In This Issue:

1 | L.A. law enforcement cracks down on plastics theft

A special task force set up by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department kicked off the New Year by making arrests as part of its ongoing effort to combat plastics theft.

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2 | Is your recycling idea worth $20,000?

Think you have a great idea to make recycling better? The Recycling Innovators Forum wants to hear from you!

Backed by some of the biggest companies and organizations in waste management and recycling, the Recycling Innovators Forum is a competition to find the next great idea to advance recycling. The top 7-10 nominees will be asked to present their idea to an audience of 150 recycling professionals at the Recycling Innovators Forum on August 26 in Louisville, Kentucky. The winner will receive $20,000, a chance to pitch their idea to venture capitalists and an article covering their idea in Resource Recycling magazine.

Thanks to increased demand, Recycling Innovators Forum organizers have extended the deadline for proposals! Contestants can now submit their proposals through January 18. Please contact [email protected] for more information, including instructions on how to apply.

Think you have what it takes? Contact Ali Briggs at [email protected] to get started on this unique opportunity.

3 | AMERIPEN to launch recycling projects

An alliance of packaging firms is carefully assessing what works in municipal recycling systems. The group will then use the research findings to undertake a number of projects designed to boost the recycling of packaging.

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4 | PetroChem Wire: Recycled polystyrene prices drop in December

Both HIPS and GPPS repro and regrind prices fell throughout December due to a lack of buying interest, with the total decline for all grades around 2 cents per pound.

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5 | Iowa to expand bottle bill?

In Iowa, recycling advocates are gearing up to push for an expansion of the state's bottle bill.

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6 | Plastic recycling in Canada jumps

A recent study shows the recovery of post-consumer plastics packaging in Canada rose by 24 percent in 2011.

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7 | Book your hotel at the Plastics Recycling Conference

The Plastics Recycling Conference is proud to have chosen the newly renovated Sheraton New Orleans Hotel located in the heart of the Big Easy � New Orleans, Louisiana. Conference attendees will receive a conference room rate of $189 plus taxes for nights booked over the conference dates of March 18 � 21, based on availability.

Rooms must be booked by February 25. For those who want to come earlier than March 18 or stay longer than March 21 to enjoy the sights and sounds of New Orleans, nights may be booked based on the hotel's prevailing rate and availability. The easiest way to book your hotel rooms is through the conference website.

8 | Patent watch

Several patents and patent applications relating to plastics recycling have recently been published.

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9 | NewsBits

Plant expansions, a new joint venture, and more speculation on the next EPA chief in this week's NewsBits

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10 | Upcoming conferences & webinars

Click here for a complete directory of upcoming conferences and webinars!

11 | Jobs Available & Sought

Senior Design Engineer, Large Manufacturer of Size Reduction Equipment and Separation Systems.
Details are available here.

Multiple Positions, Perpetual Recycling Solutions (Richmond, Indiana).
Details are available online.

Buyer, Winjet Trading Inc. (City of Industry, California).
Details are available here.

Plant Manager, Omni Recovery (Dallas, Texas).
Details are available here.

Various Jobs, The IMS Group (National).
Details are available online.

Purchasing Account Executive, BoRec America, Inc. (Flexible Location).
Details are available here.

Jobs Sought
Database of job seekers available here.

If you would like to submit a job available or job sought listing, send an email to newsletter editor Henry Leineweber at [email protected].