Recycling
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Tribal projects to reduce waste receive millions in EPA, NOAA funding
The EPA announced $300 million for tribal climate change programs, including $21 million in waste-related initiatives. NOAA also announced $23 million in grants for marine debris mitigation efforts.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 6, 2024 -
(2024). Retrieved from flickr.
Kentucky’s first dedicated glass recycling program partners with growing spirits industry
O-I Glass will purchase cullet from the new program run by workforce development nonprofit Workwell Industries. The glass comes from distilleries in the region, who also invested in the project.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 5, 2024 -
Multimaterial plastic packaging, some produce stickers land on ‘problematic’ materials list for elimination
Additions to the U.S. Plastics Pact’s list are targeted for elimination by 2030, building on 2025 goals. The group says many of these items are not commonly recyclable.
By Maria Rachal • Sept. 4, 2024 -
Myplas film recycling plant in Minnesota to reopen under new ownership
GDB Circular plans to upgrade the facility and improve operations at the film recycling plant, which opened in December but idled soon after due to financial issues.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 4, 2024 -
California legislature passes textile EPR, SB 1383 updates and much more
If the bill is signed, California could become the first state to adopt a textile extended producer responsibility program. Lawmakers also approved program updates for paint, carpet and marine flares.
By Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Updated Sept. 4, 2024 -
How Boston University manages the disposal chaos of move-out season
One of the largest universities in Massachusetts diverted an estimated 113 tons of material from disposal as students left in May. The school partnered with Casella, Goodwill, Helpsy and others to make it happen.
By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 28, 2024 -
CalRecycle aims to scale beverage container redemption with $70M in grants
A new round of funding is supporting more than 250 new recycling sites across 30 counties. This includes reverse vending machines, mobile recycling and bag drop programs.
By Maria Rachal • Aug. 28, 2024 -
ERI opens first alkaline battery recycling plant in Indiana, more to come
The company’s new focus on alkaline battery recycling is meant to broaden its electronics management services, especially as the U.S. government supports battery recycling infrastructure to get back critical materials.
By Megan Quinn • Aug. 21, 2024 -
Recology reports further emissions reductions, plans for new regulations
The employee-owned company based in California released its fifth annual sustainability report. Last year it set new targets to reduce emissions from landfills and facilities.
By Jacob Wallace • Aug. 21, 2024 -
Composters add pickup services for hard-to-recycle items, addressing gap
The small, independent haulers are partnering with recyclers in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts and elsewhere to divert materials. They say customers are willing to pay for pickups amid distrust with mainstream recycling services.
By Jacob Wallace • Aug. 19, 2024 -
Goodwill positions itself as a growing player in the recycling industry
At its first sustainability summit, the organization highlighted plans to scale up textile recycling while continuing to foster regional film plastic partnerships. Leaders also weighed in on California’s pending textile EPR bill.
By Megan Quinn • Aug. 19, 2024 -
Glass Half Full pours efforts into new facility after $6.5M funding round
The Louisiana glass recycler’s funding round, led by Benson Capital, supports construction on the company’s new facility, as well as its expansion into new markets in the Southeast and its pilot of a mixed recycling program.
By Megan Quinn • Aug. 14, 2024 -
Circular Action Alliance names its first CEO
Jeff Fielkow has decades of recycling and packaging experience at Tetra Pak, WM and elsewhere. The producer responsibility organization is ramping up work in Colorado, Oregon and California.
By Megan Quinn • Aug. 13, 2024 -
Redemption rates for many bottle bill states declined in 2023; Massachusetts ranks lowest
The Container Recycling Institute said recent changes to programs in California and Connecticut could help improve numbers, citing promising Q1 data from the latter state this year.
By Megan Quinn • Aug. 12, 2024 -
How Minnesota’s packaging stakeholders got EPR across the finish line
Policy and environmental leads told the story of how compromise led to the latest extended producer responsibility for packaging bill passed into law during a Product Stewardship Institute event.
By Maria Rachal • Aug. 9, 2024 -
Rumpke opens $100M MRF in Ohio to meet rising regional needs
The facility, said to be the largest and most advanced in North America, includes AI-assisted technology and three tipping floors, along with community spaces for education and a training center for employees.
By Megan Quinn • Aug. 7, 2024 -
Target still struggles to lower virgin plastic use by 2025 deadline
While the retailer made some progress toward its goal to reduce virgin plastic use in its own-brand packaging 20% by 2025, it’s still using more — not less — than the 2020 baseline.
By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 6, 2024 -
Top waste companies spent $835M on Q2 M&A, forecast more to come this year
WM, Waste Connections and GFL Environmental reported notable transactions during the period, while others were less active. Casella’s Q3 totals are expected to be higher due to deals that closed this summer.
By Cole Rosengren , Megan Quinn • Aug. 6, 2024 -
What the Supreme Court’s Chevron reversal could mean for PFAS and labor regulations
Ripple effects of the Chevron doctrine reversal may not affect operations for waste and recycling companies yet but could affect future federal rulemaking and legal challenges. NWRA’s CEO and legal experts weigh in.
By Megan Quinn • Aug. 6, 2024 -
Casella touts key mid-Atlantic acquisitions, facility improvements for strong Q2
Casella offered more details on its acquisitions of Whitetail Disposal and LMR, as well as updates to the rail-served McKean Landfill, all of which support its growing footprint in the broader Pennsylvania area.
By Megan Quinn • Aug. 2, 2024 -
ReMA urges federal court to review EPA’s PFAS hazardous substance designation
ReMA’s petition challenging the CERCLA hazardous substance designation for certain PFAS follows a similar petition from NWRA. Recycling and waste industry groups worry about unintended consequences from the rule.
By Megan Quinn • Aug. 1, 2024 -
GFL has no plans to go private, plans auction of environmental services business
CEO Patrick Dovigi said the company received interest from several buyers for its liquid waste and soil remediation business. A potential sale could reduce leverage while funding stock buybacks and more solid waste M&A.
By Jacob Wallace • Aug. 1, 2024 -
Mars doubts it can achieve 2025 sustainable packaging targets
Almost half of Mars’ packaging portfolio is being redesigned or eliminated to align with current or future recycling infrastructure. But infrastructure advancement is taking longer than expected, per its latest sustainability report.
By Maria Rachal • July 31, 2024 -
3 tips to boost recycled material supply from NERC’s new ‘living resource’
The new guide uses case studies to illustrate how MRFs, nonprofits, government entities and private companies have found solutions to boost recycled materials supplies across the U.S.
By Megan Quinn • July 31, 2024 -
City of Greenville, North Carolina. Retrieved from Flickr.
Q2 earnings results for major waste and recycling companies in 2024
Follow the latest results from WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Casella Waste Systems, Clean Harbors and Enviri.
By Waste Dive Staff • Updated Aug. 6, 2024