Zero Waste


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    photovs via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    By the numbers: 2024 waste and recycling trends

    Reflect on the year through key data points about labor, the economy, M&A, federal and state policy, recycling trends and more.

    By , , Dec. 20, 2024
  • Two piles of brown material, labeled "Finished Compost" and "Almost Done!" are separated by cinderblocks on a concrete pad outside.
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    Courtesy of Rhode Island Food Policy Council
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    EPA to grant millions to local waste resilience projects

    The U.S. EPA announced recipients of a fresh wave of funding through the Community Change Grants Program, several of which plan to expand compost and recycling services.

    By Dec. 18, 2024
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    Courtesy of Denver International Airport
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    Denver airport’s diversion pilot program tackles waste through ‘valet’ service

    The Zero Waste Valet program, run by compost company Scraps, aims to raise the airport's diversion rate. It diverted more than 69 tons of material in the first six months.

    By Dec. 17, 2024
  • Upside down recycling cart in foreground, Boston City Hall in background
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    Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
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    Boston requests new waste and recycling ideas ahead of 2027 contract expirations

    Collection and disposal, waste prevention and recycling, data and analytics, and policy and behavior change are among the topics for which the city wants input. It reupped many existing contracts to buy more time to craft RFPs.

    By Nov. 13, 2024
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    Courtesy of Republic Services
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    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
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    Thomas Demarczyk via Getty Images
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    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."
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    The image by JJonahJackalope is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    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
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    Permission granted by Covanta
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    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
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    Notable waste and recycling conferences in 2025

    The C&D World Conference & Exhibition and EREF Summit on Landfill Emissions are the latest industry events to add dates for 2025. 

    By Waste Dive Staff • Updated Dec. 11, 2024
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    Kyryl Gorlov via iStock

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    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.
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    Permission granted by CompostNow
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    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
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    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
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    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.
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    Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (2008). [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    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."
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    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
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    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
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    ermingut via Getty Images
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    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.
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    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
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    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.
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    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
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    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
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    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.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    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
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    John Moore via Getty Images
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    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
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    DjordjeDjurdjevic via Getty Images
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    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
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    Andrey Deryabin via Getty Images
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    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.
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    Courtesy of Green Li-ion
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    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.
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    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
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    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
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    nycshooter via Getty Images
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    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