Legislation, film plastics and data collection take center stage at Plastics Recycling Conference

Attendees brainstormed ways to remedy the supply and demand mismatch for recycled plastic, grow film and chemical recycling opportunities and take advantage of plastic waste’s attention-grabbing moment in policy.

By Megan Quinn • April 1, 2024

Chemical recycling plants are on the rise. What does it mean for MRF operators?

Chemical recyclers see MRFs and specialty collection partnerships as important feedstock sources to fulfill production promises, but experts say it’s too early to determine how they could influence recycled plastic markets.

By Megan Quinn , Shaun Lucas • April 1, 2024

Explore the Trendline➔

The Waste Dive Outlook on 2022

Get up to speed on what may be coming next around M&A, labor solutions, ESG investment trends, federal regulation, state policy, environmental justice, local programs and more.

By Waste Dive staff

Massachusetts recyclers look to take their programs to the next level

MassRecycle is looking beyond its decades-old name, “expanding our scope to match the multitude of possibilities available in sustainable materials management,” the nonprofit’s president said at an event this month.

By Cole Rosengren • March 27, 2024

PCR procurement platform Circular eyes expansion with $10.5M in funding

Circular plans to expand internationally, add employees and introduce materials besides plastics to the platform.

By Katie Pyzyk • March 27, 2024

UBQ Materials eyes Northeast for its first waste-to-thermoplastic US facility

The Israel-based startup, which makes thermoplastics from mixed waste, is looking to bring its first facility to North America. This follows the recent launch of a facility in the Netherlands and a $70 million funding round.

By Cole Rosengren • March 26, 2024

Otto selected for contract to provide 3.2M ‘NYC Waste Bins’

The company would provide rolling bins for roughly 765,000 residential buildings across the city. The contract would take effect after a hearing scheduled for April 8.

By Jacob Wallace • March 25, 2024

New book tackles waste crisis at the personal and policy levels

Author Edward Humes’ new book, “Total Garbage,” aims to serve as a how-to guide for reducing waste in everyday life while advocating for changes in U.S. waste policy through EPR and other means.

By Megan Quinn • March 25, 2024

Collection trucks get AI upgrades to fight contamination

Truck-mounted, AI-enabled cameras are helping haulers identify and measure recycling contamination in real time, allowing them to communicate directly with customers on how to improve. Many haulers, including WM, use the tech.

By Megan Quinn • March 22, 2024

CMI calls for bottle bill policies that prioritize EJ, informal recycling communities

A Can Manufacturers Institute report calls for container deposit systems that are convenient and inclusive for more kinds of users, particularly informal recyclers, unhoused people and immigrants.

By Megan Quinn • March 20, 2024

SWANA CEO envisions collaborative environment to build safety, culture

Amy Lestition Burke, SWANA’s new CEO, says building partnerships can make the industry and the organization stronger and better resourced to take on climate change and an evolving workforce.

By Megan Quinn • March 19, 2024

Textile recycling company Infinited Fiber closes $43.8M funding round

Funding comes from companies such as Inditex, H&M and Adidas. The news comes after Renewcell, its competitor in the recycled materials space, filed for bankruptcy due to lack of funding.

By Laurel Deppen • March 18, 2024

Keurig brewing up compostable K-Rounds as alternative to plastic coffee pods

The company is still in the process of testing the rounds, which have a seaweed-derived coating. Keurig also plans to launch a mail-back program for its polypropylene K-Cups, which are not going away.

By Maria Rachal • March 15, 2024

Environmental justice funding and recycling resources top of mind at NRC conference

National Recycling Congress participants such as Reloop and the the U.S. EPA delved into the roles both small community groups and large federal agencies play in advancing environmental justice initiatives. 

By Megan Quinn • March 13, 2024

California opens public comment period on draft EPR regulations

The public comment period will run until April 23, when CalRecycle will host a public hearing. The agency estimates more than 13,000 producers would be affected by the regulation.

By Maria Rachal • March 13, 2024

DOE’s $4M e-scrap recycling prize seeks recovery and reuse innovations

The three-phase competition aims to bolster critical materials recovery from electronics. The DOE will offer technical support as well as a $50,000 cash prize for the first round of winners. 

By Megan Quinn • March 12, 2024

Stakeholders call for more details on Maine’s latest EPR rules draft

Ameripen, AF&PA, Aroostook Waste Solutions and others called for a more comprehensive needs assessment, technical assistance for municipalities and flexibility for producers.

By Megan Quinn • March 11, 2024

LASAN putting recycLA commercial waste program out to bid, ending contract extension talks

LA Sanitation and Environment officials hope that a reconfigured “recycLA 2.0” can yield better environmental outcomes and more competitive pricing by 2027. The move affects haulers such as Athens Services, WM and Republic Services.

By Cole Rosengren • March 8, 2024

Rubicon reports further progress on profitability plan during 2023

The company reported improvements in metrics such as adjusted gross profit and adjusted EBITDA due to higher-margin business with multiple clients, but it did not provide financial guidance for the year.

By Cole Rosengren • March 8, 2024

5 themes from the Senate hearing on packaging EPR

The Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works gathered comments from SC Johnson, Ameripen and World Wildlife Fund.

By Maria Rachal • March 7, 2024

Low-energy chemical recycling method could offer solution for mixed and biobased plastics

Scientists at a federal lab recently released the results of a project, funded by Google, that looked at handling a mixed stream of PET and PLA. Figuring out how to scale this concept beyond the lab is an ongoing discussion.

By Mary Catherine O'Connor • March 6, 2024

MRF robotics company Glacier raises $7.7M, partners with Amazon

The funding round will help refine the company’s AI-enabled robotics technology, which Amazon says could identify “novel packaging materials” it might be able to recycle or repurpose. 

By Megan Quinn • March 6, 2024

Largest public waste companies spent an estimated $4.2B on M&A in 2023

Spending by WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental and Casella Waste Systems didn’t surpass recent records, but the companies still did dozens of deals throughout the U.S. and Canada.

By Cole Rosengren • March 5, 2024

Solarcycle to build $344M recycled solar glass plant in Georgia

The manufacturer will produce up to six gigawatts of recycled solar glass annually, starting in 2026.

By Sara Samora • March 1, 2024

Enviri sees ‘best quarter in many years,’ awaits regulations to estimate PFAS opportunities

Enviri reported positive growth in its Clean Earth and Harsco Environmental segments as the company continues shifting to focus solely on environmental solutions.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 29, 2024

Republic reports strong core business growth in 2023, eyes new opportunities in 2024

The company surpassed its full-year guidance as core pricing and average yield increased in the fourth quarter. Republic expects additional opportunities, including those related to PFAS, to fuel growth in 2024.

By Jacob Wallace • Feb. 28, 2024