Conversations with execs from 8 key industry companies

Catch up on Waste Dive's interviews with Waste Management, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Covanta, WCA Waste, FCC Environmental and Rubicon Global from WasteExpo 2019.

By Waste Dive Team • May 24, 2019

Scrap Collector: Vermont passes nation's 'toughest' plastics bill yet

Plus: Wheelabrator withdraws New York monofill proposal, and study reveals Coca-Cola to be the most common plastic packaging pollution source at UK beaches.

By Rina Li • May 24, 2019

Nearly 80% of US incinerators located in marginalized communities, report reveals

New research from the Tishman Environment and Design Center at the New School characterizes incineration as "an industry in decline." WTE stakeholders, however, hold a different opinion.

By Rina Li • May 23, 2019

Scrap Collector: Plastic's 'hidden' climate impacts revealed

Plus: Six-foot-high pile of unopened Amazon Go meals and groceries discovered in Seattle landfill, and Philippines recalls ambassador to Canada over ongoing illegal waste standoff.

By Rina Li • May 17, 2019

A broken link in the circular economy

Scott Sherman, a former official with the EPA and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, outlines why he believes renewed talk about WTE over landfills is ill-advised.

By Scott Sherman • May 16, 2019

Covanta poised for WTE 'awakening' in US — if it comes

Waste Dive spoke with Covanta executives about emerging domestic opportunities, community relations and why they believe landfills could become less competitive in certain regions.

By Rina Li • May 15, 2019

New Republic Services president: 'Death of landfills has been overexaggerated'

Waste Dive met with Jon Vander Ark to discuss retention strategies, why recycling may grow faster than solid waste, what's next for landfill operations, and the risks and opportunities of climate change.

By Cole Rosengren • May 15, 2019

FCC Environmental plans to 'grow faster' in US, start acquiring

While the Spanish giant has secured a notable presence in the U.S., CEO Inigo Sanz told Waste Dive there will be more expansion.

By Cole Rosengren • May 14, 2019

Waste Management COO: New Chicago MRF will be 'much more mechanized'

Recently promoted to the C-suite, John Morris spoke to Waste Dive about efforts to improve retention rates, the evolution of landfill operations and the company's recycling "plant of the future."

By Cole Rosengren • May 13, 2019

Department of Energy awards $73M for biofuel and waste projects

Research and development funding will go to 35 projects, including multiple projects focused on anaerobic digestion and plastics recycling. 

By Cody Ellis , Cole Rosengren • Updated Oct. 3, 2019

Wheelabrator suing Baltimore over tightened emissions standards

The lawsuit — which has also been joined by Curtis Bay Energy, the Energy Recovery Council, the National Waste & Recycling Association and TMS Hauling — seeks to overturn Baltimore's "targeted attempt" to shut down two local incinerators.

By Rina Li • May 1, 2019

Philadelphia to send all recyclables to Waste Management under new contract

The city had sent about half of its recyclables to a Covanta incinerator for nearly six months after a prior Republic Services contract expired without resolution.

By Katie Pyzyk • April 29, 2019

Covanta reports continued investments, 'early signs of interest' in new US capacity

Newly launched operations in New York, ongoing project development in the U.K. and increasingly favorable pricing trends in the U.S. delivered another positive quarter.

By Rina Li • April 29, 2019

Wheelabrator sues Baltimore County over $32M contract dispute

The suit, which alleges that the county failed to deliver a contractually-guaranteed annual waste tonnage to Wheelabrator Baltimore, comes amid ongoing regulatory pressure on the facility.

By Rina Li • April 16, 2019

Minnesota court: State can prioritize WTE over landfill around Twin Cities

Republic Services sued the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency after it enforced a decades-old statute in 2017. The court's ruling leaves financial penalties unresolved, but theoretically upholds the state's preferred hierarchy.

By Cody Ellis • April 11, 2019

Scrap Collector: Does WTE have a role in NYC's 'zero waste' goal?

Plus: Entrepreneurs pitch sustainable floating city concept at UN, and Detroit lawmakers pushing for statewide incineration ban.

By Rina Li • April 5, 2019

Scrap Collector: Controversial Detroit incinerator shuts down

Plus: US accused of hampering marine plastics progress at UN, and ancient trash heaps reveal Byzantine city's surprising demise.

By Rina Li • March 29, 2019

Oregon cap-and-trade bill subverts efforts to remove WTE subsidies

A bill designating incineration as renewable takes aim at Oregon's proposed cap-and-trade legislation, which would impose a carbon cap on Covanta's Marion County incinerator.

By Rina Li • Updated June 19, 2019

Scrap Collector: Dead whale 'full of plastic — nothing but nonstop plastic'

Plus: Mr. Trash Wheel goes West, and models get down in a New York MRF.

By Rina Li • March 22, 2019

NY governor signs legislation to stop WTE project

Plans for a new incinerator have drawn significant opposition in recent years — including from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who signed the legislation last Friday.

By Cole Rosengren , Rina Li • Updated May 28, 2019

Maryland county executive walks back closure timeline for Covanta-operated incinerator

Marc Elrich made closing the county-owned facility by 2022 part of his recent winning campaign — but faced with a surprise contract extension and unclear alternatives, that timeline has become less definitive.

By Cody Ellis • Updated March 11, 2019

Researchers argue pyrolysis for wastewater biosolids not as sustainable as advertised

A newly published academic response aims to fact check widely cited research from Marquette University that touts pyrolysis as energy positive.

By Cody Ellis • Feb. 28, 2019

Casella only bidder on new Boston recycling contract, higher than any disposal bid

Waste Management declined to bid for the first time in years, leaving city officials with a case of sticker shock and limited options. Three other companies are also vying for the city's residential waste.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated March 1, 2019

Scrap Collector: Report highlights plastic's hidden global health costs

Plus: EPA accused of stealing Nintendo soundtrack for online recycling game, and Canada refusing to sign hazardous waste treaty amendment amidst ongoing dumping scandal.

By Rina Li • Feb. 22, 2019

Report shows two straight years of flat financing for WTE, biogas in US

While five farm-based anaerobic digesters came online in 2018, there were few other notable waste-related projects, according to the 2019 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook.

By Cody Ellis • Feb. 19, 2019