Workforce


  • workers walk by bales of aluminum cans at a recycling facility
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    Courtesy of LRS
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    LRS releases first sustainability report, with emissions reduction plan

    LRS’ sustainability report offers baseline greenhouse gas emissions data and a general plan for reducing emissions from landfills and fleet vehicles while maintaining recycling rates and continuing to improve safety rates.

    By Oct. 3, 2024
  • Aerial view of trucks, booths and people standing in the Las Vegas Convention Center at WasteExpo 2024
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    Notable waste and recycling conferences in 2025

    Organizers have already begun planning conferences for 2025, with new locations announced for events by SWANA and ReFED. See details about next year’s events covering business trends, organics, plastic recycling and more.

    By Waste Dive Staff • Updated 5 hours ago
  • Recycling sorter at Waste Management MRF
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    Courtesy of Waste Management
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    WM to close Maryland MRF and reduce temp workforce as part of upgrade plan

    The Elkridge facility’s closure is the latest development in WM’s efforts to invest more than $1 billion in new and upgraded recycling facilities across the US through 2026.

    By Sept. 19, 2024
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    OSHA sets late December comment deadline for extreme heat standard

    The agency’s proposed rule would require employers to develop heat injury and illness prevention plans, among other actions.

    By Ryan Golden • Sept. 3, 2024
  • Rear view of a waste truck, with the word caution on its body, collecting a cart in a residential area
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    xphotoz via Getty Images
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    GFL and EEOC to settle discrimination suit alleging women were barred from truck driver jobs

    GFL and its subsidiaries in Georgia are expected to finalize a consent decree with the EEOC, effectively ending the case alleging the companies had a pattern of blocking women from driver roles since 2016.

    By Aug. 22, 2024
  • View of a back alley lined with trash carts in Baltimore, with utility lines and tree branches overhead
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    peeterv via Getty Images
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    Focus on heat illness intensifies after death of Baltimore sanitation worker

    In the wake of the death of Ronald Silver II, a city employee, labor groups are calling for more heat safety protections — and fast. Pending state and federal heat standards could help.

    By Aug. 20, 2024
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    What the Supreme Court’s Chevron reversal could mean for PFAS and labor regulations

    Ripple effects of the Chevron doctrine reversal may not affect operations for waste and recycling companies yet but could affect future federal rulemaking and legal challenges. NWRA’s CEO and legal experts weigh in.

    By Aug. 6, 2024
  • Close up of the front of a Waste Connections electric refuse truck
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    Jacob Wallace/Waste Dive
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    Waste Connections touts big M&A growth, ramps up rail tons to Arrowhead Landfill

    CEO Ron Mittelstaedt said the company is on track for an annual record in private company acquisition spending. He also touted ongoing improvements in employee retention, recycling earnings and energy waste services.

    By July 25, 2024
  • Bales of plastic go down a conveyor belt at Republic's Las Vegas Polymer Center
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    Courtesy of Republic Services
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    Republic ups guidance amid stronger commodity prices, despite lower volumes

    The company said a weak construction market and the shedding of some contracts will likely lower volumes through 2024. However, underlying financial metrics remain strong thanks to strong pricing growth.

    By July 25, 2024
  • Two GFL executives and one Stifel analyst sit on a stage at WasteExpo 2024
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    Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
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    Pay rose for multiple waste and recycling CEOs in 2023, especially GFL

    See the latest compensation data for executives at WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Clean Harbors, Stericycle, Enviri and Casella Waste Systems in our sixth annual report.

    By , , July 22, 2024
  • A billboard over a California highway reads "Extreme Heat Stay Cool Drink Water"
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Proposed OSHA heat rule leaves waste industry with operational questions

    Waste and recycling groups say the proposed standard raises practical questions of how to change schedules and other operations to better protect workers from the heat.

    By July 11, 2024
  • A front enloader moves recyclables into piles in a warehouse where material is stored.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Waste Dive
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    LRS receives credit rating downgrades, hires chief revenue officer

    Moody’s and S&P both downgraded the Midwest recycler in June due in part to high debt leverage, but they maintained stable outlooks. LRS is searching for a CFO after Luke Chenery returned to Macquarie.

    By July 9, 2024
  • workers toil on a hot construction site with the orange sun in the background
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    SonerCdem via Getty Images
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    OSHA proposes rule to protect workers from extreme heat

    The standard would require employers to provide water and rest breaks when high heat creates a hazardous work environment.

    By Zachary Phillips • July 2, 2024
  • A collage of images related to the waste Industry and software.
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    Permission granted by Routeware, Inc
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    Sponsored by Routeware Inc

    7 key questions to ask before upgrading your billing software

    Think simplicity, connectivity and efficiency when exploring new billing systems. 

    By Jed Dawson, VP Product Engineering at Routeware • June 24, 2024
  • A student works on a collection vehicle at the Republic Services Technical Institute in Dallas, Texas, on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021.
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    Courtesy of Republic Services
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    Republic shareholders nix Teamsters’ proposal to report labor impact of climate policies

    A strong majority of shareholders voted against the proposal, which sought to compel Republic to more explicitly detail how its investments in automation and artificial intelligence affect workers.

    By May 30, 2024
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    Courtesy of Casella Waste Systems
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    Q&A

    Casella president outlines growth plans for mid-Atlantic and other priorities

    Ned Coletta, roughly six months into his role as president, is working on multiple aspects of the company’s strategy. He recently shared updates on disposal capacity, PFAS treatment, RNG projects, training and more.

    By May 16, 2024
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    Q&A

    Waste Pro leaders talk employee training and growth plans in the Southeast

    CEO Sean Jennings and COO Keith Banasiak say offerings like CDL and technician schools, plus a focus on customer service and selective acquisitions, could help them hit the $2 billion revenue mark in a few years. 

    By May 14, 2024
  • two people speak on a stage
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    Mittelstaedt touts ‘significant’ labor improvements after returning as Waste Connections CEO

    The company is making major labor and retention changes, investing in internal training and hiring and reducing voluntary turnover, CEO Ron Mittelstaedt said during WasteExpo.

    By May 13, 2024
  • safety managers sit at a table during a presentation
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    Megan Quinn/Waste Dive
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    4 ways safety managers recommend building trust with front-line workers

    Better employee engagement comes from everyday interactions with workers, said safety leaders from Casella Waste Systems, GFL Environmental, Lytx, Republic Services and Waste Connections during a panel at WasteExpo.

    By May 10, 2024
  • GFL Environmental truck on display at WasteExpo 2022
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    Maria Rachal/Waste Dive
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    GFL eyes new opportunities in Canada amid improving cash outlook

    Revenues outperformed expectations and costs improved in the first quarter of the year, executives said, leading to an updated outlook for the company for the full year.

    By May 2, 2024
  • A driver stands next to a shredding truck.
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    Courtesy of Stericycle
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    Stericycle reports progress on workforce and fleet optimization plan, touts new document service

    The company reported margin improvement from various cost saving measures, and shared construction updates for an upcoming incinerator project in Nevada.

    By April 26, 2024
  • A group of people, including NWRA CEO Michael Hoffman, stands in front of the U.S. Capitol
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    Permission granted by National Waste & Recycling Association
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    NWRA hires industry veteran Hoffman as next CEO

    Michael E. Hoffman, a longtime financial analyst who currently works at Stifel, is taking on the lead role at the industry’s largest trade association.

    By April 26, 2024
  • Recycling sorter at Waste Management MRF
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    Courtesy of Waste Management
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    WM credits cost savings, strong EBITDA margins for positive Q1

    CEO Jim Fish said the company “outperformed our own high expectations” for Q1 through cost savings in labor and operations. Expiring RNG tax credits and anticipated MRF upgrade costs are expected to become headwinds.

    By April 25, 2024
  • Waste Connections truck on display at WasteExpo 2022
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    Maria Rachal/Waste Dive
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    Waste Connections seeing labor retention improvements as it eyes ‘record’ M&A year

    The company reported better-than-expected revenue for a quarter which included a sizable acquisition in Indiana. CEO Ron Mittelstaedt also shared updated thoughts on how PFAS regulations will affect the sector.

    By April 25, 2024
  • A close-up of the creamy exterior of the Department of Labor building.
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    Caroline Colvin/Waste Dive
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    Labor Department will raise overtime salary threshold to $44K in July, $59K next year

    The final rule expands overtime pay eligibility to millions of U.S. workers, the department said, and covers employees working in the waste management sector.

    By Ryan Golden • April 24, 2024