Deep Dive
Industry insights from our journalists
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Industry Dive; Keith Srakocic/AP
Chemical recycling plants are on the rise. What does it mean for MRF operators?
Chemical recyclers see MRFs and specialty collection partnerships as important feedstock sources to fulfill production promises, but experts say it’s too early to determine how they could influence recycled plastic markets.
Megan Quinn and Shaun Lucas • April 1, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Does the EPA’s Waste Reduction Model favor landfills or incineration?
After the EPA released a new version of WARM and held a public comment period, stakeholders across the spectrum of materials management believe there’s room for improvement.
Jacob Wallace • Updated March 21, 2024 -
Permission granted by Clean Energy Fuels
How a new wave of clean fuels bills could spur a biogas boom
New Mexico just became the fourth state to enact a program, which has the potential to give biogas projects from landfills and on-farm digesters a boost. Could more states soon follow?
Jacob Wallace • March 13, 2024 -
Extreme-Photographer via Getty Images
5 issues to watch as New York reshapes its commercial waste system
Many questions remain about how companies were selected, how much recycling investment will occur, how soon companies get electric vehicles, when implementation will begin and more.
Cole Rosengren • Feb. 16, 2024 -
Sean Pavone via Getty Images
Who came out on top with New York commercial waste zone contracts?
The 65 contracts recently awarded to provide service in the five boroughs effectively reset the market. Major companies such as Action Environmental and Waste Connections did well; others are left with tough choices.
Cole Rosengren • Feb. 13, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
EPR, bottle bills and right-to-repair legislation make a return in 2024 with nuanced new details
New state legislation for EPR, bottle bills and right-to-repair will become more complex in 2024, but lawmakers are playing a long game to build consensus around such involved bills, experts say.
Megan Quinn • Jan. 29, 2024 -
Courtesy of Archaea Energy
RNG industry expects voluntary agreements, new credits to spur growth in 2024
The renewable natural gas industry saw more than 60 projects come online last year. This year, it’s expecting to build on that growth as the industry matures.
Jacob Wallace • Jan. 22, 2024 -
Courtesy of Recology
Compostable packaging’s contested, complicated past doesn’t determine its future
Composters can struggle to manage the wide variety of new packaging entering the market, leading to greater calls for labeling guidelines and testing. Cities like San Francisco and Minneapolis offer case studies in how to make it work.
Mary Catherine O'Connor • Dec. 7, 2023 -
viavado via Getty Images
Has the waste and recycling industry’s multiyear M&A boom peaked?
Experts from Stifel, Houlihan Lokey, Comerica Bank, Raymond James, Waste Connections and others weigh in on the latest trends involving valuations, private equity, environmental services, antitrust and more.
Cole Rosengren • Nov. 27, 2023 -
Courtesy of ExxonMobil
Chemical recycling aims to scale fast in effort to manage plastic waste, even as questions remain
Chemical recycling proponents are investing in major projects to scale up the technology. Yet lingering policy, permitting and business factors will affect the trajectory of this fast-developing recycling sector.
Megan Quinn • Oct. 9, 2023 -
(2018). "Baltimore Food Waste & Recovery Strategy" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Baltimore Office of Sustainability.
With a $4M EPA grant, Baltimore looks to chart a fresh course on organics
The city's organics infrastructure is getting a jolt from the new funding. Composting advocates hope broader changes laid out in the city’s draft waste plan will follow.
Jacob Wallace • Sept. 26, 2023 -
(2016). Retrieved from Baltimore Department of Public Works.
Baltimore faces expensive road ahead for collection and disposal infrastructure
Despite pressure from advocacy groups, the city's 10-year waste plan anticipates landfill and incineration assets will continue to serve a key role as the city works to increase recycling.
Jacob Wallace • Sept. 18, 2023 -
Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images; Federal Trade Commission
Taming the wild west of environmental marketing: A Green Guides history
More than 30 years after state attorneys general pushed for scrutiny of marketing claims, the packaging landscape is as complicated as ever, and opinions vary about whether the guides served their original purpose.
Mary Catherine O'Connor • Updated Sept. 6, 2023 -
sebasnoo via Getty Images
Demand for recycled plastic in packaging is growing. So are concerns about potential health risks.
Recent studies have raised questions about health effects from plastic, including recycled material, as companies and regulators increasingly look at ways to advance the use of recycled resin in food-grade packaging.
April Reese • June 28, 2023 -
Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
Waste industry braces for ‘bumps and bruises’ in EV rollout as California sets the pace
Haulers and vehicle manufacturers at WasteExpo said they expect a potential collision between regulation-fueled demand and limited supply of battery-electric trucks. Charging infrastructure is also a growing concern.
Jacob Wallace • May 10, 2023 -
HaizhanZheng via Getty Images
New York’s Brookhaven Landfill is closing soon. Is Long Island ready?
A prime destination for incinerator ash and C&D will soon be out of capacity. Winters Bros. Waste Systems has acquired rail transfer assets with plans to build a new site and is looking to play a lead role in the region’s next chapter.
Cole Rosengren • April 26, 2023 -
Permission granted by Casella Waste Systems
Some landfills will begin treating PFAS on-site as regulators move to adopt new limits
Companies such as Casella Waste Systems and Waste Connections are building their own wastewater treatment plants for leachate and testing a range of technologies as the industry awaits federal standards.
April Reese • Jan. 17, 2023 -
Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
The fragile ecosystem of Massachusetts C&D recycling
The state’s construction recycling requirements have spurred a wave of new infrastructure investments and led to more acquisitions. Some say they’ve also constrained capacity, all while the region’s building boom continues.
Cole Rosengren • Jan. 11, 2023 -
Permission granted by Rabbit Recycling
Specialty recycling pick-up services flip the script on items accepted curbside
Services from Ridwell, Rabbit Recycling, TerraCycle, Casella Waste Systems and others are seeing growth as consumers want more options for hard-to-recycle products. Yet some are also navigating cost and legal challenges.
Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 13, 2022 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Is California’s 2025 organics diversion target still viable?
An independent commission is now assessing whether course corrections are needed for the state’s landmark SB 1383 law. CalRecycle, WM, Republic Services, Agromin, Anaergia and many others have weighed in.
Cole Rosengren • Nov. 14, 2022 -
Permission granted by OC Waste & Recycling
What California’s organics recycling law could mean for the future of landfills
As the state looks to dramatically reduce disposal volumes in the coming years, the shift is prompting new questions about the waste industry’s operating model. Orange County is one notable landfill operator pivoting to composting.
Cole Rosengren • Oct. 13, 2022 -
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Los Angeles had a rocky commercial waste zone rollout but is seeing results. What’s in store for New York?
New York has big goals for its zone system to boost diversion rates, infrastructure investment and labor standards. First, the city and haulers must navigate a transition process that one LA official called “six months of hell.”
Cole Rosengren • Sept. 19, 2022 -
Natalie Behring via Getty Images
National Sword kicked off a wave of MRF investments. 5 years later, tech and funding continue to advance.
While the initial shock led facility operators to scramble, many have since invested millions in new equipment to improve material quality. Now, brand commitments and state policies are expected to be the next big market drivers.
Megan Quinn • Sept. 14, 2022 -
Courtesy of Boro-Wide Recycling
New York commercial waste haulers hold their breath after submitting bids for 10-year contracts
Bids are in to operate in the Department of Sanitation’s upcoming commercial waste zone system. Haulers of all sizes are waiting to learn their fates while operating under lingering pandemic and inflationary pressures.
Cole Rosengren • Aug. 24, 2022 -
VCG via Getty Images
Domestic destinations for recycled paper and plastic are growing. Is National Sword the reason?
A wave of investments occurred in the U.S. over the last five years, but experts debate how much is due to China's scrap import restrictions versus other economic, environmental and geopolitical factors.
Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 22, 2022
