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

Austin, Texas, pitches customer cost savings as curbside composting reaches over 200K homes

The final phase of Austin Resource Recovery's expansion comes as some other cities pull back on similar programs during the pandemic. Meanwhile, new data shows residential food waste remains a pressing issue.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 4, 2021

7 takeaways on organics recycling trends from COMPOST2021

The U.S. Composting Council event featured perspectives on contamination reduction, market development, climate change and more from WeCare Denali, Waste Management, Recology and Atlas Organics.

By Cole Rosengren , Maria Rachal • Feb. 3, 2021

WASTECON: Coronavirus underscores shared challenges and adaptations for city leaders

Officials from New York, Toronto, Miami-Dade County, Philadelphia and Baltimore highlighted ongoing budget and staffing challenges nearly a year into the pandemic. Now, they're seizing the moment for long-term changes.

By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • Feb. 1, 2021

California recycling commission report urges major changes, with many policy implications

To get California back on track toward its environmental goals, a commission of industry experts recently recommended 19 actions around infrastructure, contamination, producer responsibility and more.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 29, 2021

WASTECON: EPA's 50% recycling goal possible, but only with a lot more funding and focus

Panelists from Waste Management, The Recycling Partnership, CalRecycle and New York's Department of Sanitation previewed what it may take to hit the new 2030 target.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 28, 2021

Anaergia CEO sees big organics recycling potential after building nation’s largest digester

As the company's California facility enters final commissioning, founder Andrew Benedek previews more to come as the state ramps up for SB 1383 implementation. Potential expansion into the Northeast is next.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 27, 2021

Cleveland seeks roadmap to more circular economy while awaiting curbside recycling reboot

The city is still in the process of deciding how to revamp and restart its long-stalled recycling program. In the meantime, a deep dive into its waste streams may help shape circular economy plans.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 13, 2021