EPA says final PFAS drinking water regulation and hazardous designations on the horizon

The agency previewed a busy winter of new regulations and disposal guidelines that will have implications for many waste industry operators. This includes a delay for eagerly awaited drinking water standards.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 11, 2023

GrowNYC compost workers prep for layoffs as council members vow action

While more than a dozen council members vowed support for the city’s community composting program at a rally on Dec. 6, new funding is unlikely to come before layoffs begin.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 8, 2023

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

Compostable packaging’s contested, complicated past doesn’t determine its future

Composters can struggle to manage the wide variety of new packaging entering the market, leading to greater calls for labeling guidelines and testing. Cities like San Francisco and Minneapolis offer case studies in how to make it work.

By Mary Catherine O'Connor • Dec. 7, 2023

U.S. EPA announces draft national food waste prevention strategy at COP28

The strategy cites ongoing commitments to building out organic waste recycling infrastructure, including on-farm anaerobic digestion and decentralized community composting programs.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 6, 2023

U.S. Food Waste Pact launches with ReFED, Walmart, Del Monte, others

The pact will follow an approach the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment developed, with signatories across the food supply chain agreeing to cut food loss and waste by collaborating on data-sharing and best practices.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 5, 2023

Generate Upcycle plans to close anaerobic digester over Michigan EGLE permit changes

The company may close its 150,000-ton-per-year Fremont Regional Digester this month if it’s required to obtain a groundwater permit for its liquid digestate, which has been marketed as a fertilizer.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 1, 2023

Synagro acquires Massachusetts-based biosolids processor with 5 facilities

The deal increases Synagro’s reach in the biosolids world, where it managed 6.5 million tons of material last year. It’s one of the company’s largest-ever acquisitions.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 29, 2023

Michigan Gov. Whitmer signs clean energy package that supports WTE, landfill gas

Michigan’s suite of clean energy bills allows the partial use of incineration, landfill gas, natural gas systems with carbon capture and other infrastructure that environmental groups said harm vulnerable communities.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 29, 2023

Colorado’s NextCycle business incubator looks to kick-start new projects in the state

The recycling, reuse and organics projects it supports are important for reaching the state’s waste diversion goal, according to its program manager.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 27, 2023

EPA announces $2B in environmental justice grants, including for waste projects

The Community Challenge Grants program, which is accepting applications for the next year, has multiple categories that could offer funding for composting, recycling, household hazardous waste management and other initiatives.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 22, 2023

Proposed NYC budget cuts ‘devastating’ for community composters

Cuts to the New York City Sanitation Department could lead to dozens of layoffs, the closure of several mid-sized community composting facilities and the delayed rollout of curbside organics service in two boroughs.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 22, 2023

Michigan governor expected to sign clean energy bill that includes incineration

A suite of clean energy bills would transition the state to clean energy by 2040. It counts an existing WTE facility in Kent County as clean while also supporting the use of landfill gas systems and anaerobic digestion.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 21, 2023

EPA’s $33M in recycling education grants will boost programs in New York, California and more

The funding will support 25 local recycling and organics programs nationwide. Many of the selected programs support training and multilingual resources.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 20, 2023

EPA should act on landfill emissions ahead of COP28, waste and environmental groups say

A coalition is urging the Biden administration to announce a rulemaking to update emissions standards for landfills. The call comes as world leaders prepare to negotiate new climate commitments.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 15, 2023

Anaergia mulls sale of Rialto Bioenergy Facility as revenue declines

Executives hope a production ramp-up at a Rhode Island facility and new deals will offset the impact from Rialto’s bankruptcy and turn the company’s finances around.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 14, 2023

Austin, Texas, releases zero waste plan as population booms

The city’s goal of achieving a 90% diversion rate by 2040 remains ambitious, but Austin Resource Recovery is planning new infrastructure and expanded collections to help bridge the gap.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 10, 2023

Local officials call for organics phase-out, new rules for landfill emissions

More than 50 local elected officials noted that ground-up strategies to bring down landfill methane emissions are insufficient, and called for a stronger federal strategy in a letter to the U.S. EPA. 

By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 31, 2023

California projects emphasize zero waste equity by keeping marginalized groups at the center

An equitable zero waste future means partnering with businesses, unhoused people, waste workers and grassroots groups, speakers from San Francisco and Los Angeles said at the National Zero Waste Conference. 

By Megan Quinn • Updated Nov. 6, 2023

EPA pours $128M into environmental justice projects, including waste and recycling efforts

The EPA chose 186 projects led by community groups and local governments and counts several waste and recycling initiatives among its recipients, including anti-dumping, community recycling and organics diversion efforts.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 24, 2023

U.S. Composting Council, ReFED praise new food waste reports from EPA

Organics leaders noted the reports affirm the U.S. EPA’s preference for source reduction and lend support for composting over anaerobic digestion, landfilling and incineration. 

By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 24, 2023

Groups push for landfill methane action from local governments as ‘low-hanging fruit’

New EPA data shows the waste sector continues to dominate U.S. methane emissions. But groups believe new federal funding is aligning with a growing awareness of opportunities to make a dent in those numbers.

By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 23, 2023

EPA reports quantify methane emissions from organic waste, retire food recovery hierarchy

One report found 58% of fugitive methane emissions at MSW landfills came from wasted food. The agency’s new lifecycle analyses on food waste management pathways also reaffirmed the importance of source reduction.

By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 20, 2023

Tracking GHG emissions of US waste management companies

Follow the latest data updates from Stericycle, Synagro, Interstate Waste Services, WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Clean Harbors, Recology and more.

By Megan Quinn , Jacob Wallace , Cole Rosengren • Updated Nov. 28, 2023

Chicago launches drop-off organics collection program

Residents can drop off all kinds of food waste at 15 locations managed by the Department of Streets and Sanitation to help meet the city’s climate goals. The program is meant to make organics collection more accessible.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 17, 2023

Walmart announces renewed food waste partnership with Denali

The retailer’s work with Denali will divert millions of pounds of non-edible food from landfills to create compost, feed animals and generate renewable energy.

By Peyton Bigora • Oct. 17, 2023