The Latest
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Tracker
Tracking the future of US recycling policy in Congress
Lawmakers reintroduced the Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act, aimed at restricting certain exports due to security concerns, as well as the Reducing Waste in National Parks Act, meant to tackle single-use plastic sales.
Updated June 4, 2025 -
Tracking the waste and recycling industry’s M&A activity
Redbox+ Dumpsters of Greater Austin acquired a roll-off hauler; Casella acquired Gerber’s in Maryland; Hoffman Sanitation acquired Wildhorse Waste; GFL recently acquired a Michigan hauler.
Updated June 4, 2025 -
(2025). Retrieved from Flickr.
Hawai’i governor signs packaging EPR study bill
Lawmakers in Hawai’i have been introducing EPR proposals for years. The study funded by the newly signed law is due to the state legislature by the end of 2027.
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Waste industry calls on manufacturers, policymakers to help prevent facility fires
Speakers at a recent webinar hosted by the Solid Waste Association of North America and the National Stewardship Action Council offered tips on coordinating programs and policy to deal with this issue.
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Amp grows focus on custom MSW sortation offerings
The company, known for AI-enabled robotics tech, is ramping up its MSW-focused services meant to help extract recyclables and organics to divert material from disposal in landfills-constrained areas.
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Retrieved from Brightmark on March 18, 2025
Brightmark retains Indiana chemical recycling facility through bankruptcy auction
The Ashley pyrolysis facility is expected to remain in operation after Brightmark acquired it from a subsidiary. The facility was only at 5% capacity, according to recent court documents.
Updated May 29, 2025 -
Tracker
Tracking recycling laws by state
The New York State Senate passed the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, an EPR for packaging bill. Governors in Nebraska and Colorado also recently signed battery EPR laws.
Updated May 30, 2025 -
Will surge in GLP-1 medications lower food waste?
Early research suggests the amount and composition of wasted food changes when consumers begin using medications like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.
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NERC notes slight commodity value improvements, while MRFs announce significant upgrades
Northeast MRFs reported blended commodity prices rose up to 9% in Q1. Meanwhile, Casella, Eureka and the City of Phoenix announced MRF upgrades in part to help fetch higher commodity prices.
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Congress revokes Advanced Clean Trucks waiver, creating ambiguity for refuse fleets
Last week, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution revoking waivers allowing California to implement several zero-emissions truck policies. The change will ease requirements even as a transition continues.
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Will 2025 EPR laws pave the way for more packaging policy?
After Maryland and Washington recently adopted packaging EPR laws, leaders from Ameripen and the National Stewardship Action Council expect to see more policy action, including on bottle bills, in 2026.
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Waste sector emissions ticked up in 2023, unreleased EPA report finds
The U.S. EPA only published partial information on the country’s greenhouse gas emissions this year. But newly available data suggests the waste industry’s emissions ticked up while overall emissions declined.
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Nova Chemicals, Novolex open mechanical recycling facility for PE film
The Connersville, Indiana, facility will process up to 145,000 bales of postconsumer plastic film a year to produce recycled LLDPE for use in food-safe applications.
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CalRecycle unveils new SB 54 text; Wagoner out as CAA’s California lead
The agency will host a public meeting May 27 to take feedback. Circular Action Alliance, the packaging EPR program’s PRO, plans to hire a new state lead as former CalRecycle director Rachel Wagoner steps aside.
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Maine, Ohio, New Hampshire debate landfill restrictions
In recent weeks, several bills enhancing restrictions on landfills have advanced in state legislatures. They include new leachate management requirements and new disposal or host fees.
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Plastics reduction advocate and former EPA administrator joins Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Jennie Romer, known for plastics pollution work at Surfrider and at the EPA's pollution prevention office, will address e-waste, textiles and circular economy policy in her new role at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
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Federal grantees reckon with loss of ‘generational’ recycling funding under Trump
The administration has canceled or limited grant awardees’ ability to access federal funding, changing how plastics and organics recyclers view the federal government.
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Indigenous-led efforts bolster EPR collection in remote parts of Canada
A new partnership between the Stewardship Agencies of BC and the Indigenous Zero Waste Technical Advisory Group helps improve recycling programs and training.
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Washington governor signs right-to-repair laws for electronics and wheelchairs
The new laws take effect July 26. Washington joins five other states with consumer electronics laws and two others with wheelchair repair laws.
Updated May 21, 2025 -
Jon Vander Ark: AI is ‘wildly oversold,’ but it can provide benefits
Vander Ark compared the current hype around AI to the dot-com era that collapsed in 2000. But he said there are still plenty of opportunities to drive cost efficiencies through digital improvements.
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Veolia says incinerator test shows over 99% PFAS destruction
The company's research, shared with the U.S. EPA, aims to lend credibility to incineration. Veolia expects demand for PFAS management services to grow despite regulatory challenges.
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Q&A
WM President John Morris on AI, autonomous equipment and tech investments
John Morris, who is also the company’s chief operating officer, said AI and tech upgrades for fleets, new route optimization software and autonomous vehicle pilots are helping with labor retention and cost savings.
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Washington governor signs laws regulating landfills, expanding organics service and more
Gov. Bob Ferguson signed five laws, including ones that affected renewable natural gas, PFAS in biosolids and plastic bags.
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Washington Gov. Ferguson signs packaging EPR law
Ferguson called it the "biggest overhaul of our recycling system in decades.” Washington’s law, the seventh in the U.S., drew opposition from the waste and recycling industry.
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[Screenshot]. Retrieved from Senate Environment and Public Works committee.
PFAS a ‘high priority’ for EPA waste office nominee Busterud
During a confirmation hearing, the Office of Land and Emergency Management nominee expressed support for passive receivers and called for more frequent updates to the EPA's destruction and disposal guidance.