After years of growing awareness, ReFED director sees a ‘rubber-meets-the-road moment’ for food waste

The U.S. government’s 2030 food loss and waste reduction goal is fast approaching, and food prices are on the rise. Dana Gunders discusses what this all means for ongoing efforts to reduce, recover and recycle wasted food.

By Cole Rosengren • April 6, 2022

Latest UN climate change report highlights urban mitigation strategies, circular materials management

Reducing food waste and increasing plastics recycling and materials reuse all came up as potential strategies, as the world must implement changes more rapidly to alter the course of global warming.

By Maria Rachal • April 5, 2022

Dramatic expansion potential for waste projects seen by RNG Coalition CEO as climate efforts intensify

RNG projects at North American landfills, anaerobic digesters and other sites are set to grow exponentially in the coming years. Johannes Escudero breaks down what’s ahead.

By Cole Rosengren • April 1, 2022

Walmart signs up for West Coast food waste-reduction project

As a member of the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment, the retailer will provide data that will help give a more precise estimate of waste across the retail sector and identify key “hot spots” to focus on.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • March 22, 2022

Washington governor signs bill calling for 75% reduction of organic waste disposal by 2030

The law is seen as a natural evolution from the state’s recent work on recycling and climate change. Organics recyclers are especially focused on new compost procurement rules and first-in-the-nation compostable product guidelines.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated March 25, 2022

Waste Dive Live: What’s next for waste and recycling in 2022?

Watch the videos from our Feb. 10 virtual event to hear perspectives from the Waste Dive team, The Recycling Partnership and Reloop.

By The Waste Dive Team • March 9, 2022

CEO says longevity sets Ameresco apart in the landfill gas-to-energy space

A 20-plus-year reputation and broad range of clients — including municipalities, military bases and private companies — will keep the company going as competition ramps up in the waste sector, executives said.

By Megan Quinn • March 2, 2022

3 takeaways from GWMS on the future of environmental justice, greenhouse gas emissions and leachate at landfills

Landfill operators, consultants and researchers shared the latest trends they’re following at last week’s biennial event. Microplastics were called out as an emerging contaminant of concern, akin to how PFAS science has evolved.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 23, 2022

As compost volumes grow, policy and research help boost market expansion

Composters are continuously exploring market options as organics recycling expands. Transportation projects, carbon sequestration, green roofs and cannabis farming are among many opportunities.

By Leslie Nemo • Feb. 14, 2022

The Waste Dive Outlook on 2022

Get up to speed on what may be coming next around M&A, labor solutions, ESG investment trends, federal regulation, state policy, environmental justice, local programs and more.

By The Waste Dive Team • Feb. 9, 2022

10 questions with Gold Medal Environmental on its strategic transformation

CEO Darren Gruendel and new President John Doyen talked about culture integration challenges after M&A, plans for Mid-Atlantic growth beyond an estimated $92 million in revenue, how they’ve maintained operations despite labor limitations and more.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 8, 2022

Federal bills advance to improve rural recycling, explore national composting strategy

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works reported both bills favorably on Thursday. Supporters see the bipartisan legislation as a medium-term step to diverting more waste in the U.S.

By Megan Quinn • Updated April 7, 2022

What’s on the Biden administration’s waste and recycling to-do list in 2022

One year in, the administration has started work on a range of climate and environmental justice initiatives. Catch up on what’s next from the EPA and others on the circular economy, PFAS, grant funding and more.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 24, 2022

Atlas Organics, with new Generate Capital backing, aims to become one of sector’s largest recyclers

Atlas CEO Joseph McMillin and Generate’s Bill Caesar see substantial room for expansion, with at least $200 million worth of projects envisioned. Atlas also recently announced a new round of Florida acquisitions.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 18, 2022

8 questions about the top trends shaping waste and recycling in 2022

Waste Dive is watching how much longer heightened M&A activity lasts, what it will take to maintain the workforce in a tough market, where organics infrastructure is growing, what’s next for recycling and more.

By Cole Rosengren , Megan Quinn , Maria Rachal • Jan. 13, 2022

We must invest in compost infrastructure to match growing demand for sustainable products

Jessica Bowman, executive director of the Plant Based Products Council, points to new consumer survey data as another reason to evolve materials management options and pass the national COMPOST Act.

By Jessica Bowman • Jan. 5, 2022

FCC Environmental awarded California mixed waste contract worth up to $1.5B

Placer County’s process is an example of how jurisdictions are preparing for major changes under California’s SB 1383 organics recycling regulations. FCC won out over GreenWaste, Recology-affiliated Nortech and others.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated April 28, 2022

EPA action and US recycling policy during Biden’s 1st year in office

2021 brought a new EPA administrator, a nominee to lead the agency’s waste efforts that is vocal on PFAS and environmental justice, the long-anticipated National Recycling Strategy and recycling funds in the infrastructure package.

Dec. 23, 2021

By the numbers: 2021’s waste and recycling trends

Take a look back through the key data points that shaped the conversations around some of the top issues — M&A, ESG, policy and workforce challenges — in an eventful year.

By Cole Rosengren , Megan Quinn , Maria Rachal • Dec. 23, 2021

Roundup: Waste Dive’s 2021 Q&A’s with waste and recycling leaders

From Waste Management’s first chief sustainability officer to the Biden administration’s pick to lead U.S. EPA waste policy, look back on the year’s conversations with execs, authors, investors, entrepreneurs and regulators.

Dec. 22, 2021

Cutting meat, produce and cereal loss key to reducing food waste’s environmental effects: EPA

In a new report, the agency said households and restaurants account for half of all wasted food, while food processing is responsible for 34 million metric tons per year. The report also noted limited progress toward a 2030 reduction goal. 

By Chris Casey • Dec. 6, 2021

New York sanitation experts urge incoming mayor to rethink, modernize collection system

The city’s sidewalks are infamous for their mountains of garbage bags and rodents. A new “Put Waste to Work” campaign says containerization, route optimization and organics collection should be top priorities.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Dec. 6, 2021

Tracking the waste and recycling industry’s M&A activity

Redbox+ Dumpsters of Greater Austin acquired a roll-off hauler; Casella acquired Gerber’s in Maryland; Hoffman Sanitation acquired Wildhorse Waste; GFL recently acquired a Michigan hauler.

By Cole Rosengren , Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn • Updated June 4, 2025

New York aims to launch commercial waste zones in 2022, sector’s largest change in decades

A long-anticipated RFP kicks off a process that could see coveted 10-year contracts awarded by next summer. Fifty companies have qualified to bid, including Waste Management, Waste Connections and Action Environmental.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 17, 2021

It’s time to look harder at landfills if we’re serious about addressing climate change

Leaders from the Institute for Energy and Resource Management, drawing on Europe’s experience, make the case for why it’s time to stop landfilling MSW and move toward a more integrated waste management system.

By Philipp Schmidt-Pathmann and Stephen Gerritson • Nov. 12, 2021