US waste and recycling industry worth $91B in 2022, landfill capacity consolidation continues

The latest Waste Business Journal data shows growing revenue and disposal prices, along with an ongoing decline of municipal market share. WM now accounts for more disposal volume than all local governments combined.

By Cole Rosengren • May 19, 2023

EPA seeks feedback on its new interactive recycling market mapping tool

The U.S. EPA wants its new map, which shows numerous details like recycling infrastructure locations, to be a comprehensive resource for the country. It says it needs help from the industry to make it more accurate.

By Megan Quinn • May 17, 2023

Continued labor challenges are leading top waste and recycling execs to innovate

Recruitment and retention were key topics at this month’s WasteExpo. Catch up on perspectives from WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Casella Waste Systems and more.

By Cole Rosengren • May 16, 2023

How a pivotal Philadelphia election could shape the city’s future waste policy

Tuesday’s Democratic mayoral primary features a tight race among multiple candidates. The Waste Free Philly coalition has asked them to go big and rethink local services.

By Will Peischel • May 16, 2023

GFL Environmental’s sale of Colorado assets to Republic Services is pending

This large piece of GFL’s $1.6 billion (Canadian) divestiture package includes post-collection, recycling and hauling assets in key markets such as Denver and Colorado Springs.

By Cole Rosengren • May 11, 2023

Waste industry braces for ‘bumps and bruises’ in EV rollout as California sets the pace

Haulers and vehicle manufacturers at WasteExpo said they expect a potential collision between regulation-fueled demand and limited supply of battery-electric trucks. Charging infrastructure is also a growing concern.

By Jacob Wallace • May 10, 2023

WM CEO Jim Fish discusses the economy, labor automation and sustainability investments

The industry’s most high-profile executive weighed in about what will and won’t be changing when it comes to WM’s strategy on temporary labor, secondary processing for recyclables, anaerobic digestion and more.

By Cole Rosengren • May 10, 2023

Handley out as LRS CEO, Midwest company starts search for new leader

Alan Handley had been with the fast-growing Midwest hauler for a decade. The Macquarie-backed company recently did a corporate restructuring to support growth, though it has been quiet on acquisitions lately.

By Cole Rosengren • May 5, 2023

GFL Environmental sells Nashville assets to WM as part of bigger divestiture plan

The transaction is a small piece of a broader divestiture strategy intended to help GFL reduce debt leverage by streamlining its portfolio.

By Cole Rosengren • May 3, 2023

Second former Recology employee pleads guilty in San Francisco corruption case

John Porter, former vice president and manager of Recology’s San Francisco group, had previously been expected to go on trial for his alleged involvement in a multiyear effort to bribe a city official.

By Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • May 3, 2023

Judge denies class action effort over Waste Connections’ pricing suit in Florida

A federal case alleging breach of contract due to the nature of rate increases over multiple years could have involved an estimated 20,000 commercial collection customers had the effort been certified.

By Cole Rosengren • May 2, 2023

Orders of natural gas-fueled and battery-powered refuse trucks rose in 2022, report says

A new consulting report anticipates that zero-emissions trucks will become “the law of the land” as companies and local governments continue shifting away from diesel.

By Jacob Wallace • May 1, 2023

Major waste companies spent an estimated $563M on Q1 acquisitions, with more to come this year

Catch up on the latest deal totals and 2023 outlooks from WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental and Casella Waste Systems.

By Cole Rosengren • May 1, 2023

California passes zero-emission trucks rule with delayed 2042 timeline for waste industry

The new rule, designed to complement previous measures mandating that manufacturers transition, will allow more of a ramp-up period after advocacy by waste companies.

By Jacob Wallace • May 1, 2023

Casella sees ‘significant’ Mid-Atlantic expansion opportunities after GFL deal

Casella offered more details on its pending acquisition of GFL assets in three new states, including plans to internalize volumes at its forthcoming McKean Landfill site in Pennsylvania.

By Megan Quinn • April 28, 2023

Q1 earnings results for major waste and recycling companies

Follow the latest results from WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Casella Waste Systems, Clean Harbors and Rubicon as they kick off 2023 earnings.

By Waste Dive Staff • Updated May 23, 2023

GFL Environmental CEO says company is ‘just getting started’ after record pricing, divestiture plans

Coming off a record quarter for pricing, along with positive growth in multiple lines of business, GFL touted momentum in its latest earnings report. On M&A, CEO Patrick Dovigi said he sees new opportunities for at least the next decade.

By Cole Rosengren • April 28, 2023

Republic sees growing returns from US Ecology acquisition, eyes additional M&A opportunities

CEO Jon Vander Ark said the environmental solutions business was exceeding expectations, and he sees continued opportunity for growth through cross-selling and pricing increases.

By Jacob Wallace • April 28, 2023

WM sees more cost cutting opportunities through labor attrition, new truck deliveries

The industry’s largest company saw increased expenses during Q1 but remains confident in hitting its annual guidance through pricing and cost reduction efforts. Executives also previewed an upcoming Toronto MRF project.

By Megan Quinn • April 27, 2023

Waste Connections anticipates another busy M&A year as Mittelstaedt outlines long-term plans

In his first report since returning as CEO, Ron Mittelstaedt shared updates on labor, inflation and M&A. Amid ongoing economic uncertainty, executives said they’ve already locked in price increases for a majority of business.

By Cole Rosengren • April 27, 2023

New York’s Brookhaven Landfill is closing soon. Is Long Island ready?

A prime destination for incinerator ash and C&D will soon be out of capacity. Winters Bros. Waste Systems has acquired rail transfer assets with plans to build a new site and is looking to play a lead role in the region’s next chapter.

By Cole Rosengren • April 26, 2023

Boston plans to triple the size of its curbside organics program this summer

The city had already planned to reach 20,000 households this year but will now scale that even more. In the meantime, a USDA grant will help fund efforts to assess the potential for a new organics recycling site within the city.

By Cole Rosengren • April 25, 2023

Casella Waste to acquire $525M worth of GFL assets in 3 states

Pending regulatory approval, the transaction would mark a major collection expansion for the Northeastern company into a region where it had already been developing new landfill capacity.

By Cole Rosengren • April 24, 2023

Mittelstaedt back as Waste Connections CEO, Jackman departing

The abrupt announcement brings back the company’s founder and original CEO to a role he left in 2019. Mittelstaedt said the leadership change was a planned decision and not the result of company issues.

By Megan Quinn • April 24, 2023

WM to remove RNG fleet ads in Seattle following complaints from environmental groups

The controversy over branding has exposed fault lines over public perception of renewable natural gas.

By Jacob Wallace • Updated April 24, 2023