Organics: Page 12


  • Man in yellow safety vest, jeans and baseball hat looks at compost pile - heavy equipment in the background
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    Karine Vann/Waste Dive
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    Composting in wine country: Napa Valley’s multi-decade circular economy story

    California’s organics recycling law is driving new demand for processing infrastructure. Longstanding efforts by Upper Valley Disposal and others to compost grape pomace have given the region a head start.

    By Karine Vann • Oct. 19, 2022
  • Plastic bottles baled for recycling
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    OperationShooting via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    New nonprofit Just Zero taking a national approach to zero waste and closing disposal sites

    Zero waste advocates formerly with the Conservation Law Foundation say the group will provide local activists with national-level resources for drafting legislation and more.

    By Oct. 18, 2022
  • Aerial view of composting operations at a landfill in Orange County, California with mountains in the background
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    Permission granted by OC Waste & Recycling
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    Deep Dive // California's organics experiment

    What California’s organics recycling law could mean for the future of landfills

    As the state looks to dramatically reduce disposal volumes in the coming years, the shift is prompting new questions about the waste industry’s operating model. Orange County is one notable landfill operator pivoting to composting.

    By Oct. 13, 2022
  • Aerial view of composting facility at landfill, with residential area in the background
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    Permission granted by Sustainable Generation
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    Q&A

    Sustainable Generation CEO talks solar-powered composting and infrastructure trends

    Scott Woods, founder of the compost equipment company, highlights a new facility built at a Republic Services landfill as well as trends around PFAS, community relations, infrastructure funding and more.

    By Oct. 12, 2022
  • Industrial facility with large holding tank and silver tubes
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    Courtesy of Divert
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    Divert to provide RNG for BP from food waste digesters via 10-year contract

    The $175 million agreement involves gas from three upcoming food waste digesters in California, Pennsylvania and Washington. It marks the latest sign of investment into waste-related projects that produce renewable natural gas.

    By Oct. 11, 2022
  • Plastic bottle in recycling bin
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    Tonelson via Getty Images
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    Zero waste should be an important part of climate plans, GAIA urges

    Through food waste prevention, single-use plastics bans, robust composting and recycling, and other strategies, the waste sector can support the Paris Agreement’s targeted limit to global warming, a new report said.

    By Oct. 5, 2022
  • A photo of the EPA entrance sign in the foreground of the agency's building
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    Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    EPA action plan details environmental justice efforts across waste programs

    A report from the Office of Land and Emergency Management details how the agency will consider disadvantaged communities in projects related to waste and recycling, including through grants from the infrastructure law.

    By Oct. 4, 2022
  • Aerial view of downtown Long Beach, California, with ocean in the background
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    trekandshoot via Getty Images
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    California’s last 2 WTE facilities under pressure following new state law

    Now that jurisdictions can no longer count waste sent to “transformation” facilities toward their recycling targets, Covanta-operated sites in Long Beach and Stanislaus County may see a shift.

    By Sept. 29, 2022
  • Paper bags filled with leaves and a trash can sit on a grass curb in a residential area.
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    Photo illustration: Getty Images; Industry Dive

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    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 Sept. 26, 2022
  • DSNY workers collecting waste in New York
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    Permission granted by Clare Miflin
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    Council hearing features ideas to boost New York City’s stagnant diversion rate

    During a public hearing on Tuesday, residents urged the Department of Sanitation to direct more time and resources to organics programs, education efforts and outreach to overlooked communities.

    By Sept. 21, 2022
  • Gavin Newsom gives a speech.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    California Gov. Newsom signs many recycling and waste bills, vetoes two

    Bills concerning the state’s container redemption program, incineration rules, battery recycling programs, plastic bag regulations and organic waste diversion were among those Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in September.

    By Updated Oct. 3, 2022
  • People walking on New York City street, with One World Trade Center rising in the background
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive // NYC commercial waste reform

    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 Sept. 19, 2022
  • Entsorga receiving doors in Martinsburg, West Virginia
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    Courtesy of Entsorga West Virginia
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    Renovare Environmental CEO steps down, reverse merger with Harp Renewables still pending

    Details about the fate of the small-scale digester company remain limited, but it’s now working to raise new funding and pay off debt ahead of a possible transaction. In the meantime, CEO Tony Fuller is out.

    By Sept. 14, 2022
  • Person peeling food next to compost bin
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Inflation may have reduced food waste, but food banks worry about lower donation supply

    During a recent ReFED webinar, speakers from Feeding America, BlueCart and Purdue University said they see opportunities for partnerships to further reduce food waste during times when inflation affects donations.

    By Sept. 12, 2022
  • Person in hard hat and safety vest stands over fast-moving conveyor belt with recyclables in Oregon
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    Natalie Behring via Getty Images
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    Bio-based packaging companies say mushrooms and seaweed are the next alternatives to plastic

    In a recent webinar, companies made their case for “bioregenerative” packaging that uses renewable, compostable materials with the same properties as plastic. Markets and supply chains are still warming to it.

    By Sept. 6, 2022
  • Industrial facility with large holding tank and silver tubes
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    Courtesy of Divert
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    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 Aug. 31, 2022
  • Blue garbage truck on road
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    Permission granted by LRS
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    Q&A

    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 Aug. 30, 2022
  • A volunteer packs a box of donated food.
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    DjordjeDjurdjevic via Getty Images
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    Jersey City mapping food rescue opportunities with support from NRDC grant

    Jersey City’s public works and health and human services departments are working to better map and distribute food resources as part of a broader focus on reducing food waste that is saving $1 million per year so far.

    By Aug. 29, 2022
  • Man in suit, holding a binder, walks with a crowd of people into a room for Congressional hearing
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    As EPA seeks to label certain PFAS hazardous, landfill operators worry about cost, liability

    The federal government is targeting PFOA and PFOS, two of many “forever chemicals,” for inclusion under the Superfund law. Landfill operators want a targeted exemption, citing significant legal liability and costs.

    By Aug. 29, 2022
  • City buildings and downtown street, mountains in background
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    Nicolas McComber via Getty Images
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    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 Updated Aug. 25, 2022
  • Two workers in orange shirts and yellow hard hats collect recyclables to throw into a truck, in front of a pizza restaurant in New York City
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    Courtesy of Boro-Wide Recycling
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    Deep Dive // NYC commercial waste reform

    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 Aug. 24, 2022
  • Anaergia OREX pre-processing equipment
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    Permission granted by Anaergia
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    Anaergia says federal tax credits, boosted by California policy, will unlock new US biogas projects

    In a recent earnings call, executives shared updates on expanding organics pre-processing and digestion operations to meet California’s SB 1383 mandate along with financing for projects in North Carolina and Rhode Island.

    By Aug. 19, 2022
  • Two men in focus, sitting at a long table testifying to Congress with microphones in front of them.
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    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 Aug. 18, 2022
  • President Joe Biden signs the Inflation Act at a desk while lawmakers group around him.
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    Drew Angerer via Getty Images
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    Biden signs Inflation Reduction Act with waste implications and $369B for climate efforts

    Groups representing companies that produce RNG from waste touted the law as a major step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The president called it “one of the most significant laws in our history.”

    By Updated Aug. 17, 2022
  • Vanguard Renewables anaerobic digester at Bar-Way Farm in Deerfield, Massachusetts
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    Courtesy of Vanguard Renewables
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    Massachusetts climate bill includes anaerobic digesters in state peak energy incentive program

    A major bill recently signed by Gov. Charlie Baker has implications for digesters as well as landfill gas facilities. The National Waste & Recycling Association and Vanguard Renewables supported the provisions.

    By Aug. 16, 2022