Senate passes 'Save Our Seas 2.0' bill focused on plastic waste

A bipartisan marine debris bill, with backing from the plastics industry and prior opposition from more than three dozen environmental groups, now moves to the House of Representatives.

By Katie Pyzyk , E.A. Crunden • Updated Jan. 13, 2020

Glass Packaging Institute's new president predicts 'rebound' from recycling challenges

Coming off a stint with the plastics industry, Scott DeFife has plenty of ideas about changing the narrative around glass recycling's value as others seek to downplay it.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 2, 2019

Massachusetts raises 2050 waste reduction target, may expand organics ban

The Department of Environmental Protection's new solid waste master plan draft indicates support for new packaging policies, additional waste bans and future infrastructure as disposal capacity shrinks.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 1, 2019

Industry's top trade groups sign first OSHA safety alliance

The NWRA and SWANA will collaborate with federal regulators to share information on a range of safety issues, with a focus on small- and medium-sized employers.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Oct. 2, 2019

Billionaire-backed foundation contributes $300M to new plastics initiative

Sea the Future aims to make recycled resins more competitive by adding a voluntary price to virgin plastics. Its goal is to raise $20 billion for global mitigation.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Oct. 1, 2019

Pennsylvania community first to take flexible packaging in curbside carts

The pilot program being run at J.P. Mascaro and Sons' MRF is expected to produce data for the industry on how to capture the material and identify end markets.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 25, 2019

What's the next recycling boom market? ISRI roundtable weighs in

With China's import volumes continuing to shrink, the overall scrap industry is looking for new destinations. Domestic markets are on the table, but other countries also are being explored.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 18, 2019

California legislature wraps session with unprecedented recycling action

Gov. Gavin Newsom has now acted on all relevant 2019 bills. While he vetoed a recycled content mandate, multiple other bills related to market development, product bans and EPR were signed into law.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Oct. 14, 2019

Are big CPG companies getting serious about reducing plastic packaging?

Nestlé's new research institute will devise more environmentally friendly solutions, and PepsiCo plans to reduce the amount of virgin plastic in its beverage containers by 2025.

By Cathy Siegner • Sept. 16, 2019

California governor vetos recycled content mandate

Gov. Newsom said he supported the law's intent, but disagreed with a waiver process for plastics manufacturers. He did sign another law to provide short-term relief for the state's container redemption program.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Oct. 14, 2019

Recycling industry split on California bills that pave way for packaging EPR

Major legislation that could reshape how consumer products are designed and recycled far beyond California has become a national focal point for manufacturers, retailers and recyclers alike.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Sept. 16, 2019

PFAS: New efforts to put the genie back in the bottle

The EPA may be moving slowly, but action is ramping up across multiple levels of government and the waste industry. Rich Thompson breaks down the latest updates, including from EREF's recent summit.

By Rich Thompson • Sept. 12, 2019

California governor signs law encouraging dual-stream recycling

While multiple local governments are choosing to switch around the country, this latest law in California is largely seen as a symbolic effort because it doesn't include any compliance mandate.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 11, 2019

McDonald's Germany served edible packaging in 10-day pilot

The experiment, which also collected diner feedback on burger wrappers made from grass and wooden McFlurry spoons, was launched ahead of the European Union's impending 2021 ban on many single-use plastics. 

By Lauren Manning • Sept. 11, 2019

Off the Route: Nathan Proctor on our 'broken relationship' with electronics and e-waste

The director of U.S. PIRG's Right to Repair campaign spoke to Waste Dive about strategy, the societal implications of planned obsolescence and the repercussions of e-waste.

By Rina Li • Sept. 9, 2019

The Recycling Partnership launches tool to simplify recycling for consumers

The new templates, which offer clear images of what can be recycled in order to reduce consumer confusion, are intended to reduce contamination rates.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 4, 2019

Apple will allow independent repair businesses to fix its devices

The announcement comes amid growing support for right-to-repair policies, and just a few months after the tech company expanded its authorized repair services to all Best Buy stores.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Sept. 4, 2019

Utah county approves Republic contract after prior recycler claims force majeure

Rocky Mountain Recycling's changing rates have affected programs in Utah and Arizona. Yet a new deal between Republic and one county has made local officials second-guess their choice.

By Leia Larsen , Cole Rosengren • Updated Sept. 19, 2019

Bernie Sanders's $16.3T climate plan promises major waste and recycling shifts

The Democratic presidential candidate's platform includes a national recycling program, divestment from incinerators, funding for food recovery and composting investments, and a right to repair policy.

By Rina Li • Aug. 30, 2019

What's next for California container recycling after rePlanet's closure?

Losing the state's largest recycling center operator in one fell swoop could challenge California's redemption program. Supporters and critics alike offer ideas for stabilization.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 28, 2019

UC San Diego launches study on recycling EV batteries into energy storage

The university partnered with manufacturer and energy company Cummins on a potential solution for the scarcity of foreign critical materials in batteries.

By HJ Mai • Aug. 28, 2019

What does it take to go compostable? Seattle grocer PCC is finding out

The trend-setting company plans to make all of its deli packaging compostable within three years – but it's found that getting there isn't easy.

By Krishna Thakker • Aug. 28, 2019

Republic Services sued by New Jersey county over recycling contamination standards

Camden County says new charges for inbound contamination violate its original processing agreement with ReCommunity. Republic says it's still abiding by contract terms.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 27, 2019

China announces additional tariffs on US scrap commodities, including aluminum and OCC

Beginning Dec. 15, aluminum, copper and fiber imports will be assessed an additional 5% tariff on top of those imposed last year.

By Rina Li • Aug. 27, 2019

Mississippi's largest city ends recycling, extends Waste Management landfill contract

After trying for months, Jackson officials found a way out of their curbside agreement. Questions remain about how it happened — and what comes next.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 19, 2019