Here’s where waste, recycling and organics laws changed on Jan. 1

California, Connecticut, Washington and Rhode Island are among the jurisdictions enforcing new laws, including bottle bill updates and organics mandates.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 2, 2024

By the numbers: Key 2023 waste and recycling trends

Look back on the year through data points on issues such as labor, M&A, federal funding, state policy and commodity pricing.

By Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Dec. 22, 2023

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

Waste industry kick-starts RNG projects in 2023

Numerous companies secured financing and announced plans for building and expanding landfill or anaerobic digestion RNG projects in 2023.

By Waste Dive Staff • Dec. 21, 2023

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

EPA’s historic year of multi-million-dollar investments in recycling and organics projects

The U.S. EPA announced grants in 2023 meant to boost infrastructure projects, recycling education, environmental justice initiatives and more. 

By Waste Dive Staff • Dec. 20, 2023

Kansas landfill becomes first to agree to use methane drone in EPA settlement

Hamm proposed using drones from Sniffer Robotics to monitor its landfill in Lawrence, Kansas. The settlement comes after inspectors reported that the landfill had violated the Clean Air Act.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 18, 2023

Shareholder resolution calls for tobacco company to pay to clean up plastic cigarette filter litter

As You Sow says tobacco company Altria must take financial responsibility for cleanup of cigarette butt litter. The shareholder advocacy group is also pushing for EPR policies that cover these items.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 15, 2023

Federal methane strategy calls for improved, cost-effective landfill emissions tracking technologies

The strategy says existing monitoring practices do not account for anomalous emissions events. It calls for research and funding to improve measurements and modeling, including work with agencies such as NASA.

By Jacob Wallace • Updated Dec. 14, 2023

Miami-Dade County, Florida, approves $65M contract toward WTE plant

The Board of County Commissioners approved an early design contract for a new mass burn waste-to-energy facility. But other decisions, including the facility’s location, remain.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 13, 2023

Heritage Environmental Services selling majority stake to EQT Infrastructure

The Indiana-based environmental services company provides a range of options for hazardous and non-hazardous waste, including at multiple disposal sites. This follows Sweden-based EQT’s recent investment in Covanta.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Dec. 13, 2023

Waste Connections acquiring 30 Canadian E&P facilities from Secure Energy Services

The deal includes numerous oil and gas landfills, injection wells and treatment and disposal facilities. The Canadian government required Secure to divest these assets following its merger with Tervita.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 11, 2023

EPA says final PFAS drinking water regulation and hazardous designations on the horizon

The agency previewed a busy winter of new regulations and disposal guidelines that will have implications for many waste industry operators. This includes a delay for eagerly awaited drinking water standards.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 11, 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

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

As EPA ramps up landfill emissions enforcement, modeling frustrations resurface

An August memo warned landfill operators the U.S. EPA would be going after “widespread noncompliance” in landfill emissions regulations, leaving the industry representatives concerned.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 16, 2023

EPA should act on landfill emissions ahead of COP28, waste and environmental groups say

A coalition is urging the Biden administration to announce a rulemaking to update emissions standards for landfills. The call comes as world leaders prepare to negotiate new climate commitments.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 15, 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

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

EPA should put landfill methane on COP28 agenda: former Oregon governor

States like Oregon are curbing landfill methane emissions to help achieve climate goals. Kate Brown says the EPA should take greater action on this issue ahead of COP28.

By Kate Brown • Nov. 8, 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