Boston casts wide net for organics options, including in-sink

The city's first move on its "zero waste" plan indicates large-scale ambitions. Two new RFPs for curbside food and textile collection also serve as a reminder of current budget constraints.

By Cole Rosengren • July 9, 2019

Oregon governor signs laws banning plastic bags, straws

Legislation signed by Gov. Kate Brown is the latest in a series of statewide plastic reduction measures to pass this year.

By Cole Rosengren • July 8, 2019

Off the Route: Von Hernandez on 'turning the tide' of plastic pollution

Hernandez spoke to Waste Dive about his career as a waste and toxics campaigner, waste dumping in Southeast Asia and the path toward creating mass systemic change around plastics.

By Rina Li • July 3, 2019

Scrap Collector: Environmentalists criticize 'narrow' scope of G20 marine plastics goal

Plus: Pacific Island nation to enact world's first disposable diaper ban, and waste giant Biffa convicted of exporting household trash to China.

By Rina Li • Updated July 2, 2019

San Diego approves new recycling contracts, keeps foam recycling

The San Diego Environmental Services Department reversed an initial recommendation to cut EPS foam from the city's curbside program earlier this week ahead of a broader vote on new recycling contracts.

By Rina Li • June 27, 2019

Boston finally reaches recycling deal with Casella

Covanta and Wheelabrator will also retain residential waste contracts. Both deals may be regional bellwethers of higher prices to come.

By Cole Rosengren • June 24, 2019

Boston aims for 80% recycling rate by 2035, plans organics pilot

A new "zero waste" plan outlines 30 recommendations involving food waste, textiles, recycling education and more. 

By Cole Rosengren • June 19, 2019

Maine, Vermont governors sign plastic bag bans on same day

This brings the tally of statewide bag bans to four (five, counting Hawaii's county policies), with more anticipated to receive final approval next month.

By Cole Rosengren • June 18, 2019

Delaware governor signs latest plastic bag ban

Delaware becomes the sixth state – following Connecticut, Oregon, New York, Maine and Vermont – to finalize a single-use plastic bag ban this year.

By Cole Rosengren , Rina Li • Updated July 30, 2019

Starbucks, Dunkin' further sustainable cup initiatives

Starbucks will test a reusable cup program in London's Gatwick Airport, while Dunkin' says it's on track to eliminate foam packaging by the end of the year. 

By Lauren Manning • June 11, 2019

Palo Alto, California approves sweeping single-use plastics ban

The city is the first in the Bay Area to ban distribution of plastic produce bags in grocery stores and farmers markets. It also passed a deconstruction ordinance to limit C&D waste.

By Rina Li • June 11, 2019

Southern California city rejects new recycling contract amid market volatility

The proposed agreement with Allan Company would have increased Santa Monica's recycling costs from $25 to $67 per ton — or approximately $1 million annually.

By Rina Li • June 5, 2019

Keurig Dr Pepper commits to 100% recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025

Beyond plastic in packaging, this list of new efforts addresses waste, water and carbon emissions — each of which will likely require some shifts in the supply chains of Keurig Dr Pepper's brands.

By Emma Cosgrove • June 4, 2019

New York franchise bill: 1 company could exclusively win 15 of 20 zones

Much-discussed new legislation outlines a framework to enhance recycling services, labor standards and routing efficiency in the city's commercial waste industry. Now, it's in for a potentially bruising legislative process.

By Cole Rosengren • May 30, 2019

Cincinnati chosen as next 'Beyond 34' city

The city aims to boost its recycling rate by adopting a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation initiative focused on both environmental and economic benefits.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 29, 2019

Letters to the editor: WTE is the true circular solution

Two experts in the WTE field respond to last week's op-ed, "A broken link in the circular economy," with a focus on why landfills shouldn't get a pass in the discussion.

May 24, 2019

Nearly 80% of US incinerators located in marginalized communities, report reveals

New research from the Tishman Environment and Design Center at the New School characterizes incineration as "an industry in decline." WTE stakeholders, however, hold a different opinion.

By Rina Li • May 23, 2019

TerraCycle's Loop expands to 5 new states

The circular packaging concept, described as a grand experiment, kicked off its first U.S. pilot in May. The program is now expanding in the Northeast due to increased demand.

By Emma Cosgrove • Updated July 10, 2019

Whole Foods ditching plastic straws across all stores

The grocer is the first national chain to phase out plastic straws and is also looking at other packaging reduction solutions.

By Lauren Manning • May 21, 2019

Scrap Collector: Plastic's 'hidden' climate impacts revealed

Plus: Six-foot-high pile of unopened Amazon Go meals and groceries discovered in Seattle landfill, and Philippines recalls ambassador to Canada over ongoing illegal waste standoff.

By Rina Li • May 17, 2019

Off the Route: Documentarian Amy C. Elliott on the 'apex of consumerism'

Elliott spoke to Waste Dive about her documentary "Salvage" — starring one of the last publicly accessible town dumps in North America — and our relationship with waste and consumption.

By Rina Li • May 6, 2019

LA Sanitation director's plans to tackle organics and hit 'zero waste' targets

In the second part of a recent Waste Dive interview, Enrique Zaldivar discusses California's transformative SB 1383 regulations, a large curbside organics pilot and extended producer responsibility.

By Cole Rosengren • May 3, 2019

Philadelphia to send all recyclables to Waste Management under new contract

The city had sent about half of its recyclables to a Covanta incinerator for nearly six months after a prior Republic Services contract expired without resolution.

By Katie Pyzyk • April 29, 2019

Report: Global plastic trade's 'staggering' costs in Southeast Asia

Investigative analysis conducted by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives and Greenpeace East Asia explores the repercussions of plastic pollution for countries that have seen post-China import spikes.

By Rina Li • April 23, 2019

Why one California facility gladly processes mixed plastics and MRF residuals

Titus MRF Services has run a prototype of its "secondary MRF" concept in Los Angeles for years and aspires to build a network of facilities along the West Coast.

By Cole Rosengren • April 22, 2019