Los Angeles commercial waste system at a crossroads amid contract renegotiation

The recycLA program has seen positive results, but haulers are lagging on diversion targets and organics service. The city, while trying to amend the program, could issue a new RFP or even take over service itself.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 21, 2023

Republic Services returns to Austin, Texas, market in deal with Integrated Waste Solutions Group

Eight years after the permit for its Sunset Hills Landfill expired, Republic now owns the recently opened 130 Environmental Park Landfill and one of the last independent haulers in the Austin market, Central Texas Refuse.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 21, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

The Waste Dive Outlook on 2022

Get up to speed on what may be coming next around M&A, labor solutions, ESG investment trends, federal regulation, state policy, environmental justice, local programs and more.

By Waste Dive staff

Waste worker fatality rate decreased in 2022, but waste remains seventh deadliest job: BLS

It’s the third year in a row that fatality rates for the sector decreased, though MRF fatalities increased in 2022.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 20, 2023

Circular Services acquires Midwest Fiber, including 5 recycling facilities

Balcones Recycling, part of Closed Loop Partners’ Circular Services platform, will manage the operation. Midwest, a family-owned company, had scaled to include collection and processing operations in multiple states.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 17, 2023

Second former Recology employee sentenced in San Francisco corruption case

Paul Giusti, who started on a Sunset Scavenger truck over 40 years ago, previously pleaded guilty to facilitating bribes for a former public works director. Judge William Orrick noted this was part of a broader company culture issue.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 15, 2023

Republic Services pays $100K settlement for truck violations

The hauler has set ambitious fleet modernization targets but allegedly failed to ensure compliance with California’s truck emissions rules from 2018 to 2020, the U.S. EPA announced.

By Jacob Wallace • Updated Dec. 13, 2023

Heritage-Crystal Clean to pay $1.16M in penalties for violating hazardous waste regulations

The waste services provider must implement numerous compliance measures after the U.S. EPA and DOJ announced it violated RCRA regulations related to managing, transporting and storing certain solvents.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 8, 2023

What’s next for Hainesport Transportation Group, including Michigan rail project

CEO Darryl Caplan and investment partner Dickson Suit lay out their strategy for how the New Jersey-based company is ramping up its position to transfer more C&D volumes out of the disposal-constrained Northeast.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 7, 2023

Republic Services acquires Indiana hauler, transfer station operator

Wallace Bros. Disposal & Recycling had been a family-run operation since 1996. The transaction is one of multiple to occur in the region in recent years.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 5, 2023

Haulers call for New York rate cap increase due to rising disposal and containerization costs

Comments from Waste Connections, the National Waste & Recycling Association and others requested an increase of at least 9% to account for rising expenses such as tip fees and a pending congestion pricing toll.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 4, 2023

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.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 27, 2023

Waste Connections’ Mittelstaedt talks industry changes, improvements during time away from CEO job

Ron Mittelstaedt discussed how trends in sustainability, technology and investor interest are “rapidly changing” the waste industry during a session at the Corporate Growth Conference.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 21, 2023

Teamsters continue labor fight in Republic Services’ backyard

The union is facing an uphill battle as it attempts to negotiate its first contract for 286 employees across three unionized Republic yards in the Phoenix area.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 20, 2023

Mack Trucks workers vote to ratify 5-year UAW labor agreement

The agreement comes after more than a month of striking at five Mack plants, including one that assembles its refuse collection vehicles.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 17, 2023

AmWaste aims to scale with 3i investment after ‘quietly’ becoming sizable Southeast player

An infusion of growth capital by 3i North American Infrastructure helped AmWaste purchase disposal assets in Georgia, with more acquisitions to come. CEO Chip Russell outlines the company’s vision for expansion.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 13, 2023

Hainesport Transportation Group recapitalizes to expand its rail-served Northeast assets

The New Jersey-based company — which has assets such as a roll-off business, transfer station and Ohio landfill — has new backing from Tecum Capital and Environmental Services Investors.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 13, 2023

Austin, Texas, releases zero waste plan as population booms

The city’s goal of achieving a 90% diversion rate by 2040 remains ambitious, but Austin Resource Recovery is planning new infrastructure and expanded collections to help bridge the gap.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 10, 2023

WM’s chief sustainability officer on the future of recycling

Tara Hemmer sees WM’s recycling investments as key to its overall sustainability strategy. Technology will allow WM to respond to customers’ changing sustainability needs in coming years, she said.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 10, 2023

Rubicon marks progress 1 year after profitability plan, including contract with Austin, Texas

The waste broker and technology company said it has reduced expenses by $55 million on an annualized basis, among other trends that executives described as promising. Earnings are still on track to turn positive in Q4.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 9, 2023

Injury rates for waste industry workers rose in 2022

Injury rates rose just a year after the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the lowest rates since 2006. Solid waste collection workers reported slightly fewer illnesses in 2022.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 9, 2023

Leading waste and recycling companies spent $986M on M&A in Q3

WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental and Casella Waste Systems recently reported spending totals and shared their outlooks on the deal environment heading into 2024.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 7, 2023

Stericycle announces ‘workforce reduction’ plan, lowers guidance

Stericycle expects future efficiencies from its new ERP system but is facing headwinds from commodity volatility. It also divested businesses in the Netherlands and UAE.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 6, 2023

Casella reports ‘pivotal and exciting’ Q3 due to recent acquisitions and strong pricing

Casella raised revenue guidance and predicted a strong Q4 due to its retrofitted Boston MRF and operations it acquired from GFL.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 3, 2023

GFL at ‘inflection point’ regarding debt leverage, executives say

The Canada-based company reported slightly elevated debt numbers as it continued to engage in M&A. But executives now believe GFL has a clear path to a better ratio into next year and see more profit potential from EPR.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 2, 2023

GFL Environmental acquires Capital Waste from Kinderhook, building Southeast presence

The transaction, announced during GFL’s Q3 earnings call, comes after the private equity firm fueled Capital’s growth in recent years. GFL CEO Patrick Dovigi said the deal happened after a competitor ran into antitrust delays.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 2, 2023