5 waste and recycling trends to watch in 2024

The evolving M&A market, the rise of EPR, pending PFAS regulations, renewable natural gas and methane reduction are some of the biggest issues facing the industry this year.

By Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Jan. 5, 2024

Binpong app offers a gamification experience to raise recycling rates

The app’s developers see its map-based rewards system as a way to alleviate consumer confusion and motivate more frequent recycling when users are out and about.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 5, 2024

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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 Waste Dive staff

CMI calls for bottle bill policies that compensate MRFs

The Can Manufacturers Institute’s report proposes several ways to help MRF operators weather the economic impacts they feel when deposit return systems expand. It’s a response to an earlier report from NWRA.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 3, 2024

CalRecycle releases initial findings for recyclability labeling, EPR law implementation

The agency published draft rules and a covered materials category list pertinent to SB 54 as well as the SB 343 preliminary findings report.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 3, 2024

Here’s where waste, recycling and organics laws changed on Jan. 1

California, Connecticut, Washington and Rhode Island are among the jurisdictions enforcing new laws, including bottle bill updates and organics mandates.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 2, 2024

By the numbers: Key 2023 waste and recycling trends

Look back on the year through data points on issues such as labor, M&A, federal funding, state policy and commodity pricing.

By Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Dec. 22, 2023

Los Angeles commercial waste system at a crossroads amid contract renegotiation

The recycLA program has seen positive results, but haulers are lagging on diversion targets and organics service. The city, while trying to amend the program, could issue a new RFP or even take over service itself.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 21, 2023

EPR implementation strategies come into focus in 2023

Colorado, Oregon, Maine and California are in the process of hammering out details of their extended producer responsibility laws. Many of them passed major implementation milestones in 2023.

By Waste Dive Staff • Dec. 20, 2023

Ball pushes EPR with deposit return systems in latest ‘50 States of Recycling’ report

Recycling rates appear to have stagnated or declined because of pandemic-related shutdowns at many recycling centers and due to “inclusion of new and more accurate data” in the latest report by Eunomia.

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 20, 2023

EPA’s historic year of multi-million-dollar investments in recycling and organics projects

The U.S. EPA announced grants in 2023 meant to boost infrastructure projects, recycling education, environmental justice initiatives and more. 

By Waste Dive Staff • Dec. 20, 2023

Women’s leadership a key to stronger waste workforce, networking groups say

Rachel Oster and Melissa Young, two professionals that help lead the women’s leadership groups WISR and W4R, say connecting women at every level of the industry will create stronger companies and organizations.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 19, 2023

Circular Services acquires Midwest Fiber, including 5 recycling facilities

Balcones Recycling, part of Closed Loop Partners’ Circular Services platform, will manage the operation. Midwest, a family-owned company, had scaled to include collection and processing operations in multiple states.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 17, 2023

Shareholder resolution calls for tobacco company to pay to clean up plastic cigarette filter litter

As You Sow says tobacco company Altria must take financial responsibility for cleanup of cigarette butt litter. The shareholder advocacy group is also pushing for EPR policies that cover these items.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 15, 2023

California MRF says robotics profit-sharing model shows early success

Caglia Environmental says it has collected more than 1,500 additional cans per day since it installed an AI-powered robot, a key milestone in its agreement with the Can Manufacturers Institute.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 13, 2023

Heritage-Crystal Clean to pay $1.16M in penalties for violating hazardous waste regulations

The waste services provider must implement numerous compliance measures after the U.S. EPA and DOJ announced it violated RCRA regulations related to managing, transporting and storing certain solvents.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 8, 2023

Major glass recycler Strategic Materials files for bankruptcy amid market pressures

A combination of headwinds, such as high interest rates, new competition in California and changing consumer habits, have hit the glass recycler hard in recent years.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 6, 2023

Republic Services opens first polymer center in Las Vegas in plastic recycling push

The polymer center is expected to produce 100 million pounds of recycled plastic per year. It is the first of several locations meant to ramp up supply as brands seek more recycled content for packaging.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 5, 2023

Closed Loop invested $15M in local recycling collection and processing projects in 2023

Local governments and related entities in Missouri, Iowa and Virginia say recycling cart and MRF equipment improvements will increase recycling rates.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 1, 2023

New co-presidents to lead Eureka Recycling in Minnesota

Miriam Holsinger and Katie Drews will advance Eureka’s zero-waste mission while fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, the nonprofit recycler announced. Drews is the first woman of color in the role.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 30, 2023

Oregon finalizes statewide recycling list as part of EPR law implementation

In addition to standardizing what can be collected — PET thermoforms did not make the initial cut — the rules also define “responsible” end markets and require PROs to manage materials according to environmental and labor rules.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 29, 2023

Stericycle sets net zero GHG goal in latest sustainability report

The company aims to achieve a net zero scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions goal by 2050 and reduce its injury rate through new driver training and other improvements.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 28, 2023

US Plastics Pact advises on role of mass balance in PCR certification

As the role chemical recycling will play in packaging evolves, the group aims to address questions and spur demand for postconsumer recycled content.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 27, 2023

Has the waste and recycling industry’s multiyear M&A boom peaked?

Experts from Stifel, Houlihan Lokey, Comerica Bank, Raymond James, Waste Connections and others weigh in on the latest trends involving valuations, private equity, environmental services, antitrust and more.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 27, 2023

Colorado’s NextCycle business incubator looks to kick-start new projects in the state

The recycling, reuse and organics projects it supports are important for reaching the state’s waste diversion goal, according to its program manager.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 27, 2023

EPA announces $2B in environmental justice grants, including for waste projects

The Community Challenge Grants program, which is accepting applications for the next year, has multiple categories that could offer funding for composting, recycling, household hazardous waste management and other initiatives.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 22, 2023