California to consider satellites, covers and flaring in landfill emissions rule update

The California Air Resources Board is in the process of updating its landfill methane regulation for the first time since 2010, with an eye toward new technologies and better practices to reduce emissions.

By Jacob Wallace • July 6, 2023

How the waste industry prepared for and reacted to the EPA’s 2023 Renewable Fuel Standard update

The agency’s final rules to generate renewable energy credits from certain systems are seen as a benefit for anaerobic digesters and certain landfill projects. Catch up on coverage of key developments.

June 29, 2023

Waste industry groups, lawmakers vow to continue push for eRINs

Waste industry groups, including WM and the Waste-to-Energy Association, have said they will continue to work with the U.S. EPA to enact the program despite its exclusion from the recently updated Renewable Fuel Standard.

By Jacob Wallace • June 26, 2023

Tweak in EPA’s renewable fuels program could ‘transform food waste recycling,’ biogas experts say

The apportionment of two kinds of RIN credits will now allow wastewater treatment plants to accept and codigest food waste without taking a financial hit. Farm-based digesters that rely on manure also benefit from the change.

By Jacob Wallace • June 23, 2023

EPA releases final Renewable Fuel Standard rule without proposed credit market for EV fueling

The new rule was published without the lucrative but controversial eRIN program. But the EPA proposed better credits for RNG, something biogas industry advocates had called for.

By Jacob Wallace • June 21, 2023

Anaergia announces new CEO to succeed founder

Brett Hodson, previously president and CEO of Corix Infrastructure, will take over the top role at the anaerobic digestion and RNG company. This move follows the recent announcement of a new CFO.

By Cole Rosengren • June 21, 2023

New York leaders see a role for composting and codigestion as the city scales up organics recycling

Community composters are pushing for a continued role following the passage of a suite of bills targeting organics as the city also looks to scale up codigestion capacity at wastewater treatment plants.

By Jacob Wallace • Updated June 16, 2023

Vanguard Renewables strikes largest open market RNG deal yet with AstraZeneca

Vanguard executives and RNG proponents hope the 15-year deal is joined by others as corporations look for solutions for hard-to-decarbonize processes.

By Jacob Wallace • June 14, 2023

Anaergia’s new CFO brings additional experience in the RNG space

Andrew Spence joins after stints at Aria Energy and Ameresco, as Anaergia looks to update its business model for anaerobic digestion projects.

By Jacob Wallace • June 13, 2023

Contentious Connecticut waste and recycling bill heads to governor’s desk, without EPR

Legislators cut packaging EPR details from a sweeping bill that includes requirements for recycled content and organics diversion, as well as initial plans for new in-state processing capacity.

By Megan Quinn • June 8, 2023

EPA withdraws proposal to drop pyrolysis from regulation following criticism

Clean Air Act emissions limits will remain in place for a category of facilities that includes small MSW combustors and certain institutional waste incinerators after Monday’s decision.

By Jacob Wallace • June 6, 2023

West Virginia authority terminates Renovare’s lease at shuttered mixed waste facility in move to reopen

More than a year after the company largely abandoned its 110,000-ton-per-year operation, waste remains on-site and fires have occurred. U.S. Bank’s move to block a bankruptcy effort has further complicated the situation.

By Cole Rosengren • June 6, 2023

Clean Energy Technologies, newly public, is working to scale pyrolysis in the United States

Kam Mahdi, the CEO of Clean Energy Technologies, talks about his company’s modular pyrolysis system and its first demonstration project in Vermont.

By Jacob Wallace • June 2, 2023

EPA to reconsider incinerator emission standards in proposed consent decree following lawsuit

The agency would issue a proposed rulemaking by the end of this year concerning pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act.

By Jacob Wallace • Updated May 31, 2023

Biogas industry leaders advocate for standardization, facilities streamlining for long-term growth

The CEOs of Vanguard Renewables and Nature Energy said during the recent Biogas Americas conference that the industry could be poised for a large role in the future U.S. renewable energy mix if it can hone the business model.

By Jacob Wallace • May 30, 2023

Anaergia’s Rialto Bioenergy Facility files for bankruptcy, citing California organics implementation delays

Anaergia hopes to buy time to gain better access to feedstock and ramp up its largest facility. It cites ongoing delays associated with SB 1383 and Los Angeles commercial organics recycling enforcement.

By Jacob Wallace • May 25, 2023

Minnesota governor signs bills with statewide waste reduction goal, right-to-repair law for electronics

A sweeping state budget bill contains a new waste reduction goal of 90% by 2045. A detailed report explaining how to get there is due in 2024.

By Megan Quinn • Updated May 24, 2023

WIN Waste Innovations’ first sustainability report touts material recovery, avoided emissions

The Northeast-based company’s initial report includes statistics on the overall amount of material being recycled and managed, though it isn’t disclosing greenhouse gas emissions data yet.

By Jacob Wallace • May 22, 2023

Anaergia shifting to ‘capital-light’ strategy amid feedstock challenges for anaerobic digesters

Projects in California and Italy have ramped up slower than planned, prompting financial challenges. CEO Andrew Benedek urged investors not to “give up hope” on the company, citing the tailwinds behind RNG in its core markets.

By Jacob Wallace • May 17, 2023

Republic Services sues landfill gas operator over missed payments in California

The suit alleges that Sunshine Gas Producers stopped making payments after agreeing to use excess gas for an RNG facility, which has not been built so far.

By Jacob Wallace • May 15, 2023

Biogas groups, lawmakers jockey for changes as EPA nears final rule on eRIN market

The EPA could create a lucrative new credit market with its final Renewable Fuel Standard rule in June. But biogas groups and WTE supporters are battling Republican opposition that could delay or shut down the proposal.

By Jacob Wallace • May 11, 2023

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.

By Jacob Wallace • May 10, 2023

WM CEO Jim Fish discusses the economy, labor automation and sustainability investments

The industry’s most high-profile executive weighed in about what will and won’t be changing when it comes to WM’s strategy on temporary labor, secondary processing for recyclables, anaerobic digestion and more.

By Cole Rosengren • May 10, 2023

Covanta CEO shares environmental services and M&A outlook after sizable Circon deal

In a recent interview, Azeez Mohammed outlined the company’s new scale and offerings after closing the deal this week. Plus, he shared an update on the serious facility fire in Miami-Dade County.

By Jacob Wallace • May 4, 2023

Covanta completes deal to acquire Circon from Kinderhook

The deal, first announced in April, is the latest expansion of Covanta’s environmental services division and one of its largest transactions in years.

By Jacob Wallace • May 1, 2023