Clean Harbors names co-CEOs in first major leadership change since its founding

Founder Alan McKim, who has led the environmental services company for 42 years, said he’ll still help drive M&A strategy and will pass off current responsibilities to multiple leaders.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 2, 2022

Waste Connections reports a decline in GHG emissions despite acquisitions, sets new ESG targets

The company plans investments in RNG facilities, MRFs and electric collection vehicles as well as new goals to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 15%, building on a recent decline of 7%, it said in its 2022 sustainability report.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 31, 2022

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

Casella reports 13 acquisitions in 2022, sees M&A opportunity in potential recession

The Vermont-based company said its pricing and fee strategy have worked well in a tight economic environment. Executives also previewed upcoming plans for acquisition and landfill expansion spending.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 28, 2022

Environmental justice voices in the waste and recycling industry

Catch up on these Q&A conversations with experts from the U.S. EPA, Ya Fav Trashman, Detroit Dirt and others on how the waste and recycling industry can play a role in environmental justice efforts.

By Megan Quinn • Updated March 14, 2023

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 spent nearly $200M on acquisitions in Q3, outlines future potential of big ESG investments

Recycling revenues are taking a hit, but executives said their updated contract models will provide insulation. CEO Jim Fish also shared a goal to eventually expand margins via price increases, not just recover costs.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 26, 2022

Lost carts, heavy volumes: Florida waste haulers get back to work after Hurricane Ian

Waste Pro and WM are among the companies that have worked through heavy waste volumes, long wait times at disposal sites, damaged infrastructure, limited access to certain island areas and other disruptions.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 18, 2022

New York approves another increase to commercial waste rates in rare move driven by inflation

Licensed haulers in the five boroughs operate under maximum pricing caps that can remain unchanged for years. The city’s move is a recognition of rising labor, fuel, equipment and disposal costs.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 18, 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

City Haul: Making yard waste programs more resilient

Despite staffing shortages, contamination challenges and other issues, municipal waste leaders are working to better serve residents and help diversion goals by making programs more consistent and expansive.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 26, 2022

Los Angeles had a rocky commercial waste zone rollout but is seeing results. What’s in store for New York?

New York has big goals for its zone system to boost diversion rates, infrastructure investment and labor standards. First, the city and haulers must navigate a transition process that one LA official called “six months of hell.”

By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 19, 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

US job growth tempered in August as waste management and remediation added 2.3K employees

After big increases in July, the pace of U.S. job growth in August slowed, and overall unemployment grew. For waste collection, MRFs and landfill workers, month-to-month results in August remained stronger than average.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 7, 2022

NLRB proposes return to broad joint employer rule

The regulation, which stems from organizing efforts at a Republic Services MRF, has been the subject of a political ping-pong match for years.

By Emilie Shumway • Sept. 7, 2022

‘Like holding a bronco back’: Pro Disposal charts a path for controlled growth in South Carolina

President Alex Cano and investors explained how a new disposal acquisition sets the company up for further growth in the Charleston, South Carolina, to Savannah, Georgia, corridor.

By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 1, 2022

3 takeaways from Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole speech

The central bank chief hinted at continued aggressive interest rate hikes, said "some" economic pain now was preferable to more of it later, and invoked his predecessors in a warning about expectations.

By Dan Ennis • Aug. 29, 2022

With sponsored CDL training, city waste leaders hope ‘if you build it, they will come’

Facing significant vacancies in public works roles, Indianapolis and Lubbock, Texas, are some of the latest cities to pay for CDLs, GED completion or other training for job requirements.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 26, 2022

Waste Connections acquiring 3 franchise haulers around San Jose, California

The newly confirmed transactions involving haulers that service San Jose, Milpitas and Livermore, California, all come with long-term municipal contracts that fit the company’s acquisition strategy.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Aug. 25, 2022

New York commercial waste haulers hold their breath after submitting bids for 10-year contracts

Bids are in to operate in the Department of Sanitation’s upcoming commercial waste zone system. Haulers of all sizes are waiting to learn their fates while operating under lingering pandemic and inflationary pressures.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 24, 2022

Ya Fav Trashman fights illegal dumping with cleanups and social media

Terrill Haigler, a former Philadelphia sanitation worker, has become a rising star in the waste world. He discusses his new children’s book about the profession, “I’m Cool Too,” and how street cleanliness is an environmental justice issue.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 23, 2022

Where the Teamsters are looking to grow their ranks in waste and recycling

General President Sean O’Brien’s “militant” approach is reportedly influencing discussions with employers and members alike as the waste industry’s biggest union looks to expand its reach.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 18, 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

Waste worker head counts increase in better-than-expected July jobs report

The employment data release followed two weeks of industry earnings reports in which discussions of hiring struggles were less prominent than they were in previous quarters.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 8, 2022

Recession or not, waste and recycling companies say outlooks remain strong

Regardless of the direction of the economy, industry execs on earnings calls pointed to waste volume trends, wage rates, price increase acceptance, and experience with past downturns to express confidence.

By Cole Rosengren , Maria Rachal , Megan Quinn • Aug. 8, 2022