As fourth quarter earnings results come in, the U.S. waste and recycling industry continues to show signs of improvement from the depths of financial pandemic effects earlier in the year. Volumes are trending back sequentially, with newly discovered cost efficiencies in many cases, but certain lines of business aren't expected to fully return until the vaccine rollout ramps up. Meanwhile, M&A remained active with notable years for multiple companies.

Catch up on results from Waste Management, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Covanta and Casella Waste Systems.