RTS acquires Recyclebank, plans to 'reinvigorate' rewards concept

Once a favorite of service providers and venture capital investors alike, the company has lost ground in recent years. Recycle Track Systems sees new potential for both commercial and municipal expansion.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 23, 2019

The Recycling Partnership calls for $500M circular economy investment by 2025

Describing the current U.S. recycling system as "insufficient," the national nonprofit has debuted an ambitious new roadmap to improve packaging design, material supply and long-term systems funding.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 22, 2019

APR: Chemical recycling is not 'silver bullet' for plastics challenges

CEO Steve Alexander's comments came during a weekend panel discussion about managing the effects of plastics production at the Society of Environmental Journalists conference in Colorado.

By Gloria Gonzalez • Oct. 16, 2019

SwagCycle aims to change sustainability narrative of promotional products

A recently launched venture from a Massachusetts-based marketing company aims to facilitate the donation or recycling of the ubiquitous branded T-shirts, water bottles, notebooks, battery packs and other free items in our lives.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 16, 2019

New York commercial waste zone bill finalized ahead of imminent vote

Aside from new language on labor retention, the version council members will be asked to vote on remains largely unchanged from a prior draft. A vote is expected Oct. 30.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Oct. 23, 2019

Burned by lithium battery surge, recyclers seek solutions

Lithium batteries are increasingly popular because of their powerful punch, but that also makes them a risk when mismanaged. Safety and recycling programs are on the rise to survive the trend.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 9, 2019

Who comes out on top if New York passes commercial waste zones?

How many local haulers will be left to win franchise contracts, and whether any new entrants join the fray, all comes down to how legislative negotiations play out.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Oct. 9, 2019

Unilever pledges to halve use of virgin plastic by 2025

CEO Alan Jope said the effort will require "a fundamental rethink in our approach to our packaging and products." Greenpeace is unsure the impact will be quite so grand.

By Emma Cosgrove • Oct. 8, 2019

Closed Loop Partners becomes M&A player, starting with Texas recycler

Balcones Resources, a family-run company, is the first acquisition by the investment firm's new private equity fund. CEO Ron Gonen told Waste Dive there will be more to come.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Oct. 8, 2019

Senate passes 'Save Our Seas 2.0' bill focused on plastic waste

A bipartisan marine debris bill, with backing from the plastics industry and prior opposition from more than three dozen environmental groups, now moves to the House of Representatives.

By Katie Pyzyk , E.A. Crunden • Updated Jan. 13, 2020

Glass Packaging Institute's new president predicts 'rebound' from recycling challenges

Coming off a stint with the plastics industry, Scott DeFife has plenty of ideas about changing the narrative around glass recycling's value as others seek to downplay it.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 2, 2019

Massachusetts raises 2050 waste reduction target, may expand organics ban

The Department of Environmental Protection's new solid waste master plan draft indicates support for new packaging policies, additional waste bans and future infrastructure as disposal capacity shrinks.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 1, 2019

Industry's top trade groups sign first OSHA safety alliance

The NWRA and SWANA will collaborate with federal regulators to share information on a range of safety issues, with a focus on small- and medium-sized employers.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Oct. 2, 2019

Billionaire-backed foundation contributes $300M to new plastics initiative

Sea the Future aims to make recycled resins more competitive by adding a voluntary price to virgin plastics. Its goal is to raise $20 billion for global mitigation.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Oct. 1, 2019

Pennsylvania community first to take flexible packaging in curbside carts

The pilot program being run at J.P. Mascaro and Sons' MRF is expected to produce data for the industry on how to capture the material and identify end markets.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 25, 2019

California legislature wraps session with unprecedented recycling action

Gov. Gavin Newsom has now acted on all relevant 2019 bills. While he vetoed a recycled content mandate, multiple other bills related to market development, product bans and EPR were signed into law.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Oct. 14, 2019

What's the next recycling boom market? ISRI roundtable weighs in

With China's import volumes continuing to shrink, the overall scrap industry is looking for new destinations. Domestic markets are on the table, but other countries also are being explored.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 18, 2019

Are big CPG companies getting serious about reducing plastic packaging?

Nestlé's new research institute will devise more environmentally friendly solutions, and PepsiCo plans to reduce the amount of virgin plastic in its beverage containers by 2025.

By Cathy Siegner • Sept. 16, 2019

California governor vetos recycled content mandate

Gov. Newsom said he supported the law's intent, but disagreed with a waiver process for plastics manufacturers. He did sign another law to provide short-term relief for the state's container redemption program.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Oct. 14, 2019

Recycling industry split on California bills that pave way for packaging EPR

Major legislation that could reshape how consumer products are designed and recycled far beyond California has become a national focal point for manufacturers, retailers and recyclers alike.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Sept. 16, 2019

PFAS: New efforts to put the genie back in the bottle

The EPA may be moving slowly, but action is ramping up across multiple levels of government and the waste industry. Rich Thompson breaks down the latest updates, including from EREF's recent summit.

By Rich Thompson • Sept. 12, 2019

California governor signs law encouraging dual-stream recycling

While multiple local governments are choosing to switch around the country, this latest law in California is largely seen as a symbolic effort because it doesn't include any compliance mandate.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 11, 2019

McDonald's Germany served edible packaging in 10-day pilot

The experiment, which also collected diner feedback on burger wrappers made from grass and wooden McFlurry spoons, was launched ahead of the European Union's impending 2021 ban on many single-use plastics. 

By Lauren Manning • Sept. 11, 2019

Off the Route: Nathan Proctor on our 'broken relationship' with electronics and e-waste

The director of U.S. PIRG's Right to Repair campaign spoke to Waste Dive about strategy, the societal implications of planned obsolescence and the repercussions of e-waste.

By Rina Li • Sept. 9, 2019

The Recycling Partnership launches tool to simplify recycling for consumers

The new templates, which offer clear images of what can be recycled in order to reduce consumer confusion, are intended to reduce contamination rates.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 4, 2019