Collections & Transfer: Page 27
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City budget season brings new waste initiatives in DC, Baltimore, elsewhere
Also in this week's municipal news roundup: a major recycling facility fire in Phoenix, additional reports of service disruptions stemming from worker shortages, and more updates from around the country.
By Maria Rachal • June 10, 2021 -
California eyes efforts to spur US ratification of Basel Convention
State lawmakers and activists in California want the Biden administration to prioritize a treaty to curb waste dumping in developing countries. Meanwhile, Palo Alto is struggling to account for where exported waste ends up.
By Megan Quinn • June 4, 2021 -
Roundup: 'Recycling is infrastructure too,' Twin Cities poised for landfill expansion
Plus: Driver shortages impact garbage, recycling, yard and bulk pickups in multiple states, and Georgia, South Carolina and Colorado see legislative actions on single-use plastics, tires and recycling access.
By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • June 3, 2021 -
Biden's waste and recycling priorities
EPA previews national recycling strategy and measurement guide, touts $10M in new grants
An official said at a SWANA event the strategy will center on areas such as climate change and environmental justice. The Biden administration also recently announced $14.5 million in plastics research funding.
By Cole Rosengren • Updated June 17, 2021 -
Waste Management looks to surpass 80% CNG collection fleet
With 70% of its routed fleet already there, that goal is for the next five to seven years. “We're going to continue to buy predominantly CNG where the opportunity exists," said COO John Morris, following a new fleets report.
By Maria Rachal • June 2, 2021 -
Republic shareholders reject ESG-linked pay proposal while industry sees another year of rising CEO compensation
A recent Teamsters-backed effort to tie executive compensation to environmental performance was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the pay gap between solid waste CEOs and median employees continues to widen.
By Cole Rosengren • May 25, 2021 -
Roundup: Driver shortages hamper local waste collection, US recycling infrastructure begs $17B expansion
Plus: California's budget surplus yields $130 million proposal for recycling infrastructure, New York City progresses on solutions for its curbside trash problem, and more municipal news from around the U.S.
By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • May 20, 2021 -
OSHA to review safety guidance, directs employers to follow CDC mask update
Employers can still voluntarily opt to require social distancing and masks for their workers, attorneys say.
By Kathryn Moody • May 18, 2021 -
Roundup: New York City clears legislative hurdle on plastics reduction
The city council passed a bill meant to limit use of straws, a potential sign of growing acceptance for plastics reduction policies. Elsewhere, an American Biogas Council event spurred discussion of codigestion.
By Cole Rosengren , Maria Rachal • May 14, 2021 -
Boston expanding textile and organics recycling as it ramps up zero waste plan
Efforts to hit an 80% recycling rate by 2035 were delayed in part by the pandemic, but moves to expand drop-off programs show new momentum. Curbside organics collection remains an unresolved priority.
By Cole Rosengren • May 13, 2021 -
Q1 earnings: Waste companies putting pandemic behind them, anticipate more economic rebound coming
Outside of Canada, the majority of local economies have reopened and volumes are bouncing back. Catch up on results and takeaways on the first quarter of 2021 from the industry's largest solid waste operators.
By Waste Dive Team • May 10, 2021 -
Solid waste companies talk disposal pricing, ESG and Biden in Q1 earnings outlooks
Waste Management, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Covanta and Casella Waste Systems leaders commented on pandemic recovery trends and other pressing topics.
By Cole Rosengren • May 10, 2021 -
Roundup: City reopenings portend commercial waste shifts
A string of recent state announcements will ease business restrictions in the coming weeks and months in the Northeast. Plus, state and local policy updates from Florida, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, California and more.
By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • May 7, 2021 -
GFL 2021 earnings
GFL Environmental reports positive volume outlook despite Canadian lag, closes 10 acquisitions
While Canada's pandemic restrictions continue to affect GFL's business, U.S. recovery trends and past acquisitions are providing a boost. Ample M&A opportunity remains due in part to potential tax changes, the company said.
By Cole Rosengren • May 6, 2021 -
RSG 2021 earnings
Republic ups guidance as Santek acquisition is finalized, CEO handoff on horizon
Even after a long approval process for the just-closed Santek purchase the company is "not deterred" from pursuing larger M&A deals and intends to invest $600 million in acquisitions this year, said incoming CEO Jon Vander Ark.
By Maria Rachal • May 6, 2021 -
Florida governor signs law to limit private hauler 'displacement,' reassess plastic bag policy
An industry lobbyist said the bill would make local governments "think long and hard" about pursuing certain franchise arrangements. That appears to have worked in at least one county.
By Cole Rosengren • Updated June 22, 2021 -
As litter balloons, local governments and residents try new approaches
Litter and city cleanliness issues seemed to worsen during the pandemic, prompting numerous solutions. “When it's sort of everybody's responsibility, it's nobody's priority,” one anti-litter specialist said.
By Maria Rachal • May 3, 2021 -
Roundup: Food waste back in the spotlight
This year’s Stop Food Waste Day drew attention from national and local leaders fighting hunger and climate change. Plus, new data on waste diversion in Colorado, and recycling initiatives launching in Houston and Milwaukee.
By Maria Rachal • April 30, 2021 -
WCN 2021 earnings
Waste Connections Q1: Landfill volumes 'above pre-COVID levels'
Amid pandemic recovery, in March the company had its largest hiring levels since September 2019. It reported better commodity pricing and solid waste volumes even in regions hit hardest by COVID-19.
By Megan Quinn • April 29, 2021 -
WM 2021 earnings
Waste Management raises guidance as pandemic recovery accelerates, predicts possible labor headwind
Pricing and the Advanced Disposal acquisition were key first quarter boosts. Executives also announced a new chief sustainability officer and weighed in on the Biden administration's infrastructure proposal.
By Cole Rosengren • April 27, 2021 -
Roundup: Stimulus funding for city waste initiatives, DC and NY inch toward zero waste goals
The week of Earth Day saw news on zero waste plan reassessments, organics program expansions, reuse pilots and more. Catch up on updates from New York, Los Angeles, Washington, Boston and other cities around the country.
By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • April 23, 2021 -
New York to revive curbside organics service amid criticism of lagging zero waste progress
The Department of Sanitation announced the return of multiple programs affected by pandemic budget cuts, following a council hearing about codifying the city's 2030 goal, but critics say more action is needed.
By Cole Rosengren • April 22, 2021 -
Recology SF corruption investigation
Roundup: Recology corruption charges mount in SF, NYC's waste neighbors propose a change
A second former Recology employee is charged in the ongoing corruption investigation, communities receiving New York City's waste push back, certification organizations seek additional city partners, and more local news.
By Cole Rosengren , Maria Rachal • April 16, 2021 -
Opinion
New York City's waste future could be shaped by the closure of an island jail
Closing Rikers Island as a jail offers an opportunity to change aspects of New York's waste management infrastructure and potentially rethink expanding the city's role in overseeing it, former DSNY official Robert Lange writes.
By Robert Lange • April 15, 2021 -
Maryland governor allows organics diversion mandate to become law
The policy is set to take effect for large generators in 2023, after years of attempts. Proponents hope it will spur development of new regional composting and anaerobic digestion infrastructure.
By Cole Rosengren • Updated June 1, 2021