Cities tackle illegal dumping, ongoing hauler labor shortages

In this week's municipal news roundup: more methods to reduce roadside trash, plus ongoing waste collection issues and new compost initiatives.

By Megan Quinn • July 9, 2021

Top stories from 2021's WasteExpo

Catch up on event coverage and interviews about the labor shortage, emerging ESG pressures, fleet technology, organics recycling, PFAS and more.

By Waste Dive Team • Updated Sept. 17, 2021

What the industry is saying about 5 key topics in waste and recycling

At WasteExpo, executives, vendors and regulators were vocal on everything from policy to PFAS and plastics, to the problem of not being able to hire enough workers.

By Waste Dive Team • July 7, 2021

Waste CEOs emphasize labor, ESG and M&A as top priorities after pandemic

Leaders from Waste Management, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental and other groups weighed in on labor solutions, fleet technology and the economy at WasteExpo.

By Cole Rosengren • July 6, 2021

'Electric is not easy': LA, NYC look to build capacity for more battery EVs in refuse fleets

"If I ordered a truck and I got it in nine months, it may sit for 14 months waiting for the ability to plug it in," one Los Angeles sanitation official said, highlighting the need to focus on the electricity poised to power upgraded fleets.

By Maria Rachal • July 2, 2021

What municipal leaders discussed at WasteExpo; Northeast bag bans take force

In this week's municipal news roundup: commentary from officials in Atlanta, Austin and Phoenix. Plus, pandemic-delayed plastics laws begin taking effect.

By Maria Rachal • July 1, 2021

Oregon governor signs country's second EPR law for packaging

The law establishes a packaging EPR program by 2025. It also calls for other updates, such as a standardized material list and a labeling task force meant to evaluate items' recyclability.

By Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Updated Aug. 9, 2021

Employers convey hiring difficulties at WasteExpo, while others encourage considering less 'traditional' talent pools

As many employers across the industry say it’s harder to fill open positions now than it was before the pandemic, some conference speakers sought to spotlight the potential in currently and formerly incarcerated individuals.

By Maria Rachal • June 30, 2021

Maine governor signs nation's first EPR law for consumer packaging

Along with a pending Oregon bill, this shows growing momentum for EPR policies. The programs target most types of consumer packaging and require producers to pay into state-regulated stewardship organizations.

By Megan Quinn • Updated July 13, 2021

Expanding curbside recycling after a tumultuous few years

The Recycling Partnership and Recyclops share how they're working with municipalities to expand the scope of U.S. curbside recycling. Also in this week's municipal news roundup, truck news from Alaska and South Carolina.

By Maria Rachal • June 24, 2021

Shifts in attitudes on EPR could mean quicker policy change: Circularity 21

Conference speakers pointed to the U.S. Plastics Pact road map and Ellen MacArthur Foundation's recent endorsements as signs that EPR is coming into its own — as long as state and federal policy can catch up.

By Megan Quinn • June 23, 2021

Amid rising interest in packaging policy, bottle bill changes still struggle to break through

Multiple states introduce bills each year to update their container deposit laws, but few pass. Experts say balancing competing interests and tough compromises may be the only way for them to make it to the finish line.

By Megan Quinn • June 23, 2021

Nearly 50 companies, including Waste Management, pursuing New York commercial waste contracts

The city aims to release the next part of a waste and recycling zone RFP within two months. Waste Connections, Interstate Waste Services, Winters Bros. Waste Systems and other local companies are among the high-profile bidders.

By Cole Rosengren • June 23, 2021

Atlanta and San Francisco's food waste wisdom; how the pandemic affected recycling education

SWANA's Sustainable Materials Management Summit and the NYC Food Waste Fair brought together local leaders from Florida to Maryland and Georgia to California. Catch up in this week's municipal news roundup.

By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • June 17, 2021

2021 state waste and recycling policy highlights

Catch up on legislative coverage of EPR, recycled content mandates, product bans and market development plans from California to Maine.

By Waste Dive Team • Updated Dec. 21, 2021

Employers may relax COVID-19 measures in fully vaccinated workplaces, OSHA says

Updated guidance encourages employers to give paid time off for vaccinations. The agency also published a long-awaited emergency temporary standard, but only specific to healthcare employees.

By Ryan Golden • June 10, 2021

City budget season brings new waste initiatives in DC, Baltimore, elsewhere

Also in this week's municipal news roundup: a major recycling facility fire in Phoenix, additional reports of service disruptions stemming from worker shortages, and more updates from around the country.

By Maria Rachal • June 10, 2021

California eyes efforts to spur US ratification of Basel Convention

State lawmakers and activists in California want the Biden administration to prioritize a treaty to curb waste dumping in developing countries. Meanwhile, Palo Alto is struggling to account for where exported waste ends up.

By Megan Quinn • June 4, 2021

Roundup: 'Recycling is infrastructure too,' Twin Cities poised for landfill expansion

Plus: Driver shortages impact garbage, recycling, yard and bulk pickups in multiple states, and Georgia, South Carolina and Colorado see legislative actions on single-use plastics, tires and recycling access.

By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • June 3, 2021

EPA previews national recycling strategy and measurement guide, touts $10M in new grants

An official said at a SWANA event the strategy will center on areas such as climate change and environmental justice. The Biden administration also recently announced $14.5 million in plastics research funding.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated June 17, 2021

Waste Management looks to surpass 80% CNG collection fleet

With 70% of its routed fleet already there, that goal is for the next five to seven years. “We're going to continue to buy predominantly CNG where the opportunity exists," said COO John Morris, following a new fleets report.

By Maria Rachal • June 2, 2021

Republic shareholders reject ESG-linked pay proposal while industry sees another year of rising CEO compensation

A recent Teamsters-backed effort to tie executive compensation to environmental performance was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the pay gap between solid waste CEOs and median employees continues to widen.

By Cole Rosengren • May 25, 2021

Roundup: Driver shortages hamper local waste collection, US recycling infrastructure begs $17B expansion

Plus: California's budget surplus yields $130 million proposal for recycling infrastructure, New York City progresses on solutions for its curbside trash problem, and more municipal news from around the U.S.

By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • May 20, 2021

OSHA to review safety guidance, directs employers to follow CDC mask update

Employers can still voluntarily opt to require social distancing and masks for their workers, attorneys say.

By Kathryn Moody • May 18, 2021

Roundup: New York City clears legislative hurdle on plastics reduction

The city council passed a bill meant to limit use of straws, a potential sign of growing acceptance for plastics reduction policies. Elsewhere, an American Biogas Council event spurred discussion of codigestion.

By Cole Rosengren , Maria Rachal • May 14, 2021