Inflation Reduction Act heads to House with biogas and fleet provisions intact

Tax credits to build biogas projects and expand alternative fuel vehicles remain part of a major climate bill that could see a final vote this week. New language taxing stock buybacks would affect large waste companies, but minimally.

By Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Updated Aug. 10, 2022

Stericycle bounces back in Q2 after slow start to the year

CEO Cindy Miller says a stronger labor pool, pricing levers and new infrastructure efficiency projects such as an automated sharps processing system will help improve business for the rest of 2022.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 5, 2022

What the Inflation Reduction Act proposal means for biogas producers and alternative fuel vehicles

Supporters such as the American Biogas Council and RNG Coalition say several provisions could help grow RNG markets, but the National Waste & Recycling Association says a corporate tax hike will hurt business.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 4, 2022

Q2 earnings results for major waste and recycling companies

Catch up on the latest round of financial results from WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Casella Waste Systems, Clean Harbors and Stericycle.

Updated Aug. 10, 2022

Biogas included in investment tax credit provisions of Inflation Reduction Act

The language, part of $369 billion in climate provisions, could apply to landfill gas projects as well as anaerobic digesters. Proponents have long called for more parity with credits given to other renewables, like wind and solar.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 2, 2022

GFL Environmental largely overcomes inflation through pricing and fuel charges, raises 2022 revenue guidance

Executives outlined ongoing efforts to recover direct fuel costs, similar to existing programs by major competitors, and shared an updated outlook on acquisition strategy given the inflationary environment.

By Cole Rosengren • July 28, 2022

WIN Waste Innovations buys Ohio hauler, creating platform for further regional expansion

Following WIN’s purchase of Waste Away Systems, CEO Robert Boucher says more Ohio acquisitions are likely as the Northeast company looks to expand its collection footprint and internalize volumes at two landfills in the state.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated July 28, 2022

Connecticut's MIRA WTE facility finally closes, leaving many questions about regional capacity

The aging facility was handling 720,000 tons per year of waste, much of which is now getting landfilled. A legislative task force is assessing what comes next for the authority that operated it for decades.

By Cole Rosengren • July 27, 2022

Can carbon capture make incinerators a net-zero solution? European operators aim to find out.

Climate goals are inspiring European operators to explore new technologies for their emissions, yet the environmental and financial outcomes remain to be seen. Skeptics say reduction, reuse and recycling are still the best options.

By Leslie Nemo • July 26, 2022

Vanguard Renewables CEO on $700M sale to BlackRock, digester expansion and landfill competition

Neil Smith, who joined Vanguard after leading an energy company during a similar period of expansion, breaks down what the sale means for the company’s efforts to launch dozens of RNG-producing facilities.

By Cole Rosengren • July 25, 2022

Vanguard Renewables sold to BlackRock fund to fuel anaerobic digester expansion

The Massachusetts-based company, known for farm-based projects, aspires to have 100 anaerobic digesters by 2026. This new investment comes as renewable natural gas projects are increasingly popular.

By Cole Rosengren • July 20, 2022

EPA chemical recycling debate heats up with letters from lawmakers, activists and industry pushback

Some environmentalists and lawmakers want pyrolysis and gasification units to remain regulated as waste combustion, but the plastics industry says the label doesn’t apply to most chemical recycling. EPA will consider new rules.

By Megan Quinn • July 19, 2022

What’s still on California’s legislative agenda for waste and recycling

Single-use plastics in e-commerce, state purchasing requirements, diversion credits from waste-to-energy facilities and a bottle bill expansion for wine are still in play before lawmakers end their session.

By Megan Quinn • July 11, 2022

Future of troubled Renovare unclear after West Virginia facility closure, surprise merger reversal

The company — formerly known as BioHiTech Global — has seen its stock price plummet following financial, operational and legal issues. Former partner Entsorga sees a path forward for its shuttered showcase plant.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated July 1, 2022

Pay growth continued for top waste and recycling leaders in 2021 as CEO-median employee pay ratio widened

See the latest compensation data for executives at WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Clean Harbors, Stericycle, Harsco and Casella Waste Systems in our annual report.

By Cole Rosengren • June 29, 2022

Expecting food waste 'tsunami,' California recyclers focus on infrastructure and end markets

As the state rolls out universal organics collection, major companies such as Agromin, Anaergia, GreenWaste Recovery, Recology, Republic Services and WM are expanding to meet demand. Learn more in Part 2 of our series.

By Cole Rosengren • June 9, 2022

States take new PFAS policy steps as waste industry awaits federal guidelines

Upcoming laws and regulatory actions target "proactive" reductions of PFAS in packaging, clothing and biosolids.

By Megan Quinn • June 1, 2022

What does environmental justice mean for waste? Data, community partners can provide greater clarity

Though the U.S. EPA has touted environmental justice as a major priority, many waste and recycling facility operators are unclear where they fit in and how the concept translates to day-to-day actions, panelists at WasteExpo said.

By Megan Quinn • May 18, 2022

Lithium-ion battery industry ramps up recycling focus as geopolitical events challenge supply chain

The Russia-Ukraine war and booming EV demand are contributing to surging battery commodity prices. Federal funding and private-sector investments could boost recycling to make the domestic supply more sustainable.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 17, 2022

GFL Environmental's momentum continues with 21 deals, further potential to recover fuel costs

Following the Sprint purchase, executives anticipate further M&A opportunities. They were also optimistic in an earnings call about further potential from recovering Canadian volumes, price increases and lower labor turnover.

By Cole Rosengren • May 5, 2022

Clean Harbors Q1 boosted by HydroChem PSC deal, growing environmental services demand

Executives touted plans for an upcoming Nebraska incinerator and are optimistic about gaining further ground in a market that has become more consolidated following Republic's purchase of US Ecology.

By Cole Rosengren • May 4, 2022

Environmental justice, including at waste sites, takes center stage at Houston event

As current and former EPA officials called for greater action on environmental justice, the author of seminal research on inequity issues around Houston landfills and incinerators shared how the concept got its start.

By Cole Rosengren • April 27, 2022

WM describes 'conservative' approach on M&A, sees strong Q1 price and volume trends

Executives at the industry's top company kicked off earnings season with updates on efforts to offset inflation, reduce head count through automation and focus more on ESG investments than on big acquisitions.

By Cole Rosengren • April 26, 2022

Dramatic expansion potential for waste projects seen by RNG Coalition CEO as climate efforts intensify

RNG projects at North American landfills, anaerobic digesters and other sites are set to grow exponentially in the coming years. Johannes Escudero breaks down what's ahead.

By Cole Rosengren • April 1, 2022

Is jet fuel from waste finally ready for takeoff?

Multiple projects to create sustainable aviation fuel from waste are underway, including a Fulcrum BioEnergy plant a decade in the making. Questions remain about whether it will be a scalable, viable success for the circular economy.

By Danielle Beurteaux • March 23, 2022