California law aims to expand options for compost procurement under SB 1383

The state’s organics law requires jurisdictions to procure a certain amount of organic material, but some have struggled. A recent law expands the options and could boost categories such as vermicomposting or edible food recovery.

By Mary Catherine O’Connor • Jan. 28, 2025

Up to $43B needed to modernize recycling infrastructure: Biden EPA

A recent report, spurred by a congressional funding bill, outlined what it would take to surpass a 50% recycling rate by 2030. This comes as the Trump administration seeks to pause certain infrastructure grants.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 22, 2025

Trump freezes IRA and infrastructure law funding

The White House issued a memo to clarify the funding pause, specifying that it pertains only to aspects of the law mentioned in Section 2 of the executive order.

By Kate Magill • Updated Jan. 23, 2025

PFAS and waste solutions funded in final days of Biden EPA

The EPA under former President Joe Biden funded two dozen small businesses working on early-stage environmental technologies that incorporate materials like agricultural waste and wasted glass.

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 21, 2025

EPA warns of PFAS exposure from biosolids in long-awaited report

Farmers could be at risk due to the chemicals leaching into food and water, the agency said in its draft risk assessment, which is now open for comment. EPA noted plans to focus enforcement upstream on industrial sources like landfills.

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 15, 2025

4 finalists vying for Connecticut compost project

WeCare-Denali, Blue Earth Compost, Black Earth Compost and CWPM were among the bidders. The project is envisioned as a hybrid system using both aerated static pile and windrow systems. 

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 14, 2025

DOE doles out $6.9M for organic waste-to-biofuels projects

Nine projects funded through the program are expected to process food waste, dairy manure or products of municipal wastewater treatment plants into transportation fuels.

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 10, 2025

5 issues likely to shape the waste and recycling industry in 2025

Plans for the second Trump administration, state EPR implementation, climate policy and PFAS regulation are evolving, as is landfill monitoring technology. Here’s how each could affect the industry in 2025.

By Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Jan. 9, 2025

New waste, recycling and organics laws have taken effect in 2025

Oregon, Washington and Illinois are among the states enforcing new laws, including right-to-repair and organics disposal updates.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 2, 2025

By the numbers: 2024 waste and recycling trends

Reflect on the year through key data points about labor, the economy, M&A, federal and state policy, recycling trends and more.

By Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren , Jacob Wallace • Dec. 20, 2024

EPA to grant millions to local waste resilience projects

The U.S. EPA announced recipients of a fresh wave of funding through the Community Change Grants Program, several of which plan to expand compost and recycling services.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 18, 2024

Federal budget proposal with $136M in recycling and composting bills stalls

The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act and Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act were initially part of a deal to fund the federal government, but that plan has been scrapped.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Dec. 20, 2024

Vanguard Renewables names new CEO as owner BlackRock looks for growth

The anaerobic digestion company’s former CEO, who held the role since before Vanguard was purchased by a division of BlackRock Real Assets, has departed, the company confirmed.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 17, 2024

Denver airport’s diversion pilot program tackles waste through ‘valet’ service

The Zero Waste Valet program, run by compost company Scraps, aims to raise the airport's diversion rate. It diverted more than 69 tons of material in the first six months.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 17, 2024

US Composting Council executive director to step down

Frank Franciosi announced he will leave his position next year, and will be succeeded by the organization’s deputy director, Linda Norris-Waldt.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 16, 2024

WM buys Fulcrum BioEnergy site in Nevada via bankruptcy process

A judge recently approved WM’s purchase of a feedstock processing facility adjacent to one of the company’s landfills. Fulcrum’s biorefinery, which sought to convert waste to fuel, went to a different company.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 12, 2024

Nexus W2V receives backing to begin first RNG facility outside Chicago

The company first announced plans for growth after an outside investment last year. Now, it hopes its Kingsbury Bioenergy Complex can be the first in a series of “waste-to-value” facilities.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 10, 2024

BP CEO bullish on record RNG pace, plus news from DTE and Waste Connections

Major developers of renewable natural gas projects provided updates on their facility construction progress during last month’s earnings calls. Others, like DTE Vantage, announced project completions.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 2, 2024

Organics haulers and recyclers look to standardize as they eye growth

With private capital flowing to organics management, more companies seek to standardize and repeat their success across markets, executives from Agromin, Divert and more said at the Corporate Growth Conference.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 27, 2024

US joins international agreement at COP29 to lower methane from organic waste

A new declaration signed by 30 countries builds on existing global methane commitments. They pledged to develop measures to address organic waste as part of their climate action plans, which they will update next year.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 26, 2024

Trade groups urge US House to pass recycling infrastructure, data bills

A broad coalition of organizations are giving a final push to the bills as one of the lead co-sponsors, Sen. Tom Carper, prepares to retire. Both bills have already passed the Senate.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 20, 2024

California opts to preserve credits for anaerobic digesters in major regulatory update

A state regulator voted to amend the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, injecting new life into a lucrative biofuels credit market that is used by waste projects throughout the U.S.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 19, 2024

Anaergia to continue operating Rialto Bioenergy Facility as it reports finances stabilizing

The facility in California was sold at bankruptcy auction earlier this year. The company also confirmed its top executives going forward as it works to turn the page on a turbulent year.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 18, 2024

Boston requests new waste and recycling ideas ahead of 2027 contract expirations

Collection and disposal, waste prevention and recycling, data and analytics, and policy and behavior change are among the topics for which the city wants input. It reupped many existing contracts to buy more time to craft RFPs.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 13, 2024

Veolia takes over operation of Toronto’s organics processing with second digester contract

The Dufferin Organics Processing Facility was launched more than 20 years ago to handle collected materials from Toronto’s green bin organics program. Today it’s one of two facilities serving the city.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 11, 2024