The Latest
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Teamsters strike against Republic nears two months, Sanders weighs in
A labor action that started with two dozen workers has since led to a number of demonstrations around the country, including a multi-day collection stoppage in Washington. Negotiations have reportedly stalled on multiple fronts.
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Wheelabrator ash landfill expansion in Connecticut denied, for now
Plans to expand a monofill that serves numerous state facilities have temporarily stalled over concerns about environmental harm to wetlands. Given a lack of regional alternatives, the company intends to press on.
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SwagCycle aims to change sustainability narrative of promotional products
A recently launched venture from a Massachusetts-based marketing company aims to facilitate the donation or recycling of the ubiquitous branded T-shirts, water bottles, notebooks, battery packs and other free items in our lives.
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California governor vetos recycled content mandate
Gov. Newsom said he supported the law's intent, but disagreed with a waiver process for plastics manufacturers. He did sign another law to provide short-term relief for the state's container redemption program.
UPDATED: Oct. 14, 2019 at 10:49 a.m. -
New York commercial waste zone plan comes into focus with new draft
The latest bill language includes up to three companies per zone, future requirements for zero-emission trucks and new labor provisions. Supporters hope to pass it in a Oct. 30 council vote.
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Deep DiveWho comes out on top if New York passes commercial waste zones?
How many local haulers will be left to win franchise contracts, and whether any new entrants join the fray, all comes down to how legislative negotiations play out.
UPDATED: Oct. 9, 2019 at 3:06 p.m. -
Deep DiveBurned by lithium battery surge, recyclers seek solutions
Lithium batteries are increasingly popular because of their powerful punch, but that also makes them a risk when mismanaged. Safety and recycling programs are on the rise to survive the trend.
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Opinion3 reasons why M&A efforts fail
Companies conduct due diligence to discover why they shouldn't buy a company, but the mechanics of the process shouldn't kill deals. Unfortunately, that happens too often.
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California legislature wraps session with unprecedented recycling action
Gov. Gavin Newsom has now acted on all relevant 2019 bills. While he vetoed a recycled content mandate, multiple other bills related to market development, product bans and EPR were signed into law.
UPDATED: Oct. 14, 2019 at 11 a.m. -
Federal court OKs Waste Pro workers' overtime, joint employment suit
The order could allow a jury to decide whether Waste Pro USA was a joint employer along with Waste Pro of Florida, Inc., and therefore liable for the alleged violations.
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Closed Loop Partners becomes M&A player, starting with Texas recycler
Balcones Resources, a family-run company, is the first acquisition by the investment firm's new private equity fund. CEO Ron Gonen told Waste Dive there will be more to come.
UPDATED: Oct. 8, 2019 at 1:02 p.m. -
NWRA loses challenge to New York transfer station capacity law
The hard-fought "waste equity" law signed in 2018 will allow the city to restrict permitted capacity at sites in three different boroughs. Industry operators say it will unfairly harm their business and may appeal the decision.
UPDATED: Oct. 9, 2019 at 8:46 a.m. -
Unilever pledges to halve use of virgin plastic by 2025
CEO Alan Jope said the effort will require "a fundamental rethink in our approach to our packaging and products." Greenpeace is unsure the impact will be quite so grand.
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New Jersey judge orders permanent landfill closure, citing 'clear and immediate danger'
The Keegan Landfill, a longtime source of community ire, was found to have elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide emissions and other issues. Pending an appeal, discussion now turns to capping the site.
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As EPA preps coal ash rollback, study finds heightened risks of water, soil contamination
Changes to the federal coal ash rule have been long awaited by the utility industry and environmentalists, but a new Duke University study suggests health risks of the toxins may be greater than previously thought.
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Federal 'Save Our Seas' bill spurs debate over plastics recycling
More than three dozen environmental groups have come out against a bipartisan marine debris bill that has backing from the plastics industry and recently advanced in the U.S. Senate.
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Q&AGlass Packaging Institute's new president predicts 'rebound' from recycling challenges
Coming off a stint with the plastics industry, Scott DeFife has plenty of ideas about changing the narrative around glass recycling's value as others seek to downplay it.
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Massachusetts raises 2050 waste reduction target, may expand organics ban
The Department of Environmental Protection's new solid waste master plan draft indicates support for new packaging policies, additional waste bans and future infrastructure as disposal capacity shrinks.
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Industry's top trade groups sign first OSHA safety alliance
The NWRA and SWANA will collaborate with federal regulators to share information on a range of safety issues, with a focus on small- and medium-sized employers.
UPDATED: Oct. 2, 2019 at 8:39 a.m. -
Madison, Wisconsin declares curbside organics pilot a success
The eight-week pilot, which followed a larger canceled program, pulled in more than four tons of material and experienced limited contamination issues.
UPDATED: Sept. 30, 2019 at 10:33 a.m. -
Philadelphia solicits bids for new compost facility with statewide implications
The city aims to expand organics processing infrastructure via a public-private partnership that could reduce annual food waste by nearly 150 tons as part of its 2035 "zero waste" goals.
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Billionaire-backed foundation contributes $300M to new plastics initiative
Sea the Future aims to make recycled resins more competitive by adding a voluntary price to virgin plastics. Its goal is to raise $20 billion for global mitigation.
UPDATED: Oct. 1, 2019 at 8:56 a.m. -
Senate confirms Scalia as labor secretary
The former solicitor of labor appeared measured in his responses during a confirmation hearing that saw criticism of his record as a management-side attorney.
UPDATED: Sept. 26, 2019 at 5 a.m. -
Bipartisan Senate bill aims to create biogas tax credits, bolster organics infrastructure
The expiration of a 30% investment tax credit — responsible for growing the wind and solar sectors — has reduced financing options for anaerobic digesters in recent years.
UPDATED: Sept. 27, 2019 at 10:16 a.m. -
Pennsylvania community first to take flexible packaging in curbside carts
The pilot program being run at J.P. Mascaro and Sons' MRF is expected to produce data for the industry on how to capture the material and identify end markets.
