Maine Gov. Mills alters packaging EPR law, to industry’s relief

With LD 1423, groups wanted to bring Maine’s first-in-the-nation packaging EPR law from 2021 into closer alignment with more recent versions of EPR legislation in other states.

WM’s upgraded Wisconsin MRF aims to capture more types of plastic packaging

Part of the $39 million investment went toward a film mitigation system, which reduces contamination in other streams. WM also is in the early stages of selling this captured material as a commodity. 

Updated June 24, 2025

PureCycle plans to add 1B pounds of capacity by 2030

The recycled resin producer received $300 million in series B capital to build facilities in Thailand and Belgium as part of a larger plan. It will continue building its facility in Augusta, Georgia.

Veolia touts plans for U.S. expansion, unveils new water treatment plant in Delaware

At a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event Wednesday, CEO Estelle Brachlianoff said Veolia targets 50% growth in the U.S. in coming years to meet PFAS management demand fueled by health impact concerns.

US senators call on EPA to study reuse, refill

Recycling policy advocates Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., are teaming up again, this time on the Reuse Act, to assess opportunities in consumer packaging, food service and more.

New York legislative session ends without Assembly vote on packaging EPR

Packaging industry groups celebrated the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act’s failure to advance as the legislature’s formal session came to a close early Wednesday.

Updated June 18, 2025

E-mobility battery stewardship bills advance in New York and Connecticut

New York legislators sent a battery EPR update bill to the governor, inspired by an uptick in scooter and e-bike fires. Connecticut's governor also signed a broad battery EPR law last week.

Updated June 20, 2025

Boxed vs. bottled: Not all sustainability claims hold water, nonprofit says

The brand Boxed Water is Better agreed to change certain environmental statements on its packaging in response to a nonprofit’s review, which was requested by the International Bottled Water Association.

Reworld outlines growth of non-incineration capacity

The company’s portfolio of waste combustion facilities has declined in recent years, but its network of materials processing facilities and alternative fuel production has grown significantly.

Sullivan County, Tennessee, opens $3.5M recycling facility

The county-run facility, funded in part by grants from the state’s Department of Environment and Conservation, aims to improve recycling access and infrastructure in a region with a growing population.

Biogas groups disappointed by EPA’s proposed RFS update

The U.S. EPA is lowering its volume expectations for transportation fuels made from waste after multiple years of the sector not meeting production targets.

Trump signs resolutions killing California’s zero-emissions rules

President Donald Trump called for ending electric vehicle mandates, signing off on a trio of congressional joint resolutions.

Textile recycling programs move forward across US

CalRecycle is ramping up textile EPR implementation, while existing municipal programs in Ohio and New Jersey aim to strengthen textile recycling. 

Oregon, New Hampshire, Ohio and Hawai’i lawmakers consider landfill restrictions

Bills meant to restrict landfill expansions or operations are awaiting governors’ approval in several states, while New Hampshire lawmakers are mulling landfill siting provisions in a recent budget bill.

State packaging EPR leaders swap stories as implementation advances

Lawmakers and regulators from California, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon and Tennessee shared insights on scaling up at a Product Stewardship Institute event.

Cyclic Materials to open $25M rare earth recycling facility in Canada

The recycling and R&D facility is meant to process 500 metric tons of magnets a year. The resulting material would supply companies with feedstock for new components for EVs, wind turbines and electronics. 

Notable waste and recycling conferences in 2025

The Resource Recycling Conference originally planned for Aug. 4-6 has been canceled. It will now be co-located with the Plastics Recycling and Textile Recovery Conference, happening Feb. 23-25, 2026, in San Diego.

Updated June 11, 2025

EPA encourages use of tribal assistance funding programs

A range of programs administered by the U.S. EPA, federal Indian Health Service agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture offer different kinds of assistance for projects like transfer stations and open dump cleanups.

Senate committee moves Busterud nomination forward for EPA waste office

The full Senate will next consider the nomination. Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito commended John Busterud's qualifications, though some Democrats criticized the U.S. EPA’s recent policies related to pollution.

The U.S. could increase biogas projects 8-fold, American Biogas Council says

Total buildout of available capacity varies between 36% and 2% among states, according to the industry group.

Updated June 11, 2025

BTS Bioenergy charts new path, scraps California digester project

The company, formerly named Bioenergy Devco, has been retooling its strategy amid problems at its Maryland facility and shifting fortunes in California. CEO Nick Thomas said he’s hoping to begin a new era.

‘A wild ride’: California EPR regulatory revision process advances

After reviewing new comments on SB 54, “while I can see we did some things well, there's some components of our regulations that are still going to need work” prior to formal rulemaking, said CalRecycle Director Zoe Heller.

Where 3 key waste and recycling bills stand in California

Bills managing marine flares, establishing a tax exemption for certain Chiquita Canyon compensation payments and expanding composting regulations for certain farmers are still in play after a legislative deadline.

A recipe for disasters: The art of bird flu composting

The multiyear spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza has resulted in a significant number of animal carcasses. Compost experts travel to farms around the country to deal with the problem.

Honeywell, Samsung subsidiary, others create SAF Technology Alliance

The SAF Technology Alliance will create an end-to-end integrated solution to turn waste from a feedstock into sustainable aviation fuel to help scale the industry.