Survey finds more composters are accepting food waste, but challenges remain

While the number of composters accepting food waste continues to grow, more than a third have a zero tolerance policy for contamination. Compostable packaging, meanwhile, is becoming more commonly accepted.

By Jacob Wallace • Aug. 7, 2023

New York expands commercial containerization requirements as part of anti-rat push

The city’s Department of Sanitation enacted its latest rule this week requiring commercial food establishments to handle waste differently. The move may have operational benefits for haulers, but it poses logistical questions.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 1, 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

Republic expects higher revenues amid plans for polymer centers, environmental solutions growth

Republic Services’ leaders shared new details about its polymer centers and continued integration of US Ecology, but noted it may have found the ceiling for price increases in certain markets.

By Jacob Wallace • Aug. 1, 2023

Minnesota looks to reduce Twin Cities’ waste fast as disposal capacity tightens

A proposed 20-year plan for the metro area places an emphasis on strategies to reduce waste at its source and would require local governments to make numerous changes in collection programs and other policies.

By Jacob Wallace • July 13, 2023

Denali gets $18M contract renewal to operate 3 New York composting facilities

An affiliate company owned by Denali has been operating facilities for the city’s Department of Sanitation since at least 2015. The largest, in Staten Island, is expected to complete major upgrades soon.

By Jacob Wallace • July 12, 2023

Consumers don’t understand ‘compostable’ messaging on packaging, survey finds

Lack of consumer clarity with terms like “biodegradable” and “made from plants” can result in materials entering the wrong disposal stream, according to a report from BPI and Closed Loop Partners’ Composting Consortium.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 12, 2023

‘Waste-to-value’ development firm Nexus PMG targets biochar, energy following $50M infusion

Nexus PMG has raised its first major growth equity round from institutional backers. The funding will help grow its advisory business as well as subsidiaries Nexus W2V and Pathway Energy. 

By Jacob Wallace • July 11, 2023

New York City zero waste package, including mandatory residential organics program, becomes law

The city’s Department of Sanitation, which was already ramping up a voluntary curbside organics program, must now enforce participation in 2024 after Mayor Eric Adams allowed a bill to become law without his signature.

By Jacob Wallace • Updated July 11, 2023

Former Fiberight facility in Maine to restart in deal with private equity-backed group

Innovative Resource Recovery would jointly own and operate the closed mixed-waste facility with a group of 115 communities.

By Jacob Wallace • July 7, 2023

How the waste industry prepared for and reacted to the EPA’s 2023 Renewable Fuel Standard update

The agency’s final rules to generate renewable energy credits from certain systems are seen as a benefit for anaerobic digesters and certain landfill projects. Catch up on coverage of key developments.

June 29, 2023

ReFED leader calls for food waste reduction pilots to be scaled up to meet ambitious 2030 goals

Executive Director Dana Gunders said during the nonprofit’s recent conference that stakeholders in the public and private sector need to move beyond pilots and begin scaling up solutions to address food waste and loss.

By Jacob Wallace • June 29, 2023

Bill pausing permits for new landfills moves forward in New Hampshire

If passed, the state will pause siting new landfills for two years and will hire a consultant to review its rules on setbacks near bodies of water. A separate food waste bill, passed in the state budget, also aims to divert organics.

By Megan Quinn • June 27, 2023

Tweak in EPA’s renewable fuels program could ‘transform food waste recycling,’ biogas experts say

The apportionment of two kinds of RIN credits will now allow wastewater treatment plants to accept and codigest food waste without taking a financial hit. Farm-based digesters that rely on manure also benefit from the change.

By Jacob Wallace • June 23, 2023

EPA releases final Renewable Fuel Standard rule without proposed credit market for EV fueling

The new rule was published without the lucrative but controversial eRIN program. But the EPA proposed better credits for RNG, something biogas industry advocates had called for.

By Jacob Wallace • June 21, 2023

Anaergia announces new CEO to succeed founder

Brett Hodson, previously president and CEO of Corix Infrastructure, will take over the top role at the anaerobic digestion and RNG company. This move follows the recent announcement of a new CFO.

By Cole Rosengren • June 21, 2023

New York leaders see a role for composting and codigestion as the city scales up organics recycling

Community composters are pushing for a continued role following the passage of a suite of bills targeting organics as the city also looks to scale up codigestion capacity at wastewater treatment plants.

By Jacob Wallace • Updated June 16, 2023

Vanguard Renewables strikes largest open market RNG deal yet with AstraZeneca

Vanguard executives and RNG proponents hope the 15-year deal is joined by others as corporations look for solutions for hard-to-decarbonize processes.

By Jacob Wallace • June 14, 2023

New York City Council passes major zero waste package, including mandatory organics program

The five-bill package passed with high levels of support and is expected to become law. The bills also include requirements around recycling drop-off centers and waste diversion reporting.

By Cole Rosengren • June 9, 2023

Contentious Connecticut waste and recycling bill heads to governor’s desk, without EPR

Legislators cut packaging EPR details from a sweeping bill that includes requirements for recycled content and organics diversion, as well as initial plans for new in-state processing capacity.

By Megan Quinn • June 8, 2023

Clean Energy Technologies, newly public, is working to scale pyrolysis in the United States

Kam Mahdi, the CEO of Clean Energy Technologies, talks about his company’s modular pyrolysis system and its first demonstration project in Vermont.

By Jacob Wallace • June 2, 2023

Colorado governor approves pair of bills to improve compost feedstocks

One new law would require certification of compostable products, and the other would direct a state agency to develop a study on implementing organics diversion requirements.

By Jacob Wallace • June 1, 2023

Biogas industry leaders advocate for standardization, facilities streamlining for long-term growth

The CEOs of Vanguard Renewables and Nature Energy said during the recent Biogas Americas conference that the industry could be poised for a large role in the future U.S. renewable energy mix if it can hone the business model.

By Jacob Wallace • May 30, 2023

Anaergia’s Rialto Bioenergy Facility files for bankruptcy, citing California organics implementation delays

Anaergia hopes to buy time to gain better access to feedstock and ramp up its largest facility. It cites ongoing delays associated with SB 1383 and Los Angeles commercial organics recycling enforcement.

By Jacob Wallace • May 25, 2023

Minnesota governor signs bills with statewide waste reduction goal, right-to-repair law for electronics

A sweeping state budget bill contains a new waste reduction goal of 90% by 2045. A detailed report explaining how to get there is due in 2024.

By Megan Quinn • Updated May 24, 2023

California commission recommends a pause on SB 1383 organics law, industry disagrees

The Little Hoover Commission, a bipartisan group appointed by state officials, found that California is “poised to miss” its 2025 organic waste reduction targets. Companies such as Republic Services said it’s too late to turn back.

By Cole Rosengren • May 24, 2023