Waste Management planning $1.6B in ESG investments, says automation and attrition could phase out upward of 7,000 jobs

Executives closed out a turbulent 2021 with solid earnings, despite inflation, and shared plans for greater spending on recycling and renewable energy, which they expect to have better returns than solid waste acquisitions.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 2, 2022

Waste industry M&A spree shows no sign of slowing in 2022, prompting exit of longtime operators

Pandemic exhaustion, labor strain, capital costs and high valuations are among the factors companies give for selling. Now, the dealmaking activity is beginning to rival historic levels of spending and consolidation.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 27, 2022

As federal vaccine mandate stalls, challenging January continues for waste services

The omicron surge put waste workers and collection service challenges back in the national spotlight. While infections appear to be on the decline in many cities, reports of new or ongoing disruptions continue.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 26, 2022

OSHA pulls temporary vaccine rule, says permanent mandate is in the works

At the agency's request, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed challenges to the ETS as moot.

By Kate Tornone • Updated Feb. 18, 2022

Waste Connections poised to grow New England footprint with another sizable acquisition

The pending sale of ABC Disposal Service and its affiliated operations would come with substantial new hauling, transfer and MRF capacity in the southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island markets.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 20, 2022

Supreme Court upholds stay on OSHA's vaccine mandate

The justices opted to dissolve injunctions placed on a separate vaccination mandate for healthcare workers issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

By Ryan Golden • Updated Jan. 13, 2022

8 questions about the top trends shaping waste and recycling in 2022

Waste Dive is watching how much longer heightened M&A activity lasts, what it will take to maintain the workforce in a tough market, where organics infrastructure is growing, what's next for recycling and more.

By Cole Rosengren , Megan Quinn , Maria Rachal • Jan. 13, 2022

Stakeholders urge Supreme Court to act fast on OSHA mandate

Stakeholders from all sides hoped the court would have a ruling before the emergency temporary standard's Jan. 10 enforcement date.

By Ryan Golden • Updated Jan. 10, 2022

Omicron spread disrupts US waste and recycling operations as 2022 begins

Unlike previous COVID-19 surges that struck more regionally, the latest wave appears to be wreaking havoc on staff availability across the country. Dallas and Detroit are among the latest cities affected.

By Maria Rachal • Updated Jan. 7, 2022

BLS documents record number of quits in November

The U.S. Department of Labor reported 4.5 million quits during the month in an indication that the "Great Resignation" has yet to slow.

By Emilie Shumway • Jan. 6, 2022

US Supreme Court sets Jan. 7 hearing on vaccine mandates for employers

The high court is consolidating appeals regarding court-ordered stays placed on two of the Biden administration's vaccine mandates.

By Ryan Golden • Dec. 23, 2021

How the pandemic impacted waste and recycling workforces in 2021

The arrival of vaccines brought new considerations for employees and employers, while shifts in the broader U.S. workforce created new challenges for hiring and retention.

By Waste Dive Team • Dec. 23, 2021

By the numbers: 2021's waste and recycling trends

Take a look back through the key data points that shaped the conversations around some of the top issues — M&A, ESG, policy and workforce challenges — in an eventful year.

By Cole Rosengren , Megan Quinn , Maria Rachal • Dec. 23, 2021

Robin Hutcheson to replace Meera Joshi as acting FMCSA administrator

Hutcheson was previously the director of public works for Minneapolis, among other positions. This follows the departure of Meera Joshi, who had been in the Senate confirmation process for months to lead the agency.

By S.L. Fuller • Updated Jan. 20, 2022

Frustrated by collection worker deaths, industry groups target distracted driving

Waste and recycling groups believe distracted driving and cellphone usage are key factors in the fatalities. A lack of data on crash causes and disagreements on how to solve the problem have stalled meaningful solutions.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 20, 2021

OSHA vaccine mandate is back on for now as appeals court dissolves stay

In an update on its website following the court's decision, OSHA said it would resume implementing the ETS but delay enforcement.

By Ryan Golden • Updated Dec. 20, 2021

Fatalities continued to fall in 2020, but waste collection workers still had 6th deadliest US job

BLS data shows collection workers had a safer year than they did in 2019, but MRF and landfill worker deaths rose slightly. Industry associations hope more safety programs and education will help drive numbers down.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 16, 2021

Federal agencies to revisit overtime, joint employment rules in 2022

The U.S. Department of Labor and National Labor Relations Board will propose updates in the coming months, according to a government to-do list.

By Kate Tornone • Dec. 11, 2021

New York sanitation experts urge incoming mayor to rethink, modernize collection system

The city's sidewalks are infamous for their mountains of garbage bags and rodents. A new "Put Waste to Work" campaign says containerization, route optimization and organics collection should be top priorities.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Dec. 6, 2021

Timeline: What's next for the OSHA vaccine mandate litigation?

The Supreme Court would have to go "pedal to the metal" to rule on the ETS before its expiration date, one source told HR Dive.

By Ryan Golden • Dec. 2, 2021

Little for CFOs to like in Build Back Better tax provisions

Even if the Senate softens the legislation, companies can expect to see more complicated tax compliance and a potential excise tax on stock buybacks.

By Robert Freedman • Nov. 29, 2021

Waste and recycling employers prepping for OSHA coronavirus requirements amid legal holdups

A Jan. 4 deadline for vaccinations or weekly testing has been halted, but the industry is still closely reviewing the standard, with attention to provisions such as an exemption for outdoor workers, which could apply to certain job types.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 22, 2021

New York aims to launch commercial waste zones in 2022, sector's largest change in decades

A long-anticipated RFP kicks off a process that could see coveted 10-year contracts awarded by next summer. Fifty companies have qualified to bid, including Waste Management, Waste Connections and Action Environmental.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 17, 2021

How US recycling programs make it work from coast to coast

Professionals working in multifamily city buildings, drop-off sites in tribal nations and programs in more isolated island areas weigh in on what's working, and what's still challenging, when it comes to recycling in 2021.

By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren , Megan Quinn • Nov. 15, 2021

The dirty truth about the waste industry's 'labor shortage'

Chuck Stiles, director of the Solid Waste and Recycling Division of the Teamsters union, says the industry's issue with recruiting and retaining workers comes down to insufficient wages, benefits and respect.

By Chuck Stiles • Nov. 9, 2021