Washington governor signs laws regulating landfills, expanding organics service and more

Gov. Bob Ferguson signed five laws, including ones that affected renewable natural gas, PFAS in biosolids and plastic bags.

By Cole Rosengren , Jacob Wallace • May 19, 2025

California compostable packaging restriction could have ‘chilling effect’

The Biodegradable Products Institute says it’s still waiting to hear whether there could be a compliance extension for a key provision of AB 1201 poised to affect compostables in the state come 2026.

By Maria Rachal • Updated May 19, 2025

How states are thinking about organic waste policy

Panelists from Divert, CalRecycle and NRDC discussed lessons that can be learned from a rising number of state organic waste policies in California and elsewhere.

By Jacob Wallace • May 15, 2025

Ohio University composting program turns cafeteria scraps to brown gold

The university processes more than five tons of food waste every day into soil amendments it uses on campus. The school has also adjusted parts of the ongoing program due to contamination issues.

By Joe Burns • May 6, 2025

Grants of up to $50K aim to boost compostable packaging recovery

A new program — launched by the Composting Consortium, U.S. Composting Council and Biodegradable Products Institute — aims to help organics recyclers and local governments scale their efforts.

By Cole Rosengren • May 6, 2025

Environmental groups launch coalition to halt the use of biosolids as fertilizer

The Coalition for Sludge-Free Land, made up of local, regional and national groups, is pushing for biosolids to be dewatered and landfilled instead. 

By Jacob Wallace • May 2, 2025

Q1 earnings results for major waste and recycling companies in 2025

Follow the latest results from WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Casella Waste Systems and Clean Harbors.

By Waste Dive Staff • Updated May 7, 2025

New York announces next waste zones, but pressure for a timeline remains

The city’s sanitation department declined to set dates for implementing of 17 remaining commercial waste zones this week, prompting pushback from industry and the city council.

By Jacob Wallace • April 24, 2025

State bills tackling PFAS in biosolids advance

A bill in Washington would require wastewater facility operators to test PFAS levels in their biosolids. It’s the latest state legislative effort to address a problem increasingly attracting attention.

By Jacob Wallace • April 22, 2025

What the pandemic means for waste and recycling five years later

While the “essential worker” spotlight may have faded and business is largely back to normal, certain effects still linger when it comes to labor investments and recycling streams.

By Cole Rosengren , Megan Quinn , Jacob Wallace • April 17, 2025

Trump administration ordered to resume IRA funding

The decision, which stated federal agencies lacked authority to pause funding, follows the president’s executive order to freeze the money on his first day in office. 

By Kate Magill • April 16, 2025

EPA confirms SWIFR, REO grant funding disbursement on track

EPA will move forward with awarding the second round of solid waste and recycling grants. The news comes after uncertainty over the status of numerous federal funding opportunities for the waste and recycling sectors.

By Megan Quinn • April 14, 2025

Generate Upcycle takes parting shots at Michigan regulators as digester shuts down

Executives have characterized the state’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy as hostile to the Fremont Regional Digester, which Generate Upcycle has owned since 2017.

By Jacob Wallace • April 11, 2025

New York City pauses curbside organics enforcement

The city issued tens of thousands of warnings before enforcement began on April 1, but Mayor Eric Adams has since paused that plan through the end of the year for most building owners.

By Jacob Wallace • Updated April 18, 2025

USDA tells digester funding applicants to remove diversity, climate language

The announcement means federal funding for anaerobic digesters on dairy farms could be unpaused for applicants willing to change project language.

By Jacob Wallace • April 8, 2025

Maryland EPR for packaging bill heads to governor’s desk

The bill calls for reimbursing key recycling collection, transportation and processing costs in the state, including for organics. Maryland would be the sixth state with packaging EPR if Gov. Wes Moore signs the bill. 

By Megan Quinn • April 8, 2025

Ares launches Sagepoint RNG developer, plus news from Opal, EnVitec, Nexus

Sagepoint’s CEO, a former leader of Kinetrex Energy and Kinder Morgan’s RNG unit, describes the new company’s growth path. Other biogas companies advanced projects and inked offtake agreements.

By Jacob Wallace • April 3, 2025

MassRecycle urges faster waste reduction action amid climate change

The group’s annual conference included perspective from Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer, as well as an update on a possible universal organics disposal ban and efforts to advance EPR for batteries.

By Cole Rosengren • March 31, 2025

Fort Worth, Texas, ends Synagro’s biosolids contract early

The city council voted to terminate their 10-year contract with Synagro early and will take over a biosolids drying facility. The decision comes amid questions over PFAS contamination and responsibility in the region.

By Jacob Wallace • March 27, 2025

Synagro seeks to dismiss lawsuit over PFAS in its biosolids, citing new research

The company, backed by a Goldman Sachs fund, argues its treated sludge from the Fort Worth, Texas, wastewater system could not have caused harmful contamination on farmland.

By Jacob Wallace • March 19, 2025

Divert announces 3rd C-suite appointment of 2025

The company is in the midst of permitting and growing new facilities in multiple states to achieve its vision of a national anaerobic digestion network. CEO Ryan Begin said the hires would help Divert meet that goal.

By Jacob Wallace • March 18, 2025

LRS breaks into Indianapolis market with new collection contract

The Midwest company will take over collection contracts currently held by Republic Services and WM. LRS will also help roll out citywide recycling collection services in 2028.

By Megan Quinn • March 14, 2025

Maryland’s recycling needs assessment sheds light on possible EPR impacts

A newly released assessment, along with a recommendation report from a stakeholder group, could both help shape EPR for packaging legislation this year.

By Megan Quinn • March 6, 2025

Divert COO moves to advisory role as company continues growth

Private equity-backed Divert has processed more than 3 billion pounds of unsold food since Nick Whitman co-founded the company. He will change roles as the company brings new facilities online.

By Jacob Wallace • Updated March 6, 2025

Wasted food increased to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, ReFed reports

The shift comes after more cooking at home and reduced trips to the store likely caused a drop in 2020. But the food waste solutions nonprofit sees signs of improvement, including through legislation and technology.

By Jacob Wallace • Feb. 28, 2025