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California Senate votes against EPR changes for struggling bottle bill

Beverage distributors would have been required to form a product stewardship organization for container collection. The state's container redemption program has experienced mounting financial strain.

UPDATED: Jan. 31, 2020 at 8:56 a.m.

Florida legislature advances third attempt at curbside recycling contamination bill

Under the industry-backed legislation, municipal contracts with haulers or MRFs would have to include specific contamination-related elements required by the state.

Deep Dive

2020 could be the year of legislative boom – or bust – for national recycling policy

An influx of legislation in Congress aims to tackle problems facing the recycling industry amid rising public attention. The bills range widely in their industry backers and odds of success.

Los Angeles commits to 100% electric sanitation fleet by 2035. Other cities aren't ready to follow

LASAN Director Enrique Zaldivar pledged to procure only electric vehicles in two years and gradually convert the fleet. While the market continues to evolve, adoption is far from widespread.

Waste Management and Advanced Disposal working toward multi-state divestiture plan

Following ongoing Department of Justice dialogue, a package of potential divestiture assets is circulating that could clear the $4.9 billion transaction for antitrust approval. Many view multiple buyers as increasingly likely.

UPDATED: Jan. 28, 2020 at 1:28 p.m.

Notable waste industry M&A activity continues in 2020

With confirmed deals by GFL Environmental, Waste Connections and Interstate Waste Solutions, the year is off to a busy start. The pending Waste Management-Advanced Disposal deal is among more to come.

Coca-Cola says it won't ban plastic bottles because consumers like them

Head of Sustainability Bea Perez said people like being able to reseal the drinks in lightweight packaging, adding that alternatives could push up the company's carbon footprint and hurt sales. 

Nestlé backs amendment to bill mandating PCR for plastic bottles in Maine

Joining multiple environmental groups, Nestlé Waters North America is pushing requirements for plastic bottles to have 30% PCR by 2030. The beverage giant is among many that need much more material to hit sustainability goals.

Opinion

Letter to the editor: Starbucks food packaging goal also about food waste

Rhodes Yepsen, executive director of the Biodegradable Products Institute, says a broader materials management discussion is key to understanding the shift toward new waste reduction targets.

Starbucks ramps up waste reduction goals, focusing on reusable and recyclable cups

The coffee giant's "resource positive" goals seek 50% reduction in waste sent to landfills by 2030. Its emphasis on changing cup design for recyclability, as opposed to compostables, differs from some competitors.

Industry's 3 largest landfill operators among California's biggest methane emitters: report

NASA data indicates Republic Services, Waste Connections and Waste Management are among the state's "super-emitters." The report highlights the possible financial and regulatory perils of failing to reign in methane emissions.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

Opinion

If 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.

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. 

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. 

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.