Kickstart: A TikTok recycling lesson

The latest lesson on how to recycle comes via a viral video on TikTok. That's right, the social media video platform some people want to ban but that your kids are glued to.

The Outagamie County Recycling and Solid Waste department in Wisconsin is making an art out of sharing recycling rules via TikTok videos. Its most recent one, on why not to put Christmas lights in the recycling bin, has gotten more than 1 million views since Dec. 14.

"This is just something we thought would be fun to get the word out and educate people on the right way to recycle," Phil Schreiber, recycling and solid waste maintenance technician, told the Post Crescent. "I'm excited that we get to have some fun at work and still educate the public."

Schreiber, as his character "Philthy Philm," is the star of the video. And don't worry, other recycling no-nos, like putting film in recycling bins, have also been highlighted in past TikToks.

"Don't be a drag, dump out your bag!" Philthy Philm says in another video. You can find them all here.

Later this month, Plastics News will publish The Book, a roundup of data and stories featured during 2020.

The lists of top injection molders, blow molders, thermoformers and other processors reflect sales in North America for the 2019 fiscal year, which means that we know there are already some updates coming in 2021.

One example is the new Charter Next Generation, created through the merger of Charter NEX Films Inc. and Next Generation Films Inc.

When we ran the list of film and sheet companies in September, Charter NEX was at No. 19 with estimated sales of $515 million, and Next Generation at No. 20 with estimated sales of $460 million.

As a combined company, Charter Next Generation will see $1 billion in sales in North America for 2020, and likely leap into the Top 10.

Don Loepp spoke with Kathy Bolhous, who is leading the combined company, on plans for 2021 and beyond.

There are more options for U.S.-made dishwashers. GE Appliances announced it has started production at its $80 million dishwasher manufacturing line at Appliance Park near Louisville, Ky.

The new line adds 280 jobs and is the second dishwasher investment in 2020 for the GE product line, which is owned by Haier Group of China.

Appliance Park has in-house injection molding and other manufacturing to make parts for GE appliances. The site employs more than 7,000.

"At a time when our research has shown families are using their dishwashers more than ever, we're excited to expand our product offerings — and our U.S. manufacturing capabilities — to give consumers access to more of the appliances they want and need," said Cinthy Fanning, vice president for dishwasher products for GE Appliances, in a news release.