EPA pours $128M into environmental justice projects, including waste and recycling efforts

The EPA chose 186 projects led by community groups and local governments and counts several waste and recycling initiatives among its recipients, including anti-dumping, community recycling and organics diversion efforts.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 24, 2023

U.S. Composting Council, ReFED praise new food waste reports from EPA

Organics leaders noted the reports affirm the U.S. EPA’s preference for source reduction and lend support for composting over anaerobic digestion, landfilling and incineration. 

By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 24, 2023

Groups push for landfill methane action from local governments as ‘low-hanging fruit’

New EPA data shows the waste sector continues to dominate U.S. methane emissions. But groups believe new federal funding is aligning with a growing awareness of opportunities to make a dent in those numbers.

By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 23, 2023

EPA reports quantify methane emissions from organic waste, retire food recovery hierarchy

One report found 58% of fugitive methane emissions at MSW landfills came from wasted food. The agency’s new lifecycle analyses on food waste management pathways also reaffirmed the importance of source reduction.

By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 20, 2023

Tracking GHG emissions of US waste management companies

Waste Connections’ latest report notes a reduction in emissions intensity, despite a near-term emissions increase due to acquisitions. Compare its emissions reporting with other waste companies, including Casella and WM.

By Megan Quinn , Jacob Wallace , Cole Rosengren • Updated Oct. 25, 2024

Chicago launches drop-off organics collection program

Residents can drop off all kinds of food waste at 15 locations managed by the Department of Streets and Sanitation to help meet the city’s climate goals. The program is meant to make organics collection more accessible.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 17, 2023

Walmart announces renewed food waste partnership with Denali

The retailer’s work with Denali will divert millions of pounds of non-edible food from landfills to create compost, feed animals and generate renewable energy.

By Peyton Bigora • Oct. 17, 2023

New York City seeks vendor to supply nearly 3.2M bins for residential container initiative

An upcoming rule, set to be phased in next fall, will lead to a new era of plastic bins for buildings with up to nine units. The city’s Department of Sanitation plans to bear no cost or responsibility for distribution.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Oct. 16, 2023

Synagro publishes first sustainability report as it ramps up SB 1383 compliance assistance

The company is looking to increase its diversion of biosolids from landfills while accepting greater quantities of food waste, eyeing an opportunity to improve its emissions.

By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 10, 2023

US Composting Council, BPI release product labeling legislative guidelines

The groups collaborated with representatives from WM, Atlas Organics, PepsiCo and more on principles related to product color, testing and labeling claims. They also intend to release a model compostable labeling bill.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 6, 2023

Compostable packaging is on the rise. What are consumers supposed to do with it?

Speakers at SPC Advance from Keurig Dr Pepper, NatureWorks, Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee, Sonoco FRESH and MassDEP talked through the complex questions raised by the uptick in compostable packaging.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 5, 2023

4 composting projects with EPA grant funding: An inside look

The projects in Alaska, Iowa, Maryland and New York will build new compost facility capacity for communities. They aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase organic waste diversion.

By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 3, 2023

Massachusetts awards $5M for recycling programs, with environmental justice focus

Priorities included pay-as-you-throw, curbside organics, textiles, mattresses and more. The annual grants come as MassDEP’s commissioner previewed plans to hire new staff through an “unprecedented” level of state funding.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 2, 2023

Recology meets cleaner fleet goal, announces new 5-year targets

The West Coast waste hauler and processor fuels 90% of its vehicle fleet via renewable or alternative fuels. It set new goals on landfill emissions and facility power.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 27, 2023

With a $4M EPA grant, Baltimore looks to chart a fresh course on organics

The city's organics infrastructure is getting a jolt from the new funding. Composting advocates hope broader changes laid out in the city’s draft waste plan will follow.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 26, 2023

Local governments share lessons on new curbside organics collection programs

Local governments that have recently launched curbside organics collection programs in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. say communication with residents and vendors can help smooth out early-stage kinks.

By Megan Quinn • Sept. 25, 2023

Federal lawmakers introduce bipartisan legislation to cut food waste, expand USDA programs

The bill, which comes as farm bill negotiations ramp up, would establish an Office of Food Loss and Waste at the agency. A coalition of groups advocating for federal food waste legislation had proposed the idea.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 22, 2023

New Austin Resource Recovery director named as city implements $4M EPA reuse grant

Richard McHale has more than 30 years of experience with the agency. He has also led the Texas SWANA chapter and the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Municipal Waste Management Association.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 20, 2023

Connecticut city enacts permanent organics co-collection program with unit-based pricing

Middletown’s program was implemented after the success of a pilot sponsored by the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 14, 2023

EPA announces recipients of $105M in grants for recycling infrastructure

The long-awaited recycling infrastructure grants are going to 25 communities, including the Baltimore and Minneapolis metro areas as well as recipients in Puerto Rico, Hawai’i, Montana and Ohio.

By Megan Quinn • Sept. 13, 2023

Veransa, private equity-backed Florida composter, hires new CEO

Dave Vaughn is expected to focus on integrating recently acquired assets and greenfield sites, along with growing the development of compost products. He previously worked at Denali Water Solutions.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Sept. 12, 2023

BPI seeks to change USDA’s ‘out-of-date’ definition for compost

Composters worry the decades-old definition leaves modern facilities and compostable products out of compliance.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 12, 2023

Divert breaks ground on anaerobic digestion facility driven by Washington’s organics management law

The Longview facility is one of the first projects to address the law, which set organics diversion and collection requirements when it passed last year.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 7, 2023

Former Miami-Dade waste head on county’s capacity challenges, disaster response and more

Mike Fernandez says the county must be creative in meeting its capacity needs as it considers long-term disposal options. He also shares his severe weather experience as Florida faces another hurricane.

By Jacob Wallace • Aug. 29, 2023

Miami-Dade County proposes new, more remote site for WTE facility

The location is more remote following concerns from residents near the Florida county’s former incinerator. But permitting and building the facility would take nearly a decade, leaving the county with interim capacity concerns.

By Jacob Wallace • Aug. 22, 2023