The Latest

  • Aerial view of a collection truck picking up waste or recyclables in a residential area
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    Tracking the waste and recycling industry’s M&A activity

    GFL Environmental acquired a small Illinois hauler, A&D Environmental acquired two sites and Waste Solutions Canada acquired PragmaTech Waste Solutions.

    Updated June 10, 2026
  • hands of workers sort large batteries on a conveyor
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    Courtesy of American Battery
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    American Battery announces reinstated $57M grant from DOE

    American Battery Technology Co. won its appeal after the agency canceled the grant last year. It will continue plans to build a $115 million commercial-scale lithium refinery alongside its lithium-ion battery recycling efforts.

  • Aerial view of Vancouver's skyline at dusk with a harbor in the foreground.
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    Getty Images
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    Biogas notches a win in British Columbia; plus RNG news from GFL, Waga

    The British Columbia Utilities Commission reaffirmed utilities’ right to procure renewable natural gas through book-and-claim systems. Also this month, a startup acquired Air Liquide’s biogas platform.

  • Aerial view of industrial recycling facility in Washington state
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    Retrieved from Facebook on December 01, 2022
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    DTG Recycle sheds more C&D facilities, faces new state investigation

    The Seattle-area C&D company, which was recently sold back to its founder by Macquarie, has offloaded numerous sites to MCS Recycle. It’s also the subject of two complaints alleging financial fraud.

  • M&A due diligence lawyers legal
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    Getty Images
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    US M&A deal volume to rise 8% this year: EY

    Corporate dealmaking is expected to drive gains as private equity activity levels off, according to the mid-year outlook.

  • United States map with recycling arrows superimposed on top
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    Photo Illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    Tracker

    Tracking recycling laws by state

    Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed a bill aimed at preventing redemption fraud. Colorado’s governor signed an EV EPR law. Maine’s governor signed the nation’s first EPR bill for vapes.

    Updated June 5, 2026
  • A New York City Sanitation Department rear-loading truck sits behind a graffitied mailbox on a street lined by three-story brick buildings.
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    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
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    New York EPR bill won’t move forward this year

    Other waste and recycling bills, including bottle bill updates and a street sweeper trash collection bill supported by DSNY, are not expected to pass. June 5 was the last day of the legislative session.

  • A person wearing gloves installing a device into an electric vehicle battery.
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    Courtesy of Toyota Motor Corp.
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    Colorado governor signs EV battery EPR bill

    It will be the first EV EPR law in the country to set specific recovery rates for nickel, cobalt and lithium. It received bipartisan support from lawmakers and recyclers.

    Updated June 5, 2026
  • A sign on a chain-link fence in front of a concrete area marks it's owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, and is part of the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program
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    [Photograph]. Retrieved from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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    Judge restricts radioactive waste at Republic landfill; Colorado offers landfill grants

    Landfill operators across the country continue to adjust to new regulations and court orders. Other landfills are pursuing expansions in Washington, Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Hawai’i. 

  • The U.S. and Maryland flags flow in the wind
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    Getty Images
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    Maryland recyclers eye potential economic boosts

    At the Maryland Recycling Network conference in Baltimore, recyclers focused on economic factors that could bring brighter days, such as improved commodity markets, new PET demand and upcoming EPR policies.

  • Waste Connections and GFL Environmental trucks outside of the Las Vegas Convention Center at WasteExpo 2022.
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    Waste CEO paychecks rose again in 2025. Here’s how much they made.

    Waste Dive’s eighth annual report analyzes compensation data for WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Clean Harbors, Enviri and Casella Waste Systems.

  • Two people stand on stage at the NH Recycles annual conference
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    Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
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    New Hampshire waste policy evolving with disposal fee, organics ban

    A new disposal surcharge generated more than $1 million during its first quarter for local reimbursements and grant funding. The recent NH Recycles conference featured updates on the state’s latest initiatives.

  • A close-up photo of a person vaping.
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    Andrew Burton via Getty Images
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    Maine becomes first state to enact EPR for vapes

    The law will establish more collection, recycling and disposal options for vape pens, which recycling industry groups say are a major cause of facility fires. A producer responsibility organization must now create collection infrastructure.

  • The California statehouse
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    The image by Jimmy Emerson, DVM is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
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    California legislature advances key waste, recycling bills

    A hauler franchise bill, plus bills to manage medium-format batteries, vape waste, food donations and metal shredder facilities, are still in play. The state’s legislative session ends Aug. 31.

  • Harsco employee
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    Permission granted by Clean Earth/Harsco Corporation
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    Veolia closes $3B acquisition of Clean Earth from Enviri

    The transaction nearly doubles Veolia’s hazardous waste services in the United States and makes it the second-largest provider in the market. Enviri received interest from dozens of potential buyers in the process.

    Updated June 1, 2026
  • Large bundles of plastic bags, cans and milk containers await processing at a recycling center.
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    Getty Images
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    Braven Environmental no longer building chemical recycling plant in Texas

    The pyrolysis plant, planned for a Texarkana industrial park, received a boost from a state tax abatement program, but ultimately failed to gain traction. 

  • Four people sit on a stage in front of windows at an event, with one person speaking into a microphone. A slide projected behind them lists the speakers and their names.
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    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
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    States grapple with billions in PFAS costs and ask EPA for assistance

    State regulators are waging a multi-pronged campaign to tackle PFAS contamination from industrial sources, but say funding from consent orders and existing EPA programs isn’t enough to address the scale of the challenge.

    Updated May 29, 2026
  • a close-up of film plastic and plastic bags
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    California EPR deadlines spur urgent flexible film recycling solutions

    Film recycling systems need rapid upgrades to meet California's strict recycling rules under SB 54. Speakers on a recent NERC webinar noted new pilot programs and funding initiatives to help.

  • An outside photo of the California State Capitol.
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    The image by Jim Bowen is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    California advances compostables, recycled content labeling bills

    The legislation divided major recyclers, organics recyclers and trade groups over mass balance accounting, plastics in compost and more.

  • The GFL Environmental logo decal on the door of a large garbage truck
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    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
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    Secure Waste shareholders approve GFL acquisition offer

    The vote and recent FTC approval bring the deal closer to fruition. Secure executives shared details about the lead-up to the transaction in a release sent to shareholders prior to the vote.

  • Two women pose near bales of recycled paper
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    Courtesy of Emterra
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    Q&A

    Emterra is still growing its own way after 50 years

    The Canadian company has expanded from a one-woman paper recycling operation to a business with five divisions, 19 MRFs and its own producer responsibility organization. CSO Paulina Leung talks future growth.

  • People in protective gear manage household chemicals dropped for disposal and recycling
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    The image by Montgomery County Planning Commission is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Vermont takes the lead on first household hazardous waste EPR plan in US

    The Agency of Natural Resources is running the program with a 10% surcharge after no producer group stepped up. Regulators hope this can alleviate high collection costs for an especially toxic waste stream.

  • A sign that says "Target Field Station" in front of an industrial facility
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    Retrieved from Hennepin County.
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    Community groups sue EPA to tighten its incinerator rules

    A coalition is again taking the U.S. EPA to court over its Clean Air Act rules for large municipal waste combustors two months after the agency finalized the regulation. 

  • Two hands place two purple plastic reusable cups toward a receptacle that says "Thanks for dropping your reusable cup here."
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    Permission granted by Kellyann Petry/Berry Global
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    California’s SB 54 kicks off a fresh look at reuse and refill collection

    Source reduction reports outlined steep costs to redesign packaging and invest in new systems. While haulers weren’t part of CalRecycle’s study, Recology and the City of Berkeley offer a preview of how they could fit in.

  • Old battery packs for mobile phones
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    Getty Images
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    Maryland battery commission to continue work on fire safety efforts

    The commission will renew its research later this year after meeting a short deadline for its first report. It advocates for battery EPR and will also research recycling regulations, insurance complications and transportation safety.