2021 state waste and recycling policy highlights

Catch up on legislative coverage of EPR, recycled content mandates, product bans and market development plans from California to Maine.

By Waste Dive Team • Updated Dec. 21, 2021

City budget season brings new waste initiatives in DC, Baltimore, elsewhere

Also in this week's municipal news roundup: a major recycling facility fire in Phoenix, additional reports of service disruptions stemming from worker shortages, and more updates from around the country.

By Maria Rachal • June 10, 2021

Roundup: 'Recycling is infrastructure too,' Twin Cities poised for landfill expansion

Plus: Driver shortages impact garbage, recycling, yard and bulk pickups in multiple states, and Georgia, South Carolina and Colorado see legislative actions on single-use plastics, tires and recycling access.

By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • June 3, 2021

Roundup: Driver shortages hamper local waste collection, US recycling infrastructure begs $17B expansion

Plus: California's budget surplus yields $130 million proposal for recycling infrastructure, New York City progresses on solutions for its curbside trash problem, and more municipal news from around the U.S.

By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • May 20, 2021

Roundup: New York City clears legislative hurdle on plastics reduction

The city council passed a bill meant to limit use of straws, a potential sign of growing acceptance for plastics reduction policies. Elsewhere, an American Biogas Council event spurred discussion of codigestion.

By Cole Rosengren , Maria Rachal • May 14, 2021

Boston expanding textile and organics recycling as it ramps up zero waste plan

Efforts to hit an 80% recycling rate by 2035 were delayed in part by the pandemic, but moves to expand drop-off programs show new momentum. Curbside organics collection remains an unresolved priority.

By Cole Rosengren • May 13, 2021

Composting infrastructure coalition seeks hundreds of millions for federal grants, loans

Given the Biden administration's focus on climate, environmental justice and infrastructure investment, advocates and trade groups view now as an apt time to pursue $200 million across a decade to help expand U.S. composting.

By Maria Rachal • May 11, 2021

Roundup: Food waste back in the spotlight

This year’s Stop Food Waste Day drew attention from national and local leaders fighting hunger and climate change. Plus, new data on waste diversion in Colorado, and recycling initiatives launching in Houston and Milwaukee.

By Maria Rachal • April 30, 2021

Roundup: Stimulus funding for city waste initiatives, DC and NY inch toward zero waste goals

The week of Earth Day saw news on zero waste plan reassessments, organics program expansions, reuse pilots and more. Catch up on updates from New York, Los Angeles, Washington, Boston and other cities around the country.

By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • April 23, 2021

New York to revive curbside organics service amid criticism of lagging zero waste progress

The Department of Sanitation announced the return of multiple programs affected by pandemic budget cuts, following a council hearing about codifying the city's 2030 goal, but critics say more action is needed.

By Cole Rosengren • April 22, 2021

It's game on for packaging procurement as lead times lengthen. Can supplies keep up?

Stadiums and concessions anticipate surging demand as events resume. Recent pandemic effects have shifted ordering for food trays, clamshells, compostable packaging and more.

By Jen A. Miller • April 22, 2021

New York City's waste future could be shaped by the closure of an island jail

Closing Rikers Island as a jail offers an opportunity to change aspects of New York's waste management infrastructure and potentially rethink expanding the city's role in overseeing it, former DSNY official Robert Lange writes.

By Robert Lange • April 15, 2021

Maryland governor allows organics diversion mandate to become law

The policy is set to take effect for large generators in 2023, after years of attempts. Proponents hope it will spur development of new regional composting and anaerobic digestion infrastructure.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated June 1, 2021

Food waste action plan calls for organics diversion infrastructure, compost market expansion

NRDC, ReFED and other partners, backed by cities like Atlanta and Baltimore, want federal facilities to divert their organic waste and purchase finished compost. They also seek $650 million in federal funds annually for local efforts.

By Maria Rachal • April 8, 2021

Washington, DC, zero waste bill is now law, though funding remains uncertain

The legislation – with big organics diversion implications for businesses, among other categories – was adjusted to take into account ongoing recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

By Maria Rachal • April 5, 2021

Roundup: Biden infrastructure plan light on waste details, report highlights recycling data gap

The sector reacts to the president's $2 trillion proposal, Eunomia digs into state recycling performance, organics pilots are on the rise, New York City is tackling litter and more local stories from around the country

By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • April 1, 2021

LA, Philadelphia, DC compost leaders look to better leverage city park sites

Establishing public-private partnerships and sustainable distribution of responsibility at community composting sites are among the important tenets to consider, panelists at a U.S. Composting Council event shared.

By Maria Rachal • March 30, 2021

LIFT America Act's infrastructure proposals list landfill gas among renewable energy sources

The wide-ranging bill, which calls for numerous energy grid improvements, names landfill gas and municipal solid waste as renewable energy resources. It's one of multiple new federal proposals with waste implications.

By Megan Quinn • March 24, 2021

New York commercial waste overhaul on horizon, but funding unresolved

After a year-long pandemic delay, the city is moving on an RFP process to reshape the open market system. Dozens of companies recently took the first application step, potentially including newcomers Waste Management and Winters Bros.

By Cole Rosengren • March 19, 2021

Recology agrees to San Francisco rate settlement worth more than $107M, as competitors circle

The city attorney's office reached the deal while pursuing a broader public corruption investigation. Now, Waste Management, Republic Services and others see a window to revisit the company's local monopoly.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated March 5, 2021

2020 earnings coverage for US waste and recycling companies

Catch up on Waste Dive's quarterly analysis of results from Waste Management, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Covanta and Casella Waste Systems during 2020.

By Waste Dive Team • Feb. 24, 2021

2020 earnings coverage: Casella Waste Systems

This key Northeast company continued growing its dominant presence in the market amid the pandemic, with plans to further expand multiple key landfill assets.

By Waste Dive Team • Feb. 24, 2021

New action on horizon for sustainable materials management under Biden, experts predict

Recycling market development and food waste are among many issues stakeholders hope will receive renewed federal engagement, despite limited attention in the president's agenda to date.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Feb. 17, 2021

Waste Management debuts recycled plastic uniforms, downplays landfills at annual ESG event

The national uniform rollout, and plans to invest $100 million in recycling infrastructure, were touted at a climate-focused sustainability forum. The industry's largest landfill company also described disposal as "a last resort."

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 10, 2021

Environmental groups outline $1.3B worth of federal plastics reduction, recycling recommendations

Ahead of potential stimulus legislation, more than 250 groups are calling on the Biden administration and Congress to keep recycling priorities in mind. Proposals include $500 million for "new and improved" MRFs.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 5, 2021