The Latest

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

    Superior Environmental Solutions acquired a regional environmental services provider; Meridian Waste acquired its latest hauler; Fido acquired a trash valet service; Reclaimed Cleaning Textiles acquired a fellow textile recycler.

    Updated 8 hours ago
  • 4 finalists vying for Connecticut compost project

    WeCare-Denali, Blue Earth Compost, Black Earth Compost and CWPM were among the bidders. The project is envisioned as a hybrid system using both aerated static pile and windrow systems. 

  • Aerial view of a landfill in Yakima, Washington
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    Permission granted by DTG Recycle
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    DTG Recycle restarts Washington C&D landfill, refutes $3.8M hauling allegation

    The Macquarie-backed C&D recycler recently reopened its sole landfill under a new name after a permit-related shutdown. In a separate matter, DTG is opposing a penalty from the state’s Utilities and Transportation Commission.

  • DOE doles out $6.9M for organic waste-to-biofuels projects

    Nine projects funded through the program are expected to process food waste, dairy manure or products of municipal wastewater treatment plants into transportation fuels.

  • Former President Donald Trump sits in the cab of a garbage truck emblazoned with his campaign's logo as reporters look on.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    5 issues likely to shape the waste and recycling industry in 2025

    Plans for the second Trump administration, state EPR implementation, climate policy and PFAS regulation are evolving, as is landfill monitoring technology. Here’s how each could affect the industry in 2025.

  • Close-up of plastic packaging in the trash
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    Canada Plastics Pact sees ‘slower than anticipated’ progress on 2025 goals

    CPP's recently released annual report, along with a detailed companion report on recycling rate data, offers insight into managing plastic packaging beyond 2025.

  • A Waste Connections collection truck is parked in front of the Las Vegas Convention Center
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    Waste Connections sees landfill progress in New York; Win Waste faces pushback in Ohio

    Other landfill regulations or projects had notable updates in Hawai’i, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio and Texas.

  • Aerial view of trucks, booths and people standing in the Las Vegas Convention Center at WasteExpo 2024
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    Notable waste and recycling conferences in 2025

    The Deconstruction and Reuse Conference and the U.S. Product Stewardship Forum are some of the industry events to most recently announce details for 2025.

    Updated Jan. 13, 2025
  • The Internal Revenue Service sign in capital letters on a tan building on a sunny day.
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    Pgiam for iStock via Getty Images
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    Final 45V hydrogen tax credit guidance draws mixed response

    While hydrogen industry leaders generally welcomed the final rule’s increased flexibility, some said the complicated tax credit guidelines will stymie industry growth.

  • A Hyzon tractor-trailer on a road lined with palm trees.
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    Courtesy of Hyzon
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    Hyzon lays off workers, plans to liquidate business

    The hydrogen truck company previously touted big plans to scale, including through multiple partnerships with waste companies in California.

  • Two GFL executives and one Stifel analyst sit on a stage at WasteExpo 2024
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    Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
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    GFL CEO intends to kick-start solid waste M&A spending in ‘2025 and beyond’

    The company had slowed its M&A spending to focus on reducing debt, but CEO Patrick Dovigi said during an investor call that the pending sale of a stake in its environmental services business will change that.

  • GFL Environmental truck at Waste Expo
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    Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
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    GFL selling environmental services division to Apollo, BC Partners for $5.6B

    GFL will retain a 44% stake in the division, with the option to repurchase within five years. The news marks a turning point in the company’s effort to reduce its debt leverage.

  • Waste Pro truck in Palm Coast, Florida
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    Permission granted by Waste Pro
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    Waste Pro CEO previews another busy M&A year following $140M in 2024

    CEO Sean Jennings said the pipeline of potential deals is strong following a year of 15 acquisitions. He also discussed ongoing efforts to increase the share of revenue from open market and post-collection business.

  • Aerial view of an industrial facility near green engineered hills
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    Permission granted by Ameresco
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    RNG tax credit impacts spill into new year; plus news from Waga, Clean Energy Fuels

    The RNG industry closed 2024 out on a strong note with new investment tax credit language. Industry leaders expect to continue fighting for favorable policy into the new year.

  • hands hold two stacked foam food service containers
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    CHAIWATPHOTOS via Getty Images
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    CalRecycle releases source reduction baseline report; updates on foam enforcement

    In other SB 54 developments, CalRecycle also updated some recyclability and compostability designations on the covered material categories list.

  • A large crane drops mixed trash into a large concrete pit in an enclosed building.
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    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
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    EPA could require certain incinerators to report chemical releases under TRI

    To make the change to its Toxics Release Inventory, the EPA would need to launch a rulemaking process. The move would expand the public’s understanding of toxic chemicals released by such facilities.

  • a close-up of food scraps in a compost collection bin in Washington, D.C.
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    New waste, recycling and organics laws have taken effect in 2025

    Oregon, Washington and Illinois are among the states enforcing new laws, including right-to-repair and organics disposal updates.

  • Aerial view of the Chiquita Canyon Landfill in California
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    Retrieved from Chiquita Canyon on January 02, 2025
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    Waste Connections closes embattled Chiquita Canyon Landfill in California

    The site, which was the second-largest active landfill in Los Angeles County, faced years of legal and regulatory pressure. County officials are now focused on regional cost and environmental implications.

  • A blue collection truck tips a cart to unload it
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    photovs via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    By the numbers: 2024 waste and recycling trends

    Reflect on the year through key data points about labor, the economy, M&A, federal and state policy, recycling trends and more.

  • Trucks line up behind a waste facility
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    2024’s notable waste and recycling acquisitions

    The year saw notable deal announcements involving WM, Stericycle, GFL Environmental, Waste Connections, Clean Harbors, Casella Waste Systems, Interstate Waste, Coastal Waste and more.

    Updated Dec. 13, 2024
  • Waste burns in a fiery machine
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    The image by Antoine Taveneaux is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    EPA punts municipal waste combustor rule to 2025, others incrementally advance

    The move will leave the Trump administration to finalize at least two rules for combustors, including those that process hazardous waste. The EPA separately finalized its rules for commercial and industrial waste incinerators. 

  • Three people in suits and ties sit in chairs at a Congressional event
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Federal budget proposal with $136M in recycling and composting bills stalls

    The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act and Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act were initially part of a deal to fund the federal government, but that plan has been scrapped.

    Updated Dec. 20, 2024
  • A Recology worker drives a forklift next to a truck carrying bales of recyclables
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    Courtesy of Recology
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    How state EPR for packaging policies advanced in 2024

    Minnesota became the latest state to pass a law, while other state legislative efforts stalled or advanced incrementally. Meanwhile, implementation continued in California, Colorado, Maine and Oregon.

  • Rear view of a waste collection vehicle, with the word "caution," next to empty collection carts.
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    xphotoz via Getty Images
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    Waste and recycling collection was fourth deadliest occupation in 2023: BLS

    The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows an increase in the rate of fatalities for the refuse and recyclable materials collection occupation. The total number of fatalities in MRFs also increased.

    Updated Dec. 20, 2024
  • Two piles of brown material, labeled "Finished Compost" and "Almost Done!" are separated by cinderblocks on a concrete pad outside.
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    Courtesy of Rhode Island Food Policy Council
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    EPA to grant millions to local waste resilience projects

    The U.S. EPA announced recipients of a fresh wave of funding through the Community Change Grants Program, several of which plan to expand compost and recycling services.