New Mexico governor signs 2 laws banning PFAS

The newly signed laws ban PFAS in most products and designate PFAS-containing firefighting foam as a hazardous waste, a move to more tightly regulate PFAS cleanups in the state.

By Megan Quinn • April 9, 2025

Fort Worth, Texas, ends Synagro’s biosolids contract early

The city council voted to terminate their 10-year contract with Synagro early and will take over a biosolids drying facility. The decision comes amid questions over PFAS contamination and responsibility in the region.

By Jacob Wallace • March 27, 2025

Synagro seeks to dismiss lawsuit over PFAS in its biosolids, citing new research

The company, backed by a Goldman Sachs fund, argues its treated sludge from the Fort Worth, Texas, wastewater system could not have caused harmful contamination on farmland.

By Jacob Wallace • March 19, 2025

EPA revisiting dozens of climate, environment rules in ‘day of deregulation’

The agency said it would roll back a range of rules and programs, including some that are foundational to its climate change work. A new WOTUS definition is expected, as well as rollbacks to an emissions reporting program.

By Jacob Wallace • March 12, 2025

Enviri changes board, amends credit facilities as steel prices slump

The company is working to complete unfavorable rail contracts and expects its finances to improve in 2025. Executives plan to offset impacts from a weak steel market with continued growth in Clean Earth.

By Jacob Wallace • Feb. 21, 2025

Clean Harbors plots growth from incinerator opening, PFAS in 2025

The company noted strong growth in its environmental services sector and highlighted the opening of its incinerator in Kimball, Nebraska, but experienced headwinds in its Safety-Kleen sector.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 19, 2025

8 Trump actions that could affect waste and recycling

Trump administration executive orders have called for numerous changes related to climate change initiatives, greenhouse gas research, grant funding and potential tariffs.  

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 24, 2025

Groups urge New York DEC to require on-site landfill leachate treatment

Toxic pollutants like PFOA and PFOS are being released into drinking water through the practice of shipping leachate for disposal in wastewater treatment plants ill-equipped to handle the contamination, they say.

By Jacob Wallace • 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 nominee Zeldin advances out of committee for final confirmation vote

During a prior confirmation hearing, Lee Zeldin highlighted his plan to balance environmental and economic concerns. He also addressed PFAS passive receiver issues and plastics.

By Megan Quinn • Updated Jan. 23, 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

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

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

Crystal Clean ‘all in’ on PFAS remediation services amid shifting regulatory landscape

Crystal Clean’s Darci Ackerman said the company is expanding its PFAS remediation services, researching new options for treatment and calling for more research into soil remediation and other PFAS science. 

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 10, 2024

PFAS opportunities coming as Trump enters office, waste executives say

Executives from WM and Clean Harbors said the incoming Trump administration could roll back the EPA’s hazardous substance designation for PFAS, but they expect continued business opportunities with the material.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 25, 2024

Waste Connections’ Chiquita Canyon landfill under pressure; expansion updates for Casella, WM

Current or proposed landfills in California, Hawai’i, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Missouri and New Hampshire had recent news. Plus, a Minnesota site opened a unique geothermal-lined cell to power a leachate treatment plant.

By Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Nov. 22, 2024

3 takeaways from the US EPA’s latest PFAS progress report

The year’s major regulatory updates and plans for possible future rulemaking are among the highlights of the agency’s annual progress report.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 21, 2024

Leachate evaporation for assured PFAS separation and concentration

Heartland has been evaluating and assessing adiabatic evaporation technology as a viable and effective treatment method for the separation and concentration of PFAS.

By Michael Ditton and Travis Smith, PE • Nov. 11, 2024

Biosolids and PFAS questions are rippling to other states after Maine’s land application ban

The U.S. EPA has yet to offer guidance on how to address forever chemicals in the organic material from wastewater treatment facilities. States around the country are implementing their own policies to fill the gap.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 4, 2024

Clean Harbors idles California oil re-refinery, plans to open Nebraska incinerator soon

Executives touted strength in other parts of the business, due in part to recent acquisitions, despite near-term oil and industrial market softness. 

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 30, 2024

USDA convenes stakeholders to tackle PFAS contamination from biosolids

Suggested long-term solutions include finding new ways to detect contamination and developing tools to stop "forever chemicals" before they cause harm to soil.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Oct. 29, 2024

How the 2024 election could affect waste and recycling policy

The presidential nominees have different takes on environmental and regulatory policies that could affect the industry, including those addressing emissions, recycling, PFAS, labor and environmental justice.

By Megan Quinn , Jacob Wallace , Cole Rosengren • Oct. 22, 2024

With BeyondPFAS, Veolia launches ‘comprehensive’ PFAS management services

The suite of consulting, treatment and disposal options and other bespoke services are an expansion of Veolia's PFAS service segment.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 22, 2024

NASA’s new space odyssey: Tackling waste in space

The LunaRecycle challenge offers $3 million for projects that can successfully recycle materials on the surface of the moon. The agency hopes projects will also help to advance recycling on Earth.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 15, 2024

Veolia North America sets baseline GHG emissions, touts PFAS work

The French company released a global sustainability report and companion data for North America. It recently had its decarbonization targets verified by the Science-Based Targets initiative and set an emissions reduction road map.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 19, 2024