On electric truck transition, SWANA recommends wait-and-see approach

The research analysis of compressed natural gas, electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric-powered refuse trucks comes as fleet managers navigate a growing array of alternative fuel options.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 13, 2022

California closes another banner year for waste and recycling legislation with numerous bills

New action on the state’s container redemption program, diversion credits for waste-to-energy facilities and recycled content standards for thermoform plastic all passed at the end of the session.

By Megan Quinn • Sept. 1, 2022

With $335M to invest in lithium-ion battery recycling, the Biden administration asks for guidance

Building on prior announcements, the agency is seeking ideas on “collection, transportation, processing, and recycling of batteries and scrap materials” that are used in electric vehicles.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 31, 2022

Divert seeks to scale food waste prevention tech, recycling platform with $100M investment

CEO Ryan Begin said the company is coming out of stealth mode after cultivating a large retail client base. He discussed rethinking the food recovery hierarchy and previewed multiple new digester projects.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 31, 2022

Anaergia says federal tax credits, boosted by California policy, will unlock new US biogas projects

In a recent earnings call, executives shared updates on expanding organics pre-processing and digestion operations to meet California’s SB 1383 mandate along with financing for projects in North Carolina and Rhode Island.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 19, 2022

Archaea talks expanding RNG venture with Republic, significant implications of new federal tax credits

During a Tuesday earnings call, executives discussed their growing joint venture with Republic Services and newly attractive carbon sequestration and hydrogen projects supported by the Inflation Reduction Act.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 17, 2022

Biden signs Inflation Reduction Act with waste implications and $369B for climate efforts

Groups representing companies that produce RNG from waste touted the law as a major step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The president called it “one of the most significant laws in our history.”

By Megan Quinn • Updated Aug. 17, 2022

Massachusetts climate bill includes anaerobic digesters in state peak energy incentive program

A major bill recently signed by Gov. Charlie Baker has implications for digesters as well as landfill gas facilities. The National Waste & Recycling Association and Vanguard Renewables supported the provisions.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 16, 2022

Biogas industry applauds House passage of Inflation Reduction Act with ‘historic’ implications

Anaergia and the American Biogas Council said new tax credits and other provisions will be a boon for anaerobic digestion and landfill gas projects. The bill also has implications for Superfund projects and corporate tax policy.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 15, 2022

How WIN Waste Innovations’ unique set of WTE, landfill and rail assets positions it for industry expansion

In an exclusive interview at its headquarters a little over a year after the company's formation, CEO Robert Boucher discussed a possible IPO, upcoming ESG initiatives and the outlook for legacy Wheelabrator facilities.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 11, 2022

Inflation Reduction Act heads to House with biogas and fleet provisions intact

Tax credits to build biogas projects and expand alternative fuel vehicles remain part of a major climate bill that could see a final vote this week. New language taxing stock buybacks would affect large waste companies, but minimally.

By Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Updated Aug. 10, 2022

Stericycle bounces back in Q2 after slow start to the year

CEO Cindy Miller says a stronger labor pool, pricing levers and new infrastructure efficiency projects such as an automated sharps processing system will help improve business for the rest of 2022.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 5, 2022

What the Inflation Reduction Act proposal means for biogas producers and alternative fuel vehicles

Supporters such as the American Biogas Council and RNG Coalition say several provisions could help grow RNG markets, but the National Waste & Recycling Association says a corporate tax hike will hurt business.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 4, 2022

Q2 earnings results for major waste and recycling companies

Catch up on the latest round of financial results from WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Casella Waste Systems, Clean Harbors and Stericycle.

Updated Aug. 10, 2022

Biogas included in investment tax credit provisions of Inflation Reduction Act

The language, part of $369 billion in climate provisions, could apply to landfill gas projects as well as anaerobic digesters. Proponents have long called for more parity with credits given to other renewables, like wind and solar.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 2, 2022

GFL Environmental largely overcomes inflation through pricing and fuel charges, raises 2022 revenue guidance

Executives outlined ongoing efforts to recover direct fuel costs, similar to existing programs by major competitors, and shared an updated outlook on acquisition strategy given the inflationary environment.

By Cole Rosengren • July 28, 2022

WIN Waste Innovations buys Ohio hauler, creating platform for further regional expansion

Following WIN’s purchase of Waste Away Systems, CEO Robert Boucher says more Ohio acquisitions are likely as the Northeast company looks to expand its collection footprint and internalize volumes at two landfills in the state.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated July 28, 2022

Connecticut's MIRA WTE facility finally closes, leaving many questions about regional capacity

The aging facility was handling 720,000 tons per year of waste, much of which is now getting landfilled. A legislative task force is assessing what comes next for the authority that operated it for decades.

By Cole Rosengren • July 27, 2022

Can carbon capture make incinerators a net-zero solution? European operators aim to find out.

Climate goals are inspiring European operators to explore new technologies for their emissions, yet the environmental and financial outcomes remain to be seen. Skeptics say reduction, reuse and recycling are still the best options.

By Leslie Nemo • July 26, 2022

Vanguard Renewables CEO on $700M sale to BlackRock, digester expansion and landfill competition

Neil Smith, who joined Vanguard after leading an energy company during a similar period of expansion, breaks down what the sale means for the company’s efforts to launch dozens of RNG-producing facilities.

By Cole Rosengren • July 25, 2022

Vanguard Renewables sold to BlackRock fund to fuel anaerobic digester expansion

The Massachusetts-based company, known for farm-based projects, aspires to have 100 anaerobic digesters by 2026. This new investment comes as renewable natural gas projects are increasingly popular.

By Cole Rosengren • July 20, 2022

EPA chemical recycling debate heats up with letters from lawmakers, activists and industry pushback

Some environmentalists and lawmakers want pyrolysis and gasification units to remain regulated as waste combustion, but the plastics industry says the label doesn’t apply to most chemical recycling. EPA will consider new rules.

By Megan Quinn • July 19, 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

Future of troubled Renovare unclear after West Virginia facility closure, surprise merger reversal

The company — formerly known as BioHiTech Global — has seen its stock price plummet following financial, operational and legal issues. Former partner Entsorga sees a path forward for its shuttered showcase plant.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated July 1, 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