Food waste is piling up. How are manufacturers responding?

More than 1.6 billion tons of food go to waste annually, representing $1.2 trillion in value and a third of all global food production — and according to a 2018 report, it's getting worse.

By Craig Guillot • July 2, 2019

ISRI members get preliminary injunction from California reporting law

An upcoming law requiring new recycling and composting data has been challenged by scrap recyclers over various concerns, including the classification of material as "solid waste."

By Rubi Rajbanshi • Updated July 17, 2019

New Jersey passes food waste bill favoring landfills and WTE

A bill once intended to promote diversion to compost and digestion facilities will now allow unique exemptions due to lobbying from landfill and incinerator operators.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated June 28, 2019

Deadly day for workers refocuses spotlight on industry safety progress

Three unrelated June 13 fatalities across multiple states are the latest reminder that top-down policy fixes may not be able to drive fundamental changes in safety culture.

By Cole Rosengren • June 25, 2019

Boston finally reaches recycling deal with Casella

Covanta and Wheelabrator will also retain residential waste contracts. Both deals may be regional bellwethers of higher prices to come.

By Cole Rosengren • June 24, 2019

BioHiTech Global sees new MBT facility as a model for Northeast disposal crunch

Entsorga West Virginia, jokingly referred to as "Waste Disneyland," is described as a complement to limited regional landfills. Waste Dive spoke with the executive team about growth plans.

By Cole Rosengren • June 20, 2019

Boston aims for 80% recycling rate by 2035, plans organics pilot

A new "zero waste" plan outlines 30 recommendations involving food waste, textiles, recycling education and more. 

By Cole Rosengren • June 19, 2019

Survey: California will need dramatic infrastructure expansion to meet organics goals

CalRecycle research estimates the state will require upward of 12-14 million tons of annual processing capacity to meet upcoming targets.

By Rubi Rajbanshi • June 13, 2019

US PIRG calls for expansion of composting programs

According to a new report, composting programs could reduce the amount of waste sent to U.S. landfills and incinerators by at least 30%, yielding various agricultural, public health and climate benefits.

By Rina Li • June 13, 2019

Madison, Wisconsin declares curbside organics pilot a success

The eight-week pilot, which followed a larger canceled program, pulled in more than four tons of material and experienced limited contamination issues.

By Max Witynski , Cole Rosengren • Updated Sept. 30, 2019

Doubt and discord ahead of New York franchise bill introduction

The much-anticipated legislation launches today after years of planning, but it likely won't be what the city's Department of Sanitation envisioned.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated May 30, 2019

Conversations with execs from 8 key industry companies

Catch up on Waste Dive's interviews with Waste Management, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Covanta, WCA Waste, FCC Environmental and Rubicon Global from WasteExpo 2019.

By Waste Dive Team • May 24, 2019

FDA backs 'Best if used by' voluntary date labeling for food products

The agency's position reflects that of industry groups — including the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Food Marketing Institute, which have advocated for simplifying labels.

By Cathy Siegner • May 24, 2019

Ohio county outlines food waste reduction plans, potential curbside pilot

According to a recent report backed by the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio, food waste costs Franklin County an estimated $106 million in economic loss per year.

By Catelyn Scholwinski • May 23, 2019

Straight talk with WCA Waste CEO Bill Caesar

One of the industry's largest private operators discusses satisfaction with the company's current geography, pressures on landfill operations and why carbon pricing is likely inevitable.

By Cole Rosengren • May 21, 2019

Scrap Collector: Plastic's 'hidden' climate impacts revealed

Plus: Six-foot-high pile of unopened Amazon Go meals and groceries discovered in Seattle landfill, and Philippines recalls ambassador to Canada over ongoing illegal waste standoff.

By Rina Li • May 17, 2019

Department of Energy awards $73M for biofuel and waste projects

Research and development funding will go to 35 projects, including multiple projects focused on anaerobic digestion and plastics recycling. 

By Cody Ellis , Cole Rosengren • Updated Oct. 3, 2019

Republic's solution to the California 'organics challenge'

Spurred by a commercial food waste recycling mandate, Republic Services is eyeing infrastructure investments in the state. The company's national director of organics operations recently gave Waste Dive a tour of one new approach.

By Cole Rosengren • May 7, 2019

LA Sanitation director's plans to tackle organics and hit 'zero waste' targets

In the second part of a recent Waste Dive interview, Enrique Zaldivar discusses California's transformative SB 1383 regulations, a large curbside organics pilot and extended producer responsibility.

By Cole Rosengren • May 3, 2019

Trump administration unveils 'winning' strategies for US food waste problem

"Winning on Reducing Food Waste Month" features a new six-point plan, an interagency agreement with nonprofit ReFED and small-scale EPA grant funding for anaerobic digestion projects.

By Cole Rosengren • April 18, 2019

How the waste industry can keep up with an ever-growing cannabis stream

More states are approving marijuana sales, and new waste processing solutions are coming online — but federal regulations still loom large. Rich Thompson breaks down the latest you need to know.

By Rich Thompson • April 17, 2019

Scrap Collector: Does WTE have a role in NYC's 'zero waste' goal?

Plus: Entrepreneurs pitch sustainable floating city concept at UN, and Detroit lawmakers pushing for statewide incineration ban.

By Rina Li • April 5, 2019

New regional campaign looks to boost recycling in 10 Texas cities

A recent study by Burns & McDonnell found that $122 million worth of recyclables are being sent to area landfills each year. A regional campaign led by The Recycling Partnership aims to address this gap.

By Catelyn Scholwinski • April 2, 2019

New York passes statewide organics mandate, plastic bag ban

Legislated as part of the new FY20 state budget, both policies have been years in the making. An industry-opposed proposal to expand the state's container deposit program did not make the cut.

By Cole Rosengren • April 1, 2019

Why BioCycle views food waste recycling as a 'no regrets' climate solution

As one of the recycling world's oldest publications celebrates its 60th year, editor Nora Goldstein spoke about the evolution of organics recycling and its role in the climate crisis.

By Cole Rosengren • March 26, 2019