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

    Meridian Waste acquired an Alabama roll-off provider; Arcwood Environmental acquired a hazardous waste collection company; and Hoffman Sanitation Services acquired Outer City Limit Sanitation in Oklahoma.

    Updated Sept. 3, 2025
  • A screenshot of a digital tool to make educational campaign flyers.
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    Screenshot: Foodservice Packaging Insitute/YouTube

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    Adding new commodities brings recycling education challenges

    The Foodservice Packaging Institute updated its toolkit to help create recycling education campaigns. Stakeholders underscore the need for collaboration and taking a “careful step-by-step approach” when adding new items.

  • A small green bucket that says "Garbage to Garden" sits in the forefront of a street, with a large black bin and cars in the background.
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    Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
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    Somerville latest to join list of Massachusetts cities with organics programs

    Garbage to Garden will launch a targeted pilot, focused on new customers, in an area known for rodent issues. The region’s most densely populated city follows dozens of others pushing to realize the state’s waste reduction goals.

    Updated Sept. 2, 2025
  • A Maas Energy Works anaerobic digestion lagoon
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    Courtesy of Maas Energy Works
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    NWRA among groups pushing back on RFS proposal

    The EPA said it needed to reduce production targets as the transportation market for RNG had become saturated. But industry groups say that misses the point of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard.

  • California state flag and state capitol building in Sacramento
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    DustyPixel via Getty Images
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    Circular Action Alliance taps new California executive director

    The role was vacated earlier this year by former CalRecycle director Rachel Wagoner. The new appointment comes as SB 54 rules are still being hashed out and CAA wants producers to report supply data by Nov. 15.

  • The exterior of Alterra's liquefaction plant in Akron, Ohio.
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    Courtesy of Alterra
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    Alterra withdraws plan to build chemical recycling plant in Pennsylvania

    Environmental groups had long opposed the proposal, but Alterra says it ultimately halted plans due to a landowner's decision. Alterra intends to search for another site in the region.

  • a forklift lifts construction materials
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    Courtesy of WM
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    Recycled content roofing facility reopens in Iowa under new ownership

    The Everboard product’s original founder is back at the helm as part of a new joint venture, which took over for WM-backed Continuus after the facility closed in November. A new California facility will also open soon.

  • A row of partially assembled trash and recycling bins in a warehouse
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    Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
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    How Bigbelly reshored its waste and recycling bin operations from Mexico

    What started as a college idea about solar compactors has evolved into one of the more recognizable public space waste container brands. Bigbelly doubled production in recent years and sees more growth ahead.

  • A truck with Stericycle branding sits among cars on the road with a tall office building behind it.
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    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
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    Stericycle to pay $2M settlement in New York overbilling complaint

    A New York City Business Integrity Commission audit investigation found the company overcharged "multiple customers" in the city. Stericycle hired a consultant to bring contracts into compliance.

    Updated Aug. 26, 2025
  • A wide view of a landfill site with grassy and dirt-covered hills, construction equipment, and a blue truck driving along a dirt road at the top of a slope. The foreground includes a paved access road with red-and-white barriers, utility poles with overhead wires, a small white pickup truck near a fenced area, and several warning signs along the road.
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    Alamy
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    Colorado landfill regulation vote delayed until December

    Commissioners heard hours of testimony on the wide-ranging proposal last week. They said they need more time to review feedback on the regulation, as Colorado intends to go beyond federal standards.

  • 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

    Denali reported its scope 1 and 2 emissions, and Synagro reported progress on energy efficiency measures in 2024.

    Updated Aug. 27, 2025
  • Several people holding or wearing signs stand shouting in front of a garbage truck, watched by two police officers in high-visibility vests.
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    Marilyn Humphries/Newscom

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    Deep Dive // Republic-Teamsters strike

    Teamsters v. Republic: Behind the largest sanitation strike in decades

    The two sides have been locked in a dispute that has rippled out from the Boston area since July 1. The struggle signals a contentious new era of labor relations has arrived to the waste and recycling industry.

  • Oregon State capitol
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    "Oregon Capitol" by ZehnKatzen is licensed under CC BY 3.0
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    Wholesalers shed more light on Oregon packaging EPR legal challenge

    Oregon agencies received an extension to respond to the lawsuit until mid-September, per an update Friday. In the meantime, wholesalers are analyzing potential legal issues with EPR laws in other states.

  • A close up of the WM - Waste Management logo
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    WM announces CFO Devina Rankin to retire

    The CFO is leaving the company after nearly 23 years. David Reed, vice president and business partner for WM’s West Tier operations, will take over the position.

  • A close up of a tool touching the inside of a hard disk for repair
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    Sasirin Pamai via Getty Images
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    Texas law showed electronics repair is bipartisan. What’s next?

    Some manufacturers and tech companies such as Google are starting to shift their thinking on right-to-repair laws for consumer electronics, farm equipment and other categories as the policy passes in more states.

  • a group of people hold signs behind a pile of discarded plastic
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    Courtesy of NSAC
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    Lawmakers, recyclers call for SB 54 regulations that reflect intent of EPR law

    CalRecycle is expected to open the 45-day public comment period on SB 54 rulemaking soon. Stakeholders say some draft revisions undermine the law's ability to hold producers responsible for litter.

  • A truck with a dumpster on its back and the Agri-Cycle logo on its cab is parked in a parking lot.
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    Permission granted by Closed Loop Partners
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    Closed Loop acquires Agri-Cycle, expanding organics reach

    Agri-Cycle provides collection services to customers across 14 states in the Northeast. With the deal, Closed Loop Partners’ private equity arm looks to aggressively grow its organics portfolio.

  • Building exterior for Blue Polymers facility
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    Permission granted by Blue Polymers
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    Blue Polymers takes over food-grade rPET pellet production in California

    “Whereas we sell flake to folks that create pellets, now we can sell pellets to folks that create packaging,” said Pete Keller, vice president of recycling and sustainability at Republic Services, a partner in the Blue Polymers venture.

  • Three short gas wells stick out of a hillside, hooked up to sensors.
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    Courtesy of LoCI Controls
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    Technology could cut US landfill emissions in half for $1.3B: Energy Vision

    The report further finds that such improvements could generate nearly $1.8 billion in revenue for operators, exhibiting a notable return on investment while addressing climate-warming emissions.

  • Plastic bottles and trash on a beach
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    Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
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    Waste and recycling groups ‘disappointed’ by lack of plastics treaty

    Recycling groups will monitor the next round of talks for clues on infrastructure and end market impacts. Plastics groups will push recycling over environmentalists’ calls for plastic production caps.

  • Flexible plastic packaging pouches
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    Romeo Gacad via Getty Images
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    Driven by EPR, brands to offer film and flexibles funding to California recyclers

    General Mills, Mars, PepsiCo and other brands are investing in film and flexible packaging recycling in the state as California implements stricter recycling regulations for the materials under its EPR law. 

  • A worker dismantles an electric vehicle battery for recycling.
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    Courtesy of Toyota Motor Corp
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    Lithium-ion battery recyclers see challenges, opportunities under Trump

    While the administration has moved to strip electric vehicle incentives and cancel some grants, it remains focused on lithium’s value as a critical mineral for manufacturers.

  • A close up of baled plastic recyclable bottles and containers.
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    varniccha kajal via Getty Images
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    EREF report calls for more data, better reporting on EPR metrics

    As more states and countries adopt EPR programs, the Environmental Research & Education Foundation says data is difficult to evaluate — but it doesn’t cast doubt on the effectiveness of EPR as a whole.

  • Landfill
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    Aleksandr Gromov via Getty Images
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    Republic offers Tennessee landfill settlement; WM appeals Arkansas odor suit

    A Virginia landfill is closer to expanding, and local officials blocked expansions for a landfill in Pennsylvania and for Republic’s Coffin Butte landfill in Oregon.

  • A side-loading trash truck grabs a recycling cart
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    Courtesy of City of Tacoma
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    Prairie Robotics expands its AI truck tech to more North American cities

    Its recent partnership with Tacoma, Washington, was funded by a $1.8 million U.S. EPA recycling education grant. The company aims to expand its on-truck contamination detection services.