The Latest

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  Tracker

  Tracking the future of US recycling policy in Congress

  Lawmakers reintroduced the REDUCE Act, which would tax virgin plastic used in single-use products starting in 2024. Proponents say it will promote recycled plastic use, but the plastics industry says it will harm consumers.

  Updated Sept. 22, 2023

  Recycling

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

  Recent deals include Meridian Waste expanding in North Carolina, further growth in New York by Casella, the latest Texas transaction by Cards Recycling and more.

  Updated Sept. 8, 2023

  Mergers and Acquisitions

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  Packaging experts talk gaps in state, federal policy

  Speakers from Ameripen, the Flexible Packaging Association, General Mills and the Plastics Industry Association weighed in on the policy landscape with emerging material bans, extended producer responsibility laws and more.

  Recycling

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  Deep Dive

  With a $4M EPA grant, Baltimore looks to chart a fresh course on organics

  The city's organics infrastructure is getting a jolt from the new funding. Composting advocates hope broader changes laid out in the city’s draft waste plan will follow.

  Collections & Transfer

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  Waste Connections’ landfill outreach covers Seneca Meadows expansion, Chiquita Canyon odors

  Waste Connections continues its community outreach in New York in an effort to extend its Seneca Meadows landfill permit set to expire in 2025. Meanwhile, its Chiquita Canyon landfill in California must undergo odor mitigation.

  Landfill

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  Local governments share lessons on new curbside organics collection programs

  Local governments that have recently launched curbside organics collection programs in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. say communication with residents and vendors can help smooth out early-stage kinks.

  Organics

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  Federal lawmakers introduce bipartisan legislation to cut food waste, expand USDA programs

  The bill, which comes as farm bill negotiations ramp up, would establish an Office of Food Loss and Waste at the agency. A coalition of groups advocating for federal food waste legislation had proposed the idea.

  Organics

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  Waste reduction projects could tap into $4.6B in EPA, USDA climate grants

  The EPA’s massive Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program is making funding available for waste-related projects. The USDA also announced that new money is available for food waste reduction.

  Zero Waste

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  Recology SF corruption investigation

  Former Recology executive Porter sentenced in San Francisco corruption case

  John Porter apologized for his role in approving more than $56,000 worth of bribes to a city official, but his attorney said “the elephant in the room” was the lack of charges against Recology’s former chief operating officer.

  Collections & Transfer

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  Q&A

  LRS CEO Spencer talks 100-day plan for leading fast-growing Midwestern company

  Matt Spencer says he’ll draw from previous industry experience, including time in the field, and a relationship with Macquarie to help cement a vision for the company’s M&A, infrastructure and safety investments.

  Mergers and Acquisitions

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  New Austin Resource Recovery director named as city implements $4M EPA reuse grant

  Richard McHale has more than 30 years of experience with the agency. He has also led the Texas SWANA chapter and the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Municipal Waste Management Association.

  Workforce

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  NYC containerization

  New York to enforce citywide commercial waste containerization in 2024

  The proposed rule will lead to the containerization of an estimated 20 million pounds of waste per day. It builds on recently-enacted requirements targeting food establishments and larger retail chains.

  Collections & Transfer

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  Inside 4 MRF projects getting a boost from EPA grants

  EPA grants for MRF projects in Colorado, Kentucky, New Jersey and Ohio aim to bolster recycling in underserved areas, battle contamination and boost the capture of valuable materials like PP or aluminum. 

  Recycling

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  Miami-Dade County, Florida, advances plans for new WTE facility and closure of Covanta site

  County commissioners approved the closure of a fire-damaged Covanta location in Doral and the exploratory review of three potential replacement sites, even as community opposition begins to coalesce.

  Energy

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  Plastic industry’s $1M ‘Recycling is Real’ campaign designed to reclaim the narrative

  The Plastics Industry Association says its campaign is meant to overcome “anti-recycling” rhetoric by educating lawmakers and brands. Some advocacy groups say the effort ignores plastic recycling’s challenges.

  Recycling

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  BASF, Nanotech Energy team up to produce lithium-ion batteries with recycled metals

  The companies will also work with American Battery Technology Co. and Toda Advanced Materials to build a North America-based battery value chain.

  Recycling

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  Deep Dive

  Baltimore faces expensive road ahead for collection and disposal infrastructure

  Despite pressure from advocacy groups, the city's 10-year waste plan anticipates landfill and incineration assets will continue to serve a key role as the city works to increase recycling.

  Collections & Transfer

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  WM opens $30M MRF in Cleveland as part of larger regional and national recycling plans

  The nearly 100,000-square-foot MRF is meant to be WM’s processing hub in Ohio. It’s part of a plan to invest $1 billion in recycling infrastructure by 2026 to raise recycling rates and collect more valuable materials.

  Recycling

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  California bills on right-to-repair, bottle deposits, labor and plastic reduction headed to governor

  Advocates expect the governor to sign a long-awaited right-to-repair bill. The state is also poised to add juice to the bottle bill and establish laws related to an upcoming extended producer responsibility program for packaging.

  Recycling

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  Republic Services expands in Charlotte, North Carolina, area via acquisition

  Republic has been more active than any of its competitors in acquisition spending this year. The deal adds an experienced hauler to Republic’s sizable presence in the region.

  Mergers and Acquisitions

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  Alabama waste authority set to take over operations of bankrupt Cherokee landfill

  The Tri-Cities Solid Waste Disposal Authority is expected to take over the CWI Cherokee Landfill’s daily operations. A $23 million bond will pay for the purchase and any outstanding debts, subject to approvals.

  Landfill

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  Connecticut city enacts permanent organics co-collection program with unit-based pricing

  Middletown’s program was implemented after the success of a pilot sponsored by the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

  Collections & Transfer

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  EPA announces recipients of $105M in grants for recycling infrastructure

  The long-awaited recycling infrastructure grants are going to 25 communities, including the Baltimore and Minneapolis metro areas as well as recipients in Puerto Rico, Hawai’i, Montana and Ohio.

  Collections & Transfer

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  ERI building 3 ITAD and electronics recycling facilities to ‘recalibrate’ for new demand

  ERI CEO John Shegerian says demand for services is increasing across the country, and the Southwest has shown “particularly strong and robust growth.”

  Recycling

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  BPI seeks to change USDA’s ‘out-of-date’ definition for compost

  Composters worry the decades-old definition leaves modern facilities and compostable products out of compliance.

  Organics

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