Q3 earnings results for major waste and recycling companies

Follow the latest round of financial results from WM, Republic Services, Casella Waste Systems, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental and more.

Updated Dec. 1, 2022

Plastic recycling rates are low. Could better data collection help?

Better collaboration between stakeholders and more formalized laws around recycling data collection would give the U.S. a better road map for improving recycling, speakers at a webinar from The Recycling Partnership said.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 27, 2022

Casella narrows ESG focus to 5 key targets for 2030

The Vermont-based company previously set 10 ESG targets in its 2020 report but has narrowed the focus to five key metrics related to emissions reduction, recycling volumes, fleet efficiency and more.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 27, 2022

WM sets new ESG targets for GHG emissions, recycling volumes, diversity and more

The company’s first full-year report since acquiring Advanced Disposal Services shows an emissions uptick, but WM says upcoming investments will reverse that.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 26, 2022

Rubicon’s stock has struggled since going public. Is the SPAC trend to blame?

The tech company — which brokers waste and recycling services — rang the opening bell on Wall Street this week after its stock price declined and its founder stepped down as CEO. Analysts say a turnaround is still possible.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 21, 2022

Why are PET prices declining? Experts cite a ‘confluence of events’ tied to the shifting economy

The summer’s steep dips have slowed, but economic indicators suggest more short-term turbulence could be afoot. Analysts say it’s too soon to draw conclusions about how this relates to brands’ recycled content commitments.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 19, 2022

BP acquiring landfill RNG company Archaea for $4.1B

The pending transaction comes barely a year after Archaea Energy, a fast-growing developer of landfill gas projects, went public. The deal is described as a way for BP to support customers’ decarbonization goals.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 17, 2022

Rubicon founder Nate Morris steps down as CEO soon after taking company public

Phil Rodoni, previously the company’s chief technology officer, has been elevated to the lead role. Rubicon has seen its financial standing decline less than two months after going public.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 14, 2022

Republic follows WM, Stericycle in agreeing to civil rights audit

Republic says it will conduct an independent audit despite shareholders voting down a similar proposal in May. Groups including the Teamsters and As You Sow want the company to be more transparent about environmental justice.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 7, 2022

RoadRunner Recycling buys Compology to scale AI, metering in collection service

RoadRunner, which provides service through third-party haulers, has raised nearly $130 million to date as it scales quickly. Compology’s AI and camera capabilities will expand its data offerings for ESG-driven customers.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 6, 2022

Where Cyclyx, ExxonMobil, McKinsey and Casella see chemical recycling going next

During a recent MIT event, the CEO of the Cyclyx consortium said waste companies and MRF operators could play a key role in supporting a transition toward chemical recycling.

By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 30, 2022

US Plastics Pact launches program to boost reuse and refill concepts

Members of the brand-backed group aim to make their plastic packaging 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025, but the current scope of U.S. reuse systems remains limited.

By Megan Quinn • Sept. 20, 2022

US Plastics Pact activators see federal policy as key to achieving 2025 packaging reduction goals

During a recent webinar, speakers from Mars and Keurig Dr Pepper outlined incremental progress on rethinking their packaging strategies and called for further federal action to accelerate this shift.

By Megan Quinn • Sept. 15, 2022

National Sword kicked off a wave of MRF investments. 5 years later, tech and funding continue to advance.

While the initial shock led facility operators to scramble, many have since invested millions in new equipment to improve material quality. Now, brand commitments and state policies are expected to be the next big market drivers.

By Megan Quinn • Sept. 14, 2022

WM’s VP of recycling discusses what the Avangard acquisition means for plastic markets

WM has invested in secondary processing ventures before, but VP Brent Bell said the market conditions make this round different. He also shared what the deal could mean for a Honeywell chemical recycling proposal and more.

By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 14, 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

Plugging $1B for alternative fuel vehicles, EPA head test-drives electric garbage truck

Inflation Reduction Act funding will be available “to replace dirty heavy-duty trucks with zero-emission models,” a recent video with EPA Administrator Michael Regan highlighted.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 30, 2022

LRS CEO outlines how M&A and sustainability are creating a Midwest powerhouse

One year into Macquarie’s ownership of LRS, CEO Alan Handley shared what’s next for the company’s expansion, talked plans to hit a $600 million revenue run rate, previewed a new Chicago MRF and more.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 30, 2022

Domestic destinations for recycled paper and plastic are growing. Is National Sword the reason?

A wave of investments occurred in the U.S. over the last five years, but experts debate how much is due to China's scrap import restrictions versus other economic, environmental and geopolitical factors.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 22, 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

Rubicon stock begins trading, company reports nearly $197M in proceeds from SPAC deal

The Kentucky-based technology company has started trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RBT, with plans for further expansion following the new influx of capital.

By Cole Rosengren • 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

Republic Services ESG reports call out growing risks from extreme heat, rainfall

These chronic climate risks could interrupt business, diminish productivity, risk worker safety and damage facilities, according to analysis in two 2021 ESG reports the company recently released.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 12, 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

Food waste tech firm Afresh raises $115M

The Series B funding round, which included a former Whole Foods executive as an investor, will help scale the technology to “thousands” more stores.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Aug. 8, 2022