Organics: Page 11
-
Elections 2022: Denver greenlights recycling expansion, a close decision on San Diego trash fees and more
Voters in California, Colorado, Michigan, New York and Vermont weighed in on a range of state and local initiatives with implications for waste and recycling as part of Tuesday’s election.
By Maria Rachal • Nov. 9, 2022 -
Is EPR an answer to compostable packaging’s contamination and labeling hurdles?
Extended producer responsibility laws can and should encompass compostable packaging, industry players at a recent Product Stewardship Institute webinar said.
By Megan Quinn • Updated Nov. 15, 2022 -
Where voters will consider waste and recycling initiatives
San Diego and Denver are among the localities with ballot measures, which range from affecting waste fees to recycling facility funding to more access to composting.
By Maria Rachal • Nov. 1, 2022 -
Mattress, textile, organics disposal bans begin in Massachusetts
The state’s Department of Environmental Protection is now requiring local governments and businesses to keep certain materials out of the waste stream.
By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 1, 2022 -
Environmental justice voices in the waste and recycling industry
Catch up on these Q&A conversations with experts from the U.S. EPA, Ya Fav Trashman, Detroit Dirt and others on how the waste and recycling industry can play a role in environmental justice efforts.
By Megan Quinn • Updated March 14, 2023 -
Casella narrows ESG focus to 5 key targets for 2030
The Vermont-based company previously set 10 ESG targets in its 2020 report but has narrowed the focus to five key metrics related to emissions reduction, recycling volumes, fleet efficiency and more.
By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 27, 2022 -
Waste Connections purchasing California company Upper Valley Disposal
Upper Valley provides a range of collection, recycling, composting and disposal services in Napa County. Following the recent death of founder Bob Pestoni, the family decided to sell its multigenerational business.
By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 19, 2022 -
Composting in wine country: Napa Valley’s multi-decade circular economy story
California’s organics recycling law is driving new demand for processing infrastructure. Longstanding efforts by Upper Valley Disposal and others to compost grape pomace have given the region a head start.
By Karine Vann • Oct. 19, 2022 -
Q&A
New nonprofit Just Zero taking a national approach to zero waste and closing disposal sites
Zero waste advocates formerly with the Conservation Law Foundation say the group will provide local activists with national-level resources for drafting legislation and more.
By Megan Quinn • Oct. 18, 2022 -
Deep Dive // California's organics experiment
What California’s organics recycling law could mean for the future of landfills
As the state looks to dramatically reduce disposal volumes in the coming years, the shift is prompting new questions about the waste industry’s operating model. Orange County is one notable landfill operator pivoting to composting.
By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 13, 2022 -
Q&A
Sustainable Generation CEO talks solar-powered composting and infrastructure trends
Scott Woods, founder of the compost equipment company, highlights a new facility built at a Republic Services landfill as well as trends around PFAS, community relations, infrastructure funding and more.
By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 12, 2022 -
Divert to provide RNG for BP from food waste digesters via 10-year contract
The $175 million agreement involves gas from three upcoming food waste digesters in California, Pennsylvania and Washington. It marks the latest sign of investment into waste-related projects that produce renewable natural gas.
By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 11, 2022 -
Zero waste should be an important part of climate plans, GAIA urges
Through food waste prevention, single-use plastics bans, robust composting and recycling, and other strategies, the waste sector can support the Paris Agreement’s targeted limit to global warming, a new report said.
By Maria Rachal • Oct. 5, 2022 -
EPA action plan details environmental justice efforts across waste programs
A report from the Office of Land and Emergency Management details how the agency will consider disadvantaged communities in projects related to waste and recycling, including through grants from the infrastructure law.
By Megan Quinn • Oct. 4, 2022 -
California’s last 2 WTE facilities under pressure following new state law
Now that jurisdictions can no longer count waste sent to “transformation” facilities toward their recycling targets, Covanta-operated sites in Long Beach and Stanislaus County may see a shift.
By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 29, 2022 -
City Haul: Making yard waste programs more resilient
Despite staffing shortages, contamination challenges and other issues, municipal waste leaders are working to better serve residents and help diversion goals by making programs more consistent and expansive.
By Maria Rachal • Sept. 26, 2022 -
Council hearing features ideas to boost New York City’s stagnant diversion rate
During a public hearing on Tuesday, residents urged the Department of Sanitation to direct more time and resources to organics programs, education efforts and outreach to overlooked communities.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 21, 2022 -
California Gov. Newsom signs many recycling and waste bills, vetoes two
Bills concerning the state’s container redemption program, incineration rules, battery recycling programs, plastic bag regulations and organic waste diversion were among those Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in September.
By Megan Quinn • Updated Oct. 3, 2022 -
Deep Dive // NYC commercial waste reform
Los Angeles had a rocky commercial waste zone rollout but is seeing results. What’s in store for New York?
New York has big goals for its zone system to boost diversion rates, infrastructure investment and labor standards. First, the city and haulers must navigate a transition process that one LA official called “six months of hell.”
By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 19, 2022 -
Renovare Environmental CEO steps down, reverse merger with Harp Renewables still pending
Details about the fate of the small-scale digester company remain limited, but it’s now working to raise new funding and pay off debt ahead of a possible transaction. In the meantime, CEO Tony Fuller is out.
By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 14, 2022 -
Inflation may have reduced food waste, but food banks worry about lower donation supply
During a recent ReFED webinar, speakers from Feeding America, BlueCart and Purdue University said they see opportunities for partnerships to further reduce food waste during times when inflation affects donations.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 12, 2022 -
Bio-based packaging companies say mushrooms and seaweed are the next alternatives to plastic
In a recent webinar, companies made their case for “bioregenerative” packaging that uses renewable, compostable materials with the same properties as plastic. Markets and supply chains are still warming to it.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 6, 2022 -
Divert seeks to scale food waste prevention tech, recycling platform with $100M investment
CEO Ryan Begin said the company is coming out of stealth mode after cultivating a large retail client base. He discussed rethinking the food recovery hierarchy and previewed multiple new digester projects.
By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 31, 2022 -
Q&A
LRS CEO outlines how M&A and sustainability are creating a Midwest powerhouse
One year into Macquarie’s ownership of LRS, CEO Alan Handley shared what’s next for the company’s expansion, talked plans to hit a $600 million revenue run rate, previewed a new Chicago MRF and more.
By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 30, 2022 -
Jersey City mapping food rescue opportunities with support from NRDC grant
Jersey City’s public works and health and human services departments are working to better map and distribute food resources as part of a broader focus on reducing food waste that is saving $1 million per year so far.
By Maria Rachal • Aug. 29, 2022