Recycling


  • Let's get moving and cleaning
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    PeopleImages via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by RUBICONSmartCity, now part of Routeware

    Do more with less: Supercharge waste and recycling fleet operations

    Digital enablement allows fleet authorities to compress route times and mileage, saving on fuel costs and vehicle wear and tear. 

    Oct. 7, 2024
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Recycling industry eyes export improvements after port strike resolution

    Ports important to recycled commodities trade are expected to reopen now that a labor strike is tentatively resolved, but some residual logistics and commodity price impacts could linger due to backlogs.

    By Oct. 4, 2024
  • workers walk by bales of aluminum cans at a recycling facility
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    Courtesy of LRS
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    LRS releases first sustainability report, unveils emissions reduction plan

    LRS’ sustainability report offers baseline greenhouse gas emissions data and a general plan for reducing emissions from landfills and fleet vehicles while maintaining recycling rates and continuing to improve safety rates.

    By Oct. 3, 2024
  • Textile, clothing
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    Aziz Shamuratov via Getty Images
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    What’s next now that California’s EPR for textiles law has passed

    CalRecycle is expected to start working on regulations early next year. Recycling and waste groups say the law should divert more textiles, which can be problematic to process, into reuse or repair end markets instead of landfills.

    By Oct. 2, 2024
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    Permission granted by GreenBlue
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    The How2Recycle label is getting a new look

    The campaign to transform the instructional label program involves a refreshed design, plans for greater investment in consumer education, enhanced data sources and partners handling different aspects of the system.

    By Oct. 1, 2024
  • Aerial view of trucks, booths and people standing in the Las Vegas Convention Center at WasteExpo 2024
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    Notable waste and recycling conferences in 2025

    Organizers have already begun planning conferences for 2025, with new locations announced for events by SWANA and ReFED. See details about next year’s events covering business trends, organics, plastic recycling and more.

    By Waste Dive Staff • Updated Oct. 4, 2024
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    Miravision via Getty Images
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    9 federal recycling and waste grants to apply for in 2024

    Grant applications are due soon for numerous waste, recycling and organics programs funded by the U.S. EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    By Oct. 1, 2024
  • four blue recycling carts stand next to each other
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    Thomas Demarczyk via Getty Images
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    Oregon multifamily recycling report calls for better funding, access

    The report outlines well-known recycling challenges for people living in multifamily housing, such as lack of access and space constraints. It calls for a producer responsibility organization to dedicate funding for improvements.

    By Sept. 26, 2024
  • A pile of election materials on the ground, with a truck in the background, in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
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    Permission granted by Delaware County Public Relations
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    How to handle the global issue of election waste

    Local governments are preparing to deal with high volumes of yard signs, mailers and campaign material as the fall election season ramps up. Programs in Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida and elsewhere encourage recycling and reuse.

    By Adina Solomon • Sept. 26, 2024
  • A person drops off beverage containers at a recycling center.
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    San Francisco’s BottleBank aims to help in a state with limited container deposit options

    California is set to invest millions in innovations meant to make its container deposit return system operate more efficiently. BottleBank shares lessons from its first two years in operation as a mobile bag drop program.

    By Sept. 25, 2024
  • Equipment at ExxonMobil's advanced recycling facility in Baytown, Texas
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    Courtesy of ExxonMobil
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    Lawsuits from California AG and others take aim at ExxonMobil’s chemical recycling claims

    Coordinated lawsuits target the company’s role in pollution and describe the limitations of mechanical and advanced recycling to manage waste. Packaging companies have partnered with ExxonMobil to source recycled plastics.

    By Sept. 24, 2024
  • The American Battery Technology Company facility in McCarran, Nevada, with a parking lot at the front, and a road next to the facility under the sun. Snow-covered mountains are in the background.
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    Courtesy of American Battery Technology Company.

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    DOE’s $3B funding round includes battery recycling projects

    American Battery Technology Co., Ascend Elements, Cirba Solutions, Clarios Circular Solutions, Li Industries and others will use the funding for facilities to recycle and process critical materials needed for new battery manufacturing.

    By Sept. 24, 2024
  • Two paper bags full of groceries sitting on a kitchen counter
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    fstop123 via Getty Images
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    California closes reusable plastic carryout bag loophole

    Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 1053, a law that will eliminate plastic bags as an option at store checkouts. Retailers will still be allowed to sell certain recycled paper bags.

    By Sept. 23, 2024
  • Employees stand in front of a MRF
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    Courtesy of Machinex
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    New and upcoming recycling facility projects boost regional capabilities

    Cards Recycling, WM, Aurubis and a waste authority in Alabama have all invested in recent facility upgrades that could have implications for regional curbside programs or hard-to-recycle materials.

    By Sept. 20, 2024
  • Recycling sorter at Waste Management MRF
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    Courtesy of Waste Management
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    WM to close Maryland MRF and reduce temp workforce as part of upgrade plan

    The Elkridge facility’s closure is the latest development in WM’s efforts to invest more than $1 billion in new and upgraded recycling facilities across the US through 2026.

    By Sept. 19, 2024
  • plastic goes down a conveyor belt at a MRF
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Northeast MRFs saw 40% jump in commodity values in a year: NERC report

    Recent earnings calls for waste companies have reflected the trend of increased values identified in the report. NERC is seeking more MRFs to contribute data for its anonymous quarterly report.

    By Sept. 18, 2024
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    EPA announces $117M worth of recycling grant opportunities with organics focus

    The new opportunities build on a historic amount of infrastructure funding the Biden administration has awarded for recycling projects since last year, as well as efforts to build a circular economy for organics and other materials.

    By Sept. 17, 2024
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    EPA waste office unlikely to get a Senate-confirmed leader before Biden term ends

    After prior nominee Carlton Waterhouse withdrew in 2023, the U.S. EPA hasn’t updated the status of the assistant administrator role at the Office of Land and Emergency Management. Nominees could reflect new administration priorities.

    By Sept. 17, 2024
  • Three people in safety vests and hats hold green bags to recycle Nespresso coffee pods at an industrial facility.
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    Courtesy of Nestle Nespresso
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    Ontario scales coffee cup and aluminum pod recycling as part of EPR program

    As of this summer, residents can recycle drink cups and Nespresso coffee pods. The Canadian government’s goal to reduce plastic waste is also playing out at the provincial level with Ontario’s Blue Box program.

    By Barbara Hesselgrave • Sept. 16, 2024
  • Bale of cardboard for recycling, with Amazon logo
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    MRF and mill advances expected to fuel North American recovered fiber demand, Fastmarkets says

    Analysts highlighted tight OCC and mixed paper supply, as well as ongoing demand from mills willing to pay for cleaner recovered paper material from higher-tech MRFs, during a recent webinar.

    By Sept. 13, 2024
  • sorting equipment in a soccer stadium
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    Courtesy of Austin FC
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    One Austin sports stadium’s zero waste solution: build a mini MRF

    Texas Disposal Systems custom-built the MRF for a cramped space inside Q2 Stadium to help the facility divert 90% of waste and achieve a key zero waste building certification.

    By Sept. 11, 2024
  • Close-up view of legacy Keurig Green Mountain single-serve K-Cup coffee pods.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Keurig Dr Pepper to pay $1.5M to settle charges about K-Cup recyclability

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission says the beverage company omitted from filed documents some important information about testing the curbside recyclability of its K-Cup coffee pods. 

    By Sept. 10, 2024
  • The flag of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hangs outside the agency building in Washington, D.C.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    What are the federal government’s waste and recycling priorities for the rest of 2024?

    The U.S. EPA released its schedule of regulatory actions for the remainder of the year. Plus, food waste, recycling data, and other topics Congress and President Biden could address by 2025.

    By , Sept. 9, 2024
  • four blue recycling carts stand next to each other
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    Thomas Demarczyk via Getty Images
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    Tribal projects to reduce waste receive millions in EPA, NOAA funding

    The EPA announced $300 million for tribal climate change programs, including $21 million in waste-related initiatives. NOAA also announced $23 million in grants for marine debris mitigation efforts.

    By Sept. 6, 2024
  • People cut a ribbon in front of a glass crusher machine
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    (2024). Retrieved from flickr.
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    Kentucky’s first dedicated glass recycling program partners with growing spirits industry

    O-I Glass will purchase cullet from the new program run by workforce development nonprofit Workwell Industries. The glass comes from distilleries in the region, which also invested in the project.

    By Sept. 5, 2024