The Latest
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Tracker
Tracking notable recycling laws by state
Wyoming became the 25th state to pass a law defining chemical recycling as a manufacturing process. Wisconsin updated its E-cycle program to make recycling targets more readily achievable for manufacturers.
Updated March 27, 2024 -
Tracking the waste and recycling industry’s M&A activity
AmWaste acquired Georgia assets from Deep Green Waste & Recycling; Clean Harbors closed its acquisition of HEPACO.
Updated March 22, 2024 -
NYC containerization
Otto selected for contract to provide 3.2M ‘NYC Waste Bins’
The company would provide rolling bins for roughly 765,000 residential buildings across the city. The contract would take effect after a hearing scheduled for April 8.
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Clean Harbors acquires environmental services firm HEPACO for $400M
HEPACO, which was previously owned by a private equity firm, services more than 2,000 customers in 17 states. This positions Clean Harbors for continued growth in its environmental services segment.
Updated March 25, 2024 -
Florida composters look to grow operations despite regulatory barriers
Amid increased interest in organics recycling on multiple fronts, as well as new municipal and academic partnerships, the Florida Composting Council and other groups say regulatory updates are needed to advance this work.
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Collection trucks get AI upgrades to fight contamination
Truck-mounted, AI-enabled cameras are helping haulers identify and measure recycling contamination in real time, allowing them to communicate directly with customers on how to improve. Many haulers, including WM, use the tech.
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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.
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Waste industry implores Senate for PFAS exemptions under Superfund
At a Senate hearing, the waste industry said time is running out for federal intervention to prevent costly lawsuits, which they say could come once the U.S. EPA finalizes a new PFAS hazardous substance designation.
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CMI calls for bottle bill policies that prioritize EJ, informal recycling communities
A Can Manufacturers Institute report calls for container deposit systems that are convenient and inclusive for more kinds of users, particularly informal recyclers, unhoused people and immigrants.
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Deep Dive
Does the EPA’s Waste Reduction Model favor landfills or incineration?
After the EPA released a new version of WARM and held a public comment period, stakeholders across the spectrum of materials management believe there’s room for improvement.
Updated March 21, 2024 -
DOE estimates US can nearly double energy derived from waste in new report
The report models several scenarios for bioenergy development, including a 10-year and 20-year projection.
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Q&A
SWANA CEO envisions collaborative environment to build safety, culture
Amy Lestition Burke, SWANA’s new CEO, says building partnerships can make the industry and the organization stronger and better resourced to take on climate change and an evolving workforce.
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Tracker
Tracking the future of US recycling policy in Congress
The Senate passed both the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act and the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act, bills meant to fund recycling pilots in rural and underserved areas and collect more data.
Updated March 13, 2024 -
Bidirectional charging could unlock new potential for waste fleet electrification
A recent pilot by Veolia in the UK could lead to a future where electric trucks can feed energy back into the grid rather than just paying for it. But the U.S. market is still in the early stages of incorporating EV technology.
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Textile recycling company Infinited Fiber closes $43.8M funding round
Funding comes from companies such as Inditex, H&M and Adidas. The news comes after Renewcell, its competitor in the recycled materials space, filed for bankruptcy due to lack of funding.
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Keurig brewing up compostable K-Rounds as alternative to plastic coffee pods
The company is still in the process of testing the rounds, which have a seaweed-derived coating. Keurig also plans to launch a mail-back program for its polypropylene K-Cups, which are not going away.
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Major Rubicon shareholder looks to take the company private
Shareholder Jose Miguel Enrich proposed acquiring the company for the price of its outstanding shares, which have been trading below $1 since February.
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Republic Services workers ratify Phoenix contract following Teamsters negotiations
The new contract will give employees a $1,000 bonus, boost pay and offer additional protections. Union officials hope it will strengthen their position at another facility where negotiations are ongoing.
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FCC Environmental, on track for Minnesota expansion, eyes further growth
Following multiple contract wins in Florida, the U.S. division of a major Spain-based company is expecting another in St. Paul, Minnesota. COO Dan Brazil discusses future expansion plans.
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Vanguard Renewables charts progress in new regions with growing portfolio
Ten years after its founding, the anaerobic digestion company is plotting expansion "like an amoeba” thanks to the financial backing of BlackRock and its pipeline of more than 60 projects.
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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.
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Deep Dive
How a new wave of clean fuels bills could spur a biogas boom
New Mexico just became the fourth state to enact a program, which has the potential to give biogas projects from landfills and on-farm digesters a boost. Could more states soon follow?
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DOE’s $4M e-scrap recycling prize seeks recovery and reuse innovations
The three-phase competition aims to bolster critical materials recovery from electronics. The DOE will offer technical support as well as a $50,000 cash prize for the first round of winners.
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Biden’s FY25 budget proposal aims to boost funding for waste-related EPA programs
The budget would set aside money for PFAS-related actions and bolster funding for compliance enforcement, which put landfill emissions in the crosshairs last year.
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Stakeholders call for more details on Maine’s latest EPR rules draft
Ameripen, AF&PA, Aroostook Waste Solutions and others called for a more comprehensive needs assessment, technical assistance for municipalities and flexibility for producers.