Q4 earnings results for major waste and recycling companies

Follow the latest results from WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Casella Waste Systems, Clean Harbors, Stericycle and Rubicon as they close out 2022 reports and give guidance for 2023.

Updated March 9, 2023

Waste Connections ends 2022 favorably despite headwinds; spent $2.3B on acquisitions

Waste Connections executives expect a strong start to 2023 due to anticipated acquisitions activity, as well as minor improvements in recycled commodity and energy credit values.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 16, 2023

Republic says it’s ready for any economy; M&A remains a priority after spending $2.7B in 2022

Executives said they anticipate growing revenue potential from the company’s environmental solutions division. The company also previewed upcoming plastic recycling center investments and acquisition plans.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 16, 2023

How the EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard program changes could be a boon for landfill and AD operators

The program’s biggest change to date would set long-term renewable natural gas targets, add credits for powering electric vehicles and much more. WM, Republic Services, Anaergia, Covanta and others weigh in on what it means.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 16, 2023

BP CEO describes Archaea acquisition as a ‘game changer’ for boosting biogas volumes

In their first earnings call since completing the purchase of a leading landfill gas project developer, BP executives outlined plans to ramp up capital spending and pursue new offtake options for the Archaea platform.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 8, 2023

Vicinity Energy takes over first WTE facility with $120M Michigan contract

Covanta opted out of the site after 30-plus years, creating an opening for Vicinity, a Veolia spinoff focused on district heating systems. Kent County plans to invest more than $40 million in upgrades to preserve the site.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 8, 2023

Minnesota renewable energy bill that could boost landfill gas, anaerobic digestion heads to governor’s desk

If the bill gets enacted, power from incinerators operating in environmental justice areas would not count toward the state’s renewable energy goals, but that from landfill gas and anaerobic digestion would.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 7, 2023

DOE report touts chemical recycling R&D opportunities while noting plastic’s environmental justice issues

The report, part of a long-term Energy Department effort to boost the viability of plastics recycling and cut energy use, touts opportunities in researching bio-based plastics as well as chemical recycling technologies. 

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 6, 2023

Federal lawmakers reintroduce bills calling for billions in food waste recycling and prevention grants

Sponsors of the COMPOST Act and Zero Food Waste Act say an injection of federal funding over 10 years will help scale up local projects. These bills failed to pass last session.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 3, 2023

WTE facility in Long Beach, California, will remain open into 2024 following Covanta contract update

The city’s Southeast Resource Recovery Facility has seen steep tonnage and revenue declines following the passage of a recent state law. Covanta is now assuming financial risks and revenues to avoid its imminent closure.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 3, 2023

WM boosts planned MRF and RNG spending by $590M, sees signs of inflation easing

Volumes may be flat, and recycling values are down, but executives hope cost control measures and long-term investments will offset headwinds. They said federal regulations are driving an attractive environment for RNG projects.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 1, 2023

Battery electric could be 63% of refuse truck sales come 2030: report

Electrification incentives like those in the Inflation Reduction Act may accelerate fleet conversions in the waste industry, a new analysis shows. Mack Trucks and Casella are among the companies working toward that this year.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 31, 2023

WTE trade group reemerges with backing from Covanta, WIN Waste and local governments

The sector’s two largest companies, plus notable public sector facility owners such as Florida’s Miami-Dade County, hope the Waste-to-Energy Association can help them reframe environmental discussions.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 31, 2023

Covanta CEO promises ‘vastly different’ approach for the company

Azeez Mohammed, who joined the company as part of its 2021 sale to EQT Infrastructure, talks through a wave of strategic changes in his first extended interview on the job. 

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 26, 2023

Connecticut governor backing EPR for packaging and other policies to increase state’s ‘self-sufficiency’

Gov. Ned Lamont said a combination of EPR, waste diversion and improved organics management will help Connecticut reduce a growing amount of waste exported to other states in the wake of a major WTE facility closing.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 25, 2023

The Waste Dive Outlook on 2023

What you need to know on industry trends to watch, the hiring landscape, fleet maintenance and more to come as the new year gets underway.

By The Waste Dive Team • Updated Feb. 15, 2023

VLS Environmental sees hazardous waste and PFAS opportunities after latest acquisition

VLS, a private equity-backed company, intends to keep growing in the hazardous and non-hazardous waste sectors. Its latest purchase of Texas Molecular may also open up new opportunities for PFAS disposal.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 18, 2023

CalRecycle ramping up SB 1383 compliance efforts as it kicks off $155M grant program

Jurisdictions can expect compliance reviews within four years as the state looks to increase progress on a target to cut organic waste disposal 75% by 2025. Additional grant funding for local governments is also being planned.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 13, 2023

6 waste and recycling trends to watch in 2023

The effects of ongoing M&A, the biogas boom, and regulatory and financial debates around plastics are among the most complex topics on Waste Dive’s radar in the new year.

By Cole Rosengren , Megan Quinn , Maria Rachal • Jan. 12, 2023

Municipalities that ditch curbside recycling are missing out on revenue, Florida report finds

Recent research from the University of Florida and the Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation outlines the financial and environmental effects of multiple local governments dropping their curbside programs in recent years.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 12, 2023

Companies can no longer peg food waste recycling as a West Coast initiative

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s director of innovation recaps new and expanded drop-off and collection programs, plus new processing facilities to meet that demand, suggesting continued momentum for solutions in 2023.

By Olga Kachook • Jan. 5, 2023

By the numbers: 2022 waste and recycling trends with implications for 2023

Key data points on some of the top issues — M&A, ESG, inflation and policy — that illustrate another eventful year for the industry.

By Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren , Maria Rachal • Jan. 4, 2023

BP completes $4.1B acquisition of Archaea

The transaction positions BP as a major developer of renewable natural gas projects at U.S. landfills and caps off a rapid rise for Archaea since it became a public company in 2021.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 28, 2022

Top interviews with waste and recycling leaders in 2022

Read some of the year’s most popular conversations with CEOs from Republic Services, WIN Waste Innovations, LRS and Vanguard Renewables, as well as leaders from WM, the U.S. EPA and other organizations.

Dec. 22, 2022

Archaea shareholders approve $4.1B sale to BP

Recently released proxy filings share new details about joint venture partner Republic Services signing off on the deal. BP’s CEO has described his company as “the natural owner” of Archaea, with exponential growth ahead.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 14, 2022