Recycling


  • A VW Double Cab with the words "Compost Stuff" and the "Save That Stuff" logo
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    Permission granted by Save That Stuff
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    Casella acquires longtime Boston recycler Save That Stuff

    Save That Stuff, founded in 1990, comes with a collection fleet and a recycling facility. The company exited a joint venture arrangement to service Boston’s curbside organics program ahead of the transaction.

    By Feb. 4, 2025
  • Two people with hard hats walking past bales of plastic scrap.
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    Natalie Behring via Getty Images
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    Recycling, waste groups voice concerns over proposed tariffs’ business impacts

    U.S. tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China could hamper infrastructure investments, affect commodity prices and impact significant trade relationships, recycling and waste groups say.

    By Feb. 4, 2025
  • aerial view of trucks entering US from Canada
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    David Ryder via Getty Images
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    Canada’s retaliatory tariffs to impact paper, plastic packaging

    President Donald Trump’s announced tariffs against multiple countries drew pricing and supply chain concerns from the Plastics Industry Association, American Forest & Paper Association and others.

    By , Feb. 3, 2025
  • The flag of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hangs outside the agency building in Washington, D.C.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Federal funding pause, confusion hits environmental program funding

    Affected programs include the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling and Recycling Education and Outreach grant programs. EPA employees fear reprisal if they speak to grantees, according to advocates. 

    By Feb. 3, 2025
  • stacks of blue bags filled with recycled beverage containers
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    The waste and recycling industry outlook for 2025

    EPR implementation, organics requirements, bottle bill updates, PFAS regulation, federal tax credits and M&A are all expected to be key topics for the year ahead.

    By Waste Dive Staff • Jan. 31, 2025
  • Trucks line up behind a waste facility
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    WM reports margin milestones for Q4, focuses on Stericycle integration in 2025

    WM expects synergies from the Stericycle deal to be about $250 million over a three-year period, with about $100 million of that in 2025. It also expects to complete more RNG facilities this year.

    By Jan. 30, 2025
  • Lee Zeldin sits at a desk
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Zeldin is confirmed as the new EPA administrator. What’s next?

    The former New York representative will helm the agency as it navigates executive orders pausing climate programs and reviews pending regulations that could affect the waste and recycling industries.

    By , Updated Jan. 30, 2025
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    EPR and bottle bills enter a crowded legislative agenda in 2025

    Extended producer responsibility and bottle bills will continue to influence recycling policy at the state level, even as federal priorities could shift. Other bills for batteries or mattresses could also make an appearance in 2025.

    By Jan. 29, 2025
  • A close up  of bottles and other trash floating in a river
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    Beck Harlan via Getty Images
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    D.C.’s proposed bottle bill aims to tackle high-profile pollution in Anacostia River

    Bill sponsors say a bottle bill could help alleviate pollution that has long affected communities of color. It calls for a 10-cent deposit starting in 2028, with a recycling rate target of 70% the first year.

    By Jan. 27, 2025
  • A close-up shot of Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    8 Trump actions that could affect waste and recycling

    Trump administration executive orders have called for numerous changes related to climate change initiatives, greenhouse gas research, grant funding and potential tariffs.  

    By Jan. 24, 2025
  • four blue recycling carts stand next to each other
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    Thomas Demarczyk via Getty Images
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    9 stats about US packaging recycling

    A recent pair of reports from the U.S. EPA, released in the prior administration, estimated the agency could take upward of $28 billion to modernize recycling systems and divert more packaging materials from disposal.

    By Jan. 24, 2025
  • a worker disassembles a mattress in a warehouse filled with mattresses
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    Courtesy of Mattress Recycling Council
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    Oregon kicks off mattress stewardship program

    The Mattress Recycling Council expects recyclers to process over 374,400 mattresses through 2026 as it rolls out more collection and recycling infrastructure. Connecticut, California and Rhode Island have similar programs.

    By Jan. 22, 2025
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Up to $43B needed to modernize recycling infrastructure: Biden EPA

    A recent report, spurred by a congressional funding bill, outlined what it would take to surpass a 50% recycling rate by 2030. This comes as the Trump administration seeks to pause certain infrastructure grants.

    By Jan. 22, 2025
  • Trump holds up an executive order after signing it on at a post-inauguration parade in Capital One Arena
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Trump freezes IRA and infrastructure law funding

    The White House issued a memo to clarify the funding pause, specifying that it pertains only to aspects of the law mentioned in Section 2 of the executive order.

    By Kate Magill • Updated Jan. 23, 2025
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    PFAS and waste solutions funded in final days of Biden EPA

    The EPA under former President Joe Biden funded two dozen small businesses working on early-stage environmental technologies that incorporate materials like agricultural waste and wasted glass.

    By Jan. 21, 2025
  • Lee Zeldin speaks into a microphone
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    EPA nominee Zeldin advances out of committee for final confirmation vote

    During a prior confirmation hearing, Lee Zeldin highlighted his plan to balance environmental and economic concerns. He also addressed PFAS passive receiver issues and plastics.

    By Updated Jan. 23, 2025
  • A close-up view of various old corrugated boxes that are flattened.
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    Watcharin panyawutso via Getty Images
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    Following market volatility, will OCC prices return to ‘normal’ in 2025?

    OCC prices are down from recent highs in 2024. This plays into packaging producers’ bottom lines as they try to balance economic factors such as input costs and new capacity.

    By Jan. 17, 2025
  • A person's hand points at a bale of plastic packaging collected for recycling
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    Natalie Behring via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Life cycle assessments loom large for the outcome of EPR programs

    Oregon is currently unique among U.S. states in using this environmental impact tool in its packaging regulation. Experts say the decision comes with many complex considerations, including about plastic.

    By Leslie Nemo • Jan. 15, 2025
  • Aerial view of a landfill in Yakima, Washington
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    Permission granted by DTG Recycle
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    DTG Recycle restarts Washington C&D landfill, refutes nearly $3.4M hauling allegation

    The Macquarie-backed C&D recycler recently reopened its sole landfill under a new name after a permit-related shutdown. In a separate matter, DTG is opposing a penalty from the state’s Utilities and Transportation Commission.

    By Updated Jan. 21, 2025
  • Former President Donald Trump sits in the cab of a garbage truck emblazoned with his campaign's logo as reporters look on.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    5 issues likely to shape the waste and recycling industry in 2025

    Plans for the second Trump administration, state EPR implementation, climate policy and PFAS regulation are evolving, as is landfill monitoring technology. Here’s how each could affect the industry in 2025.

    By , , Jan. 9, 2025
  • Close-up of plastic packaging in the trash
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    Canada Plastics Pact sees ‘slower than anticipated’ progress on 2025 goals

    CPP's recently released annual report, along with a detailed companion report on recycling rate data, offers insight into managing plastic packaging beyond 2025.

    By Jan. 8, 2025
  • Two GFL executives and one Stifel analyst sit on a stage at WasteExpo 2024
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    Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
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    GFL CEO intends to kick-start solid waste M&A spending in ‘2025 and beyond’

    The company had slowed its M&A spending to focus on reducing debt, but CEO Patrick Dovigi said during an investor call that the pending sale of a stake in its environmental services business will change that.

    By Jan. 7, 2025
  • hands hold two stacked foam food service containers
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    CHAIWATPHOTOS via Getty Images
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    CalRecycle releases source reduction baseline report; updates on foam enforcement

    In other SB 54 developments, CalRecycle also updated some recyclability and compostability designations on the covered material categories list.

    By Jan. 6, 2025
  • a close-up of food scraps in a compost collection bin in Washington, D.C.
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    New waste, recycling and organics laws have taken effect in 2025

    Oregon, Washington and Illinois are among the states enforcing new laws, including right-to-repair and organics disposal updates.

    By Jan. 2, 2025
  • A blue collection truck tips a cart to unload it
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    photovs via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    By the numbers: 2024 waste and recycling trends

    Reflect on the year through key data points about labor, the economy, M&A, federal and state policy, recycling trends and more.

    By , , Dec. 20, 2024