Déjà vu? New York EPR bill unpopular with packaging groups awaits fate in Assembly

The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act has again passed the Senate. A host of trade groups that dislike the bill’s material restrictions and recycled content requirements have voiced support for an alternate bill.

By Maria Rachal • June 4, 2025

Planned West Virginia pyrolysis plant misses payments on $44M in bonds

The plant, commissioned by a subsidiary of Empire Diversified Energy, was set to convert waste plastic to electricity. Its future is unclear.

By Jacob Wallace • June 4, 2025

Hawai’i governor signs packaging EPR study bill

Lawmakers in Hawai’i have been introducing EPR proposals for years. The study funded by the newly signed law is due to the state legislature by the end of 2027.

By Maria Rachal • June 2, 2025

Waste industry calls on manufacturers, policymakers to help prevent facility fires

Speakers at a recent webinar hosted by the Solid Waste Association of North America and the National Stewardship Action Council offered tips on coordinating programs and policy to deal with this issue.

By Megan Quinn • May 30, 2025

Amp grows focus on custom MSW sortation offerings

The company, known for AI-enabled robotics tech, is ramping up its MSW-focused services meant to help extract recyclables and organics to divert material from disposal in landfills-constrained areas. 

By Megan Quinn • May 29, 2025

Will 2025 EPR laws pave the way for more packaging policy?

After Maryland and Washington recently adopted packaging EPR laws, leaders from Ameripen and the National Stewardship Action Council expect to see more policy action, including on bottle bills, in 2026.

By Maria Rachal • May 28, 2025

NERC notes slight commodity value improvements, while MRFs announce significant upgrades

Northeast MRFs reported blended commodity prices rose up to 9% in Q1. Meanwhile, Casella, Eureka and the City of Phoenix announced MRF upgrades in part to help fetch higher commodity prices.

By Megan Quinn • May 28, 2025

Nova Chemicals, Novolex open mechanical recycling facility for PE film

The Connersville, Indiana, facility will process up to 145,000 bales of postconsumer plastic film a year to produce recycled LLDPE for use in food-safe applications.

By Megan Quinn • May 27, 2025

CalRecycle unveils new SB 54 text; Wagoner out as CAA’s California lead

The agency will host a public meeting May 27 to take feedback. Circular Action Alliance, the packaging EPR program’s PRO, plans to hire a new state lead as former CalRecycle director Rachel Wagoner steps aside.

By Maria Rachal • May 22, 2025

Plastics reduction advocate and former EPA administrator joins Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Jennie Romer, known for plastics pollution work at Surfrider and at the EPA's pollution prevention office, will address e-waste, textiles and circular economy policy in her new role at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

By Megan Quinn • May 22, 2025

Indigenous-led efforts bolster EPR collection in remote parts of Canada

A new partnership between the Stewardship Agencies of BC and the Indigenous Zero Waste Technical Advisory Group helps improve recycling programs and training.

By Megan Quinn • May 21, 2025

Federal grantees reckon with loss of ‘generational’ recycling funding under Trump

The administration has canceled or limited grant awardees’ ability to access federal funding, changing how plastics and organics recyclers view the federal government.

By Jacob Wallace • May 21, 2025

Washington governor signs laws regulating landfills, expanding organics service and more

Gov. Bob Ferguson signed five laws, including ones that affected renewable natural gas, PFAS in biosolids and plastic bags.

By Cole Rosengren , Jacob Wallace • May 19, 2025

WM President John Morris on AI, autonomous equipment and tech investments

John Morris, who is also the company’s chief operating officer, said AI and tech upgrades for fleets, new route optimization software and autonomous vehicle pilots are helping with labor retention and cost savings.   

By Megan Quinn • May 19, 2025

Washington Gov. Ferguson signs packaging EPR law

Ferguson called it the "biggest overhaul of our recycling system in decades.” Washington’s law, the seventh in the U.S., drew opposition from the waste and recycling industry.

By Megan Quinn • May 17, 2025

How states are thinking about organic waste policy

Panelists from Divert, CalRecycle and NRDC discussed lessons that can be learned from a rising number of state organic waste policies in California and elsewhere.

By Jacob Wallace • May 15, 2025

3 tips for selling waste businesses in 2025: WasteExpo

Keeping up with maintenance and finances long before deal discussions begin can lead to more successful outcomes, said WasteExpo speakers from Kinderhook, WM, Wastequip and others.

By Megan Quinn • May 15, 2025

Maryland Gov. Moore signs packaging EPR into law

Maryland becomes the sixth state with an EPR for packaging law. It ramps up reimbursement between 2028 and 2030.

By Megan Quinn , Maria Rachal • May 13, 2025

How the Republican budget proposal affects biogas credits and waste funding

Programs funding climate initiatives would be slashed and eligibility for tax credits would shrink. But the proposal did extend one credit that the industry has been asking for.

By Jacob Wallace • Updated May 22, 2025

Ameripen names new executive director

The new head has a background in food service packaging and sustainability work and will lead the association “through one of the most consequential periods for packaging policy in U.S. history.”

By Maria Rachal • May 13, 2025

WasteExpo: No ‘one easy fix’ for battery fires, but plenty of options

Industry professionals at this year’s conference called for coordinated battery fire prevention strategies, including integrating newer tech like x-ray sorters, to fight growing battery waste streams such as vapes.

By Megan Quinn • May 12, 2025

Healthcare waste in residential streams keeps growing. Now what?

A combination of policy and education is necessary to prevent worker injuries from needlesticks and hazardous waste exposure, speakers from Stericycle and PSI said at WasteExpo. 

By Megan Quinn • May 9, 2025

Gov. DeSantis vetoes bill calling for Florida recycling plan

The recycling industry had backed this bill to revive the conversation about progressing toward the state’s 75% recycling goal. Meanwhile, DeSantis also acted on other industry-related bills.

By Cole Rosengren • May 7, 2025

GreenBlue shares How2Recycle label updates, launches tube and thermoform group

The group announced a new timeline for redesigned labels, and a collaboration on hard-to-recycle items that includes groups such as the Recycled Materials Association and Solid Waste Association of North America.

By Maria Rachal • May 7, 2025

WM acquires DC-area WB Waste Solutions

The private, Maryland-based operation was formed by industry veterans Willie K. Goode and Bruce Bates. It includes a range of commercial and industrial hauling and post-collection assets.

By Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • May 7, 2025