Notable chemical recycling, EPR and bottle bill updates pass in state legislatures

A canned wine bottle bill and mattress recycling EPR passed in Oregon, along with chemical recycling bills in Mississippi and West Virginia. The fate of New York's packaging EPR proposal is pending in the state budget process.

By Megan Quinn • Updated March 16, 2022

Washington governor signs bill calling for 75% reduction of organic waste disposal by 2030

The law is seen as a natural evolution from the state's recent work on recycling and climate change. Organics recyclers are especially focused on new compost procurement rules and first-in-the-nation compostable product guidelines.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated March 25, 2022

'Target Zero' appeals to consumers' sustainability concerns

The retailer worked with vendors including third-party brands and its own private labels to design more eco-friendly packaging for hundreds of products.

By Daphne Howland • March 10, 2022

Waste Dive Live: What's next for waste and recycling in 2022?

Watch the videos from our Feb. 10 virtual event to hear perspectives from the Waste Dive team, The Recycling Partnership and Reloop.

By The Waste Dive Team • March 9, 2022

Plastic supply pressures create market challenges and opportunities for recycled resins, analysts say

At the Plastics Recycling Conference, IHS Markit analysts suggested volatile crude oil prices from the war in Ukraine could drive up virgin resin prices and recycled resin demand. Meanwhile, supply is still tight for PET, PP and PE.

By Megan Quinn • March 9, 2022

Bonuses, balance and respect: What will it take to attract more waste and recycling job applicants?

Industry employers Republic, Casella and WIN Waste, as well as recruiters and other partners, talked through the do's and don'ts of job postings, hiring processes and creating attractive workplaces during recent SWANA events.

By Maria Rachal • March 7, 2022

How to optimize OCC recovery

Maximize OCC recovery and revenue when dealing with newly challenging material stream.

March 7, 2022

Global treaty aims to tackle plastic pollution through its full life cycle, including waste and recycling

ISRI, NWRA, SWANA and others expect the landmark treaty to affect high-level operations, but the details won't be known until 2024.

By Megan Quinn • Updated March 3, 2022

Coors Light to begin global shift from 6-pack plastic rings in 2022

Molson Coors will spend $85 million to start the transition to cardboard-wrap carriers for the brew while upgrading machinery so its entire North American portfolio can use the material by the end of 2025.

By Christopher Doering • March 1, 2022

Los Angeles City Council moves toward phasing out single-use plastics, including bags and EPS foam

The second-largest U.S. city tapped LA Sanitation & Environment for more details on how to actually make the transition as the county and state also pursue related policies.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 28, 2022

What is the role of waste and recycling in building a sustainable future?

The waste & recycling industry have recently continued to step up and play an important role in sustainability. More and more industry players have been implementing greener incentives, which is a step in the right direction.

By Liz Bothwell, Waste360 • Feb. 28, 2022

FCC Environmental makes first US acquisition, forecasts 'many more'

The Spanish company's U.S. division recently purchased a Texas hauler to help densify its commercial routes. CEO Inigo Sanz discusses other recent developments as the operation works toward $300 million in revenue.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 25, 2022

City Haul: Labor constraints lead waste agencies to get creative

New adaptations, collaborations and resilience planning can help municipalities avoid service cutbacks when they face worker or equipment shortages, explain waste leaders from Alabama, Arizona, Texas, Virginia and elsewhere.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 24, 2022

The pandemic pushed paper markets to record levels. How long will those prices continue?

Fiber markets soared in 2021, thanks in large part to the pandemic's e-commerce boom. Now, billions of dollars in infrastructure investments are coming online and demand is expected to remain strong.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 23, 2022

Q4 earnings: Waste companies close out 2021 with inflation offset plans, sizable M&A activity, ESG spending

Pricing strategies are helping mitigate inflationary pressures, labor remains a challenge, MRF investment is growing and renewable natural gas projects at landfills are on the rise. Catch up on our takeaways from key public companies.

By The Waste Dive Team • Feb. 18, 2022

Casella lays out 2024 strategy, touts Northeast disposal projects and Boston MRF upgrade

After years of M&A, the Vermont-based company is on track to approach $1 billion in revenue for 2022. Executives said they have wide flexibility to adjust prices amid inflation and outlined multiple areas for growth.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 18, 2022

Republic Services CEO talks what's next after the US Ecology transaction

Jon Vander Ark elaborated on Republic's environmental services expansion in terms of next steps to close the deal, a strategic review of market areas, potential capital investments, PFAS opportunities, future M&A and more.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 18, 2022

Waste Connections closes 2021 with more than $1B in M&A spending, sees path to $10B in revenue

The company says it's prepared to handle pressures around inflation, labor and other issues. It also closed 30 deals last year and sees more to come, following an active start to 2022.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 17, 2022

WM drops 'waste' from its name, frames ESG approach at annual sustainability forum

The newly rebranded industry giant described itself as a "circular logistics operator" that is part of a "renewable energy revolution." Plus, panelists spoke on economics, circularity, climate justice, diversity, leadership and more.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 16, 2022

Waste Connections' James Little calls for faster action on PFAS management, investment in RNG at landfills

Speaking at the Global Waste Management Symposium, Little expressed optimism about the industry's ability to meet ESG goals, despite environmental and regulatory challenges, and touted landfills as renewable energy producers.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 16, 2022

WIN Waste Innovations acquires New England recycler plus GFL-owned Georgia landfill

The purchase of two affiliated operations in Massachusetts further expands the company's transfer station network, including rail capabilities. The December acquisition of a southern rail-served landfill is also notable.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 15, 2022

US Department of Energy to offer $3B to boost battery production, recycling

The funding is part of more than $7 billion for electric vehicle and energy storage batteries coming from the infrastructure bill signed into law last year.

By Jason Plautz • Feb. 15, 2022

Republic Services highlights 'both and' approach to grow solid waste, environmental solutions segments

On its fourth quarter and full-year 2021 earnings call, the industry's second-largest player touted a bundled services approach as part of the pending US Ecology buyout and said spending will continue across both businesses.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 11, 2022

GFL Environmental spinning off infrastructure division into new 'GFL 2.0,' says plenty more M&A ahead

GFL closed out its second year as a public company with sizable increases in revenue, fueled in part by spending CA$2.3 billion on 46 acquisitions. The Canadian company is eyeing dozens of new deals and more growth this year.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 10, 2022

EPR remains top item in state recycling policy debate, but bottle bills and plastic bans also in play

After a "breakthrough" in 2021, legislators and supporters aim to pass more laws in 2022 they say will improve recycling systems and curb litter. Competing stakeholder perspectives could complicate the finish line for many bills.

By Megan Quinn • Updated Feb. 10, 2022