California Gov. Newsom signs many recycling and waste bills, vetoes two

Bills concerning the state’s container redemption program, incineration rules, battery recycling programs, plastic bag regulations and organic waste diversion were among those Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in September.

By Megan Quinn • Updated Oct. 3, 2022

Los Angeles had a rocky commercial waste zone rollout but is seeing results. What’s in store for New York?

New York has big goals for its zone system to boost diversion rates, infrastructure investment and labor standards. First, the city and haulers must navigate a transition process that one LA official called “six months of hell.”

By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 19, 2022

Renovare Environmental CEO steps down, reverse merger with Harp Renewables still pending

Details about the fate of the small-scale digester company remain limited, but it’s now working to raise new funding and pay off debt ahead of a possible transaction. In the meantime, CEO Tony Fuller is out.

By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 14, 2022

Inflation may have reduced food waste, but food banks worry about lower donation supply

During a recent ReFED webinar, speakers from Feeding America, BlueCart and Purdue University said they see opportunities for partnerships to further reduce food waste during times when inflation affects donations.

By Megan Quinn • Sept. 12, 2022

Bio-based packaging companies say mushrooms and seaweed are the next alternatives to plastic

In a recent webinar, companies made their case for “bioregenerative” packaging that uses renewable, compostable materials with the same properties as plastic. Markets and supply chains are still warming to it.

By Megan Quinn • Sept. 6, 2022

Divert seeks to scale food waste prevention tech, recycling platform with $100M investment

CEO Ryan Begin said the company is coming out of stealth mode after cultivating a large retail client base. He discussed rethinking the food recovery hierarchy and previewed multiple new digester projects.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 31, 2022

LRS CEO outlines how M&A and sustainability are creating a Midwest powerhouse

One year into Macquarie’s ownership of LRS, CEO Alan Handley shared what’s next for the company’s expansion, talked plans to hit a $600 million revenue run rate, previewed a new Chicago MRF and more.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 30, 2022

Jersey City mapping food rescue opportunities with support from NRDC grant

Jersey City’s public works and health and human services departments are working to better map and distribute food resources as part of a broader focus on reducing food waste that is saving $1 million per year so far.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 29, 2022

As EPA seeks to label certain PFAS hazardous, landfill operators worry about cost, liability

The federal government is targeting PFOA and PFOS, two of many “forever chemicals,” for inclusion under the Superfund law. Landfill operators want a targeted exemption, citing significant legal liability and costs.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 29, 2022

Waste Connections acquiring 3 franchise haulers around San Jose, California

The newly confirmed transactions involving haulers that service San Jose, Milpitas and Livermore, California, all come with long-term municipal contracts that fit the company’s acquisition strategy.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Aug. 25, 2022

New York commercial waste haulers hold their breath after submitting bids for 10-year contracts

Bids are in to operate in the Department of Sanitation’s upcoming commercial waste zone system. Haulers of all sizes are waiting to learn their fates while operating under lingering pandemic and inflationary pressures.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 24, 2022

Anaergia says federal tax credits, boosted by California policy, will unlock new US biogas projects

In a recent earnings call, executives shared updates on expanding organics pre-processing and digestion operations to meet California’s SB 1383 mandate along with financing for projects in North Carolina and Rhode Island.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 19, 2022

Where the Teamsters are looking to grow their ranks in waste and recycling

General President Sean O’Brien’s “militant” approach is reportedly influencing discussions with employers and members alike as the waste industry’s biggest union looks to expand its reach.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 18, 2022

Biden signs Inflation Reduction Act with waste implications and $369B for climate efforts

Groups representing companies that produce RNG from waste touted the law as a major step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The president called it “one of the most significant laws in our history.”

By Megan Quinn • Updated Aug. 17, 2022

Massachusetts climate bill includes anaerobic digesters in state peak energy incentive program

A major bill recently signed by Gov. Charlie Baker has implications for digesters as well as landfill gas facilities. The National Waste & Recycling Association and Vanguard Renewables supported the provisions.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 16, 2022

Biogas industry applauds House passage of Inflation Reduction Act with ‘historic’ implications

Anaergia and the American Biogas Council said new tax credits and other provisions will be a boon for anaerobic digestion and landfill gas projects. The bill also has implications for Superfund projects and corporate tax policy.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 15, 2022

Seeking funding and connections, recyclers turn to business incubator NextCycle

Recyclers and other businesses in Michigan, Colorado and Washington, the states where NextCycle operates, discussed the program’s impact on their circular economy goals during a Northeast Recycling Council webinar.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 12, 2022

Inflation Reduction Act heads to House with biogas and fleet provisions intact

Tax credits to build biogas projects and expand alternative fuel vehicles remain part of a major climate bill that could see a final vote this week. New language taxing stock buybacks would affect large waste companies, but minimally.

By Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Updated Aug. 10, 2022

New York City rolling out ‘largest curbside composting program in the nation’ with Queens expansion

After years of budget cuts and political shifts, the Department of Sanitation says this latest organics recycling iteration will be its most cost-effective and efficient approach yet. Drop-off bins are also being added in other boroughs.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 9, 2022

Food waste tech firm Afresh raises $115M

The Series B funding round, which included a former Whole Foods executive as an investor, will help scale the technology to “thousands” more stores.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Aug. 8, 2022

What the Inflation Reduction Act proposal means for biogas producers and alternative fuel vehicles

Supporters such as the American Biogas Council and RNG Coalition say several provisions could help grow RNG markets, but the National Waste & Recycling Association says a corporate tax hike will hurt business.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 4, 2022

Biogas included in investment tax credit provisions of Inflation Reduction Act

The language, part of $369 billion in climate provisions, could apply to landfill gas projects as well as anaerobic digesters. Proponents have long called for more parity with credits given to other renewables, like wind and solar.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 2, 2022

Senate passes bills for recycling data collection, rural infrastructure grants

The bipartisan Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2022 and the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act have garnered support from multiple waste and recycling organizations.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 1, 2022

Connecticut's MIRA WTE facility finally closes, leaving many questions about regional capacity

The aging facility was handling 720,000 tons per year of waste, much of which is now getting landfilled. A legislative task force is assessing what comes next for the authority that operated it for decades.

By Cole Rosengren • July 27, 2022

Vanguard Renewables CEO on $700M sale to BlackRock, digester expansion and landfill competition

Neil Smith, who joined Vanguard after leading an energy company during a similar period of expansion, breaks down what the sale means for the company’s efforts to launch dozens of RNG-producing facilities.

By Cole Rosengren • July 25, 2022