The Latest
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Master Sgt. Hecht, Matt. (2020). [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Covering COVID-19's evolving impact on the waste and recycling sector
The coronavirus pandemic has brought sweeping changes to the U.S., including significant effects for an industry that has continued its work throughout the crisis. Catch up on all of Waste Dive's original reporting here.
UPDATED: July 31, 2020 at 11:35 a.m. -
Credit system designed to boost plastics recovery launching in 2021
The standard, modeled after carbon credits, is backed by multiple large brands and described as complementary to EPR systems. The Recycling Partnership has been piloting it for one Florida project.
UPDATED: Aug. 5, 2020 at 4:01 p.m. -
Kendall Davis / Waste Dive/Waste Dive
How the coronavirus is disrupting US waste and recycling
Catch up on the past week's pandemic-related news, including ongoing service delays, worker illness reports and program changes in Texas, Florida, New York and other areas.
UPDATED: Aug. 5, 2020 at 9:24 a.m. -
"Plastic Surgery: A radical new recycling process will breathe new life into old plastic" by Vivan Sachs for IBM is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
Chemical recycling gaining limited traction so far, too focused on plastic-to-fuel, report finds
The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) takes aim at an area of growing interest for the recycling industry. The plastics industry criticized GAIA's findings and argued chemical recycling offers economic opportunities.
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Courtesy of Waste Management
Waste Management reports $400M revenue decline in Q2, additional divestitures to GFL
Company executives said results "exceeded our expectations," during an earnings call, with economic activity picking back up around the country even as COVID-19 cases rise.
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The CFO's responsibility on diversity, unconscious bias and positive outcomes
During a CFO Live virtual event, panelists discussed diversity & inclusion efforts and where CFOs are particularly poised to make a difference.
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"Coronavírus - COVID-19" by Senado Federal is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Revised CDC isolation timeline may prompt workplace policy changes
The agency's guidance is a reminder to employers that return-to-work policies should not be static, an attorney told HR Dive.
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Permission granted by E.A. Crunden
Corrugated box industry bolstered by pandemic trends, including e-commerce
In a year upended by major challenges, corrugated boxes are emerging as a potential bright spot for recyclers. But shifts from industrial and commercial volumes over to residential collection have generated quality concerns.
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Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
Colorado law calls for exploration of recycling market development center, EPR policies
A bill recently signed by Gov. Jared Polis directs state staff to study creating a new market development program and launching a statewide education program, among other items.
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On top of coronavirus, industry faced with surprising year of safety trends
The pandemic may have influenced a temporary reduction in vehicular incidents, but distracted driving, speeding, facility fires and heat exposure remain persistent issues for workers.
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Permission granted by E.A. Crunden
Halfway through an upended year, 8 big questions remain for waste and recycling
Back in January, Waste Dive laid out guiding themes for coverage around safety, M&A, sustainability, policy, organics and PFAS. Now, the pandemic has changed many of them and racial justice is also receiving heightened attention.
UPDATED: July 28, 2020 at 8:55 a.m. -
OpinionLandfill mining may still be new, but it has a lot to offer
Doug Logan of Aggregates Equipment, Inc. explores the benefits, costs and future outlook for landfill mining. While not yet widely adopted, that could change as disposal capacity shrinks in certain regions.
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Permission granted by McNeilus
Deep DiveRenewed interest in automated side loaders driven by pandemic concerns, persistent safety issues
ASLs have become increasingly popular with some predicting they could see more interest due to pandemic safety concerns. But tighter capital budgets may be a short-term challenge.
UPDATED: July 23, 2020 at 11:06 a.m. -
Romeo Gacad via Getty Images
Flexible packaging separation pilot deemed a success, but end markets unproven
Curbside collection of this emerging stream isn't expected to happen at scale near-term, and sustainable markets don't currently exist. But the Pennsylvania MRF that tested it reports clear benefits.
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Recycle Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan approves new contract to reopen long-idled MRF
After previously prevailing over a larger company that would have processed the material elsewhere, nonprofit Recycle Ann Arbor has received a 10-year deal to revitalize the facility.
UPDATED: July 22, 2020 at 10:25 a.m. -
Brian Tucker / Waste Dive
How many curbside recycling programs have been cut?
Waste Dive's running tally of more than 90 cancellations now includes recent announcements from municipalities in Indiana and North Carolina.
UPDATED: July 22, 2020 at 12:22 p.m. -
Permission granted by E.A. Crunden
Waste Management expected to pay $2.3M in New York landfill settlement
Under the terms awaiting judicial approval, the company would pay $1.3 million into a class action fund and $1 million for "improvement measures" at the High Acres Landfill. A second lawsuit over the site remains ongoing.
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Connecticut DEEP rejects proposed overhaul of major WTE facility on cusp of closure
The agency's move effectively ends years of discussions about refurbishing the Materials Innovation Recovery Authority's aging RDF facility, making a near-term shift to landfill export increasingly likely.
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Waste industry received at least $583M in PPP loans, preserved 67K jobs
Nearly 4,000 industry participants have received funding from the pandemic relief program since April, according to U.S. Small Business Administration data. Waste Dive has collected the full list for public access.
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Courtesy of Volvo Lights
Preparing the maintenance workforce for electric trucks
The labor pool of experienced technicians has always been small, and now trucking firms must train or hire workers with an understanding of high-voltage environments.
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New California regulation could jump-start solar panel recycling sector
The state's upcoming classification of photovoltaic panels as universal waste is expected to allow for greater efficiencies in handling a material stream that is projected to grow substantially in coming decades.
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Permission granted by Diageo
Diageo and PepsiCo will debut paper bottles in 2021
The alcohol giant will launch the 100% plastic-free packaging for Johnnie Walker whisky early next year, while PepsiCo and Unilever are developing it for their products.
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Container demand changing alongside pandemic-driven volume shifts
Service providers are adjusting capital spending following months of heightened residential activity and regional drops in commercial waste. Cart and container manufacturers discuss the emerging effects for their businesses.
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Permission granted by E.A. Crunden
House hearing highlights political divide over plastics and pandemic response
The plastics industry says the pandemic has proven the need for its products, which are a key component in masks and other equipment. Environmental advocates and many Democrats said the ramifications of plastics pollution outweigh the benefits.
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Deep DiveRisk and race concerns fuel ongoing debate around hazard pay during pandemic
Sanitation workers have held numerous strikes and demanded concessions including hazard pay, frequently linking their fight to movements like Black Lives Matter. But the issue remains a contentious one for the waste industry.
