Leading plastics reduction lawyer sees single-use policies as 'gateway' to bigger change

Jennie Romer – a key player in creating plastics policies from coast to coast – talks about her new book "Can I Recycle This?" and why she's now looking to take on the whole recycling system.

By Cole Rosengren • May 19, 2021

Florida recyclers take a 'back to basics' approach to public education

To achieve Florida's 75% recycling rate goal, clear, consistent messaging to residents must be part of the effort, speakers at a Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation event said.

By Megan Quinn • May 19, 2021

Roundup: New York City clears legislative hurdle on plastics reduction

The city council passed a bill meant to limit use of straws, a potential sign of growing acceptance for plastics reduction policies. Elsewhere, an American Biogas Council event spurred discussion of codigestion.

By Cole Rosengren , Maria Rachal • May 14, 2021

Boston expanding textile and organics recycling as it ramps up zero waste plan

Efforts to hit an 80% recycling rate by 2035 were delayed in part by the pandemic, but moves to expand drop-off programs show new momentum. Curbside organics collection remains an unresolved priority.

By Cole Rosengren • May 13, 2021

Roundup: Food waste back in the spotlight

This year’s Stop Food Waste Day drew attention from national and local leaders fighting hunger and climate change. Plus, new data on waste diversion in Colorado, and recycling initiatives launching in Houston and Milwaukee.

By Maria Rachal • April 30, 2021

Roundup: Stimulus funding for city waste initiatives, DC and NY inch toward zero waste goals

The week of Earth Day saw news on zero waste plan reassessments, organics program expansions, reuse pilots and more. Catch up on updates from New York, Los Angeles, Washington, Boston and other cities around the country.

By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • April 23, 2021

New York to revive curbside organics service amid criticism of lagging zero waste progress

The Department of Sanitation announced the return of multiple programs affected by pandemic budget cuts, following a council hearing about codifying the city's 2030 goal, but critics say more action is needed.

By Cole Rosengren • April 22, 2021

Washington governor signs minimum recycled content bill

Washington will become the second state to set requirements for the makeup of plastic beverage containers and trash bags. It will also become the latest state to pass a ban on expanded polystyrene containers this year.

By Megan Quinn • Updated May 18, 2021

Roundup: Recology corruption charges mount in SF, NYC's waste neighbors propose a change

A second former Recology employee is charged in the ongoing corruption investigation, communities receiving New York City's waste push back, certification organizations seek additional city partners, and more local news.

By Cole Rosengren , Maria Rachal • April 16, 2021

New York City's waste future could be shaped by the closure of an island jail

Closing Rikers Island as a jail offers an opportunity to change aspects of New York's waste management infrastructure and potentially rethink expanding the city's role in overseeing it, former DSNY official Robert Lange writes.

By Robert Lange • April 15, 2021

Maryland governor allows organics diversion mandate to become law

The policy is set to take effect for large generators in 2023, after years of attempts. Proponents hope it will spur development of new regional composting and anaerobic digestion infrastructure.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated June 1, 2021

Plastics Recycling Conference debates aspirational recycling goals as deadlines approach

Numerous organizations, companies and governments have pledged to meet recycling-related goals by as early as 2025. Panelists discussed what could help achieve these targets, despite skepticism.

By Megan Quinn • April 14, 2021

Maine legislature passes landmark packaging EPR bill

The northern state could be the first to enact some form of product stewardship for packaging, pending final steps and approval by the governor. This comes after a high-profile New York proposal failed to gain traction.

By Megan Quinn • Updated June 18, 2021

Roundup: Local governments continue to fight illegal dumping, adapt curbside recycling

Catch up on the latest local waste and recycling headlines from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and numerous other municipalities around the country.

By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • April 9, 2021

Ron Gonen on 'waste profiteers,' transforming the recycling industry and getting serious about ESG

The Closed Loop Partners CEO and author of new book "The Waste-Free World" shares his views on how CPG companies, service providers, local governments and consumers must adapt to build a more circular economy.

By Cole Rosengren • April 8, 2021

NERC conference explores EPR, refillable bottle and circular economy possibilities

Panelists at the Northeast Recycling Council's spring conference covered how lessons learned from Canada and Europe could help improve U.S. recycling systems while also debating the merits of chemical recycling.

By Megan Quinn • April 7, 2021

Washington, DC, zero waste bill is now law, though funding remains uncertain

The legislation – with big organics diversion implications for businesses, among other categories – was adjusted to take into account ongoing recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

By Maria Rachal • April 5, 2021

Roundup: Biden infrastructure plan light on waste details, report highlights recycling data gap

The sector reacts to the president's $2 trillion proposal, Eunomia digs into state recycling performance, organics pilots are on the rise, New York City is tackling litter and more local stories from around the country

By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • April 1, 2021

Go big or go home on national recycling policy

The recently reintroduced RECYCLE Act is a distraction from the systemic changes offered by the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, writes the Alliance of Mission-Based Recyclers' Kate Bailey.

By Kate Bailey • March 31, 2021

Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act reintroduced, plastics industry ramps up opposition

The bill would ban some single-use plastic products, set recycled content requirements and enact a national EPR program. Opponents criticize the bill's efforts to suspend permitting for plastic production facilities.

By Megan Quinn • March 25, 2021

Contested California packaging bills stalled, other recycling bills survive

SB 54, a bill requiring single-use packaging to be recyclable or compostable by 2032, has stalled for the third year in a row. Meanwhile, bills on labeling, recycled content, exporting and container deposits are still in play.

By Megan Quinn • Updated June 9, 2021

CLEAN Future Act leads possible string of bills linking recycling issues to climate efforts

One of several bills expected to tackle waste issues this year drew mixed reactions from industry leaders. Highlights include zero waste grants, a proposed national bottle bill, and a call to pause permitting for plastics manufacturing facilities.

By Megan Quinn • March 8, 2021

Recology agrees to San Francisco rate settlement worth more than $107M, as competitors circle

The city attorney's office reached the deal while pursuing a broader public corruption investigation. Now, Waste Management, Republic Services and others see a window to revisit the company's local monopoly.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated March 5, 2021

Virginia governor signs advanced recycling bill into law

It is the tenth state to classify advanced recycling, sometimes called chemical recycling, as a manufacturing process instead of a waste management technique. This follows approval of a ban on foam foodservice containers.

By Megan Quinn • Updated March 31, 2021

2021 could be year for packaging EPR, nearly a dozen state bills in play

Lawmakers throughout the U.S. are increasingly interested in shifting more of recycling's financial implications to packaging manufacturers, with many taking a coordinated approach.

By Megan Quinn • Updated Feb. 12, 2021