The Latest
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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.
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Duke agrees to largest coal ash cleanup in US after years of fighting with environmentalists
The utility plans to excavate 80 million tons of coal ash in North Carolina, although some will remain at the Marshall Steam Station and the Roxboro Plant.
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Illinois escalates fight with Waste Connections landfill over air pollution violations
The state attorney general's office updated its complaint against the Winnebago landfill. Illinois is already suing the site over numerous violations, but Waste Connections has said it is working to address the problems.
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Industry maintains rapid pace of M&A, consolidation in 2019
Fueled by a prolonged economic boom and lower corporate tax rates (among other factors) industry agglomerates continued to expand through acquisition. Smaller players also ramped up activity.
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EPA makes Georgia 2nd state to operate coal ash program, proposes 'efficient' rule for other 48
Both moves are part of EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler's broader goal to give states more "flexibility" in their management of coal ash disposal.
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Climate change becomes widely recognized corporate factor for waste and recycling
While many of the largest companies have been releasing sustainability reports for years, 2019 marked a potential turning point in the level of detail and acknowledgment for this looming issue.
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Covanta will set 'science-based' emissions reduction target by 2022 as part of climate focus
Covanta's new sustainability report argues incineration can play a key role in diverting waste from landfills, a major source of methane, and previews a growing focus on climate concerns.
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Deep DiveCan Loop disrupt society's packaging habit? Inside TerraCycle's grand experiment
The reusable shopping platform, which launched with big hype and is now eyeing retail, has already raised one key question in its early days: What are the true costs of convenience?
UPDATED: Dec. 23, 2019 at 9:17 a.m. -
New York governor proposes statewide polystyrene foam ban
Gov. Andrew Cuomo claims the policy would be the "strongest" in the country. The proposal could also give the Department of Environmental Conservation authority to limit or ban other packaging material.
UPDATED: Jan. 13, 2020 at 3:55 p.m. -
New York cuts transfer station permits as NWRA mulls legal appeal
The city's Department of Sanitation has already cut more than 1,300 tons worth of daily capacity, with 21 more permits to go. Industry operators who lost a fight over the law that enables this face an uncertain path forward.
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New toolkit provides guidance on composting food scraps at yard trimming sites
A new resource from BioCycle and the Center for EcoTechnology outlines potential to utilize existing sites amid growing demand for organics processing infrastructure.
