Michigan gets unprecedented $15M boost for recycling in lame duck surprise

The annual influx from a new online sales tax is one of the largest recycling budget increases for any state in recent memory. Proponents hope it can kickstart a wholesale policy rethink and foster market development.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 11, 2019

Republic Services has 'overcome' China hurdle, says recycling success up to customers

Reporting favorable 2018 earnings, CEO Don Slager projected slow and steady progress on labor retention, technology updates and M&A.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 8, 2019

Scrap Collector: Time for federal action on plastic pollution?

Plus: mussels losing their grip to microplastics, Recology MRF workers struggling with needle influx and UK politicians calling for an end to plastic waste exports abroad.

By Rina Li • Feb. 8, 2019

Waste Management CEO talks climate change, ocean plastic and 'zero waste'

Waste Dive sat down with Jim Fish for an exclusive interview at the company's sustainability forum in Phoenix to parse out its latest environmental messaging.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 6, 2019

Indicted Massachusetts mayor ends PAYT program ahead of recall election

Mayor Jasiel Correia has long promised, and previously attempted, to cancel the controversial program. Critics say the timing and fiscal reasoning are suspect.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 30, 2019

APR: Recycled plastics reduce energy consumption, GHG emissions

A new report examines the entire lifecycle of using recycled versus virgin resins in the manufacturing process, focusing on PET, HDPE and PP.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 29, 2019

Does Berkeley, California's foodware ordinance provide a new national model?

The law, described as "the most ambitious, comprehensive legislation to reduce throw-away foodware in the United States," mandates a $0.25 disposable cup fee, among many other requirements.

By Rina Li • Jan. 29, 2019

How small cities around the country are fighting to save recycling

Solutions to preserve access and reduce contamination are emerging from municipalities, partners and citizen-led efforts in states such as Oregon, Virginia and New Hampshire.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 28, 2019

KFC commits to fully recoverable or reusable plastic packaging by 2025

The fast food chain has also signed on as a partner of the NextGen Consortium, which is focused on packaging alternatives, and joins a growing list of brands removing traditional plastics from their stores.

By Kristine Sherred • Jan. 25, 2019

Scrap Collector: Memphis sanitation strike's living legacy, Ocean Cleanup's destructive potential

Plus: waste collection work linked to musculoskeletal disorders, Malaysia cracks down on illegal plastic importers and China announces plans for "waste-free cities."

By Rina Li • Jan. 25, 2019

Washington state recycling market incubator bill signed into law

The law will establish a Recycling Development Center to incentivize new companies to process recyclable materials and develop more local end markets.

By Katie Pyzyk , Rina Li • Updated May 1, 2019

TerraCycle promises 'future of consumption' with Loop reuse system

Dozens of major brands have partnered to launch this ambitious new packaging model in the U.S. and France. TerraCycle and Suez break down how it could change the waste equation in the coming decades.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 24, 2019

How important are waste audits? San Francisco's mandate speaks volumes.

Great Forest's CEO breaks down seven ways that regular audits can help save money and meet sustainability goals.

By Ross Guberman • Jan. 23, 2019

Recology leans into recycling solutions with $33M San Francisco upgrades

The improvements include seven optical sorters (including three new units from France) and expanded capacity for organics at a local transfer station.

By Rina Li • Jan. 22, 2019

Department of Energy commits $20.5M to spark lithium-ion battery recycling

Secretary Rick Perry recently announced plans for a new R&D center — as well as multiple innovation prizes — to drastically increase recovery rates.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated March 13, 2019

Vermont may walk back statewide organics collection requirement

The Agency of Natural Resources recommends haulers only be required to collect organics from multi-family and commercial sites, but still wants to enact a universal food waste disposal ban by 2020.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 17, 2019

Nestlé lays out first steps to making all product packaging recyclable by 2025

The company will begin phasing out straws, using more paper-based packaging and upping its usage of recycled PET this year.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 16, 2019

Wyoming city to maximize 50-year landfill capacity with full-cost accounting

Cheyenne's public works engineer told Waste Dive what the city hopes to achieve with a new solid waste plan that will be completed by Burns & McDonnell.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 16, 2019

Strategic Materials teams up with North Carolina county to resurrect glass recycling

A new drop-off option, introduced after glass was cut from curbside programs, is expected to save Moore County money and generate cleaner material for Strategic's local processing operation.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 16, 2019

New industry group pledges $1B to combat plastic pollution

More than two dozen global companies, including many of the world's largest plastic chemical manufacturers, have formed a nonprofit called the Alliance to End Plastic Waste.

By Rina Li • Jan. 15, 2019

New Massachusetts MRF opens in market with tight processing capacity

Backed by the owner of ABC Disposal Service, Zero Waste Solutions has the ability to handle 45 tons per hour and is said to offer a broader range of sorting capabilities than others in the region.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated May 20, 2019

New York governor pitches bag ban (again) and bottle bill expansion

Andrew Cuomo's upcoming executive budget is expected to include two notable recycling proposals, both with their own complex political factors.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 14, 2019

Scrap Collector: 'Trump's Trash' and the Oakland Garbage Blitz

Plus: an NYC proposal aims for increased private waste industry oversight, and a nonprofit takes on Big Plastic.

By Rina Li • Jan. 11, 2019

Nevada recycling company appeals Waste Management monopoly protection

Reno-based Green Solutions Recycling is challenging the dismissal of a prior lawsuit, in part due to a dispute about how the state defines "recycling" itself.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated June 19, 2019

6 key questions for the waste and recycling industry in 2019

We'll be keeping an eye on recycling, climate change, landfills, alternative technologies, corporate consolidation, labor issues and much more in the year ahead.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 9, 2019