The US waste and recycling industry in 2022 — what you need to know

Stories on M&A, recycling policy and organics recycling expansion — and how the economy and environmental justice considerations are shaping the industry’s path forward — have driven the news this year.

Dec. 5, 2022

Waste Connections acquisition of C&D recycler continues Massachusetts expansion

Trojan Recycling, which operates a C&D transfer facility and offers roll-off service, is at least the fourth local deal for Waste Connections this year.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 5, 2022

Republic Services grows San Antonio footprint with hauling acquisition

The addition of C6 Disposal fits into Republic’s local workforce of 500 employees in an area where it also operates a landfill. This deal is one of many for Republic in 2022.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 5, 2022

Could the launch of organics collection in one New York borough pave the way to citywide service?

After collecting 2,850 tons of organic material, at a lower cost than usual, the Department of Sanitation is touting the success of its new program. Advocates are urging action on a long-envisioned citywide launch.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 2, 2022

Macquarie fund purchases DTG Recycle, rapidly growing C&D recycler in Washington

DTG, a vertically integrated company, is coming off a period of ongoing acquisition growth fueled by a prior investment from Clairvest Group.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 1, 2022

Mapping zero waste cities: Where local governments are pursuing waste prevention and diversion

Waste Dive is tracking which communities throughout the U.S. have zero waste goals, how they define those efforts and how much progress they’ve made.

By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren , Julia Himmel • Updated Dec. 22, 2022

Beyond recycling: What’s next for effective zero waste planning

Despite constraints, experts say that bringing more voices to the table, linking efforts to climate and economic resilience goals, pursuing public-private partnerships and looking for non-policy solutions can all advance progress.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 30, 2022

GFL launches first ESG targets, aiming to reduce GHG emissions 15% by 2030

The Canada-based company’s first set of detailed targets comes after its landfill portfolio has doubled in recent years. GFL is focusing on renewable natural gas projects as well as alternative fuel vehicles in the years ahead.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 29, 2022

How Redbox+ Dumpsters aims to grow its roll-off business in recession-resilient segments of construction

Doug Smith, senior vice president of franchise development at Belfor Franchise Group, discussed recent trends regarding demand for roll-off containers and what’s attracting new franchisees to the business.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 28, 2022

3 tips on building more inclusive recycling and waste programs for underserved communities

Speakers at the recent National Recycling Congress shared outreach and funding tips for communities where English is not the primary language, services are inconvenient or nonexistent or other systemic barriers exist.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 23, 2022

Frontier Waste Solutions sells majority stake to private equity investors amid Texas growth

Since John Gustafson founded it in 2017, Frontier has completed numerous acquisitions and won multiple municipal contracts. This latest investment is expected to further accelerate that growth.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 22, 2022

Why WM and Dow are launching a curbside plastic film recycling pilot

After WM assesses the plastic film processing capabilities at a newer MRF, it expects to expand the Chicago-area program. The company’s pending acquisition of Avangard Innovative could provide an end market.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 21, 2022

Rubicon announces layoffs, debt restructuring to stabilize company

The waste broker was previously facing serious liquidity issues, with $102.6 million worth of debt once set to mature in November. A software deal with Palantir Technologies was cited among its notable costs.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 21, 2022

San Diego’s Measure B, which would allow waste collection fees, poised to pass

The pending measure would update a 1919 ordinance and allow the city to charge all residents for trash pickup, potentially freeing up funds to help with the implementation of California’s sweeping organics collection law.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 21, 2022

Recology reaches $25M settlement with San Francisco to offset future rate increases

This agreement comes after the company earned more than an agreed-upon 9% profit margin, even after factoring in a prior $100 million ratepayer reimbursement settlement.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 17, 2022

America Recycles Day 2022: Updates from around the country

This year’s event was marked by the U.S. EPA opening up $375 million in grant funding, President Biden calling on manufacturers to better support reuse and recycling, Colorado’s governor weighing in on EPR and more.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Nov. 17, 2022

What analyzing National Sword can teach us about optimizing US plastics recycling

The dust has yet to settle from the major reckoning the U.S. plastics recycling system faced, but three notable factors have the potential to change the status quo going forward, write researchers from the University of California, Berkeley.

By Jessica Heiges and Kate O’Neill • Nov. 16, 2022

Tracking recycling laws by state

The latest update to this tracker is New Hampshire’s governor signing a bill banning certain lithium-ion batteries from disposal. Illinois’ governor also signed a bill requiring large event facilities to recycle and collect organics from events.

By Megan Quinn • Updated Aug. 26, 2024

EPA promises recycling infrastructure funds, new reports coming soon

During the National Recycling Congress, the U.S. EPA’s Nena Shaw said the infrastructure grant funding process is almost ready and previewed work on batteries, data collection and future reports on plastics and food waste.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 15, 2022

The next frontier in e-commerce packaging: reusable bags and boxes

Online ordering spiked during the pandemic — and so did the waste it creates. As Cyber Monday approaches, startups such as Returnity and Trashless are developing ways to offer consumers and retailers an alternative.

By Lela Nargi • Nov. 15, 2022

Closed Loop launches new recycling company, Circular Services, with $700M investment

Combining the operations of Sims Municipal Recycling, Balcones Resources, Retrievr, HomeBiogas and more, the new company, to be led by Closed Loop CEO Ron Gonen, is being touted as a “holistic” service provider.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 15, 2022

Is California’s 2025 organics diversion target still viable?

An independent commission is now assessing whether course corrections are needed for the state’s landmark SB 1383 law. CalRecycle, WM, Republic Services, Agromin, Anaergia and many others have weighed in.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 14, 2022

Rubicon pledges ‘progress to profitability’ and shares plans to grow company’s earnings potential

In Rubicon’s first earnings call since going public and seeing its founder step down, CEO Phil Rodoni named “profitability as the core tenet of our strategy and corporate culture going forward” and announced a new company president.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 10, 2022

Injury and illness rates for waste workers hit ‘historic’ low in 2021

SWANA says the decreased rates for workers on collection routes, as well as in MRFs and at landfill sites, are at their lowest since 2006.

By Megan Quinn • Updated Nov. 11, 2022

Elections 2022: Denver greenlights recycling expansion, a close decision on San Diego trash fees and more

Voters in California, Colorado, Michigan, New York and Vermont weighed in on a range of state and local initiatives with implications for waste and recycling as part of Tuesday’s election.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 9, 2022