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

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

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

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

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

Tracking the waste and recycling industry’s M&A activity

All American Waste recently acquired a longtime Connecticut hauler; Nexwaste launched with three Texas C&D acquisitions; Casella acquired a New York hauler; Laurel Mountain Capital acquired a Colorado hauler.

By Cole Rosengren , Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn • Updated April 15, 2025

Waste and recycling employers prepping for OSHA coronavirus requirements amid legal holdups

A Jan. 4 deadline for vaccinations or weekly testing has been halted, but the industry is still closely reviewing the standard, with attention to provisions such as an exemption for outdoor workers, which could apply to certain job types.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 22, 2021

EPA's 2030 recycling strategy turns focus to circular economy and environmental justice

The long-awaited master plan focuses on steps to achieve a 50% recycling rate by 2030, but regulators promise it's just "part one" of a larger effort to tackle climate change on a higher level, and more details will follow.

By Megan Quinn • Updated Nov. 16, 2021

It's time to look harder at landfills if we're serious about addressing climate change

Leaders from the Institute for Energy and Resource Management, drawing on Europe's experience, make the case for why it's time to stop landfilling MSW and move toward a more integrated waste management system.

By Philipp Schmidt-Pathmann and Stephen Gerritson • Nov. 12, 2021

Corporate Growth Conference: Navigating modern M&A involves more partners than ever before

Speakers at last week's Chicago event, including former CEOs who've sold companies to GFL and Waste Management, highlighted the evolution of deal logistics over the years, including the growing role of private equity.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 10, 2021

Solid waste collection, landfill workers saw injury rate drop in 2020: BLS data

Focus on infection prevention in the coronavirus pandemic's first year, when illness cases spiked, may have increased attention to everyday safety messages as well. At the same time, incidence rates for MRF workers rose.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 4, 2021

GFL Environmental on track to close 40 acquisitions this year, ramping up RNG and MRF projects

Having acquired assets worth an estimated C$735 million in annual revenue to date, GFL intends to keep up its pace for the foreseeable future and raised 2021 guidance.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 4, 2021

2021 earnings coverage: GFL Environmental

In its second year as a public company, GFL continued an aggressive expansion pace throughout North America, including multiple large acquisitions such as Terrapure and PDC.

By Waste Dive Team • Updated Feb. 10, 2022

Massachusetts banning disposal of textiles, mattresses and more organics in 2022

The state's Department of Environmental Protection has finalized a plan that calls for a 30% reduction in disposal volumes by 2030. Even if it hits that target, local disposal capacity will still be very constrained.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 3, 2021

With landfill methane in the climate spotlight, satellite and flyover measurements attract a following

Landfill operators, nonprofits and regulators are looking to remote measurement technologies as a new way to check on methane releases. But it's too soon to know if they'll settle the emissions modeling debate.

By Leslie Nemo • Nov. 3, 2021

Tracking the industry: US waste and recycling info hub

Follow some of the most essential developments around M&A, ESG pledges, federal and state policy, PFAS regulations, quarterly earnings results and more with Waste Dive's unique trackers and ongoing in-depth coverage.

By Waste Dive Team • Updated Nov. 23, 2021

2021 earnings coverage for US waste and recycling companies

Catch up on Waste Dive's quarterly analysis of results from WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental and others during 2021.

By Waste Dive Team • Updated Feb. 18, 2022

2021 earnings coverage: Waste Connections

For the industry's third-largest company, 2021 continued a trend of heightened M&A activity, new ESG investments and ongoing pandemic recovery.

By Waste Dive Team • Updated Feb. 17, 2022

2021 earnings coverage: Republic Services

Revisit Waste Dive's coverage of Republic's earnings reports from an eventful year, which featured ramped up spending on ESG efforts and M&A, including the acquisitions of Santek Waste Services and ACV Enviro.

By Waste Dive Team • Updated Feb. 11, 2022

2021 earnings coverage: WM

The North American waste industry's largest company was focused on integrating Advanced Disposal Services, ramping up recycling investments and maneuvering through pandemic effects throughout the year.

By Waste Dive Team • Updated Feb. 2, 2022

Q3 earnings: A complex economic recovery continues, with M&A spending on the rise

Inflation and labor were also cited as notable challenges during recent reports. Catch up on our takeaways from key public companies.

By Waste Dive Team • Updated Nov. 4, 2021

Republic Services M&A spending on track to top $1B in 2021, highest in over a decade

The company is also making investments in landfill gas projects and expanding its environmental solutions business as it caps off a quarter that saw some volumes exceed pre-pandemic levels.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 29, 2021

Waste Connections acquisitions worth $240M in revenue through Q3, at least $100M more anticipated

The company upped its outlook thanks to economic recovery trends and M&A but reported inflationary pressures. CEO Worthing Jackman also described potential vaccine mandates as a notable labor headwind.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 28, 2021

Oregon's new landfill methane emissions rules now strictest in the country

Most sites fall under the new state rule, which requires additional monitoring, testing and permitting requirements based on size. The plan goes further than some federal regulations and could serve as a template for other states.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 21, 2021