Recycling

  • A person in a hard hat inspects a bale of recyclables
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    Paper, cardboard recycling rates were flat in 2025: AF&PA

    Recycling rates held steady despite declines in U.S. paper and paperboard production in 2025, which illustrates the industry’s resilience, according to the American Forest & Paper Association.

    By • Aug. 31, 2026
  • Truck with sign that states "This recycling truck funded by Circular Action Alliance"
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    Courtesy of Circular Action Alliance
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    Oregon EPR law doesn’t violate Constitution, judge rules

    The federal judge disagreed with plaintiff National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors’ claims, saying Oregon showed “innovative leadership” with its EPR law. The decision could influence other in-progress litigation over EPR laws.

    By • Updated Aug. 28, 2026
  • Plastic waste is carried out on conveyor belts in a modern industrial recycling plant. The interior is a maze of green and yellow metal structures, including stairs, bins and rooms. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Alamy
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    Trendline

    Navigating Modern MRF Operations

    Recycling facility operators are increasingly investing in new technology to keep up with evolving regulations and customer demands.

    By Waste Dive staff
  • A tightly packed bale of crushed plastic bottles, compressed into a rectangular block and wrapped in clear plastic film. The bale contains various colored plastic bottles, flattened and compacted together, ready for recycling.
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    Alamy
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    Messy packaging EPR process provides opportunities for brands, recyclers

    Moving forward with EPR implementation is a complex process, but one that offers new ways to build better systems for long-term recycling improvements, speakers said during a Be Waste Wise panel on Wednesday.

    By • Aug. 27, 2026
  • An artist rendering of the exterior of a recycling facility
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    Courtesy of Recycle Utah
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    Communities in Michigan, Florida and Utah seek recycling partnerships, RFPs

    Plus, WM is building a MRF in Tampa, a new recycling drop-off facility is open in Oregon, and glass recycling infrastructure is on the way in one Virginia county.

    By • Aug. 26, 2026
  • Workers in hard hats look up at equipment inside an industrial facility.
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    Courtesy of Princeton NuEnergy
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    Battery recycling projects among DOE’s latest $500M grant funding round

    Princeton NuEnergy and Nth Cycle are focusing on lithium-ion battery recycling projects to recover critical minerals for manufacturing. The funding comes amid new black mass export restrictions meant to boost domestic supplies. 

    By • Aug. 25, 2026
  • A screenshot of a dashboard with bar charts and recommendations for a MRF
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    Courtesy of EverestLabs
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    EverestLabs adds AI agent to its MRF robotics offerings

    The Navigator tool aims to make data from sorting equipment easier to interpret through AI-powered recommendations and customized insights. Caglia Environmental and others are piloting the offering.

    By • Aug. 24, 2026
  • Sign on side of Portland, Oregon's Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse
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    Mathieu Lewis-Rolland via Getty Images
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    California EPR lawsuit escalates as forthcoming Oregon ruling looms

    The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and 17 AGs are seeking to block SB 54 enforcement. Their complaint also now accounts for tie-ins with recyclability law SB 343, for which enforcement is temporarily blocked.

    By • Aug. 21, 2026
  • A hand holds a Toast point-of-sale card reader. A customer's face is in the background.
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    Courtesy of Toast
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    Toast among first companies sued under Colorado’s electronics repair law

    Acme Revival, which connects customers with electronics repair technicians, also sued Owl Labs and Blackmagic Design, saying the companies refused to provide parts and schematics required by law.

    By • Aug. 20, 2026
  • An open corrugated box contains expanded polystyrene foam packaging.
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    Getty Images
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    US Plastics Pact removes transport EPS from ‘problematic’ list

    This is the first time the group has removed an item from the approximately four-year-old list. A broader review of the materials on the list is underway.

    By • Aug. 19, 2026
  • Large rolls of sheet aluminum stacked in a factory setting
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    Getty Images
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    Nearly 60 members of Congress call for aluminum pricing investigation

    At issue is the Midwest Premium, which reportedly incorporates the 50% aluminum tariffs on domestic manufacturers — even those that use domestically recycled aluminum. 

    By • Updated Aug. 19, 2026
  • A large flatbed truck hauls manufacturing equipment
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    Courtesy of Clean-Seas
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    Clean-Seas pyrolysis plant gets key permit approval in West Virginia

    The chemical recycler's first U.S. facility is moving forward despite opposition from residents, who say the facility is too close to schools and may contribute to cumulative regional pollution.

    By • Aug. 18, 2026
  • Aerial view of industrial recycling facility in Washington state
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    Retrieved from Facebook on December 01, 2022
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    Washington regulators eye hauling rule changes following DTG settlement

    A Washington commission will examine how MRF residuals are handled under state regulations, a move that stems from a legal settlement with DTG. WRRA, WM, Waste Connections and others weighed in.

    By • Aug. 17, 2026
  • Old battery packs for mobile phones
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    Getty Images
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    Circular Services eyes battery detection tech for proactive fire safety

    The company discussed plans to test the tech during a webinar, while speakers from NWRA and other industry groups promoted state and federal bills meant to improve fire safety and collections for batteries.

    By • Aug. 14, 2026
  • a worker wearing PPE sorts recycled materials on a belt.
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    Courtesy of rStream
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    What’s next for rStream’s AI recycling tech after Gillette Stadium debut

    The robotics company plans to double down on its niche sorting market with its recent $1.25 million DOE grant. Airports and “lower resource” locations may be next, co-founder Ethan Walko said.

    By • Aug. 13, 2026
  • A close up image of recycled material moving along a belt
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    Courtesy of Amp
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    Latest recycling facility upgrades target safety, limited disposal capacity

    Amp will help divert recyclables from MSW in Michigan, Prince George’s County officials in Maryland celebrated key upgrades to their MRF’s fiber lines and baling improvements at a Virginia recycling center add efficiency.

    By • Aug. 12, 2026
  • Miami-Dade County's first electric refuse truck from Mack Trucks, on display at WasteExpo 2022
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    Maria Rachal/Waste Dive
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    How Miami-Dade County plans to tackle zero waste by 2040

    County officials shared behind-the-scenes details with Waste Dive on Miami-Dade's approach to improving recycling and organics diversion, as well as partnerships with businesses and community groups.

    By • Aug. 6, 2026
  • glass bottles awaiting recycling
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    Connecticut beverage container redemption rate soared in 2025

    Connecticut’s rate continues to climb after implementing a major bottle bill overhaul a few years ago. Other states saw rates fall, but new laws in places like Maine and Vermont could spell improvements in coming years. 

    By • Updated Aug. 6, 2026
  • a close-up of film plastic and plastic bags
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    California film recycling pilots make case for commercial collection

    The pilots, launched by the Flexible Film Recycling Alliance, aim to get more film packaging found in warehouses and retail backrooms into the recycling stream. Shorr Packaging and 1-800-Got-Junk are partners.

    By • Aug. 3, 2026
  • Close-up of a wrap label on a Diet Coke beverage bottle that says "I'm a 100% Recycled Bottle"
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    Maria Rachal/Waste Dive
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    Tracking Plastic Act proposes advancing recycled content standards

    The bill introduced by California Democrat Adam Schiff comes as debate swirls about what counts as recycled content in plastic packaging and how it should be labeled.

    By • Aug. 3, 2026
  • Colorado and United States flags fly above the Colorado State Capitol in Denver
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    Getty Images
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    NAW files lawsuit challenging Colorado EPR law

    The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors says the law lacks oversight accountability for Circular Action Alliance. NAW seeks to block the law’s enforcement, similar to its approach in Oregon. 

    By • Updated July 31, 2026
  • The GFL Environmental logo decal on the door of a large garbage truck
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    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
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    Q2 earnings results for major waste and recycling companies in 2026

    Catch up with the latest results from Casella, Republic Services, Clean Harbors, Waste Connections, WM and GFL Environmental.

    By Waste Dive Staff • Updated Aug. 11, 2026
  • four blue recycling carts stand next to each other
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    Getty Images
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    EPA announces $28M in SWIFR grants for tribal recycling and composting

    New projects in Alaska, California, Florida, New York, Michigan and elsewhere will repair buildings, buy collection trucks and gather recycling data. They are funded by the second round of Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants.

    By • July 30, 2026
  • A man speaks at a poduim, standing in front of a row of containers meant for drop-off recycling
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    Courtesy of Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Baldwin County
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    How one county in Alabama is changing its recycling reputation

    The solid waste authority for Baldwin County built recycling drop-off centers to support its recently built MRF, a move to take advantage of recycling end markets as its population grows.

    By • July 29, 2026
  • A trash truck enters a loading dock of a building in a city
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    WM’s healthcare, recycling projects drive balance in Q2

    Volumes are down, but WM has ramped up AI-related projects and considers Stericycle fully integrated, two milestones expected to drive improvements throughout the year.

    By • July 29, 2026
  • An electronic device positioned over collected recyclable materials on a conveyor belt.
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    Permission granted by Greyparrot
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    Greyparrot receives $27M funding round to grow recycling analytics dataset

    The AI-enabled tech company, which has partnered with major waste and recycling players, aims to grow its waste identification dataset to help divert over 1 million tons of waste by 2030.

    By • July 28, 2026