The Latest
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Action Environmental Group becomes Interstate Waste Services following landfill acquisition
IWS acquired the rail-served Apex landfill in Ohio and is now majority-owned by private equity firm Littlejohn & Co. This makes it the largest vertically-integrated operator in the New York City metro area ahead of a major shift to commercial waste zones.
UPDATED: Jan. 22, 2020 at 12:05 p.m. -
Every Bottle Back initiative targets multifamily recycling, MRF upgrades in Dallas-Fort Worth
The initiative will partner with city officials to pour $3 million into improvements to a Balcones Resources MRF, in addition to targeting low recycling rates at multifamily housing complexes.
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How many curbside recycling programs have been cut?
Many have said recycling is in peril. Waste Dive's tracking of actual program suspensions indicates the reality is more complicated. Read the full list here, including new updates from Georgia and Pennsylvania.
UPDATED: Jan. 22, 2020 at 12:45 p.m. -
New Jersey passes recycling market bill; organics diversion and bag ban stalled
Legislation to establish a Recycling Market Development Council has been signed into law. Sponsors have pledged to revive efforts on other bills when they return for a new session later this month.
UPDATED: Jan. 22, 2020 at 11:49 a.m. -
Nestlé to invest up to $2B in sustainable packaging
The global company wants to lead the shift to food-grade recycled plastics and accelerate the development of more environmentally friendly solutions with a venture fund.
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Recology begins funding $4.5M ballot initiative to tax plastics in California
The service provider leads an effort to fund a range of new waste and recycling efforts with billions of dollars in fees from producers, while banning expanded polystyrene containers. The question could go before voters in November.
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New Georgia bill would require coal ash to be treated like MSW
The proposed legislation would impose stricter regulations on coal ash cleanup. Waste Management is among the companies that have pointed to coal ash as a potentially lucrative waste stream.
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Waste Connections acquires regional hauler and MRF operator Penn Waste
Founded in 2000, Penn Waste has grown to include a collection fleet that services counties throughout South Central Pennsylvania and one of the largest residential MRFs in the United States. This marks the latest in a series of major industry acquisitions.
UPDATED: Jan. 21, 2020 at 10:21 a.m. -
India to enforce 1% contamination rate on paper imports, conduct random inspections
The enforcement could affect U.S. fiber imports at a time when India was expected to increase its paper consumption. Yet parts of this policy have been in place for years so it remains unclear how widespread the effects could be.
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OpinionIf you're not recycling glass are you really recycling?
As more municipalities drop glass over financial pressure, processors maintain the market is viable. Neil Seldman of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance argues glass is still essential.
UPDATED: Jan. 17, 2020 at 8:46 a.m. -
California city finds local recycling solution for 30K unwanted carts at fraction of prior cost
It wasn't entirely clear why recycling facilities weren't interested in these carts, which are often reground and repurposed into new ones. Waste Dive tracked down manufacturer Bonar Plastics to learn more.
UPDATED: Jan. 15, 2020 at 12:25 p.m. -
Taco Bell wants compostable, recyclable packaging by 2025
The chain will also remove harmful chemicals like PFAS, phthalates and BPA from its consumer packaging as part of a larger sustainability initiative.
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Mississippi denies permit for controversial landfill proposal
Madison County already has two MSW landfills with decades of collective capacity left. Local officials and residents had expressed environmental justice concerns about a Team Waste subsidiary's proposal to add yet another site.
UPDATED: Jan. 15, 2020 at 10:39 a.m. -
Casella granted key permits for controversial C&D landfill expansion in New York
Residents have expressed repeated concerns over a potential increase in radioactive fracking material at the site. But Casella argues the Hakes Landfill is safe and in full environmental compliance.
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Southern Recycling ending curbside recycling in Kentucky county, nearby counties face hurdles
Warren County is seeking a replacement program, but it is unclear what commodities will be included. Other local counties are choosing to scrap their programs without immediate replacements on the horizon.
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House passes sweeping new PFAS bill with waste implications
The legislation could establish disposal regulations for "forever chemicals." While some in the industry are apprehensive, others see opportunity. President Trump has already signaled strong opposition.
UPDATED: Jan. 10, 2020 at 3 p.m. -
Senate passes 'Save Our Seas 2.0' bill focused on plastic waste
A bipartisan marine debris bill, with backing from the plastics industry and prior opposition from more than three dozen environmental groups, now moves to the House of Representatives.
UPDATED: Jan. 13, 2020 at 9:54 a.m. -
Republic landfill expansion moves ahead in California after failed appeal
The Forward Landfill's lifespan will be extended to 2036 under the plan. The move comes as the state launches a major organics diversion initiative and seeks sweeping waste reduction goals.
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GFL Environmental acquiring Michigan-based American Waste for $380M
The pending deal would expand GFL's presence into northern Michigan with a landfill, MRF, C&D recycling facility, collection fleet and other assets. It comes as the company's U.S. revenue continues to rise.
UPDATED: Jan. 10, 2020 at 9:14 a.m. -
Detroit receives $800K in grants for major residential and commercial recycling expansion
New funding from The Recycling Partnership and Michigan EGLE will be used to deploy more than 17,000 recycling carts and enhance education. Sustainability Director Joel Howrani Heeres shares more on the city's strategy.
UPDATED: Jan. 9, 2020 at 2:50 p.m. -
DC weighs new expanded polystyrene ban amid national focus on plastics
The District of Columbia is part of a growing trend of local and state governments embracing increasingly bold measures to curb pollution and address environmental concerns.
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Disposal capacity crunch paves way for more industry consolidation and price increases, per report
New data from Waste Business Journal projects the $76 billion U.S. waste industry is down to 18 years of remaining landfill capacity on average, with the Northeast among the most constrained regions.
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Deep Dive7 pressing questions for the waste and recycling industry in 2020
The year is shaping up to be a major one for the industry's future. We'll be digging into safety, corporate consolidation, climate commitments, recycling policy, organics, PFAS, politics and more.
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Denver mayor signs plastic and paper bag fee into law
The Denver City Council pursued a fee due to a state preemption law on product bans. The Colorado city is the latest in a wave of local governments to pass or enact bag policies throughout the country.
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Connecticut approves $750K for landfill cleanups as PFAS lawsuit continues
Connecticut is facing PFAS contamination issues at two closed sites, with work underway to improve leachate filtration systems. Issues at one site have spurred legal action from a regional wastewater treatment entity.
