WestRock notes global paper market headwinds but touts sustainability investments as growing opportunity

WestRock reported lower Q1 income and withdrew full-year guidance due to market uncertainty. CEO David Sewell said increased packaging revenue and a focus on plastic packaging replacement projects are positive signs, however.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 2, 2023

WM boosts planned MRF and RNG spending by $590M, sees signs of inflation easing

Volumes may be flat, and recycling values are down, but executives hope cost control measures and long-term investments will offset headwinds. They said federal regulations are driving an attractive environment for RNG projects.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 1, 2023

AI is a reason for optimism in recycling in 2023 and beyond

Claims that recycling can’t ever work fail to account for the high degree of innovation making recycling processes more efficient and cost effective, writes AMP Robotics CEO Matanya Horowitz.

By Matanya Horowitz • Feb. 1, 2023

Oregon’s bottle bill system CEO talks tech improvements, refillables and the prospects for a national system

Oregon aims to attain its highest return rates yet with a range of modern updates. Jules Bailey, new CEO of the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative, talks through what’s working and what’s next.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 1, 2023

Northstar Recycling acquires Sonoco’s ‘asset-light’ waste services business

The private equity-backed company has purchased a business that focuses on providing third-party service and consulting to large manufacturing clients from the major packaging company.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 1, 2023

EPR still top recycling issue for state policymakers, but plastics and repair laws also on the horizon

While federal action is uncertain, multiple state governors and policy advocates aim to build on the momentum of producer responsibility laws for packaging this year. Numerous other bills are also expected to get consideration.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 30, 2023

Vermont mulls EPR, bottle bill improvements to catch up on recycling goals

A report from the Department of Environmental Conservation recommends adopting EPR for hazardous waste, reducing PFAS and updating the state’s bottle bill to help reach its waste reduction, recycling and composting goals.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 27, 2023

Analysis of local climate action plans and solid waste planning shows overlapping opportunities

Environmental services firm HDR examined hundreds of solid waste-related actions across city and county climate action plans, noting a common interest around action on organics, among a range of other ideas.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 26, 2023

Connecticut governor backing EPR for packaging and other policies to increase state’s ‘self-sufficiency’

Gov. Ned Lamont said a combination of EPR, waste diversion and improved organics management will help Connecticut reduce a growing amount of waste exported to other states in the wake of a major WTE facility closing.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 25, 2023

Carlton Waterhouse, EPA’s solid waste office nominee, to leave agency in February

Waterhouse’s nomination by President Biden for an EPA assistant administrator role has been stuck for a year and a half.

By Megan Quinn • Updated Jan. 25, 2023

The Waste Dive Outlook on 2023

What you need to know on industry trends to watch, the hiring landscape, fleet maintenance and more to come as the new year gets underway.

By The Waste Dive Team • Updated Jan. 30, 2023

Virginia state task force calls for more recycling business opportunities, possible EPR policies

A group with recycling industry representation offered recommendations to divert more waste from landfills, but stopped short of recommending EPR for packaging or reaching consensus on a possible bottle bill.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 18, 2023

Nashville launching $4.8M curbside recycling expansion

The Recycling Partnership, which is providing a grant, predicts that a shift to biweekly collection in the fast-growing Tennessee city could generate 156 million new pounds of recyclables over the next decade

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 18, 2023

Renovare Environmental sells digester business while fate of West Virginia plant still pending

The financially troubled company sold its aerobic digestion assets to TraQiQ, a technology company with no known waste background. Meanwhile, fire issues have been mitigated at Renovare’s shuttered West Virginia site.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 17, 2023

6 waste and recycling trends to watch in 2023

The effects of ongoing M&A, the biogas boom, and regulatory and financial debates around plastics are among the most complex topics on Waste Dive’s radar in the new year.

By Cole Rosengren , Megan Quinn , Maria Rachal • Jan. 12, 2023

Municipalities that ditch curbside recycling are missing out on revenue, Florida report finds

Recent research from the University of Florida and the Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation outlines the financial and environmental effects of multiple local governments dropping their curbside programs in recent years.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 12, 2023

New York Gov. Hochul says EPR for packaging a major priority in 2023

Hochul announced Tuesday she would introduce EPR for packaging legislation for the second time. Multiple efforts to pass versions of the policy through the state budget and legislative process failed in 2022.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 11, 2023

The fragile ecosystem of Massachusetts C&D recycling

The state’s construction recycling requirements have spurred a wave of new infrastructure investments and led to more acquisitions. Some say they’ve also constrained capacity, all while the region’s building boom continues.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 11, 2023

LRS grows in Michigan and Indiana with largest acquisitions to date

The purchases of Michiana Recycling & Disposal Service and Modern Waste Systems are the latest among dozens of transactions by the private equity-backed company in recent years.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 9, 2023

Stadiums pursue new technologies and tactics to boost waste diversion

As fans flock back to large venues, many are seeing new or updated waste initiatives. Operators are experimenting with different collection systems, reusable cups, reverse vending machines, on-site sorting and more.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Jan. 19, 2023

Right-to-repair advocates expect more bills in 2023 after New York success

Advocates were disappointed after New York’s first-of-its-kind law was amended to limit eligible products, but they expect continued momentum despite fierce lobbying. Such laws are also supported by electronics recyclers.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 6, 2023

Companies can no longer peg food waste recycling as a West Coast initiative

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s director of innovation recaps new and expanded drop-off and collection programs, plus new processing facilities to meet that demand, suggesting continued momentum for solutions in 2023.

By Olga Kachook • Jan. 5, 2023

By the numbers: 2022 waste and recycling trends with implications for 2023

Key data points on some of the top issues — M&A, ESG, inflation and policy — that illustrate another eventful year for the industry.

By Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren , Maria Rachal • Jan. 4, 2023

Where recycling and waste laws changed on Jan. 1

California, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, New York and Washington, D.C., are among the jurisdictions enforcing new recycling and waste laws as of Jan. 1, including bag fees, bottle bill updates and organics diversion mandates.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 4, 2023

What Congress did — and didn’t — get done for waste and recycling in 2022

Lawmakers made progress on multiple waste initiatives in 2022, including language in the recent budget bill, but a pair of bipartisan bills that passed the Senate didn’t make it to the House and a key EPA nomination remains stalled.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 4, 2023