5 issues to watch as New York reshapes its commercial waste system

Many questions remain about how companies were selected, how much recycling investment will occur, how soon companies get electric vehicles, when implementation will begin and more.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 16, 2024

Long Beach, California, advances Bioenergy Devco plans in shift from WTE to digestion

Following negotiations, an anaerobic digester is set to replace a mass burn facility in Long Beach. The transition occurs amid significant regulatory shifts for such facilities in California over the past decade.

By Jacob Wallace • Feb. 15, 2024

Explore the Trendline➔

The Waste Dive Outlook on 2022

Get up to speed on what may be coming next around M&A, labor solutions, ESG investment trends, federal regulation, state policy, environmental justice, local programs and more.

By Waste Dive staff

CalRecycle director stepping down in March

Rachel Machi Wagoner will leave her role after three years in the position. The director job will be challenging to fill, industry experts say, as the agency is in the middle of implementing several high-profile laws.

By Megan Quinn • Updated Feb. 15, 2024

Maryland bill proposes waste disposal surcharge to fund organics recycling

The $2 surcharge would apply to each ton of waste disposed of in the state. The local chapter of the NWRA opposed the bill, arguing those costs would be passed on to consumers. 

By Jacob Wallace • Feb. 8, 2024

Generate Upcycle stops accepting organics at Michigan anaerobic digester amid permit issues

The organics company and Michigan regulators are at odds over permits for the Fremont Regional Digestor’s product. The facility provides 150,000 tons of annual organics processing capacity.

By Jacob Wallace • Feb. 1, 2024

New York to pilot automated collection of large containers for high-density buildings

DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch described this as the biggest advance for local waste collection technology in decades as the city continues its push toward containerization and limiting manual collection.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 1, 2024

Senate hearing puts landfill methane reduction strategies in the spotlight

Experts from the NWRA, RMI and Carbon Mapper discussed actions EPA could take, including updating emissions standards for landfills and contracting with satellite emissions tracking firms. 

By Jacob Wallace • Feb. 1, 2024

EPA seeks feedback on updated Waste Reduction Model to compare materials management practices

The agency recently released the 16th version of WARM, which provides local governments with a high-level estimate for emissions, energy impacts and other factors for different strategies.

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 31, 2024

Where USDA allotted $11.5M to 38 composting and food waste projects in 2023

The grants will enhance access to organics drop-off sites in several areas and build on existing capacity in dozens of localities nationwide.

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 31, 2024

New York City awards historic commercial waste zone contracts ahead of September transition

Action Environmental and Waste Connections each netted more than a dozen contracts. Other locally based companies also received multiple awards.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Jan. 30, 2024

The waste and recycling industry outlook for 2024

Recycling policy, PFAS regulations, landfill methane, organics infrastructure and M&A are all expected to be key topics for the year ahead.

By Waste Dive Staff • Jan. 29, 2024

LanzaJet opens world’s first plant turning ethanol into sustainable jet fuel

The Georgia facility is set to open additional markets for corn growers, though a lack of proper refining capacity could limit opportunities for farmers.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Jan. 26, 2024

Zero-waste advocates see opportunity in EPA’s $4.6B GHG reduction grants

The U.S. EPA is offering funding for states, municipalities and tribes to implement major climate projects. Advocates say that interested groups need to be part of local plans by March 1.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 25, 2024

RNG industry expects voluntary agreements, new credits to spur growth in 2024

The renewable natural gas industry saw more than 60 projects come online last year. This year, it’s expecting to build on that growth as the industry matures.

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 22, 2024

New York solid waste plan calls for disposal surcharge, expanded food diversion requirements

The new plan includes several focus areas and recommendations to reach a goal of 85% recycling of the total waste stream, as well as lower waste emissions, by 2050. It also supports extended producer responsibility laws.

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 17, 2024

Long Beach, California, WTE facility closing; city negotiating digester plan with Bioenergy Devco

After years of financial difficulties, the Covanta-operated Southeast Resource Recovery Facility is shutting down this month. Long Beach is looking to build organics processing capacity in its place via a pending RFP.

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 11, 2024

5 waste and recycling trends to watch in 2024

The evolving M&A market, the rise of EPR, pending PFAS regulations, renewable natural gas and methane reduction are some of the biggest issues facing the industry this year.

By Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Jan. 5, 2024

Food waste declined slightly in 2022, but progress was limited: ReFED

The latest update to nonprofit ReFED’s data engine offered new details on food waste but found little change in how surplus food is handled once it enters the waste stream.

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 4, 2024

Here’s where waste, recycling and organics laws changed on Jan. 1

California, Connecticut, Washington and Rhode Island are among the jurisdictions enforcing new laws, including bottle bill updates and organics mandates.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 2, 2024

By the numbers: Key 2023 waste and recycling trends

Look back on the year through data points on issues such as labor, M&A, federal funding, state policy and commodity pricing.

By Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Dec. 22, 2023

Los Angeles commercial waste system at a crossroads amid contract renegotiation

The recycLA program has seen positive results, but haulers are lagging on diversion targets and organics service. The city, while trying to amend the program, could issue a new RFP or even take over service itself.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 21, 2023

CalRecycle announces $130M in grants for SB 1383 organics projects

The funding goes toward a range of public and private awardees, including operations run by Agromin, Republic Services and a variety of local governments.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 20, 2023

EPA’s historic year of multi-million-dollar investments in recycling and organics projects

The U.S. EPA announced grants in 2023 meant to boost infrastructure projects, recycling education, environmental justice initiatives and more. 

By Waste Dive Staff • Dec. 20, 2023

Women’s leadership a key to stronger waste workforce, networking groups say

Rachel Oster and Melissa Young, two professionals that help lead the women’s leadership groups WISR and W4R, say connecting women at every level of the industry will create stronger companies and organizations.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 19, 2023

Mill, others provide emergency stopgap funding for NYC community composters

Following an announcement of temporary funding for GrowNYC last week, a donation provided by Mill and other organizations will keep additional participants in the city’s community compost program afloat.

By Jacob Wallace • Updated Dec. 21, 2023