New industry group pledges $1B to combat plastic pollution

More than two dozen global companies, including many of the world's largest plastic chemical manufacturers, have formed a nonprofit called the Alliance to End Plastic Waste.

By Rina Li • Jan. 15, 2019

New Massachusetts MRF opens in market with tight processing capacity

Backed by the owner of ABC Disposal Service, Zero Waste Solutions has the ability to handle 45 tons per hour and is said to offer a broader range of sorting capabilities than others in the region.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated May 20, 2019

New York governor pitches bag ban (again) and bottle bill expansion

Andrew Cuomo's upcoming executive budget is expected to include two notable recycling proposals, both with their own complex political factors.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 14, 2019

Scrap Collector: 'Trump's Trash' and the Oakland Garbage Blitz

Plus: an NYC proposal aims for increased private waste industry oversight, and a nonprofit takes on Big Plastic.

By Rina Li • Jan. 11, 2019

Nevada recycling company appeals Waste Management monopoly protection

Reno-based Green Solutions Recycling is challenging the dismissal of a prior lawsuit, in part due to a dispute about how the state defines "recycling" itself.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated June 19, 2019

6 key questions for the waste and recycling industry in 2019

We'll be keeping an eye on recycling, climate change, landfills, alternative technologies, corporate consolidation, labor issues and much more in the year ahead.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 9, 2019

Deltona, Florida suspends curbside recycling indefinitely

With processing costs from Waste Pro now twice as high as landfill disposal, and future market conditions uncertain, city staff recommended the move. Exclusive franchising is also under discussion.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 9, 2019

Albuquerque, New Mexico signs single-use plastic bag ban into law

The legislation, which originally included restrictions on single-use plastic straws and polystyrene containers, takes effect in January 2020.

By Katie Pyzyk , Rina Li • Updated April 24, 2019

Much ado about pharma residue: EPA rule aims to end waste flushing

Healthcare providers managing hazardous pharmaceuticals will now be required to prevent waste from entering the environment. Rich Thompson breaks down what you need to know.

By Rich Thompson • Jan. 7, 2019

How to plan for the best when faced with a worst-case scenario facility fire

Fire Rover’s Ryan Fogelman discusses the importance of planning, training and investing in the proper equipment to achieve the best possible outcome during a fire incident.

By Ryan Fogelman • Jan. 4, 2019

Scrap Collector: Washington state to consider composting the dead, 40-year-old plastic Doritos bag found on beach

Plus: a recycling opportunity that'll thrill the goats in your life, and South Korea's plastic bag ban.

By Rina Li • Jan. 4, 2019

China details scrap metal import restrictions for July

Steel, aluminum and copper will be among the regulated recyclable materials, according to a joint announcement from multiple government agencies.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Jan. 8, 2019

Ocean Cleanup's $20M plastic-catcher breaks, founder vows 'troubles are solvable'

After less than three months in the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" — during which it collected less material than hoped — the much-hyped prototype must now return to shore for repairs.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 3, 2019

Waste Management's 20-year path to 'moonshot' climate goal: cleaner fleet, more recycling

The company's 2018 Sustainability Report offers the most detailed plans yet on offsetting four times the amount of GHG emissions it produces.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 1, 2019

Taiwan has one of the highest recycling rates in the world. Here's how that happened.

By providing disincentives for discarding trash — and adding musical motivation — Taiwan has achieved a recycling rate many envy.

By Marcello Rossi • Dec. 28, 2018

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