Casella says acquisition activity, safety improvements marked an ‘exceptional’ year

Casella touted a successful year from numerous acquisitions and operational improvements. Executives previewed further infrastructure upgrades at the Willimantic recycling facility, plus a $800M acquisition pipeline for 2024.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 16, 2024

Waste Connections highlights ‘disciplined execution’ for Q4 and recovering labor trends

CEO Ron Mittelstaedt characterized 2023 as a “year of renewal” and applauded strong acquisition activity and improved safety and retention.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 14, 2024

CalRecycle director stepping down in March

Rachel Machi Wagoner will leave her role after three years in the position. The director job will be challenging to fill, industry experts say, as the agency is in the middle of implementing several high-profile laws.

By Megan Quinn • Updated Feb. 15, 2024

WM touts sustainability spending, ‘strong’ operations growth to wrap up Q4

Executives credited price and cost-saving measures for Q4 earnings growth and said the company will invest up to $2.9B in its recycling and renewable energy platforms through 2026.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 13, 2024

Landfill updates from Republic, WM, Waste Connections and others in January

Permits or plans for Republic, Capital Waste and Noble Environmental received approval, while WM and Waste Connections' plans faced environmental pushback from residents.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 6, 2024

EPA aims to clarify PFAS cleanup authority at hazardous waste facilities

Proposed new rules would more clearly define “hazardous waste” and list nine specific PFAS under RCRA regulations but are not likely to apply to most operators of MSW and C&D landfills.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 2, 2024

Seattle enacts battery and electronics disposal ban to prevent fires

The ban by Seattle Public Utilities, which includes most batteries as well as electronics with embedded batteries, comes ahead of a statewide battery EPR program with similar provisions starting in 2027.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 1, 2024

Senate hearing puts landfill methane reduction strategies in the spotlight

Experts from the NWRA, RMI and Carbon Mapper discussed actions EPA could take, including updating emissions standards for landfills and contracting with satellite emissions tracking firms. 

By Jacob Wallace • Feb. 1, 2024

EPA seeks feedback on updated Waste Reduction Model to compare materials management practices

The agency recently released the 16th version of WARM, which provides local governments with a high-level estimate for emissions, energy impacts and other factors for different strategies.

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 31, 2024

Colorado’s needs assessment offers glimpse into state’s EPR implementation

Recycling access is uneven in the state, the needs assessment finds. It calls for MRF and transfer station upgrades, a minimum recyclables list and other updates to add access for 500,000 households.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 31, 2024

The waste and recycling industry outlook for 2024

Recycling policy, PFAS regulations, landfill methane, organics infrastructure and M&A are all expected to be key topics for the year ahead.

By Waste Dive Staff • Jan. 29, 2024

DOD taps PFAS remediation companies, including Clean Earth, for mitigation research project

The Enviri subsidiary — along with Aquagga, Arcadis, 374Water and others — said this partnership with the federal agency will help scale up PFAS remediation and destruction technologies.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 23, 2024

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.

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 22, 2024

WM, Waste Connections pitch waste-to-rail in Miami-Dade County, Florida

The county’s interest in waste-to-rail has proven popular with three waste companies, but officials said they’re still assessing their options amid rising costs.

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 19, 2024

EPR, multifamily improvements could boost stagnant 21% residential recycling rate, TRP says

The Recycling Partnership’s latest report says “every material type is under-recycled” and calls for local and state policies, along with MRF improvements and other strategies, to improve residential rates.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 19, 2024

Lawmakers call for EPA to update MSW landfill emission standards

A recent letter sent by 21 U.S. representatives noted the agency has acted on methane from other sectors and that its regulations could be updated to reflect new landfill technologies.

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 18, 2024

New York solid waste plan calls for disposal surcharge, expanded food diversion requirements

The new plan includes several focus areas and recommendations to reach a goal of 85% recycling of the total waste stream, as well as lower waste emissions, by 2050. It also supports extended producer responsibility laws.

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 17, 2024

Long Island, New York, landfill closure extended as officials search for ash solutions

The Brookhaven Landfill is scheduled to stop accepting C&D waste at the end of 2024, but it may accept incinerator ash into 2028. In the meantime, rail transfer proposals continue to receive attention as one future option.

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 16, 2024

Selecting the appropriate PFAS treatment technology: An overview of solutions for landfill leachate

Landfill operators have a challenging decision when identifying appropriate technologies for PFAS management. Learn about new PFAS destruction technologies and compare them to the traditional removal and disposal options.

By Julie Bliss Mullen • Jan. 16, 2024

Republic Services to pay $671K fine, update gas control system for New York landfill

The U.S. EPA found that the Niagara Falls landfill, operated by a Republic subsidiary, had been exceeding emissions limits since at least 2009 but had yet to install a proper gas collection and control system. 

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 10, 2024

5 waste and recycling trends to watch in 2024

The evolving M&A market, the rise of EPR, pending PFAS regulations, renewable natural gas and methane reduction are some of the biggest issues facing the industry this year.

By Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Jan. 5, 2024

New Hampshire Supreme Court rules in favor of Casella on landfill expansion permit

The state’s top court ruled that Casella’s 2020 permit to expand the Bethlehem, New Hampshire, landfill was issued legally, reversing a prior decision made on an appeal from the Conservation Law Foundation.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 4, 2024

Proposed Washington landfill methane rule adds gas collection, reporting requirements

The rule would lead to further collection of landfill methane emissions, which are responsible for about 80% of the state’s industrial methane pollution. 

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 2, 2024

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