Organics
-
Alex Wong via Getty Images
How the 2024 election could affect waste and recycling policy
The presidential nominees have different takes on environmental and regulatory policies that could affect the industry, including those addressing emissions, recycling, PFAS, labor and environmental justice.
By Megan Quinn , Jacob Wallace , Cole Rosengren • Oct. 22, 2024 -
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (2008). [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Food waste responsible for 14% of US methane emissions: ReFED
A report issued by ReFED with the support of the Global Methane Hub outlines where food waste spurs methane emissions and how solutions like composting could help.
By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 18, 2024 -
Thomas Demarczyk via Getty Images
State resources boost zero waste efforts in Massachusetts and Colorado
Speakers at the National Zero Waste Conference discussed how strong state and local partnerships can help leverage funding and technical assistance that may not often be accessible to smaller communities.
By Megan Quinn • Oct. 11, 2024 -
Courtesy of NatureWorks
Deep DiveInside the debate over PLA, the packaging industry’s favorite bioplastic
Polylactic acid has been around for decades, but it only became popular as an option for compostable packaging more recently. While some environmental groups question its credentials, the packaging sector expects demand to grow.
By Mary Catherine O'Connor • Oct. 9, 2024 -
The image by Tdorante10 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Nation’s largest curbside organics collection program rolls out across New York City
The New York City Sanitation Department will now collect food waste from residents in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island after previously rolling out the service to Brooklyn and Queens.
By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 7, 2024 -
Miravision via Getty Images
9 federal recycling and waste grants to apply for in 2024
Grant applications are due soon for numerous waste, recycling and organics programs funded by the U.S. EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
By Megan Quinn • Oct. 1, 2024 -
Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
Notable waste and recycling conferences in 2025
Many industry events are on the calendar for 2025, including SWANA’s newly named RCon. See details about next year’s events covering business trends, organics, plastic recycling and more.
By Waste Dive Staff • Updated Oct. 23, 2024 -
Mary Catherine O'Connor/Waste Dive
Compostable packaging’s relationship status with organics recyclers: ‘It’s complicated’
The BPI Summit highlighted tension and complexity around how to handle this growing category of packaging. The California Compost Coalition, Athens Services, Dirt Hugger, A1 Organics, Moonshot Compost and others weighed in.
By Mary Catherine O'Connor • Updated Oct. 1, 2024 -
Permission granted by GreenWaste
California’s organics diversion mandate enters its ‘adolescent age,’ updated with new laws
The law requiring jurisdictions to divert organic waste from landfills has survived years of difficulty. Some newly passed tweaks for rural areas and composters look to move it beyond its growing pains.
By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 25, 2024 -
Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
EPA announces $117M worth of recycling grant opportunities with organics focus
The new opportunities build on a historic amount of infrastructure funding the Biden administration has awarded for recycling projects since last year, as well as efforts to build a circular economy for organics and other materials.
By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 17, 2024 -
fotokostic via Getty Images
EPA says it has no obligation to regulate PFAS in biosolids in federal lawsuit
The agency filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by farmers in Texas who allege they’ve been harmed by PFAS contamination from the spreading of sewage sludge, or biosolids, on agricultural land.
By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 16, 2024 -
Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
Bootstrap Compost pursues bond program to strengthen New England presence
The New England organics hauler, known for its focus on residential and smaller-scale commercial accounts, has a goal of eventually raising $750,000. This comes as the market is evolving in Massachusetts and neighboring states.
By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 13, 2024 -
Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
New York awards organics contracts to WM, Denali, American Recycling worth $96M
The contracts will add processing capacity for source-separated organics just as the city rolls out its residential collection program in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island.
By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 12, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Q&ANew compost program framework offers a starting point for local officials
Resources released by the Composting Consortium, a project from Closed Loop Partners, and Eco-Cycle seek to close the knowledge gap for local officials looking to begin an organics recycling program in their town.
By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 11, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
What are the federal government’s waste and recycling priorities for the rest of 2024?
The U.S. EPA released its schedule of regulatory actions for the remainder of the year. Plus, food waste, recycling data, and other topics Congress and President Biden could address by 2025.
By Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn • Sept. 9, 2024 -
Thomas Demarczyk via Getty Images
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 -
Permission granted by Agromin
California Gov. Newsom signs textile EPR bill into law; vetoes and signs other recycling bills
Newsom also signed laws updating PaintCare, carpet stewardship and organics procurement programs. He vetoed bills related to marine flares and vehicle traction battery management.
By Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Updated Sept. 30, 2024 -
Courtesy of Recology/Larry Strong
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 -
Permission granted by CompostNow
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 -
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (2008). [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
How agencies in 6 states plan to spend millions from EPA climate pollution grants
State and local governments began applying for the $4.3 billion program earlier this year. Awardees in Colorado, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Virginia and Washington plan to fund efforts to address their waste systems.
By Jacob Wallace • Aug. 8, 2024 -
Permission granted by Starbucks
Starbucks piloting compostable cold cups in select California and Minnesota locations
The cups are manufactured from double-walled paperboard with a bioplastic liner, and the lids are made from molded fiber. The two states were selected for the initial rollout based on local mandates.
By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Aug. 13, 2024 -
Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
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 -
Courtesy of Vanguard Renewables
Vanguard Renewables looks to expand hauling, logistics with key hire
Vanguard is planning to build out its organics solutions business and offer more services to customers. The company is open to M&A as it grows this division, its first president said.
By Jacob Wallace • July 30, 2024 -
Sam Silverstein/Waste Dive
Walmart partnering with Denali to depackage, recycle organics at 1,400-plus locations
The rollout comes after the two companies made their partnership public last year. Denali estimates it can recover 200,000 pounds of food waste per location annually.
By Jacob Wallace • July 29, 2024 -
Courtesy of Recology/Larry Strong
Investment ‘critical’ for U.S. compost facilities as industry shows little growth since 2018
A blended financing model could provide needed investment into large-scale composting facilities nationwide, according to new research from the Composting Consortium, an entity organized by Closed Loop Partners.
By Jacob Wallace • July 19, 2024
