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

EPA says it has no obligation to regulate PFAS in biosolids in federal lawsuit

The agency filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by farmers in Texas who allege they’ve been harmed by PFAS contamination from the spreading of sewage sludge, or biosolids, on agricultural land.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 16, 2024

Judge approves agreement limiting PFAS pollution from GFL landfill in North Carolina

The consent decree between GFL Environmental and the Southern Environmental Law Center, first released in August, will address PFAS contamination, odors and other issues at the facility.

By Jacob Wallace • Updated Dec. 10, 2024

California Gov. Newsom signs textile EPR bill into law; vetoes and signs other recycling bills

Newsom also signed laws updating PaintCare, carpet stewardship and organics procurement programs. He vetoed bills related to marine flares and vehicle traction battery management.

By Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Updated Sept. 30, 2024

4 landfill stories to follow this summer

WM won a court victory in New York, and a new county landfill got approved in Florida. Meanwhile, federal lawmakers are scrutinizing a Republic site in Oregon, and a recent study examined PFAS levels in landfill gas.

By Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn • Aug. 8, 2024

ReMA urges federal court to review EPA’s PFAS hazardous substance designation

ReMA’s petition challenging the CERCLA hazardous substance designation for certain PFAS follows a similar petition from NWRA. Recycling and waste industry groups worry about unintended consequences from the rule.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 1, 2024

Waste companies announce more PFAS projects in July

A federal appeals court dismissed Chemours’ lawsuit against the EPA related to a PFAS advisory, while Waste Connections, Montrose Environmental and Crystal Clean all announced notable PFAS mitigation projects.

By Megan Quinn • Updated July 31, 2024

Dueling farm bills address anaerobic digestion, composting, PFAS

The House and Senate versions of the farm bill, which remain far from reconciliation, contain changes to programs that have benefited the organic waste industry along with other food waste reduction measures.

By Jacob Wallace • July 16, 2024

NWRA and others challenge EPA’s PFAS hazardous substance designation in federal court

The National Waste & Recycling Association wants the court to consider multiple aspects of the EPA’s decision to classify certain PFAS as hazardous under Superfund regulations. Environmental groups are pushing back.

By Megan Quinn • July 15, 2024

Superfund enforcement of PFAS started Monday. Where does waste and recycling go from here?

The regulation exposes certain parties to liability for cleanup of contamination from certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. While the EPA has said some disposal facilities won’t be targeted, concerns about cost remain.

By Jacob Wallace • July 8, 2024

Enviri outlines long-term plans for ‘complete suite’ of PFAS services, rail divestment

During an investor day event, Enviri touted plans to offer a broad range of PFAS services as part of its move to become a full-service environmental remediation company and potentially hit $2.7 billion in revenue by 2027.

By Megan Quinn • June 25, 2024

Water treatment company Ovivo expands PFAS treatment, destruction offerings

Ovivo’s licensing deal with Evocra allows the company to offer a foam fractionation technology on top of existing destruction services. EPA regulations have spurred mitigation companies to broaden their PFAS offerings.

By Megan Quinn • June 12, 2024

Hazardous waste incinerators see PFAS disposal opportunity, emissions questions remain

The U.S. EPA’s latest destruction and disposal guidance provides updated data on incineration's effectiveness, while noting the need for more research about the products of incomplete combustion.

By April Reese • June 5, 2024

Leachate disposal in a PFAS-filled world

Leachate disposal has always been challenging for waste facilities, but PFAS has significantly complicated the process. Explore  how landfill operators can manage PFAS in leachate, navigate new regulatory challenges and implement innovative treatment methods to protect drinking water and the environment.

By Leanne Hersey • June 3, 2024

Long-awaited PFAS regulations renew strategy discussions at WasteExpo

Recent EPA announcements and rapidly evolving mitigation technologies led to many conversations about how the waste industry should invest in, manage and research these forever chemicals. 

By Megan Quinn • May 20, 2024

Casella president outlines growth plans for mid-Atlantic and other priorities

Ned Coletta, roughly six months into his role as president, is working on multiple aspects of the company’s strategy. He recently shared updates on disposal capacity, PFAS treatment, RNG projects, training and more.

By Megan Quinn • May 16, 2024