Many top players in the U.S. waste and recycling industry are once again active with campaign contributions for federal, state and local elections.

According to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit research group, key companies and people in the sector spent nearly $11.05 million during this cycle as of Oct. 17, 2024. That total includes spending from political action committees as well as individuals who listed their employer with a donation.

Data shows some individuals contributed to the two main presidential candidates, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, but activity from industry-affiliated PACs was focused on other races lower down the ballot at the federal, state and local levels.

While the OpenSecrets data doesn’t fully reflect PAC spending totals from the Federal Election Commission in some cases, or encompass every aspect of the waste sector, it’s the most comprehensive snapshot available of overall industry activity.

Based on this data, the overall sector contributed nearly $6.4 million during the 2020 cycle and $2.95 million in the 2016 cycle. The higher spending total for this year’s cycle is skewed in part by nearly $8.2 million worth of contributions from a donor listing an affiliation Southern Waste Systems, a Florida company that sold to WM in 2016.

Anthony Lomangino, that company’s former CEO, donated multiple times to the pro-Trump Right to America PAC this year. Lomangino has previously been listed as a board member of that PAC, according to the New York Times. FEC records also show he’s donated to numerous other Republican candidates and groups this cycle.

OpenSecrets also cites Lomangino as donating at least $2 million in the last cycle, with a focus on Republican campaigns. 

When subtracting these contributions, the largest that are listed, the sector’s spending has been relatively level between the 2020 and 2024 cycles.

Major industry companies have plenty of federal issues of interest, as reflected by Senate lobbying disclosure forms showing activity on recycling, PFAS, fleet standards, natural gas policy and more. Their donations often show relationships with lawmakers in both parties, including in local races that may affect certain facilities or regional operations.

PAC breakdowns

NWRA

The National Waste & Recycling Association’s PAC has been relatively quiet this cycle, with only a handful of disbursements to date. Filings show it received donations from the WM and Republic PACs, as well as directly from Sierra Container Group and executives at companies such as Casella Waste Systems and Rumpke Waste & Recycling. 

The NWRA PAC’s largest disbursement was $5,000 to the West Virginia Republican Party in July. It also gave $3,000 each to PACs associated with Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.), in the fall of 2023. Capito and Carper are the ranking member and chair, respectively, of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, which has been actively focused on recycling and PFAS issues during the latest session of Congress.

NWRA said its new leadership plans to engage further on state and federal advocacy, with plans for the PAC to “take on a much more active and engaged role” in the future.

“However, given the uncertainty of the outcome, the significant number of retirements and the potential for meaningful shifts in committee assignments we did not focus on last-minute contributions in this election cycle. The team is implementing a strategic giving plan aimed at the next Congress to ensure our PAC’s resources have the greatest possible impact. In 2024, NWRA did leverage soft dollars to co-host events at the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, strengthening our association’s, and industry’s presence with key legislators,” said CEO Michael E. Hoffman in a statement.

WM

WM’s PAC has recorded hundreds of disbursements this cycle to a range of candidates and groups throughout the country.

Its largest was $10,000 to Bucks United, a PAC to elect certain commissioners in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in January 2023. WM has operations in the area. It also donated $5,000 each to the Capito and Carper PACs in 2023.

Additionally, funds have gone to official Democratic and Republican campaign entities, and high-ranking House and Senate members. This includes candidates in tightly contested battleground races, such as Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio); plus Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.), among others. Funds have also gone to local candidates in multiple states, including WM’s home state of Texas.

The company did not respond to a request for comment about additional trends in its election spending this season.

Republic

Arizona-based Republic’s PAC took a similar approach with its spending.

“Historically, more than 92% of the PAC’s political contributions are made at the local or state level and year-to-date, this percentage is higher in 2024. The Republic Services PAC is nonpartisan, and its year-over-year contributions have been evenly split among Democratic and Republican candidates,” said Roman Blahoski, director of external communications, via email.

The company temporarily suspended contributions to federal candidates in 2021, like some other groups outside the waste industry did following the decision by certain lawmakers not to certify election results amid the Jan. 6 insurrection. Republic resumed federal candidate contributions in June 2021.

Republic’s PAC did not have one single donation that was the largest, but had a series of $5,000 donations. Its list included donations to Capito and Carper, as well as PACs affiliated with Sens. Cornyn and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.); as well Mike Braun (R-Ind.), who is running for governor.

The majority of other contributions went to House candidates, or other state and local races. This included multiple contributions in Michigan, including to a PAC for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), where the company has faced debate over its hazardous waste operations.

Reworld

The largest disbursement from New Jersey-based Reworld was $10,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in May.

It also donated to PACs affiliated with multiple senators, such as Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai’i), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i). It also donated to Angela Alsobrooks, who is running for Senate in Maryland. Additional donations went to a range of House candidates, including Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), and others.

Stericycle

Stericycle, which was recently acquired by WM, reported limited activity during the cycle. Its largest donations were $1,000 each to Ohio Lt. Gov. John Husted (R) and New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D).

ReMA

The Recycled Material Association’s two largest donations were $5,000 each to the Arkansas for Leadership PAC affiliated with Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) in July and August.

It also gave $3,500 to another PAC affiliated with Boozman, who co-chairs the Senate Recycling Caucus, and $2,500 to a PAC affiliated with Pallone, who is involved in the House Recycling Caucus.