Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act debuts in Congress, instigating packaging EPR debate

The bill would also establish a national container deposit system, ban single-use plastic products and set recycled content requirements. Staunch opposition is expected from some recycling and plastics trade groups.

By E.A. Crunden • Feb. 11, 2020

National EPR campaign kicks off with anti-plastic film screening, activist support

Rep. Alan Lowenthal, sponsor of the upcoming Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, rallied activists around the bill at a Washington event. The film teases out likely divides between industry and advocacy groups.

By E.A. Crunden • Feb. 10, 2020

Maine packaging EPR bill, a national bellwether, could reshape municipal funding

The newly introduced bill will kick off a complex debate around whether producers should help pay recycling and disposal costs. The proposed model would be similar to one shaped in Québec, Canada.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Feb. 12, 2020

Cascade breaks ranks with other cart manufacturers by adding 10% PCR plastic

Waste Management will be its first customer — as well as the company collecting the necessary curbside materials from residential customers – but municipalities are also looking to purchase the new "EcoCart."

By Leslie Nemo • Feb. 6, 2020

How the REMADE Institute hopes to reshape manufacturing with recycling in mind

Grand plans of recyclability and reuse often fall short of real-life implementation. REMADE wants to close that gap, and quickly, with industry input along the way.

By Leslie Nemo • Feb. 5, 2020

Republic Services acquires Massachusetts C&D processor with rail transfer access

Devens Recycling, permitted for up to 1,500 tons per day of C&D and MSW, is among the largest of its kind in a capacity-constrained region. The deal is expected to open up valuable internalization opportunities.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Feb. 14, 2020

Waste Management CEO projects fleet could be 75% CNG in 2021

The company is leaning into CNG much more than any of its large competitors as part of a greenhouse gas emission "offset" target, and is not making any public commitments yet on electric vehicles.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 3, 2020

Florida governor signs third attempt at curbside recycling contamination bill into law

Under the industry-backed legislation, municipal contracts with haulers or MRFs will have to include specific contamination-related elements required by the state.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated June 19, 2020

2020 could be the year of legislative boom – or bust – for national recycling policy

An influx of legislation in Congress aims to tackle problems facing the recycling industry amid rising public attention. The bills range widely in their industry backers and odds of success.

By E.A. Crunden • Jan. 29, 2020

Tracking the future of US recycling policy in Congress

A bipartisan bill supported by the plastics industry calls for nationwide plastic recycling standards, a 30% recycled content rate, and chemical recycling provisions. 

By Megan Quinn • Updated Sept. 20, 2024

Notable waste industry M&A activity continues in 2020

With confirmed deals by GFL Environmental, Waste Connections and Interstate Waste Solutions, the year is off to a busy start. The pending Waste Management-Advanced Disposal deal is among more to come.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 29, 2020

Los Angeles commits to 100% electric sanitation fleet by 2035. Other cities aren't ready to follow

LASAN Director Enrique Zaldivar pledged to procure only electric vehicles in two years and gradually convert the fleet. While the market continues to evolve, adoption is far from widespread.

By E.A. Crunden • Jan. 29, 2020

Waste Management reports Advanced Disposal acquisition delayed until Q2

The two companies have been working toward federal antitrust approval for many months, with a multi-state divestiture package close to finalized, but COVID-19 is now cited as a delaying factor.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated March 18, 2020

Every Bottle Back initiative targets multifamily recycling, MRF upgrades in Dallas-Fort Worth

The initiative will partner with city officials to pour $3 million into improvements to a Balcones Resources MRF, in addition to targeting low recycling rates at multifamily housing complexes. 

By E.A. Crunden • Jan. 22, 2020

Waste Connections acquires regional hauler and MRF operator Penn Waste

Founded in 2000, Penn Waste has grown to include a collection fleet that services counties throughout South Central Pennsylvania and one of the largest residential MRFs in the United States. This marks the latest in a series of major industry acquisitions.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Jan. 21, 2020

If you're not recycling glass are you really recycling?

As more municipalities drop glass over financial pressure, processors maintain the market is viable. Neil Seldman of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance argues glass is still essential.

By Neil Seldman • Updated Jan. 17, 2020

Southern Recycling ending curbside recycling in Kentucky county, nearby counties face hurdles

Warren County is seeking a replacement program, but it is unclear what commodities will be included. Other local counties are choosing to scrap their programs without immediate replacements on the horizon. 

By E.A. Crunden • Jan. 13, 2020

GFL Environmental closes $380M acquisition of Michigan-based American Waste

The deal will expand GFL's presence into northern Michigan with a landfill, MRF, C&D recycling facility, collection fleet and other assets.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Feb. 4, 2020

Disposal capacity crunch paves way for more industry consolidation and price increases, per report

New data from Waste Business Journal projects the $76 billion U.S. waste industry is down to 18 years of remaining landfill capacity on average, with the Northeast among the most constrained regions.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 8, 2020

7 pressing questions for the waste and recycling industry in 2020

The year is shaping up to be a major one for the industry's future. We'll be digging into safety, corporate consolidation, climate commitments, recycling policy, organics, PFAS, politics and more.

By Cole Rosengren , E.A. Crunden • Jan. 6, 2020

Court denies industry appeal over New York transfer station law

A 2018 law designed to address environmental justice concerns around transfer stations has prompted multiple court challenges, and it led the city to cut at least 10,000 tons of permitted capacity so far.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Dec. 18, 2020

Can Loop disrupt society's packaging habit? Inside TerraCycle's grand experiment

The reusable shopping platform, which launched with big hype and is now eyeing retail, has already raised one key question in its early days: What are the true costs of convenience?

By Karine Vann • Updated Dec. 23, 2019

Where curbside recycling programs have stopped and started in the US

One South Carolina sanitation district is calling it quits on recycling collection after March, citing collection and disposal costs that are four times those associated with garbage.

By Waste Dive Team • Updated Jan. 9, 2023

BLS: Collection worker fatalities up dramatically in 2018

New data indicates that refuse and recyclable material collectors still have the fifth highest fatality rate in the nation. Multiple fatalities were also reported at landfills and MRFs.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Dec. 17, 2019

New York closer to citywide commercial organics diversion with latest proposal

The Department of Sanitation's third expansion of commercial rules affects a broad swath of food businesses. Some say it's too fast. Others view it as a needed step toward upcoming market changes.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 16, 2019