The Latest

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  Tracker

  Tracking notable recycling laws by state

  Washington’s Senate recently passed a battery EPR bill, while the Illinois House passed a bill that would ban polystyrene foam food containers.

  Updated March 30, 2023

  Collections & Transfer

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  Tracking the waste and recycling industry’s M&A boom

  Catch up on the latest transactions involving EcoSouth in Florida, Frontier Waste Solutions in Texas, CARDS Recycling in Arkansas, Capital Waste Services in South Carolina and more.

  Updated March 24, 2023

  Mergers and Acquisitions

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  How second-use boxes are helping customers advance their circularity goals

  Companies like Philadelphia’s American Box have been collecting and reselling cardboard containers for decades, but the concept is gaining renewed attention as a way to extend the lifespan of this ubiquitous packaging.

  Recycling

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  MRF operators and packaging producers say ‘readily recyclable’ definition a key part of Maine EPR law

  Maine regulators are working out key details of an EPR for packaging law. Casella Waste Systems, Ameripen and other stakeholders weighed in on recyclability considerations during a Tuesday meeting.

  Recycling

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  Dozens of attorneys general call on Congress to pass right-to-repair laws for electronics

  A bipartisan group of officials asked committee leaders to “redouble” their efforts around enabling repair for automobiles, agricultural equipment and electronics. Recyclers have previously supported the concept.

  Recycling

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  Waste industry groups call for Congressional support against looming PFAS regulations

  NWRA, EREF and members of several solid waste and composting groups said in a briefing that anticipated hazardous substance designations for PFAS under the Superfund law could make liability risks and costs skyrocket.

  Recycling

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  New York City to roll out yard waste separation mandate in all five boroughs by 2024

  The Department of Sanitation’s yard waste diversion proposal follows a high-volume organics collection pilot in Queens and the recent announcement of a universal organics collection program.

  Organics

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  Republic Services acquires first anaerobic digester as California organics recycling market heats up

  The facility, located about 70 miles north of Sacramento, allows the company to further vertically integrate its collection services. Republic has been scaling its infrastructure as the state mandates organics recycling.

  Mergers and Acquisitions

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  As budget deadline looms, New York governor and advocates debate EPR and bottle bill provisions

  Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Senate have proposed EPR for packaging policies in their draft budgets. The Assembly, along with key environmental and packaging groups, say the policy is best determined through legislation. 

  Recycling

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  Connecticut bill overhauling state waste management practices could see big changes

  Pressure from stakeholders could mean the removal of MSW disposal fee and delay an EPR for packaging provision, but organics separation and recycled content sections could remain.

  Collections & Transfer

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  Denali says $3.7M microgrid project makes organics site more resilient as California ramps up diversion

  A solar array and microgrid project with battery storage recently debuted at an Imperial Western Products location. Denali says this will reduce emissions from creating animal feed and biodiesel at the facility.

  Organics

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  Bioenergy Devco receives $30M investment as it ramps up US anaerobic digestion efforts

  The infusion from a Maryland-based investor allows the firm to expand in a market it sees as ripe for investment.

  Organics

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  Federal Reserve hikes main rate by quarter-point, notes ‘resilient’ banking system

  The central bank tightened borrowing costs despite banking instability as inflation persists well above its 2% target.

  Workforce

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  Q&A

  Rubicon CEO on the company’s next chapter and the challenges of going public

  Phil Rodoni, previously chief technology officer, took the helm during an eventful period for the company. He discusses Rubicon’s efforts to become profitable, grow its software business and compete in the sector.

  Mergers and Acquisitions

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  High number of facility fires in 2022 prompts renewed look at battery recycling efforts

  The media reported 390 waste and recycling facility fires in the U.S. and Canada in 2022, the highest number since Fire Rover started tracking such reports in 2016. State EPR laws and federal funding efforts aim to reduce risk.

  Collections & Transfer

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  New York reports ‘substantial’ need for more organics recycling capacity after mandate passed

  Despite a noticeable uptick in available facilities, the Department of Environmental Conservation sees room for growth. At the same time, the agency reported positive trends in edible food recovery efforts.

  Organics

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  Q&A

  CNG, electric or hybrid? WM execs talk evolving fleet strategy

  Chief Operating Officer John Morris and Senior Director of Fleet David Tessin discuss lessons from WM’s fuel transition, upping RNG investments, the potential impact of eRINs and more.

  Collections & Transfer

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  For OCC demand and pricing, economic uncertainty puts quick recovery in question

  Recycling and packaging executives have a range of predictions for what’s ahead as continued inflation and lagging consumer spending affect whether OCC pulls out of its slump.

  Recycling

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  Miami-Dade County, Florida, approves $44M in recycling contract extensions with WM and others

  Miami-Dade County will continue collection and processing contracts with WM, Waste Connections and Coastal Waste for two more years because officials said they did not have time to conduct a broader search for new vendors.

  Collections & Transfer

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  CARDS Recycling acquired by private equity firm Kinderhook Industries

  The Arkansas-based hauler and transfer station operator, which was founded in 2017, has expanded to reach five states via acquisitions. An influx of private equity capital is expected to accelerate that growth.

  Mergers and Acquisitions

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  Closed Loop’s Circular Services expands investment with funding from major CPGs

  Microsoft, Nestlé, PepsiCo, SK Group, Starbucks and Unilever recently joined Brookfield Renewables in making unspecified investments in the platform behind Sims Municipal Recycling and Balcones Resources.

  Recycling

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  Refill and reuse sectors strive for scale to upend single-use packaging’s stronghold

  Changing consumer perceptions about convenience and value will be important to achieve greater market dominance, according to speakers from Loop, Clorox and other companies at the Sustainability in Packaging US event.

  Environmental, Social and Governance

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  Q&A

  GreenWaste CEO envisions ‘stronger presence’ for company in California following private equity investment

  Over a year after selling to a Macquarie fund, CEO Tracy Adams reports a “great partnership.” He discusses the company’s targeted acquisition strategy, the state’s SB 1383 organics recycling law and more.

  Mergers and Acquisitions

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  Chemical recycling facility bill in Illinois highlights tensions around future permitting

  The bill would extend the timeline for an unnamed facility to start construction, after the state previously passed a supportive law. It has also kicked off debate around a proposed expanded polystyrene foam ban.

  Recycling

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  LRS’ new $50M Chicago MRF is heavy on automation, with room for expansion

  The MRF can handle nearly twice the material as the one LRS opened in a Chicago suburb just six years ago. The company “invested on the front end to reduce labor” amid a tight employment market the last few years.

  Recycling

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