Cities and facility operators turn to AI for recycling education revamp

Artificial intelligence, already common in MRFs, could have potential upstream. Los Angeles is seeing early success with an organics recycling chatbot and Oscar Sort is scaling its customer base for AI-enabled bin cameras.

By Leslie Nemo • July 30, 2025

Republic expects Teamsters strike to cost at least $25M amid steady quarter

Executives detailed the impact from headwinds like lower commodity prices, continued softness in manufacturing and the ongoing labor disputes it faces in several markets. 

By Jacob Wallace • July 30, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

The Rise of Recycling AI

Artificial intelligence has become increasingly common at MRFs, in collection trucks and even as a tool for consumer education at the point of generation.

By Waste Dive staff

What recycling and packaging groups are looking for in global plastic treaty talks

At a SWANA roundtable, speakers from WM, SC Johnson and the U.S. Chamber underscored how treaty negotiations will impact recycling supply chains and future business opportunities.

By Megan Quinn • July 30, 2025

WM decreases 2025 revenue guidance but logs strong quarter

The company reported revenue gains for the quarter, fueled largely by internal growth in the collection and disposal business and the ongoing integration of Stericycle. Commodity prices weighed on the outlook.

By Jacob Wallace • July 29, 2025

Coastal Waste pilots AI-powered robot to stop facility and fleet fires

The AI-powered robot, a custom build from neighboring Florida technology company Guident, could help prevent battery fires. It also performs other safety checks so employees can spend more time with customers.

By Megan Quinn • July 28, 2025

What plastic, paper and metal commodity experts are watching with tariffs

Leaders from the American Forest & Paper Association, Can Manufacturers Institute and Plastics Industry Association offered perspectives on challenges and manufacturing opportunities in recycled and virgin materials markets.

By Megan Quinn • July 25, 2025

Waste Connections reports positive earnings for Q2 amid economic headwinds

Waste Connections reported higher-than-expected revenues for Q2, but tariff and economic uncertainty prompted the company to stick with its original full-year guidance instead of raising expectations for the rest of the year.

By Megan Quinn • July 24, 2025

Recycling facility projects get a boost from local partnerships

Recent recycling infrastructure improvements in Missouri, Ohio and Ontario aim to streamline operations and enhance sorting for plastics and other items.

By Megan Quinn • July 23, 2025

EPA pulls chemical recycling proposal addressing PFAS and other contaminants

The rule would have further monitored PFAS and other chemicals from plastics used in chemical recycling. The plastic industry applauded the move as removing roadblocks to chemical recycling investments.

By Megan Quinn • July 22, 2025

Inside the CIRCLE Act’s bipartisan recycling balancing act

The bill creates an investment tax credit for eligible recycling infrastructure and aims to complement state EPR policies, boost job growth and support domestic manufacturing.

By Megan Quinn • July 21, 2025

Miami-Dade County, Florida, votes to advance plans for new WTE facility

The county is expected to negotiate with companies like FCC Environmental Services and Reworld that expressed interest in building a new facility.

By Jacob Wallace • July 18, 2025

Congressional hearing aims to leverage chemical recycling for economic value

Speakers from the American Chemistry Council, The Recycling Partnership and the Flexible Packaging Association previewed legislation and called for Congress to prioritize recycling efforts through economic policy.

By Megan Quinn • July 17, 2025

Massachusetts’ organic waste ban is good for business, state finds

The state found that headcounts across the organics recycling supply chain have increased both at individual companies and across the sector since 2016.

By Jacob Wallace • July 16, 2025

3 lessons from bottle bill advocates in 2025

Passing bottle bill legislation can be tough. Here’s how advocates in Texas, Maryland and Rhode Island made progress using a range of strategies and compromises.

By Megan Quinn • July 16, 2025

Policy tension over on-pack recyclability labeling ‘needs to get worked out’

What's in a label? Good question. As the go-live date for California’s recycling labeling law approaches, industry speakers at the Packaging Recycling Summit underscored the importance of getting some federal standardization soon. 

By Katie Pyzyk • July 14, 2025

ZWIA updates zero waste hierarchy to account for chemical recycling concerns

The Zero Waste International Alliance’s recent update adds new details to its “do no harm” and “do not export harm” principles, driven in part by member input about plastics processing facilities.

By Cole Rosengren • July 10, 2025

Chemical recycling sector renews push for manufacturing status amid EPA rule changes

The plastics industry renewed calls for the U.S. EPA to formally acknowledge chemical recycling as a manufacturing process after the agency declined to consider certain pyrolysis facilities in recent air emissions rules.

By Megan Quinn • July 9, 2025

Plastics, biofuels groups praise signing of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act

The newly signed bill includes favorable provisions for alternative fuels and manufacturers broadly. It’s been criticized by environmental groups for cuts to other key programs.

By Jacob Wallace • July 7, 2025

Mars multiplies recycled content use, but still lags 2025 target

The consumer packaged goods company also pointed to pet food as an area where it has advanced packaging sustainability.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 7, 2025

Amazon releases waste diversion metrics as part of larger sustainability plan

The company says it reached an 85% waste diversion rate in 2024. Amazon’s waste and biodiversity director, Justine Mahler, says that’s driven partly by organics diversion programs and ongoing data collection investments.

By Megan Quinn • July 2, 2025

4 collaborative projects that aim to advance packaging recycling

Speakers at the Packaging Recycling Summit detailed scenarios in which brands, manufacturers, recyclers, academics and others across the supply chain are working to improve how packaging is managed at end of life.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 2, 2025

Oregon EPR program delays ‘responsible’ end market provision until 2026

Circular Action Alliance said “more time was needed” to work out kinks in the provision meant to determine responsible end markets for recycled materials. CAA plans to propose an updated verification process soon.

By Megan Quinn • July 1, 2025

Where new recycling laws are taking effect in July

Multiple states are banning EPS foam food containers, and Oregon’s packaging EPR program begins. Elsewhere, there are bottle bill and hotel product updates.

By Maria Rachal • June 30, 2025

Rhode Island lawmakers replace EPR and bottle bill proposal with study bill

The bill, an overhaul of a previous version establishing new recycling systems, instead calls for a report and recommendations that might lead to future extended producer responsibility and deposit return system proposals.

By Megan Quinn • June 26, 2025

Circular Services to operate two MRFs in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Under a five-year contract, the company will manage operations and recycling commodity marketing while the county makes way for C&D recycling capabilities.

By Megan Quinn • June 25, 2025