Our 10 best stories of 2018

Catch up on some of our biggest stories involving Waste Management, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Rubicon Global, TerraCycle and, of course, China.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 21, 2018

After nearly 6 months without contract, ecomaine workers strike a contentious deal

Terms agreed to by the International Union of Engineers and the nonprofit WTE/recycling operator may come at the expense of deep division over new rotating shift requirements.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 21, 2018

Scrap Collector: Microplastics found in Earth's deepest point, Philly cameras catching litterbugs in the act

Plus: rough sailing for ocean garbage collector, suspended Alabama workers reinstated after strike and the EU's latest push against plastic.

By Rina Li • Dec. 21, 2018

UK waste strategy calls for packaging EPR, widespread organics collection

The lengthy plan, billed as a path toward a more circular economy, includes a variety of strategies to reduce waste and improve recycling.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 19, 2018

Plastic bottle recycling rates slipped in 2017

New data from the Association of Plastic Recyclers and American Chemistry Council show PET and HDPE numbers both dipped in 2017, with lightweighting cited as a factor.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 18, 2018

Boston inches toward final 'zero waste' plan, eyes curbside organics pilot

While enthusiastic about the expansive scope of a new report, many advocates remain unhappy with the lack of specific "living wage" contract language for recycling workers.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 17, 2018

SWEEP standard — LEED for waste and recycling — releases ambitious proposal

After more than two years of work by many of the industry's biggest corporate and government players, the Solid Waste Environmental Excellence Protocol now has draft language ready for comments.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 17, 2018

Becoming a 'zero waste' city requires collaboration

Earlier this year, the consulting firm ENGIE Insight embarked on a sustainability tour of 10 cities and found waste was a high priority in many of them.

By Paige Janson • Dec. 14, 2018

Scrap Collector: Virginia's landfill solar aspirations, garbage arsonist(s) terrorizing Orlando

Plus: a new online waste sorting game, NASA's plans for astronaut trash and China's new food waste solution (hint: it's cockroaches).

By Rina Li • Dec. 14, 2018

Coca-Cola invests in European PET recycling company

Ioniqa Technologies is developing the tools to process otherwise hard-to-recycle plastics as the soda company wants to transition to at least 50% recycled packaging materials by 2030. 

By Nina Sparling • Dec. 14, 2018

Want to combat plastic straw waste? Consider rewiring consumer psychology.

According to Travis Wagner, co-author of a new paper on plastic straw reduction efforts, policymakers may want to restructure the consumer choice architecture.

By Rina Li • Dec. 13, 2018

Connecticut authority approves state's first source-separated glass pilot

Amid limited options for MRF glass, the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority is moving ahead with plans to collect glass separately from curbside bins, pending final state approval.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 12, 2018

Minnesota city moves on $12.5M RDF project with Xcel Energy

The new RRT-designed Red Wing solid waste campus is set to open later next year after a fire delayed construction.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 12, 2018

Gold Medal pursues new type of vertical integration with Apple Valley deal

This recent acquisition gives the New Jersey company a stake in the soon-to-open Entsorga West Virginia MBT project, plus access to new markets such as Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 11, 2018

Akron, Ohio's ban on glass recycling creates confusion between city and processor

The city said Waste Management wanted the glass ban. The company said this isn't the case. Now, residents are caught in the middle.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 10, 2018

Scrap Collector: $16M California recycling fraud bust, lessons from Flint's water crisis

Plus: accusations of "politically motivated" sanitation worker sickout, wasting disease in animal carcasses and the triumphant return of Garbage Hill.

By Rina Li • Dec. 7, 2018

E360S CEO Ardellini ready to make acquisitions "right across North America"

The brand new Canadian company is starting out with $100 million in private equity backing, a big name hockey legend and a recently acquired Alberta hauler.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 6, 2018

San Francisco passes ordinance requiring waste audits for large generators

More than 400 locations will now be subject to a review of their recycling practices every three years and could be required to hire on-site "zero waste facilitators."

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Dec. 5, 2018

Denver adds coffee cups to recycling list amid growing interest in solutions

The expansion came through a collaboration with Alpine Waste & Recycling, the Foodservice Packaging Institute, Sustana and city officials.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 3, 2018

Des Moines, Iowa landfilled 20 tons of mixed paper each day this summer

Mid America Recycling, the city's processor, blames plummeting material prices and a saturated domestic market.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 3, 2018

Executive of the Year: Jim Warner, LCSWMA

Over a 30-plus year career, Warner has helped turn the Pennsylvania county authority into a national model.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 3, 2018

Market Developer of the Year: Agilyx

In the nascent move toward chemical recycling, Agilyx has found new use for a product stream that is often seen as low-value.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 3, 2018

Education Initiative of the Year: Global Recycling Day

The inaugural Bureau of International Recycling event sets the foundation for recycling to become a climate issue.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 3, 2018

Company of the Year: GFL Environmental

GFL's rapid U.S. expansion this year has made it the largest private waste and recycling company in North America.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 3, 2018

Scrap Collector: Recycling cuts; latest worker fatality

Plus: M&A news from Santek and Meridian, corporate recycling developments and the unseen e-waste nightmare lurking behind this holiday season.

By Cole Rosengren , Rina Li • Nov. 30, 2018