Organics


  • A farmer in a tractor is seen moving sewage sludge
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    The image by Sustainable Sanitation Alliance is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    USDA convenes stakeholders to tackle PFAS contamination from biosolids

    Suggested long-term solutions include finding new ways to detect contamination and developing tools to stop "forever chemicals" before they cause harm to soil.

    By Sarah Zimmerman • Oct. 29, 2024
  • People in a bar watch a TV screen with former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harrris debating.
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    How the 2024 election could affect waste and recycling policy

    The presidential nominees have different takes on environmental and regulatory policies that could affect the industry, including those addressing emissions, recycling, PFAS, labor and environmental justice.

    By , , Oct. 22, 2024
  • Close-up photograph of a dumpster with a sign that says "food waste"
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    Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (2008). [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Food waste responsible for 14% of US methane emissions: ReFED

    A report issued by ReFED with the support of the Global Methane Hub outlines where food waste spurs methane emissions and how solutions like composting could help.

    By Oct. 18, 2024
  • four blue recycling carts stand next to each other
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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
  • A production line fills compostable coffee pods with coffee grounds
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    Courtesy of NatureWorks
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    Deep Dive

    Inside the debate over PLA, the packaging industry’s favorite bioplastic

    Polylactic acid has been around for decades, but it only became popular as an option for compostable packaging more recently. While some environmental groups question its credentials, the packaging sector expects demand to grow.

    By Mary Catherine O'Connor • Oct. 9, 2024
  • Two brown DSNY organics collection bins on the side of a street
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    The image by Tdorante10 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Nation’s largest curbside organics collection program rolls out across New York City

    The New York City Sanitation Department will now collect food waste from residents in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island after previously rolling out the service to Brooklyn and Queens. 

    By Oct. 7, 2024
  • Gray and green garbage cans overfilled with domestic refuse
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    Miravision via Getty Images
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    9 federal recycling and waste grants to apply for in 2024

    Grant applications are due soon for numerous waste, recycling and organics programs funded by the U.S. EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    By Oct. 1, 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

    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
  • Piles of organic material in the composting process, managed by a piece of heavy equipment
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    Mary Catherine O'Connor/Waste Dive
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    Compostable packaging’s relationship status with organics recyclers: ‘It’s complicated’

    The BPI Summit highlighted tension and complexity around how to handle this growing category of packaging. The California Compost Coalition, Athens Services, Dirt Hugger, A1 Organics, Moonshot Compost and others weighed in.

    By Mary Catherine O'Connor • Updated Oct. 1, 2024
  • Aerial view of compost facility with mountains in background
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    Permission granted by GreenWaste
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    California’s organics diversion mandate enters its ‘adolescent age,’ updated with new laws

    The law requiring jurisdictions to divert organic waste from landfills has survived years of difficulty. Some newly passed tweaks for rural areas and composters look to move it beyond its growing pains. 

    By Sept. 25, 2024
  • A man wearing a dark suit and sunglasses stands and waves in a forested area.
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    EPA announces $117M worth of recycling grant opportunities with organics focus

    The new opportunities build on a historic amount of infrastructure funding the Biden administration has awarded for recycling projects since last year, as well as efforts to build a circular economy for organics and other materials.

    By Sept. 17, 2024
  • A tractor is seen spreading manure-based fertilizer on a field.
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    fotokostic via Getty Images
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    EPA says it has no obligation to regulate PFAS in biosolids in federal lawsuit

    The agency filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by farmers in Texas who allege they’ve been harmed by PFAS contamination from the spreading of sewage sludge, or biosolids, on agricultural land.

    By Sept. 16, 2024
  • A view of Bootstrap Compost's electric van and a stack of white five-gallon buckets for organics collection
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    Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
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    Bootstrap Compost pursues bond program to strengthen New England presence

    The New England organics hauler, known for its focus on residential and smaller-scale commercial accounts, has a goal of eventually raising $750,000. This comes as the market is evolving in Massachusetts and neighboring states.

    By Sept. 13, 2024
  • Several large plastic waste bins sit directly in front of a building in a fenced-off area. One of them reads "Food & Yard Waste"
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    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
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    New York awards organics contracts to WM, Denali, American Recycling worth $96M

    The contracts will add processing capacity for source-separated organics just as the city rolls out its residential collection program in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island.

    By Sept. 12, 2024
  • The silhouette of a process is visible where a dirt-like material flies off a conveyor belt into a large pile.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    New compost program framework offers a starting point for local officials

    Resources released by the Composting Consortium, a project from Closed Loop Partners, and Eco-Cycle seek to close the knowledge gap for local officials looking to begin an organics recycling program in their town.

    By Sept. 11, 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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    What are the federal government’s waste and recycling priorities for the rest of 2024?

    The U.S. EPA released its schedule of regulatory actions for the remainder of the year. Plus, food waste, recycling data, and other topics Congress and President Biden could address by 2025.

    By , Sept. 9, 2024
  • four blue recycling carts stand next to each other
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    Thomas Demarczyk via Getty Images
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    Tribal projects to reduce waste receive millions in EPA, NOAA funding

    The EPA announced $300 million for tribal climate change programs, including $21 million in waste-related initiatives. NOAA also announced $23 million in grants for marine debris mitigation efforts.

    By Sept. 6, 2024
  • Agromin tractor moving compost in California
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    Permission granted by Agromin
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    California Gov. Newsom signs textile EPR bill into law; vetoes and signs other recycling bills

    Newsom also signed laws updating PaintCare, carpet stewardship and organics procurement programs. He vetoed bills related to marine flares and vehicle traction battery management.

    By , Updated Sept. 30, 2024
  • A refuse truck tips its trailer onto the floor of a recycling facility filled with a large pile of materials.
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    Courtesy of Recology/Larry Strong
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    Recology reports further emissions reductions, plans for new regulations

    The employee-owned company based in California released its fifth annual sustainability report. Last year it set new targets to reduce emissions from landfills and facilities.

    By Aug. 21, 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
  • 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
  • Three sizes of white fiber-based Starbucks cups with the company's green logo printed on them.
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    Permission granted by Starbucks
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    Starbucks piloting compostable cold cups in select California and Minnesota locations

    The cups are manufactured from double-walled paperboard with a bioplastic liner, and the lids are made from molded fiber. The two states were selected for the initial rollout based on local mandates.

    By Updated Aug. 13, 2024
  • GFL Environmental truck at Waste Expo
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    Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
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    GFL has no plans to go private, plans auction of environmental services business

    CEO Patrick Dovigi said the company received interest from several buyers for its liquid waste and soil remediation business. A potential sale could reduce leverage while funding stock buybacks and more solid waste M&A.

    By Aug. 1, 2024
  • Vanguard Renewables anaerobic digester at Bar-Way Farm in Deerfield, Massachusetts
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    Courtesy of Vanguard Renewables
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    Vanguard Renewables looks to expand hauling, logistics with key hire

    Vanguard is planning to build out its organics solutions business and offer more services to customers. The company is open to M&A as it grows this division, its first president said. 

    By July 30, 2024
  • Signage showcasing low prices of produce at a store.
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    Sam Silverstein/Waste Dive
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    Walmart partnering with Denali to depackage, recycle organics at 1,400-plus locations

    The rollout comes after the two companies made their partnership public last year. Denali estimates it can recover 200,000 pounds of food waste per location annually.

    By July 29, 2024