California opts to preserve credits for anaerobic digesters in major regulatory update

A state regulator voted to amend the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, injecting new life into a lucrative biofuels credit market that is used by waste projects throughout the U.S.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 19, 2024

Waste, packaging leaders react to Trump’s pick of Zeldin to lead EPA

Former Rep. Lee Zeldin previously voted in support of some PFAS regulations but largely voted against other environmental bills. SWANA, NWRA, packaging groups, former EPA staff and others weighed in on the pick.

By Megan Quinn , Maria Rachal • Nov. 15, 2024

Boston requests new waste and recycling ideas ahead of 2027 contract expirations

Collection and disposal, waste prevention and recycling, data and analytics, and policy and behavior change are among the topics for which the city wants input. It reupped many existing contracts to buy more time to craft RFPs.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 13, 2024

WM completes $7.2B Stericycle deal, takes leading position in medical waste market

Stericycle’s medical and document destruction assets now reside under WM's Healthcare Solutions division. While WM tried to grow in this market under prior leadership it often ran into stiff competition from Stericycle.

By Cole Rosengren , Megan Quinn • Nov. 4, 2024

Casella reports ‘mixed’ quarter with notable revenue but unexpected expenses

The company reported over $400 million in revenue for the quarter, which was a first. But unexpected insurance and landfill closure payments, as well as lower landfill tonnage, caused headwinds.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 31, 2024

WM reports strong Q3, says Stericycle synergies estimate was ‘conservative’

WM noted solid collection and disposal activity, higher commodity prices and continued RNG and recycling project completion during Q3. It’s on track to complete its acquisition of Stericycle in Q4.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 29, 2024

Waste industry going ‘on the offense’ with landfill emissions technology

Presenters at the Solid Waste Association of North America’s annual event discussed new and more efficient methods of capturing landfill emissions and extracting value from the gas.

By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 28, 2024

Stericycle opens $110M medical waste incineration facility in Nevada

The new facility is designed to meet or exceed environmental standards while adding more capacity in the West, the company said. This follows the closure of a Utah facility in 2022.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 25, 2024

How the 2024 election could affect waste and recycling policy

The presidential nominees have different takes on environmental and regulatory policies that could affect the industry, including those addressing emissions, recycling, PFAS, labor and environmental justice.

By Megan Quinn , Jacob Wallace , Cole Rosengren • Oct. 22, 2024

SJI’s flagship RNG facility earns 2024 Energy Vision Leadership Award

An RNG facility wins an award for turning food waste into energy, highlighting its role in cutting CO2 and driving decarbonization.

Oct. 21, 2024

Reworld to close Oregon facility, further limiting West Coast incinerator presence

Reworld sent a letter to local officials informing them of its plan to close a facility in Marion County. It comes shortly after the company also made public plans to close its last mass burn facility in California.

By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 16, 2024

Reworld to shut down California’s last MSW incinerator

The decision to close the Stanislaus County facility comes two years after California removed incentives for jurisdictions to route their waste to incineration. Reworld said it will focus on business opportunities elsewhere.

By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 8, 2024

NWRA CEO Hoffman says ‘playing offense’ is key to better industry representation

Michael E. Hoffman discusses his first few months on the job and the association’s outlook on important policy and regulatory changes related to EPR, climate and the upcoming election.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 8, 2024

Treasury’s missing RNG credit guidance, plus news from Opal Fuels and more

The federal agency has yet to provide guidance on potentially lucrative tax credits passed as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. Nevertheless, companies like WM and Opal Fuels continued to progress on new projects.

By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 4, 2024

LRS releases first sustainability report, unveils emissions reduction plan

LRS’ sustainability report offers baseline greenhouse gas emissions data and a general plan for reducing emissions from landfills and fleet vehicles while maintaining recycling rates and continuing to improve safety rates.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 3, 2024

Notable waste and recycling conferences in 2025

Many industry events are on the calendar for 2025, including SWANA’s newly named RCon. See details about next year’s events covering business trends, organics, plastic recycling and more.

By Waste Dive Staff • Updated Oct. 23, 2024

Reworld sued again over decommissioned WTE facility in Connecticut

Country Holding alleges Covanta, now Reworld, unnecessarily decided to demolish the facility, which it had agreed to purchase, rather than leave assets to be upgraded or repurposed. Reworld argues it acted within the sale contract.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 23, 2024

Miami-Dade County, Florida, postpones vote on new incinerator due to siting concerns

The county mayor and board chair appeared to have different opinions about the best site, while commissioners said they need more time to weigh their options for the planned 4,000-ton-per-day facility.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 18, 2024

Fulcrum BioEnergy files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

The company is seeking to restructure after shutting down its Nevada facility in May. WM and Marathon, former partners in the company’s vision to create aviation fuel from waste, are listed as creditors. 

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 10, 2024

What are the federal government’s waste and recycling priorities for the rest of 2024?

The U.S. EPA released its schedule of regulatory actions for the remainder of the year. Plus, food waste, recycling data, and other topics Congress and President Biden could address by 2025.

By Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn • Sept. 9, 2024

Research shows RNG industry consolidating, as major players announce new or completed projects

A report from WoodMackenzie found that market consolidation could lead to greater efficiencies and drive technology upgrades at landfills. Meanwhile, WM and Waste Connections shared progress on their RNG projects.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 6, 2024

Fulcrum BioEnergy’s Nevada plant sued for more than $2M in missed payments to contractors

The waste-to-SAF plant closed in May. Contractors allege that Fulcrum has missed payments for chemical cleaning, drums and other products and supplies since 2022.

By Jacob Wallace • Aug. 26, 2024

Volvo sees opportunity to expand electric excavators after pilot with Coastal Waste

The Florida-based waste company is seeing promising results so far from a pilot of the EC230 Electric at one of its recycling facilities. Volvo aims to scale this part of its business in the coming years alongside its electric collection vehicles.

By David Richardson • Aug. 26, 2024

Qnergy to expand landfill gas conversion efforts to curb Utah’s emissions footprint

Qnergy is working with municipalities and waste management firms to bring its conversion technology, which has proven effective at a closed landfill in Utah, to more sites, CEO Ory Zik said.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • Aug. 21, 2024

Recology reports further emissions reductions, plans for new regulations

The employee-owned company based in California released its fifth annual sustainability report. Last year it set new targets to reduce emissions from landfills and facilities.

By Jacob Wallace • Aug. 21, 2024