What can EPR programs learn from more than a decade of PaintCare?

Convenience. Scope. Processing and marketing locations. Those are issues some paint EPR stakeholders wish they had handled differently when that industry-led program began in the early 2010s.

By Leslie Nemo • Aug. 13, 2021

Progress report: Brands face increasing pressure on recyclability claims in 2021

Major corporations have pledged to make big recycling-related changes by 2025, and environmental groups are holding them accountable through reporting requirements, shareholder agreements and lawsuits.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 12, 2021

Resource Recycling Conference highlights role of markets, labor and climate in municipal recycling

Panelists at last week's virtual event discussed how positive market shifts for certain postconsumer plastics and fiber grades are influencing MRF investment decisions, while labor availability is a key issue in servicing local programs.

By Megan Quinn , Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • Aug. 10, 2021

House passes infrastructure bill, including key recycling provisions

President Joe Biden is expected to soon sign the bill, which features the text of the RECYCLE Act, funding for Save Our Seas 2.0 and battery recycling provisions.

By Megan Quinn • Updated Nov. 8, 2021

Waste Connections seeing 'record' seller enthusiasm for M&A, multiple West Coast deals in works

Like competitors, the company has largely recovered lost pandemic business and is raising prices to stay ahead of wage pressures. To date, 14 acquisitions have closed and many more are in this year's pipeline, leaders said.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 5, 2021

Q2 earnings: Solid waste companies raise annual expectations, weigh in on labor issues

Major companies saw strong results from recycling and highlighted active M&A opportunities. Catch up on takeaways from Waste Management, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental and Casella Waste Systems.

By Waste Dive Team • Updated Aug. 5, 2021

Casella anticipates further expansion into Connecticut after Willimantic acquisition

The Northeast company touted "productive conversations" with other potential sellers in the region, and it estimated the McKean Landfill could come online in Pennsylvania by the end of 2022, during its latest earnings call.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 2, 2021

Republic Services Q2: 'no pause' on M&A after Santek, eyeing environmental solutions deals

The labor shortage and coronavirus pose some uncertainty, the company acknowledged, but it raised guidance based on strong recovery trends. Executives also discussed new landfill gas and recycling opportunities.

By Maria Rachal • July 30, 2021

GFL launches renewable energy platform, forecasts ample M&A opportunities

While Canada's economic recovery is expected to roll into next year, the company is already seeing pre-pandemic volumes in other areas and big free cash flow gains. A new focus on landfill gas projects may boost that trend.

By Cole Rosengren • July 29, 2021

Emerging solar panel recycling market ripe with opportunity, but barriers remain

The amount of solar panels reaching the waste stream is expected to grow significantly, and with it the opportunities for safe, sustainable recycling or reuse. Product stewardship programs are also expected to play a role.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 28, 2021

Waste Management Q2 bolstered by economic recovery, even with labor, supply chain strains

The company saw record recycling results and plans to accelerate investment in that area this year. It also increased its annual guidance yet again, seeing further potential to recover business affected by the pandemic.

By Cole Rosengren • July 27, 2021

Waste Management's first chief sustainability officer aims to expand recycling, organics revenue

In her first Waste Dive interview since starting the new role, Tara Hemmer describes sustainability as a "growth lever" for the industry giant. She also weighs in on the landfill emissions debate, plastics and waste reduction.

By Cole Rosengren • July 26, 2021

SWEEP adds Bay Area partners to growing SMM certification pilot

Also in this week's municipal news roundup: recycling and organics program developments from Cleveland, New York City and Rochester, New York, and still more labor shortages disrupting collection services.

By Maria Rachal • July 23, 2021

Supply chain 'stretched' for cardboard boxes, wood pallets

Price indices are at record highs, but companies are still clamoring for materials as they try to keep pace with heightened e-commerce demand.

By Max Garland • July 20, 2021

Progress report: State waste and recycling policies gain notable traction this year

State lawmakers have made significant headway on laws about EPR, recycled content mandates and plastic products. Other bills are still in play, and experts anticipate even more possible changes in 2022.

By Megan Quinn • July 19, 2021

City hiring woes and solutions; New $16B pitch for recycling infrastructure

In this week’s municipal news roundup: Denver and St. Louis feel the effects of labor shortages, and leaders in Portland, Oregon, seek to widen their worker candidate pools.

By Maria Rachal • July 16, 2021

Chicago exploring organics and textile recycling, commercial waste zones through new strategy

Chicago has one of the lowest diversion rates among major U.S. cities. Chief Sustainability Officer Angela Tovar said it would be "a big leap" to set any type of zero waste target and the city is focused on "interim steps."

By Maria Rachal • July 15, 2021

Cities tackle illegal dumping, ongoing hauler labor shortages

In this week's municipal news roundup: more methods to reduce roadside trash, plus ongoing waste collection issues and new compost initiatives.

By Megan Quinn • July 9, 2021

EPR in the US can't directly follow the European model; it must avoid a producer monopoly

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance's Neil Seldman responds to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's description of extended producer responsibility as “a necessary part of the solution to packaging waste and pollution."

By Neil Seldman • July 8, 2021

Top stories from 2021's WasteExpo

Catch up on event coverage and interviews about the labor shortage, emerging ESG pressures, fleet technology, organics recycling, PFAS and more.

By Waste Dive Team • Updated Sept. 17, 2021

What the industry is saying about 5 key topics in waste and recycling

At WasteExpo, executives, vendors and regulators were vocal on everything from policy to PFAS and plastics, to the problem of not being able to hire enough workers.

By Waste Dive Team • July 7, 2021

Waste CEOs emphasize labor, ESG and M&A as top priorities after pandemic

Leaders from Waste Management, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental and other groups weighed in on labor solutions, fleet technology and the economy at WasteExpo.

By Cole Rosengren • July 6, 2021

What municipal leaders discussed at WasteExpo; Northeast bag bans take force

In this week's municipal news roundup: commentary from officials in Atlanta, Austin and Phoenix. Plus, pandemic-delayed plastics laws begin taking effect.

By Maria Rachal • July 1, 2021

Oregon governor signs country's second EPR law for packaging

The law establishes a packaging EPR program by 2025. It also calls for other updates, such as a standardized material list and a labeling task force meant to evaluate items' recyclability.

By Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Updated Aug. 9, 2021

Maine governor signs nation's first EPR law for consumer packaging

Along with a pending Oregon bill, this shows growing momentum for EPR policies. The programs target most types of consumer packaging and require producers to pay into state-regulated stewardship organizations.

By Megan Quinn • Updated July 13, 2021