Federal bills advance to improve rural recycling, explore national composting strategy

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works reported both bills favorably on Thursday. Supporters see the bipartisan legislation as a medium-term step to diverting more waste in the U.S.

By Megan Quinn • Updated April 7, 2022

New York City mayor elevates environmental justice in climate approach

Eric Adams announced the launch of a Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. "We intend on holding the mayor's office accountable to that title," said the head of one key EJ advocacy organization.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 3, 2022

Waste Management planning $1.6B in ESG investments, says automation and attrition could phase out upward of 7,000 jobs

Executives closed out a turbulent 2021 with solid earnings, despite inflation, and shared plans for greater spending on recycling and renewable energy, which they expect to have better returns than solid waste acquisitions.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 2, 2022

Glass recycling revival relies on a growing number of specialty drop-off and collection programs

Recyclers in areas such as Kansas City, New Orleans and beyond are bringing new energy to glass recycling after a period of market pressures. Source separation and high quality remain key drivers of their success.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 31, 2022

Waste industry M&A spree shows no sign of slowing in 2022, prompting exit of longtime operators

Pandemic exhaustion, labor strain, capital costs and high valuations are among the factors companies give for selling. Now, the dealmaking activity is beginning to rival historic levels of spending and consolidation.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 27, 2022

As federal vaccine mandate stalls, challenging January continues for waste services

The omicron surge put waste workers and collection service challenges back in the national spotlight. While infections appear to be on the decline in many cities, reports of new or ongoing disruptions continue.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 26, 2022

OSHA pulls temporary vaccine rule, says permanent mandate is in the works

At the agency's request, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed challenges to the ETS as moot.

By Kate Tornone • Updated Feb. 18, 2022

What’s on the Biden administration’s waste and recycling to-do list in 2022

One year in, the administration has started work on a range of climate and environmental justice initiatives. Catch up on what's next from the EPA and others on the circular economy, PFAS, grant funding and more.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 24, 2022

Waste Connections poised to grow New England footprint with another sizable acquisition

The pending sale of ABC Disposal Service and its affiliated operations would come with substantial new hauling, transfer and MRF capacity in the southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island markets.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 20, 2022

Atlas Organics, with new Generate Capital backing, aims to become one of sector's largest recyclers

Atlas CEO Joseph McMillin and Generate's Bill Caesar see substantial room for expansion, with at least $200 million worth of projects envisioned. Atlas also recently announced a new round of Florida acquisitions.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 18, 2022

Supreme Court upholds stay on OSHA's vaccine mandate

The justices opted to dissolve injunctions placed on a separate vaccination mandate for healthcare workers issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

By Ryan Golden • Updated Jan. 13, 2022

8 questions about the top trends shaping waste and recycling in 2022

Waste Dive is watching how much longer heightened M&A activity lasts, what it will take to maintain the workforce in a tough market, where organics infrastructure is growing, what's next for recycling and more.

By Cole Rosengren , Megan Quinn , Maria Rachal • Jan. 13, 2022

RTS acquires Elytus, making it one of the industry's largest waste brokers

The New York-based company has picked up an estimated 12,000 service locations and is going national with its biggest transaction to date. CEO Greg Lettieri shares how this fits into its growth plans for 2022.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 10, 2022

Stakeholders urge Supreme Court to act fast on OSHA mandate

Stakeholders from all sides hoped the court would have a ruling before the emergency temporary standard's Jan. 10 enforcement date.

By Ryan Golden • Updated Jan. 10, 2022

Omicron spread disrupts US waste and recycling operations as 2022 begins

Unlike previous COVID-19 surges that struck more regionally, the latest wave appears to be wreaking havoc on staff availability across the country. Dallas and Detroit are among the latest cities affected.

By Maria Rachal • Updated Jan. 7, 2022

We must invest in compost infrastructure to match growing demand for sustainable products

Jessica Bowman, executive director of the Plant Based Products Council, points to new consumer survey data as another reason to evolve materials management options and pass the national COMPOST Act.

By Jessica Bowman • Jan. 5, 2022

FCC Environmental awarded California mixed waste contract worth up to $1.5B

Placer County's process is an example of how jurisdictions are preparing for major changes under California's SB 1383 organics recycling regulations. FCC won out over GreenWaste, Recology-affiliated Nortech and others.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated April 28, 2022

With $45M Closed Loop deal, Sims Municipal Recycling to expand and compete for more contracts

The recent sale of a stake in the Australian scrap giant's U.S. curbside recycling division is called a "game-changer" as the company aims to pursue more municipal contracts and make new products from the recycled material.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated March 2, 2022

EPA action and US recycling policy during Biden's 1st year in office

2021 brought a new EPA administrator, a nominee to lead the agency's waste efforts that is vocal on PFAS and environmental justice, the long-anticipated National Recycling Strategy and recycling funds in the infrastructure package.

Dec. 23, 2021

How the pandemic impacted waste and recycling workforces in 2021

The arrival of vaccines brought new considerations for employees and employers, while shifts in the broader U.S. workforce created new challenges for hiring and retention.

Dec. 23, 2021

By the numbers: 2021's waste and recycling trends

Take a look back through the key data points that shaped the conversations around some of the top issues — M&A, ESG, policy and workforce challenges — in an eventful year.

By Cole Rosengren , Megan Quinn , Maria Rachal • Dec. 23, 2021

Roundup: Waste Dive's 2021 Q&A's with waste and recycling leaders

From Waste Management's first chief sustainability officer to the Biden administration's pick to lead U.S. EPA waste policy, look back on the year's conversations with execs, authors, investors, entrepreneurs and regulators.

Dec. 22, 2021

Robin Hutcheson to replace Meera Joshi as acting FMCSA administrator

Hutcheson was previously the director of public works for Minneapolis, among other positions. This follows the departure of Meera Joshi, who had been in the Senate confirmation process for months to lead the agency.

By S.L. Fuller • Updated Jan. 20, 2022

Frustrated by collection worker deaths, industry groups target distracted driving

Waste and recycling groups believe distracted driving and cellphone usage are key factors in the fatalities. A lack of data on crash causes and disagreements on how to solve the problem have stalled meaningful solutions.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 20, 2021

Fatalities continued to fall in 2020, but waste collection workers still had 6th deadliest US job

BLS data shows collection workers had a safer year than they did in 2019, but MRF and landfill worker deaths rose slightly. Industry associations hope more safety programs and education will help drive numbers down.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 16, 2021