Judge approves Red River Waste bankruptcy sale to Platform Capital

The private equity firm is expected to close on its purchase of the Texas-based hauler within weeks, following a protracted bankruptcy process and service issues for numerous local government customers.

By Cole Rosengren • July 18, 2022

HomeBiogas CEO sees 'a lot of room' for on-site organics recycling to compete in waste market

Oshik Efrati — co-founder of an Israeli company that has deployed digester units in more than 100 countries — outlines plans to target U.S. homeowners, multifamily complexes and commercial establishments.

By Cole Rosengren • July 15, 2022

EPA seeks feedback on environmental justice action plan, equitable use of infrastructure funds

At a virtual community meeting on Wednesday, participants urged the agency to approve recycling projects, funded with infrastructure grant money, that avoid creating further environmental harm to disadvantaged communities. 

By Megan Quinn • July 14, 2022

Allied Industrial Partners expects Waste Eliminator to be 'first of several' industry investments

The latest private equity firm to enter this space discusses its $150 million investment plans for the Atlanta-area company, plus its own aspirations for other waste and recycling transactions.

By Cole Rosengren • July 13, 2022

San Francisco Bay Area, inspiration for California’s organics law, offers recycling lessons and limitations

Organics recycling has been the norm in San Francisco, Oakland and other jurisdictions for years. Part 5 of our series explores how some are trying to elevate their diversion efforts with residual waste sorting and other strategies.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated July 12, 2022

American Trucking Associations says 4 factors will fuel worsening driver shortfall

Retirements are leading the trade group’s projection of a 160,000 driver shortfall by 2030. Drug and alcohol violations are seen as one factor sidelining potential drivers.

By David Taube • July 11, 2022

What’s still on California’s legislative agenda for waste and recycling

Single-use plastics in e-commerce, state purchasing requirements, diversion credits from waste-to-energy facilities and a bottle bill expansion for wine are still in play before lawmakers end their session.

By Megan Quinn • July 11, 2022

Red River Waste bankruptcy sale moves closer to finalization

Upcoming hearings — with input from numerous creditors — aim to hammer out final details of the proposed $12.6 million sale to private equity firm Platform Capital.

By Megan Quinn • July 11, 2022

Waste Eliminator becomes sizable metro Atlanta presence with new acquisitions

Two newly announced transactions in the region add recycling, transfer and disposal capacity for multiple streams. This is part of plans by Allied Industrial Partners to invest $150 million into the business.

By Cole Rosengren • July 7, 2022

How 3 Southern California programs are ramping up organics recycling

Preparing for SB 1383’s recycling requirements is a bigger lift for areas that didn’t already collect food scraps. Program officials in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Bernardino County share their stories in Part 4 of our series.

By Cole Rosengren • July 7, 2022

National bottle bill supporters eyeing 2023 for updated draft legislation

Proponents of a nationwide container deposit bill are revising a draft first announced last year, which would call for a 5-cent redemption value on most container types, with the hope that it can get bipartisan support.

By Megan Quinn • July 7, 2022

Summer heat affects collection routes as OSHA continues process toward workplace heat standard

Waste and recycling workers are among those at risk for heat stress and illness as many parts of the U.S. experience record-breaking temperatures.

By Maria Rachal • July 6, 2022

Red River bankruptcy proceedings continue as GFL Environmental takes over Fort Wayne contract

The Texas-based company is in talks to be acquired by a private equity firm. Meanwhile, the Indiana city is cutting ties with Red River after months of service issues that have also been seen in Nashville and elsewhere.

By Cole Rosengren • July 1, 2022

California Gov. Newsom signs nation's most comprehensive paper and plastic packaging EPR bill

The landmark legislation sets ambitious recycling and reduction rate targets for plastic and other types of packaging. Its passage averts a plastics fee ballot initiative and comes after years of stalled legislative efforts.

By Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Updated July 1, 2022

California EPR bill passes state Assembly, final vote must happen immediately

After four years of attempts, this major legislation could finally pass. The bill must now make it through the state Senate and reach the governor’s desk by the end of June to avert a competing plastics ballot measure.

By Megan Quinn • June 30, 2022

Congress makes moves on recycling funding, single-use plastic reduction

A rural recycling infrastructure bill gets a House version, efforts to reduce plastic packaging at the U.S. Capitol move forward, and USAID tackles ocean plastic with new Save Our Seas funding.

By Megan Quinn • June 29, 2022

Pay growth continued for top waste and recycling leaders in 2021 as CEO-median employee pay ratio widened

See the latest compensation data for executives at WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Clean Harbors, Stericycle, Harsco and Casella Waste Systems in our annual report.

By Cole Rosengren • June 29, 2022

As inflation surges, pricing becomes focal point for upcoming New York commercial waste zone system

The city recently approved its first waste rate cap increase since 2018 and added greater weight to pricing proposals for a bid process that will reshape the market. Local stakeholders remain wary about how things will unfold.

By Cole Rosengren • June 27, 2022

Clock ticking for contentious California EPR bill to avert plastics ballot measure

SB 54 is supported by major recyclers, including Republic Services, but it is drawing opposition from key environmental groups. It must pass by the end of this month to stop an upcoming plastics fee ballot initiative.

By Megan Quinn • Updated June 27, 2022

California's local governments grapple with financial and logistical demands of organics recycling law

Regulations weren’t finalized for years, and the pandemic delayed many plans. New state grants worth $180 million will help, but more will be needed to meet this unfunded mandate. Read Part 3 of our series.

By Cole Rosengren • June 23, 2022

Surveying the corporate-controlled EPR landscape in 2022

Amid new producer responsibility action in states such as Colorado, New York and Hawaii, Neil Seldman of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance weighs in on the best way to approach this policy going forward.

By Neil Seldman • June 22, 2022

WM explains plans to accelerate automation amid a 'war for talent'

With the company potentially phasing out up to 7,000 positions in the next few years, Chief Customer Officer Michael Watson elaborated on efforts to “upskill” employees and seize growth opportunities even in a tight labor market.

By Maria Rachal • June 15, 2022

How Cleveland is restarting curbside recycling after more than 2 years

Curbside service returned Monday. Ren Brumfield, the city’s first recycling coordinator, discussed the new contract with Rumpke, how to measure success, the challenges and opportunities with a total reset, and more.

By Maria Rachal • June 13, 2022

EPA aims to disburse $375M in waste and recycling funds from infrastructure bill by spring 2023

Stakeholders have called for the EPA to move quickly on implementing funding from grants and initiatives that the agency says represent its “largest investment in recycling in 30 years.”

By Megan Quinn • Updated June 15, 2022

California’s high-stakes experiment to cut organic waste disposal 75% by 2025

Waste companies and local governments in the state are making massive investments and operational changes to meet the demands of SB 1383. Explore the implications with our ongoing series.

Updated Nov. 14, 2022