The Latest

  • Aerial view of a collection truck picking up waste or recyclables in a residential area
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    Tracking the waste and recycling industry’s M&A activity

    GFL Environmental acquired a Wisconsin hauler and Republic Services acquired Leck Waste Services. Previously, a pair of Philadelphia compost haulers combined and Voyager Trucking acquired Vision Transport.

    Updated Dec. 19, 2025
  • Heavy equipment driving at a landfill in the Denver area
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    Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
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    Colorado adopts its own landfill emissions rule for the first time

    The new regulation adopts several new rules designed to tighten emissions monitoring and reduction, including the approval of satellite and drone monitoring systems.

  • A closeup of beverage cans and bottles for recycling
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    The evolving role of statewide recycling needs assessments

    These reports are a common tool for driving EPR for packaging programs. But who should lead the process and decide the data strategy and timeline?

  • Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas, speaks at a press conference, alongside members of the Second Amendment Caucus, outside the U.S. Capitol Building on March 8, 2022 in Washington, D.C.
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Pack Act introduced in Congress to cut through labeling confusion

    The bill, championed by Ameripen, would preempt state laws and call on the FTC to require certain parameters such as third-party certifications for recyclable, compostable and reusable claims on consumer products.

  • Illustration of heavy equipment at a landfill
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    Danielle Ternes/Waste Dive
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    Tracker

    Tracking GHG emissions of US waste management companies

    GFL Environmental reported a slight decrease in emissions compared to its 2021 baseline. Previously, Casella reported an uptick in emissions from a 2022 baseline.

    Updated Dec. 18, 2025
  • A line of trash bins stamped with "Miami-Dade County, Delivering Excellence Every Day"
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    Retrieved from Miami-Dade County Solid Waste Management.
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    With Reworld out, Miami-Dade seeks compromise on incinerator plan

    At a county meeting on Tuesday, officials said rival bidders FCC Environmental Services and Florida Power & Light should discuss the possibility of submitting a combined proposal for the much-discussed facility.

  • A recycling bin on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    US EPA announces recipients of $58M in recycling infrastructure grants

    The second round of Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grants, or SWIFR, will support 17 programs meant to avoid illegal dumping, build reuse centers, establish commercial recycling programs and more.

  • Three blue, green and gray waste carts out on a street in Fort Collins, Colorado, on pickup day for household trash, backyard trimmings and recyclable materials.
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    Getty Images
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    Help wanted: State agencies and producers staff up to implement packaging EPR

    Headcount varies widely across the seven states implementing extended producer responsibility programs, with some facing budget limitations. California, Colorado, Minnesota and Washington share their latest plans.

  • four blue recycling carts stand next to each other
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    Virginia to update state solid waste plan for first time in 46 years

    The draft plan aims to modernize the state’s waste strategy with an emphasis on better data collection, diversion and economic growth efforts. That might include pursuing an EPR for packaging law.

  • An illustration of the U.S. Capitol with recycling containers
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    Danielle Ternes/Waste Dive
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    Tracker

    Tracking the future of US recycling policy in Congress

    Rep. Lou Correa introduced a resolution declaring support in the House of Representatives for design for recycling initiatives, noting the principles increase waste diversion and help the economy.

    Updated Dec. 16, 2025
  • An industrial facility with large metal domes known as "digester eggs" visible across a river.
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    The image by Peter Greenberg is licensed under CC BY 3.0
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    New York may require composters using biosolids to test for PFAS

    The draft proposal to identify per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances earned measured praise from Casella Waste Systems and environmental advocates.

    Updated Dec. 16, 2025
  • A close up of water flowing along a river.
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    Getty Images
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    Massachusetts waste companies to pay $170K stormwater penalty

    E.L. Harvey & Sons, Trojan Recycling, Nauset Disposal Holdings and Arrowhead Environmental Partners allegedly discharged industrial waste into waters of the United States without required permits, EPA said.

  • A garbage truck with Republic Services branding sits on a platform next to a small brick building on a dirt road.
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    (2023). "Photo Log 2/4/2023" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
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    Republic Services’ Tennessee landfill sued again; Rumpke seeks Kentucky expansion

    Local officials said in a lawsuit they were “leapfrogged” by Republic’s Middle Point Landfill expansion application. Meanwhile, Rumpke looks to address odor complaints at a landfill it's hoping to expand.

  • blue plastic bottles crushed together
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    4 insights on the state of PET recycling and rPET in packaging

    Thermoforms have a bigger role, and multiple changes are afoot in the rPET landscape — tempering recycled content growth in bottles, explained Lauren Laibach, director of data services at NAPCOR.

  • Massachusetts State House dome behind container of waste
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    Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
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    Massachusetts commission endorses some EPR plans, punts on packaging

    A legislative commission, convened by MassDEP, endorsed the idea of a needs assessment for packaging. The group also endorsed EPR for paint, mattresses, batteries and electronics.

  • A close up image of recycled material moving along a belt
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    Courtesy of Amp
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    What’s next with Amp’s MSW contract in Southern Virginia

    Southeastern Public Service Authority and Amp signed an agreement to process the region’s MSW, recycling and organics. The deal includes a pledge to divert 50% of materials from the nearby landfill.

  • A complex industrial facility in an outdoor shed with the name "Pyreg" printed on the side of a tank.
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    Permission granted by John Day/Orbital Biocarbon
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    Orbital Biocarbon secures key investment to grow biosolids solution

    The funding round led by Toby Z. Rice, a seed investor in Archaea Energy, allows Orbital to pursue more contracts in the Northeast, where disposal capacity is tight and concerns about PFAS contamination are growing.

    Updated Dec. 10, 2025
  • An extreme closeup of a piece of fiber packaging with "100% compostable" stamped into the material.
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    Success for composting and EPR programs go hand in hand: report

    Closed Loop Partners’ Composting Consortium laid out a composter reimbursement framework that PROs could build on. Incentives correlate to greater acceptance of compostable packaging.

  • plastic goes down a conveyor belt at a MRF
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Commodity values further decline for Northeastern MRFs

    Blended commodity prices fell about 22% in Q3, according to a new report from the Northeast Recycling Council. Waste companies reported similar trends in the quarter amid infrastructure investments.

  • A flame burns out of a metal stack against a dark sky
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    The image by Carl Young is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Landfill gas may release as much PFAS as leachate, study finds

    The study spanned 17 states, the most wide-ranging look yet at how volatile PFAS compounds wind up in landfill gas. Researchers say the public health impact is currently unknown.

  • Large industrial wastewater tanks
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    Permission granted by Waste Connections
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    EPA’s federal waters definition could ease landfill permitting process

    The U.S. EPA’s revised definition of “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act would reduce permitting needs for waste facilities, but raises new questions, experts say.

  • Rare earth ore held in partially closed hand
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    US Energy Department offers $134M to boost rare earth recovery projects

    The agency plans to fund efforts to draw rare earth metals from discarded electronics and other sources to strengthen the domestic critical mineral supply chain.

  • People unload paint containers from the trunk of an SUV onto a wheeled cart.
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    Courtesy of PaintCare
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    Illinois launches paint stewardship program

    Now the 11th state with a PaintCare program, Illinois expects to collect about 1 million gallons in its first year. Maryland will launch its program next year, while other state legislatures plan to introduce similar bills.

  • A large temporary sign sitting in a public plaza reads "#COP30 UN Climate Change Conference, November 10-21, 2025"
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    Wagner Meier/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Biofuels get a boost at COP30; plus RNG news from WM, Nopetro and more

    A new pledge vows to quadruple the use of “sustainable fuels” by 2035, which groups like the American Biogas Council expect to further fuel demand for renewable natural gas.

  • A landfill covered in grass rises behind a line of trees. In the foreground, a two-lane road bends around a curve.
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    The image by Tyler A. McNeil is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    New York requires greenhouse gas emissions reporting from waste facilities

    The rule would apply to waste facilities like landfills, incinerators and anaerobic digesters, as well as electricity generation facilities and fueling infrastructure. It comes as the federal government scales back its own reporting program.