The Latest
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Photo Illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images
TrackerTracking recycling laws by state
The New York State Senate passed the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, an EPR for packaging bill. Governors in Nebraska and Colorado also recently signed battery EPR laws.
Updated May 30, 2025 -
RichLegg via Getty Images
Tracking the waste and recycling industry’s M&A activity
Clairvest acquired a stake in Beneficial Reuse Management; WM acquired Miller Recycling in Massachusetts; Ally Waste acquired Waste Xperts in Nevada; Momentum Environmental acquired several assets.
Updated May 28, 2025 -
Courtesy of City of Phoenix
NERC notes slight commodity value improvements, while MRFs announce significant upgrades
Northeast MRFs reported blended commodity prices rose up to 9% in Q1. Meanwhile, Casella, Eureka and the City of Phoenix announced MRF upgrades in part to help fetch higher commodity prices.
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Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
Congress revokes Advanced Clean Trucks waiver, creating ambiguity for refuse fleets
Last week, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution revoking waivers allowing California to implement several zero-emissions truck policies. The change will ease requirements even as a transition continues.
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spwidoff via Getty Images
Will 2025 EPR laws pave the way for more packaging policy?
After Maryland and Washington recently adopted packaging EPR laws, leaders from Ameripen and the National Stewardship Action Council expect to see more policy action, including on bottle bills, in 2026.
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Waste sector emissions ticked up in 2023, unreleased EPA report finds
The U.S. EPA only published partial information on the country’s greenhouse gas emissions this year. But newly available data suggests the waste industry’s emissions ticked up while overall emissions declined.
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Courtesy of Nova Chemicals
Nova Chemicals, Novolex open mechanical recycling facility for PE film
The Connersville, Indiana, facility will process up to 145,000 bales of postconsumer plastic film a year to produce recycled LLDPE for use in food-safe applications.
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Stock Photo via Getty Images
CalRecycle unveils new SB 54 text; Wagoner out as CAA’s California lead
The agency will host a public meeting May 27 to take feedback. Circular Action Alliance, the packaging EPR program’s PRO, plans to hire a new state lead as former CalRecycle director Rachel Wagoner steps aside.
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Permission granted by WIN Waste Innovations
Maine, Ohio, New Hampshire debate landfill restrictions
In recent weeks, several bills enhancing restrictions on landfills have advanced in state legislatures. They include new leachate management requirements and new disposal or host fees.
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Ian Waldie/Getty Images via Getty Images
Plastics reduction advocate and former EPA administrator joins Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Jennie Romer, known for plastics pollution work at Surfrider and at the EPA's pollution prevention office, will address e-waste, textiles and circular economy policy in her new role at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
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Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
Federal grantees reckon with loss of ‘generational’ recycling funding under Trump
The administration has canceled or limited grant awardees’ ability to access federal funding, changing how plastics and organics recyclers view the federal government.
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Chris Jackson via Getty Images
Indigenous-led efforts bolster EPR collection in remote parts of Canada
A new partnership between the Stewardship Agencies of BC and the Indigenous Zero Waste Technical Advisory Group helps improve recycling programs and training.
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Courtesy of ERI
Washington governor signs right-to-repair laws for electronics and wheelchairs
The new laws take effect July 26. Washington joins five other states with consumer electronics laws and two others with wheelchair repair laws.
Updated May 21, 2025 -
Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
Jon Vander Ark: AI is ‘wildly oversold,’ but it can provide benefits
Vander Ark compared the current hype around AI to the dot-com era that collapsed in 2000. But he said there are still plenty of opportunities to drive cost efficiencies through digital improvements.
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Courtesy of Veolia
Veolia says incinerator test shows over 99% PFAS destruction
The company's research, shared with the U.S. EPA, aims to lend credibility to incineration. Veolia expects demand for PFAS management services to grow despite regulatory challenges.
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Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
Q&AWM President John Morris on AI, autonomous equipment and tech investments
John Morris, who is also the company’s chief operating officer, said AI and tech upgrades for fleets, new route optimization software and autonomous vehicle pilots are helping with labor retention and cost savings.
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Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive, data from TVW
Washington governor signs laws regulating landfills, expanding organics service and more
Gov. Bob Ferguson signed five laws, including ones that affected renewable natural gas, PFAS in biosolids and plastic bags.
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halbergman via Getty Images
Washington Gov. Ferguson signs packaging EPR law
Ferguson called it the "biggest overhaul of our recycling system in decades.” Washington’s law, the seventh in the U.S., drew opposition from the waste and recycling industry.
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[Screenshot]. Retrieved from Senate Environment and Public Works committee.
PFAS a ‘high priority’ for EPA waste office nominee Busterud
During a confirmation hearing, the Office of Land and Emergency Management nominee expressed support for passive receivers and called for more frequent updates to the EPA's destruction and disposal guidance.
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Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
How states are thinking about organic waste policy
Panelists from Divert, CalRecycle and NRDC discussed lessons that can be learned from a rising number of state organic waste policies in California and elsewhere.
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Danielle Ternes/Waste Dive
TrackerTracking the future of US recycling policy in Congress
House lawmakers plan to reintroduce the COMPOST Act, which would have the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognize composting as a conservation practice.
Updated May 14, 2025 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
California compostable packaging restriction could have ‘chilling effect’
The Biodegradable Products Institute says it’s still waiting to hear whether there could be a compliance extension for a key provision of AB 1201 poised to affect compostables in the state come 2026.
Updated May 19, 2025 -
viavado via Getty Images
3 tips for selling waste businesses in 2025: WasteExpo
Keeping up with maintenance and finances long before deal discussions begin can lead to more successful outcomes, said WasteExpo speakers from Kinderhook, WM, Wastequip and others.
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Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
EPA’s future PFAS manufacturing effluent limitation guidelines raise new questions
The Trump administration will pursue regulations for certain manufacturers of chemicals, plastics and synthetic fibers after pausing implementation of a similar Biden-era proposal. Landfill regulations may come in the future.
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Tierney L. Cross via Getty Images
EPA rolls back part of PFAS drinking water standards
The agency will continue regulating PFOA and PFOS in drinking water, but will extend compliance timelines. It has rescinded rules for four other PFAS chemicals.
