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Taiwan has one of the highest recycling rates in the world. Here's how that happened.
By providing disincentives for discarding trash — and adding musical motivation — Taiwan has achieved a recycling rate many envy.
Recycling -
Anti-franchising group set to rejoin NWRA's New York chapter
New Yorkers for Responsible Waste Management, founded in 2016 amid strategy disagreements over a major commercial waste zone proposal, is bringing its members back into the national trade association.
Corporate -
Our 10 best stories of 2018
Catch up on some of our biggest stories involving Waste Management, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Rubicon Global, TerraCycle and, of course, China.
Corporate -
After nearly 6 months without contract, ecomaine workers strike a contentious deal
Terms agreed to by the International Union of Engineers and the nonprofit WTE/recycling operator may come at the expense of deep division over new rotating shift requirements.
Recycling -
ColumnScrap Collector: Microplastics found in Earth's deepest point, Philly cameras catching litterbugs in the act
Plus, rough sailing for ocean garbage collector, suspended Alabama workers reinstated after strike, and the EU's latest push against plastic.
Recycling -
A tale of two cities: Landfills drive Waste Management and Republic deals in Texas
The companies recently completed transactions with each other in the Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth markets that, while viewed as largely unremarkable, illustrate the high importance placed on owning disposal assets.
Corporate -
Trump signs Farm Bill with unprecedented level of food waste action
The bill includes $125 million for local reduction and composting pilots, plans for a new USDA food waste study, multiple provisions to boost biogas and a variety of other details to enhance food recovery.
UPDATED: Dec. 21, 2018 at 8:44 a.m.
Organics -
BLS: Fatality rate for collection workers 10x national average
New national data indicates 30 "refuse and recyclable material collectors" died on the job in 2017. NWRA and SWANA responded with their own takes on what this means for industry safety standards.
Collections & Transfer -
Boston inches toward final 'zero waste' plan, eyes curbside organics pilot
While enthusiastic about the expansive scope of a new report, many advocates remain unhappy with the lack of specific "living wage" contract language for recycling workers.
Collections & Transfer -
UK waste strategy calls for packaging EPR, widespread organics collection
The lengthy plan, billed as a path toward a more circular economy, includes a variety of strategies to reduce waste and improve recycling.
Recycling -
New food date labels provide the clarity consumers need, survey says
Since the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Food Marketing Institute launched the campaign in 2017, 87% of products have carried "Best If Used By" and "Use By" labels.
Organics -
Plastic bottle recycling rates slipped in 2017
New data from the Association of Plastic Recyclers and American Chemistry Council show PET and HDPE numbers both dipped in 2017, with lightweighting cited as a factor.
Recycling -
Report: Incineration is 'neither clean nor renewable'
A new Institute for Local Self-Reliance report recommends that policymakers remove subsidies for waste incineration and promote cleaner, more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Zero Waste -
SWEEP standard — LEED for waste and recycling — releases ambitious proposal
After more than two years of work by many of the industry's biggest corporate and government players, the Solid Waste Environmental Excellence Protocol now has draft language ready for comments.
Collections & Transfer -
OpinionBecoming a 'zero waste' city requires collaboration
Earlier this year, the consulting firm ENGIE Insight embarked on a sustainability tour of 10 cities and found waste was a high priority in many of them.
Recycling -
Michigan governor's recycling plans fall short as term expires
The state legislature has declined to advance Gov. Snyder's proposal for a state landfill tip fee increase, which would have helped fund brownfield remediation, recycling and other projects.
UPDATED: Dec. 17, 2018 at 7:38 a.m.
Recycling -
ColumnScrap Collector: Virginia's landfill solar aspirations, garbage arsonist(s) terrorizing Orlando
Plus, a new online waste sorting game, NASA's plans for astronaut trash and China's new food waste solution (hint: it's cockroaches).
Recycling -
Fulcrum BioEnergy promises $600M waste-to-fuel project in Gary, Indiana
The company's second facility, including a yet-to-open site in Nevada, has backing from BP, United Airlines, Waste Management and Waste Connections.
Corporate -
Coca-Cola invests in European PET recycling company
Ioniqa Technologies is developing the tools to process otherwise hard-to-recycle plastics as the soda company wants to transition to at least 50% recycled packaging materials by 2030.
Corporate -
Want to combat plastic straw waste? Consider rewiring consumer psychology.
According to Travis Wagner, co-author of a new paper on plastic straw reduction efforts, policymakers may want to restructure the consumer choice architecture.
Recycling -
Connecticut authority approves state's first source-separated glass pilot
Amid limited options for MRF glass, the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority is moving ahead with plans to collect glass separately from curbside bins, pending final state approval.
Collections & Transfer -
Minnesota city moves on $12.5M RDF project with Xcel Energy
The new RRT-designed Red Wing solid waste campus is set to open later next year after a fire delayed construction.
Recycling -
Whole Foods stops using compostable containers with PFAS
A study on food packaging in five major grocery companies found that more than two-thirds may have been treated with PFAS. Advocates are now calling for commercial composters to stop accepting the material.
Corporate -
Gold Medal pursues new type of vertical integration with Apple Valley deal
This recent acquisition gives the New Jersey company a stake in the soon-to-open Entsorga West Virginia MBT project, plus access to new markets such as Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Corporate -
Akron, Ohio's ban on glass recycling creates confusion between city and processor
The city said Waste Management wanted the glass ban. The company said this isn't the case. Now, residents are caught in the middle.
Corporate