The Latest
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Brandon Bell via Getty Images
Hitting a plateau: Circular packaging designers face flexibles hurdle
Many companies have targets to make 100% of their packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. Now, as they face the hardest categories to transform, some are weighing whether it’s feasible.
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Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Data, transparency could shed light on curbside collection challenges
To fight decreasing curbside collection volumes, speakers at the Plastics Recycling Conference emphasized embracing hard conversations with customers and investing in data collection.
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Permission granted by Marialyce Pedersen
After the fires: Managing piles of ash and lost homes in California
The Los Angeles County fires destroyed thousands of properties. Local residents, including a National Recycling Coalition member, now face cleanup and rebuilding decisions.
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Fort Worth, Texas, ends Synagro’s biosolids contract early
The city council voted to terminate their 10-year contract with Synagro early and will take over a biosolids drying facility. The decision comes amid questions over PFAS contamination and responsibility in the region.
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Permission granted by OC Waste & Recycling
California poised to ramp up landfill emissions regulations
The state just announced a new satellite monitoring program, and key officials are lining up in support of a new landfill methane rule. Advocates are eager for that process to start.
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Thomas Faull via Getty Images
US states renew push for tethered bottle caps to help recycling
Since last July, companies selling single-use plastic beverage containers in the EU have had to tether caps or lids. California legislators advanced a similar regulation that beverage makers oppose.
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Courtesy of Glass Half Full
Glass Half Full opens facility to boost Southeast glass recycling
The new site offers 30 times more capacity and expands the company’s offerings into the cullet market.
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hapabapa via Getty Images
Trump nominates former Florida Highway Patrol chief as FMCSA head
The trucking industry had lobbied for Derek Barrs' nomination to lead the safety regulator.
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Sara Samora/Waste Dive
What a new ‘waters of the United States’ rule could mean for waste facilities
The U.S. EPA plans to solicit feedback and tighten the language on its “waters of the United States” definition, which guides federal water permits. Changes could ease the permitting process for waste facilities.
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AtlasStudio via Getty Images
AI-enabled MRF technology aids food-grade polypropylene recovery: report
A study led by Closed Loop Partners, in collaboration with Greyparrot, analyzed more than 650 tons of material from four U.S. MRFs.
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TerryJ via Getty Images
Breaking down what deregulation means for landfills
The U.S. EPA has already issued new language regarding enforcement of landfill emissions rules and reporting requirements. Experts say other impacts could take months or years to unfold.
Updated March 24, 2025 -
Getty Images via Getty Images
Packaging groups back bipartisan recycling bill in Congress
Ball, Kraft Heinz, SC Johnson and other companies pledged their support. This adds to other packaging-related bills in the 119th Congress, including the Steward Act and the Farewell to Foam Act.
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The image by Jimmy Emerson, DVM is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
California packaging EPR implementation moves ahead amid regulatory redo
State officials shared updates in the first SB 54 advisory board meeting since Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a regulatory restart. CalRecycle said it will continue working on other statutory requirements in the meantime.
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xphotoz via Getty Images
Three ways to refresh workplace safety initiatives
Mixing up employee safety programs, taking a fresh look at data and getting leadership more involved can add pep to flagging safety initiatives, said speakers at the Waste Advantage Safety Summit.
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Permission granted by Capital Waste Services
Waste and recycling is now a $100B industry, report says
The industry continued to see consolidation among public companies, especially in disposal activities, in 2024.
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Courtesy of Circular Services
Circular Services and Balcones break ground on $61M Texas MRF
The facility is meant to expand Balcones’ MRF operations in the state by entering a region with notable population and business growth.
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Courtesy of Republic Services
Republic opens Indianapolis plastics complex meant to fuel recycled content markets
This location houses the company’s second polymer center, along with a Blue Polymers facility. Together, they’re expected to process 175,000 pounds of recycled plastic annually.
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Retrieved from Plastic Ingenuity on March 19, 2025
PET thermoform recycling is rising, but still not matching PCR demand
Only 54% of U.S. residents with recycling programs have access to thermoform recycling. That must increase to meet growing postconsumer recycled content demand, according to the National Association for PET Container Resources.
Updated March 20, 2025 -
Thompson, Jeremy. (2021). "Fort Worth Water Gardens" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Synagro seeks to dismiss lawsuit over PFAS in its biosolids, citing new research
The company, backed by a Goldman Sachs fund, argues its treated sludge from the Fort Worth, Texas, wastewater system could not have caused harmful contamination on farmland.
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Retrieved from Brightmark on March 18, 2025
Brightmark files for bankruptcy at Indiana chemical recycling facility
The Ashley pyrolysis facility is expected to remain in operation as it undergoes a possible sale process. The facility is only at 5% capacity, according to court documents.
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Courtesy of Divert
Divert announces 3rd C-suite appointment of 2025
The company is in the midst of permitting and growing new facilities in multiple states to achieve its vision of a national anaerobic digestion network. CEO Ryan Begin said the hires would help Divert meet that goal.
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Courtesy of Greyparrot
Recyclers give packaging designers a glimpse into limitations, opportunities in today’s MRFs
Leaders from Republic Services, Rumpke Waste & Recycling and elsewhere discussed their role in recycling plastics at the Sustainability in Packaging US conference.
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Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
WM eyes growth from healthcare trends as it integrates Stericycle
WM sees future healthcare trends, such as the growth of at-home healthcare, as a business opportunity as it works to ramp up Stericycle’s McCarran incinerator and plans a rebrand, said Rafa Carrasco.
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Tomohiro Ohsumi via Getty Images
Toyota subsidiary to acquire Radius Recycling in $907M deal
The deal is expected to expand Toyota’s closed loop system for materials like steel, precious metals and batteries used by automotive manufacturers.
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Maria Rachal/Waste Dive
LRS breaks into Indianapolis market with new collection contract
The Midwest company will take over collection contracts currently held by Republic Services and WM. LRS will also help roll out citywide recycling collection services in 2028.
