California plastics tax ballot initiative on track for 2022 following court ruling

Recology, a key backer of the proposal, successfully petitioned for an extension of the signature gathering process due to recent pandemic disruptions.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated July 6, 2020

Nestlé to invest up to $2B in sustainable packaging

The global company wants to lead the shift to food-grade recycled plastics and accelerate the development of more environmentally friendly solutions with a venture fund.

By Lillianna Byington • Jan. 17, 2020

Waste Connections acquires regional hauler and MRF operator Penn Waste

Founded in 2000, Penn Waste has grown to include a collection fleet that services counties throughout South Central Pennsylvania and one of the largest residential MRFs in the United States. This marks the latest in a series of major industry acquisitions.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Jan. 21, 2020

If you're not recycling glass are you really recycling?

As more municipalities drop glass over financial pressure, processors maintain the market is viable. Neil Seldman of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance argues glass is still essential.

By Neil Seldman • Updated Jan. 17, 2020

India to enforce 1% contamination rate on paper imports, conduct random inspections

The enforcement could affect U.S. fiber imports at a time when India was expected to increase its paper consumption. Yet parts of this policy have been in place for years so it remains unclear how widespread the effects could be.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 15, 2020

New Jersey passes recycling market bill; organics diversion and bag ban stalled

Legislation to establish a Recycling Market Development Council has been signed into law. Sponsors have pledged to revive efforts on other bills when they return for a new session later this month.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Jan. 22, 2020

Southern Recycling ending curbside recycling in Kentucky county, nearby counties face hurdles

Warren County is seeking a replacement program, but it is unclear what commodities will be included. Other local counties are choosing to scrap their programs without immediate replacements on the horizon. 

By E.A. Crunden • Jan. 13, 2020

Taco Bell wants compostable, recyclable packaging by 2025

The chain will also remove harmful chemicals like PFAS, phthalates and BPA from its consumer packaging as part of a larger sustainability initiative.

By Lauren Manning • Jan. 13, 2020

Detroit receives $800K in grants for major residential and commercial recycling expansion

New funding from The Recycling Partnership and Michigan EGLE will be used to deploy more than 17,000 recycling carts and enhance education. Sustainability Director Joel Howrani Heeres shares more on the city's strategy.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Jan. 9, 2020

GFL Environmental closes $380M acquisition of Michigan-based American Waste

The deal will expand GFL's presence into northern Michigan with a landfill, MRF, C&D recycling facility, collection fleet and other assets.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Feb. 4, 2020

Recycling labor series landing page

Recycling labor series This series is about challenging working conditions, ongoing injury/fatality trends and potential future of automation in U.S. recycling facilities. Part I ...

By Nami Sumida • Jan. 8, 2020

DC weighs new expanded polystyrene ban amid national focus on plastics

The District of Columbia is part of a growing trend of local and state governments embracing increasingly bold measures to curb pollution and address environmental concerns. 

By E.A. Crunden • Jan. 8, 2020

7 pressing questions for the waste and recycling industry in 2020

The year is shaping up to be a major one for the industry's future. We'll be digging into safety, corporate consolidation, climate commitments, recycling policy, organics, PFAS, politics and more.

By Cole Rosengren , E.A. Crunden • Jan. 6, 2020

New York governor proposes statewide polystyrene foam ban

Gov. Andrew Cuomo claims the policy would be the "strongest" in the country. The proposal could also give the Department of Environmental Conservation authority to limit or ban other packaging material.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Jan. 13, 2020

Can Loop disrupt society's packaging habit? Inside TerraCycle's grand experiment

The reusable shopping platform, which launched with big hype and is now eyeing retail, has already raised one key question in its early days: What are the true costs of convenience?

By Karine Vann • Updated Dec. 23, 2019

Climate change becomes widely recognized corporate factor for waste and recycling

While many of the largest companies have been releasing sustainability reports for years, 2019 marked a potential turning point in the level of detail and acknowledgment for this looming issue.

Dec. 20, 2019

Where curbside recycling programs have stopped and started in the US

One South Carolina sanitation district is calling it quits on recycling collection after March, citing collection and disposal costs that are four times those associated with garbage.

By Waste Dive Team • Updated Jan. 9, 2023

BLS: Collection worker fatalities up dramatically in 2018

New data indicates that refuse and recyclable material collectors still have the fifth highest fatality rate in the nation. Multiple fatalities were also reported at landfills and MRFs.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Dec. 17, 2019

New York bottle bill expansion could boost glass container recycling by 65%: study

A recent study commissioned by the Department of Environmental Conservation found adding wine and liquor bottles to the state's redemption program could significantly boost recycling rates and ease processing issues at MRFs.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 13, 2019

Robots move in

More MRFs are turning to automation and advanced technology to fill gaps and boost efficiencies, especially in light of market changes, but a full replacement of human labor isn’t here yet.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 11, 2019

On the line in California

The state may have a reputation for progressive recycling policies, but industry workers still face numerous hazards. Here are two of their stories.

By Susie Neilson • Dec. 11, 2019

High risk, hidden workforce

With fluctuating injury rates, and ongoing fatalities, MRFs remain a key safety challenge. Operators discuss efforts to change that through better training, tighter protocols and a lower dependence on temporary labor.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 11, 2019

GFL Environmental aims to raise more than $1B, keeps IPO door open

One month after backing out of plans to go public, the Canadian agglomerate is looking for new funds through a debt and equity offering. Proceeds will be used for two pending U.S. acquisitions — including County Waste.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 10, 2019

The Waste Dive Awards for 2019

From operations to policy, these are some of the top organizations and executives that shaped the waste and recycling industry this year.

Dec. 9, 2019

Executive of the Year: Kerry Getter, Balcones Resources

The Texas-based industry veteran achieved a rare feat in 2019 – running a recycling company so sustainably that someone wanted to buy it during a commodity market downturn.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Dec. 10, 2019