agricultural Products
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have released an August 10, 2016, joint report examining consumers’ perceptions of “recycled content” and “organic” claims, especially for non-agricultural products and services. Using data from Internet-based questionnaires completed by 8,016 respondents, the study sought to determine whether consumers view products marketed with such…
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NYC Appeals Trial Court Ruling on Polystyrene
New York City has appealed a trial court decision overturning a determination that expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) cannot be recycled, which had resulted in a municipal ban on the material. In re Restaurant Action Alliance, NYC, No. 100734 (N.Y. App. Ct., filed October 26, 2015). The appeal argues that the commissioner of the Department of…
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New York City Ban on Polystyrene Invalidated
A New York state court has vacated a New York City prohibition on expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) after a challenge by several food companies, supermarkets and food-service businesses that used EPS in their food packaging. Dart Container Corp. v. De Blasio, No. 100734/15 (N.Y. Super. Ct., order entered September 21, 2015). The court provides a history…
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California Legislation Would Label Food Irrigated with Water from Oil and Gas Field Activities
California Assembly Member Mike Gatto (D-Glendale) has introduced a bill (A.B. 14) that would require the labeling of food grown using recycled or treated water from oil and gas field activities. “No one expects their lettuce to contain heavy chemicals from fracking wastewater,” Gatto said. “Studies show a high possibility that recycled oil field wastewater…
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Outgoing NYC Mayor Secures Passage of Foam Food-Packaging Law
The New York City (NYC) Council has reportedly adopted legislation that would prohibit the use of foam food containers by 2015, if city sanitation officials determine that recycling the substance is not feasible. Favored by outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the legislation referred to as the Styrofoam ban—would include a six-month grace period, during which only…
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Beverage Producer Claims Recycler Sold Rather Than Destroyed Substandard Products
Spike, LLC, a company that makes and distributes energy drinks, has filed a lawsuit against the company it hired to destroy 18 pallets of products that Spike determined should be removed from the marketplace as unfit for sale, claiming that the recycling company failed to destroy the products and, in fact, sold them “thereby undercutting…