Zero Waste


  • A Republic Services truck and dumpster.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Republic Services
    Image attribution tooltip

    Republic Services flags barriers to circularity with new index

    The waste company collaborated with The Harris Poll to survey executives across the economy and identify how much progress companies are making on their commitments to reduce waste.

    By Oct. 17, 2024
  • four blue recycling carts stand next to each other
    Image attribution tooltip
    Thomas Demarczyk via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 Oct. 11, 2024
  • People sit in a gress area in front of a large buildign with a sign on top that reads "Climate Pledge Arena."
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by JJonahJackalope is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    From schools to stadiums: Tips for zero waste at large venues

    Speakers at the National Zero Waste Conference last week discussed ways to incorporate reusable products in places where people gather, displacing a single-use status quo.

    By Oct. 10, 2024
  • Mechanical claw hovering over pile of trash in industrial facility
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Covanta
    Image attribution tooltip

    Reworld to shut down California’s last MSW incinerator

    The decision to close the Stanislaus County facility comes two years after California removed incentives for jurisdictions to route their waste to incineration. Reworld said it will focus on business opportunities elsewhere.

    By Oct. 8, 2024
  • Aerial view of trucks, booths and people standing in the Las Vegas Convention Center at WasteExpo 2024
    Image attribution tooltip
    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • View of a landfill
    Image attribution tooltip

    Kyryl Gorlov via iStock

    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Livegistics

    Connected workspaces: Waste and material management’s digital revolution

    Streamline your waste management journey with connected workspaces, saving time and enhancing data for waste producers, processors and transporters.

    By Scott Holliday, Head of Product, Livegistics • Sept. 9, 2024
  • A clear bag labeled "Plastic Film (Stretchy)" sits next to a bin branded with the logo of CompostNow on a front porch.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by CompostNow
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 Aug. 19, 2024
  • A black lidded trash can sits in front of a building in a fenced-off area. Next to it are a bike rack and covered moped.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    New York City inked a $7M large bin contract. Advocates want more.

    The New York Department of Sanitation contract is for large, on-street shared waste containers. A proposal for small residential buildings to use individual bins instead has zero waste advocates frustrated.

    By Updated Aug. 12, 2024
  • A sall vehicle dumps mixed waste onto an organics pile.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (2008). [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 Aug. 8, 2024
  • An industrial facility with boilers rising behind a nondescript building with a sign reading "Wheelabrator Baltimore."
    Image attribution tooltip
    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    EPA opens civil rights investigation into Baltimore waste plan

    The EPA will investigate whether Baltimore City and its Department of Public Works violated communities’ civil rights with its waste plan, which preserves the city’s status quo with a WIN Waste combustion facility.

    By July 17, 2024
  • Bales of crushed plastic bottles, most of them green in hue.
    Image attribution tooltip
    ermingut via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    SWANA joins Canada Plastics Pact

    The association, already a member of the U.S. Plastics Pact, says joining the Canadian counterpart further affirms its recent emphasis on shifting from solid waste management to resource management.

    By June 28, 2024
  • A thick jacket embroidered with a New York Sanitation Department logo and the words "M. Ukeles, Artist Residence" hangs on a gallery wall near other art pieces.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Exhibit brings together waste artists-in-residency from DSNY, Recology

    Artists who have embedded with waste agencies and haulers around the country are showing work together in one exhibit for the first time. The show shines a light on the civic and environmental possibilities in art.

    By May 10, 2024
  • A truck with large letters that read "Compost your food scraps" and has GrowNYC logos is parked near a building and crosswalk.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    GrowNYC compost drop-off funding runs out amid New York budget talks

    The nonprofit has become a fixture in communities and at farmer’s markets for its food scrap collection program, but emergency private funding was not enough to keep the programs afloat through the current fiscal year.

    By May 9, 2024
  • Plastic bottles
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Well-known circular economy specialist appointed as CalRecycle director

    Zoe Heller is well-known in the industry for her work with CalRecycle and the U.S. EPA. Supporters says her skill set will help her manage the role as California works through major recycling, organics and diversion programs.

    By May 8, 2024
  • The flag of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hangs outside the agency building in Washington, D.C.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    EPA unveils environmental justice ‘clearinghouse’ with hundreds of resources

    The online library is an "excellent start" for municipal leaders looking to center environmental justice in their work, the National League of Cities’ sustainability director said.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • May 3, 2024
  • A large open dump, with people scaling the slope, in Guatemala
    Image attribution tooltip
    John Moore via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Q&A

    ISWA says waste should become a ‘transformation industry’ as UN projects rising global tonnage

    A recent UN report projects global waste volumes could reach 3.8 billion metric tons by 2050, at significant cost. Carlos Silva Filho, president of ISWA and a contributor to the report, shares his thoughts on a new vision for the sector.

    By April 30, 2024
  • A volunteer packs a box of donated food.
    Image attribution tooltip
    DjordjeDjurdjevic via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Pacific Coast grocers reduce wasted food tonnage by nearly 25% over 4 years

    The reductions came via a public-private partnership among stakeholders across the food supply chain to share best practices to reduce food loss and waste 50% by 2030.

    By April 17, 2024
  • Old battery packs for mobile phones
    Image attribution tooltip
    Andrey Deryabin via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    State officials list batteries, tires, PFAS-containing materials as most challenging to manage

    The survey found a need for more resources and infrastructure to address the challenging materials.

    By April 15, 2024
  • A closeup of pCAM material at Green Li-ion's Oklahoma plant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Green Li-ion
    Image attribution tooltip

    Green Li-ion opens battery materials recycling plant in Oklahoma

    The company aims to close the loop on battery materials with the new facility, which produces raw materials from unsorted scrap.

    By Kate Magill • April 11, 2024
  • Brown and blue bins for waste and recycling are corralled in front of a building. The recycling bin's lid has been smashed in.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Education, transparency key to improving New York City’s recycling system, experts say

    Recycling capture rates declined from 2017 to 2023 in New York City. Critics say DSNY is losing its focus on waste reduction and should redouble its efforts to get recycling and organics collection right.

    By Updated April 11, 2024
  • Black plastic trash bags in front of a parked car in city
    Image attribution tooltip
    nycshooter via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    New book tackles waste crisis at the personal and policy levels

    Author Edward Humes’ new book, “Total Garbage,” aims to serve as a how-to guide for reducing waste in everyday life while advocating for changes in U.S. waste policy through EPR and other means.

    By March 25, 2024
  • A flame burns out of a metal stack against a dark sky
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Carl Young is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    How 3 large states want to address waste with federal climate funding

    The U.S. EPA received 45 state priority climate action plans, the first step in accessing Climate Pollution Reduction Grant funding.

    By March 21, 2024
  • Large bundles of plastic bags, cans and milk containers await processing at a recycling center.
    Image attribution tooltip
    shaunl via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Environmental justice funding and recycling resources top of mind at NRC conference

    National Recycling Congress participants such as Reloop and the the U.S. EPA delved into the roles both small community groups and large federal agencies play in advancing environmental justice initiatives. 

    By March 13, 2024
  • Homes and palm trees in the foreground, with the Los Angeles skyline and San Gabriel Mountains in the background
    Image attribution tooltip
    Mario Tama via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    LASAN putting recycLA commercial waste program out to bid, ending contract extension talks

    LA Sanitation and Environment officials hope that a reconfigured “recycLA 2.0” can yield better environmental outcomes and more competitive pricing by 2027. The move affects haulers such as Athens Services, WM and Republic Services.

    By March 8, 2024
  • Several large pipes criss-cross between industrial buildings, including a large tank-like structure.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Divert
    Image attribution tooltip
    Q&A

    How federal attention to methane and retailer relationships are benefitting Divert

    Vice President Chris Thomas discusses how the U.S. EPA’s support for anaerobic digestion and Divert’s large customer base can allow the company to expand despite broader market challenges.

    By March 5, 2024