Repreve is a recycled fiber made by Unifi that the retailer is using in its fitness apparel and fashion lines.

Unifi Inc., a recycled and synthetic yarns company based in Greensboro, North Carolina, has announced that Walmart has purchased the equivalent of 1 billion postconsumer plastic bottles worth of Repreve recycled performance fibers.

Walmart first purchased recycled polyethylene terephthalate products from Unifi in 2012. In 2019, Walmart announced a goal to source 50 percent recycled polyester fibers for its private brand textiles by 2025. Since then, Unifi says, Repreve volume accelerated by more than 200 percent through Walmart’s suppliers and partner manufacturers. 

“We’ve been using Repreve’s recycled fibers for 10 years now, and this achievement is the result of not only our commitment to a more sustainable supply chain, but that of our customers, who have purchased products in our stores made with Repreve,” says Deanah Baker, senior vice president for men’s, kids and footwear for Walmart U.S. “This is part of Walmart’s larger goal to move toward a circular economy, where materials stay in use in a productive way that is better for the environment.”

Unifi says producing Repreve recycled polyester comes with additional environmental benefits. In comparison with the manufacturing impacts of producing virgin polyester, Unifi estimates the volume of Repreve recycled polyester produced for Walmart would have:

The lithium-ion battery recycler is partnering with Eco Stor AS and Morrow Batteries AS to build its first recycling facility outside North America.

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., a Toronto-based lithium-ion battery recycler, announced it has formed a joint venture with Eco Stor AS, Oslo, Norway, and Morrow Batteries AS, Arendal, Norway, in which Li-Cycle will be the majority owner. Through this partnership, Li-Cycle says it will construct a new commercial lithium-ion battery recycling facility in southern Norway—the company’s first recycling facility outside North America.

According to the Norwegian Automobile Federation, Norway has made electric vehicle (EV) adoption a priority and is on the path of phasing out sales of new internal combustion engine vehicles by April—three years ahead of the 2025 target proposed by the Norwegian government. The expectation is that this could result in a long-term supply of end-of-life batteries, and Li-Cycle says it will be well-positioned to recycle and bring the end-of-life batteries back into the lithium-ion battery supply chain.

Battery manufacturing capacity is increasing in Norway, particularly with the construction of Morrow’s large-scale battery gigafactory, which the company estimates will be operational next year and be able to supply batteries for more than 700,000 EVs annually. The manufacturing scrap generated from the facility will provide Li-Cycle with additional supply.

“This is a significant step for Li-Cycle as we deploy our proven lithium-ion battery resource recovery solution to the European market and execute on our global growth strategy with key industry partners,” says Ajay Kochhar, president, CEO and co-founder of Li-Cycle. “Norway’s early leadership in EV adoption and ecosystem is a beacon for electrification globally, creating a robust market for both battery manufacturing scrap and end-of-life batteries domestically.”

The Norwegian facility is expected to be fully operational early next year and have the capacity to process up to 10,000 tons of lithium-ion batteries per year, including battery manufacturing scrap, full EV packs and energy storage systems. According to a news release, the initiative brings Li-Cycle’s total expected global recycling capacity, including existing and under development, to 40,000 tons of lithium-ion battery input per year.

The announcement follows a string of investments and expansions for Li-Cycle last year. In September 2021, the company announced a $100 million investment from Koch Strategic Platforms (KSP), a subsidiary of Koch Investments Group based in Wichita, Kansas. The investment was “designed to support Li-Cycle’s growth opportunities in North America, Europe and Asia,” the company said at the time of the announcement.

Following that announcement, in December 2021, Li-Cycle said it was proceeding with construction to increase processing capacity at its commercial hub facility in Rochester, New York, by more than 40 percent, and said construction likely will be complete by next year, requiring a total capital investment of approximately $485 million. That same month it also entered into a nonbinding letter of intent with LG Chem (LGC) and LG Energy Solution (LGES) to provide the companies with 20,000 metric tons of nickel from the New York facility. Both LGC and LGES will combine for a $50 million equity investment in Li-Cycle upon completion of the commercial agreements.

In support of executing the Norway spoke facility, Koch Engineered Solutions (KES) has been engaged to construct, test and ship the modular spoke facility—and outcome of the previously announced investment by KSP.

“Advancing innovation in the battery recycling [and] recovery space adds direct long-term value to our partners and helps ensure a future sustainable battery ecosystem,” says Brian Boster, president of optimized process designs, an engineering, procurement and construction capability in KES.

Eco Stor will provide the joint venture with end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and Morrow will provide lithium-ion battery manufacturing scrap from its facilities in Norway. In turn, Li-Cycle will provide equipment, technology, technical services and operational management for the spoke facility, while having the right to acquire 100 percent of the facility’s production of black mass.

Street Smart Parts will now sell competitor replacement parts, while McNelius Genuine Parts will exclusively sell parts for its own vehicles.

McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing Inc., a truck manufacturer based in Dodge Center, Minnesota, has announced the repositioning of its replacement parts business to offer two distinct options for getting parts to customers no matter the makes or models in their fleets. 

“Our customers need a partner that can help them keep their business running without the middleman or the runaround and they have that in McNeilus,” says Matt McLeish, vice president of sales and marketing of McNeilus Refuse Collection Vehicles.

McNeilus has reestablished its Street Smart Parts brand as a dedicated source for competitor replacement parts manufactured and tested to meet or exceed original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards. The brand features a new logo and more offerings for replacement parts for all makes and models.

McNeilus Genuine Parts will supply parts for McNeilus brand vehicles. These OEM parts are designed by a team of engineers focused solely on providing solutions for the concrete and refuse collection industries. All products are backed by McNeilus’ parent company, Oshkosh Corporation, a vehicle manufacturing company based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. 

"[Customers are] getting full lifecycle support, not just for the McNeilus trucks in their fleet but for the entire fleet, with our two replacement parts brands,” says Peter Gallette, vice president of sales and marketing of McNeilus Mixer Platform.

The association has announced the hiring of Katie Raverty-Evans and Patrick Bennett.

Following the departures of longtime staff members, Steve Changaris and Peggy Macenas, the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) has hired Katie Raverty-Evans as vice president of chapter management and member relations, and Patrick Bennett as vice president of chapter management.

Raverty-Evans will have responsibility for chapters in Kentucky, Ohio and the Carolinas. Raverty-Evans previously helped manage government affairs for Best Way Disposal for 10 years before coming to NWRA.

Bennett will manage government affairs and chapter activities in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Prior to this position, Bennett represented the Indiana chapter of NWRA as a lobbyist for more than 10 years. Bennett also provided government relations services to other clients and operated a small legal practice.

“The strength of our organization is in our state chapters. I am pleased that Katie and Patrick will be working with our chapters on issues affecting the waste and recycling industry,” says NWRA President and CEO Darrell Smith.

Raverty-Evans will lead NWRA’s Women’s Council, assist with WasteExpo and other member-facing projects. “I am ready to help NWRA strongly advocate for the men and women in our industry and support our member companies. I am pleased that this role allows me to continue to serve in such an important and worthwhile industry,” says Raverty-Evans.

Raverty-Evans has served on the NWRA Services Board of Governors as an alternate, was a member of the NWRA PAC Board of Governors and was vice-chair of the NWRA Government Relations Committee. She also served as president of the NWRA Women’s Council. Raverty-Evans holds a degree from Thomas More University in communications.

Changaris has 29 years of service and was most recently vice president, Northeast region. He was actively involved in the chapters, lobbying lawmakers and meeting with regulators. Macenas has 28 years of service and was most recently vice president, Midwest region. She was equally as involved in her chapters and also managed the Women’s Council.

Managem will provide lithium-ion battery recycling technology, and Glencore will market the recycled products.

Switzerland-based mining and commodities trading firm Glencore and Managem, a Moroccan mining group, have entered into a partnership to produce cobalt from recycled battery material at Managem’s CTT Hydrometallurgical Refinery at Guemssa, Morocco, roughly 23 miles from Marrakech . The companies say their partnership highlights their commitments to support the electric vehicle industry in achieving its metals recycling targets.

Glencore and CTT intend to enter into a five-year tolling agreement for approximately 1,200 tons of recycled cobalt per year as well as nickel hydroxide and lithium carbonate, according to a news release about the partnership.

The partnership is conditional on a feasibility study to assess the commercial viability of modifying and deploying the CTT Refinery for recovering cobalt, nickel and lithium from black mass produced from recycled lithium-ion batteries. The feasibility study will focus on achieving high recoveries and a low carbon footprint. It is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter, according to the companies.

Glencore says it will leverage its ability to source and recycle cobalt- and nickel-bearing products at its Canadian and Norwegian operations to supply cobalt-containing black mass to the CTT refinery.

Managem will provide lithium-ion battery recycling technology developed and tested in the pilot plant at the Reminex R&D center. This technology enables a high recovery rate of cobalt, nickel and lithium from black mass, the company says.

Glencore says it will market the recycled products to its global network of portable electronics and automotive customers as part of its commitment to support the transition to a low-carbon economy and to realize its goal of net-zero total emissions by 2050.

“Demand for cobalt is expected to increase significantly in the next decade, largely driven by the green energy transition,” Imad Toumi, chairman and CEO of Managem says. Most companies in the supply chain are targeting sustainably sourced materials, he says, adding, “We strongly believe that recycling will play a crucial role in addressing this demand.”

Toumi continues, “Managem is fully engaged in supporting the global circular economy through cobalt, nickel and lithium at the same time as mining cobalt with the highest CSR (corporate social responsibility) standards. This partnership with Glencore represents an exciting step up in our development in this field.”

“As the world seeks to address the challenge of climate change, primary/recycled cobalt and other future-facing commodities are set to play a pivotal role in decarbonizing energy consumption and delivering the electric vehicle revolution,” David Brocas, head cobalt trader at Glencore, says. “Glencore is already a leading producer, recycler and supplier of these commodities, helping to underpin our ambition of achieving net-zero total emissions by 2050.”