Organics: Page 5
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Michigan governor expected to sign clean energy bill that includes incineration
A suite of clean energy bills would transition the state to clean energy by 2040. It counts an existing WTE facility in Kent County as clean while also supporting the use of landfill gas systems and anaerobic digestion.
By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 21, 2023 -
EPA’s $33M in recycling education grants will boost programs in New York, California and more
The funding will support 25 local recycling and organics programs nationwide. Many of the selected programs support training and multilingual resources.
By Megan Quinn • Nov. 20, 2023 -
EPA should act on landfill emissions ahead of COP28, waste and environmental groups say
A coalition is urging the Biden administration to announce a rulemaking to update emissions standards for landfills. The call comes as world leaders prepare to negotiate new climate commitments.
By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 15, 2023 -
Anaergia mulls sale of Rialto Bioenergy Facility as revenue declines
Executives hope a production ramp-up at a Rhode Island facility and new deals will offset the impact from Rialto’s bankruptcy and turn the company’s finances around.
By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 14, 2023 -
Austin, Texas, releases zero waste plan as population booms
The city’s goal of achieving a 90% diversion rate by 2040 remains ambitious, but Austin Resource Recovery is planning new infrastructure and expanded collections to help bridge the gap.
By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 10, 2023 -
Local officials call for organics phase-out, new rules for landfill emissions
More than 50 local elected officials noted that ground-up strategies to bring down landfill methane emissions are insufficient, and called for a stronger federal strategy in a letter to the U.S. EPA.
By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 31, 2023 -
California projects emphasize zero waste equity by keeping marginalized groups at the center
An equitable zero waste future means partnering with businesses, unhoused people, waste workers and grassroots groups, speakers from San Francisco and Los Angeles said at the National Zero Waste Conference.
By Megan Quinn • Updated Nov. 6, 2023 -
EPA pours $128M into environmental justice projects, including waste and recycling efforts
The EPA chose 186 projects led by community groups and local governments and counts several waste and recycling initiatives among its recipients, including anti-dumping, community recycling and organics diversion efforts.
By Megan Quinn • Oct. 24, 2023 -
U.S. Composting Council, ReFED praise new food waste reports from EPA
Organics leaders noted the reports affirm the U.S. EPA’s preference for source reduction and lend support for composting over anaerobic digestion, landfilling and incineration.
By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 24, 2023 -
Groups push for landfill methane action from local governments as ‘low-hanging fruit’
New EPA data shows the waste sector continues to dominate U.S. methane emissions. But groups believe new federal funding is aligning with a growing awareness of opportunities to make a dent in those numbers.
By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 23, 2023 -
EPA reports quantify methane emissions from organic waste, retire food recovery hierarchy
One report found 58% of fugitive methane emissions at MSW landfills came from wasted food. The agency’s new lifecycle analyses on food waste management pathways also reaffirmed the importance of source reduction.
By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 20, 2023 -
Tracker
Tracking GHG emissions of US waste management companies
Clean Harbors, Synagro and Recology recently shared their 2023 sustainability reports. Compare their progress with other major waste companies, including WM, Republic Services, Enviri, Stericycle and more.
By Megan Quinn , Jacob Wallace , Cole Rosengren • Updated Aug. 30, 2024 -
Chicago launches drop-off organics collection program
Residents can drop off all kinds of food waste at 15 locations managed by the Department of Streets and Sanitation to help meet the city’s climate goals. The program is meant to make organics collection more accessible.
By Megan Quinn • Oct. 17, 2023 -
Walmart announces renewed food waste partnership with Denali
The retailer’s work with Denali will divert millions of pounds of non-edible food from landfills to create compost, feed animals and generate renewable energy.
By Peyton Bigora • Oct. 17, 2023 -
NYC containerization
New York City seeks vendor to supply nearly 3.2M bins for residential container initiative
An upcoming rule, set to be phased in next fall, will lead to a new era of plastic bins for buildings with up to nine units. The city’s Department of Sanitation plans to bear no cost or responsibility for distribution.
By Cole Rosengren • Updated Oct. 16, 2023 -
Synagro publishes first sustainability report as it ramps up SB 1383 compliance assistance
The company is looking to increase its diversion of biosolids from landfills while accepting greater quantities of food waste, eyeing an opportunity to improve its emissions.
By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 10, 2023 -
US Composting Council, BPI release product labeling legislative guidelines
The groups collaborated with representatives from WM, Atlas Organics, PepsiCo and more on principles related to product color, testing and labeling claims. They also intend to release a model compostable labeling bill.
By Maria Rachal • Oct. 6, 2023 -
Compostable packaging is on the rise. What are consumers supposed to do with it?
Speakers at SPC Advance from Keurig Dr Pepper, NatureWorks, Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee, Sonoco FRESH and MassDEP talked through the complex questions raised by the uptick in compostable packaging.
By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 5, 2023 -
4 composting projects with EPA grant funding: An inside look
The projects in Alaska, Iowa, Maryland and New York will build new compost facility capacity for communities. They aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase organic waste diversion.
By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 3, 2023 -
Massachusetts awards $5M for recycling programs, with environmental justice focus
Priorities included pay-as-you-throw, curbside organics, textiles, mattresses and more. The annual grants come as MassDEP’s commissioner previewed plans to hire new staff through an “unprecedented” level of state funding.
By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 2, 2023 -
Recology meets cleaner fleet goal, announces new 5-year targets
The West Coast waste hauler and processor fuels 90% of its vehicle fleet via renewable or alternative fuels. It set new goals on landfill emissions and facility power.
By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 27, 2023 -
Deep Dive
With a $4M EPA grant, Baltimore looks to chart a fresh course on organics
The city's organics infrastructure is getting a jolt from the new funding. Composting advocates hope broader changes laid out in the city’s draft waste plan will follow.
By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 26, 2023 -
Local governments share lessons on new curbside organics collection programs
Local governments that have recently launched curbside organics collection programs in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. say communication with residents and vendors can help smooth out early-stage kinks.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 25, 2023 -
Federal lawmakers introduce bipartisan legislation to cut food waste, expand USDA programs
The bill, which comes as farm bill negotiations ramp up, would establish an Office of Food Loss and Waste at the agency. A coalition of groups advocating for federal food waste legislation had proposed the idea.
By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 22, 2023 -
New Austin Resource Recovery director named as city implements $4M EPA reuse grant
Richard McHale has more than 30 years of experience with the agency. He has also led the Texas SWANA chapter and the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Municipal Waste Management Association.
By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 20, 2023