By the numbers: Key 2023 waste and recycling trends

Look back on the year through data points on issues such as labor, M&A, federal funding, state policy and commodity pricing.

By Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Dec. 22, 2023

Los Angeles commercial waste system at a crossroads amid contract renegotiation

The recycLA program has seen positive results, but haulers are lagging on diversion targets and organics service. The city, while trying to amend the program, could issue a new RFP or even take over service itself.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 21, 2023

EPA’s historic year of multi-million-dollar investments in recycling and organics projects

The U.S. EPA announced grants in 2023 meant to boost infrastructure projects, recycling education, environmental justice initiatives and more. 

By Waste Dive Staff • Dec. 20, 2023

U.S. EPA announces draft national food waste prevention strategy at COP28

The strategy cites ongoing commitments to building out organic waste recycling infrastructure, including on-farm anaerobic digestion and decentralized community composting programs.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 6, 2023

New co-presidents to lead Eureka Recycling in Minnesota

Miriam Holsinger and Katie Drews will advance Eureka’s zero-waste mission while fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, the nonprofit recycler announced. Drews is the first woman of color in the role.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 30, 2023

Synagro acquires Massachusetts-based biosolids processor with 5 facilities

The deal increases Synagro’s reach in the biosolids world, where it managed 6.5 million tons of material last year. It’s one of the company’s largest-ever acquisitions.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 29, 2023

EPA announces $2B in environmental justice grants, including for waste projects

The Community Challenge Grants program, which is accepting applications for the next year, has multiple categories that could offer funding for composting, recycling, household hazardous waste management and other initiatives.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 22, 2023

Proposed NYC budget cuts ‘devastating’ for community composters

Cuts to the New York City Sanitation Department could lead to dozens of layoffs, the closure of several mid-sized community composting facilities and the delayed rollout of curbside organics service in two boroughs.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 22, 2023

Recyclers urge collaboration with brands, end of ‘Franken-plastics’ to boost circularity

Speakers from LRS, Myplas, P&G, PMMI, Rumpke and more connected at the Packaging Recycling Summit to hash out ways to improve recycling and product recyclability as “really, really rapid” packaging changes occur.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 15, 2023

Austin, Texas, releases zero waste plan as population booms

The city’s goal of achieving a 90% diversion rate by 2040 remains ambitious, but Austin Resource Recovery is planning new infrastructure and expanded collections to help bridge the gap.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 10, 2023

WM’s chief sustainability officer on the future of recycling

Tara Hemmer sees WM’s recycling investments as key to its overall sustainability strategy. Technology will allow WM to respond to customers’ changing sustainability needs in coming years, she said.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 10, 2023

California projects emphasize zero waste equity by keeping marginalized groups at the center

An equitable zero waste future means partnering with businesses, unhoused people, waste workers and grassroots groups, speakers from San Francisco and Los Angeles said at the National Zero Waste Conference. 

By Megan Quinn • Updated Nov. 6, 2023

EPA’s ‘supercharged’ pollution prevention grants aim to bolster zero waste initiatives

EPA official Jennie Romer discussed the chemicals office’s efforts to boost local zero waste programs during a webinar at the National Zero Waste Conference.

By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 30, 2023

Plan for these upcoming waste and recycling conferences

The National Zero Waste Conference is one of the next events on the calendar. Other upcoming events in 2024 will cover recycling, e-waste, MRF innovations, biogas, thermal conversion and more.

By Megan Quinn • Updated Sept. 18, 2024

Massachusetts awards $5M for recycling programs, with environmental justice focus

Priorities included pay-as-you-throw, curbside organics, textiles, mattresses and more. The annual grants come as MassDEP’s commissioner previewed plans to hire new staff through an “unprecedented” level of state funding.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 2, 2023

With a $4M EPA grant, Baltimore looks to chart a fresh course on organics

The city's organics infrastructure is getting a jolt from the new funding. Composting advocates hope broader changes laid out in the city’s draft waste plan will follow.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 26, 2023

Local governments share lessons on new curbside organics collection programs

Local governments that have recently launched curbside organics collection programs in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. say communication with residents and vendors can help smooth out early-stage kinks.

By Megan Quinn • Sept. 25, 2023

Waste reduction projects could tap into $4.6B in EPA, USDA climate grants

The EPA’s massive Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program is making funding available for waste-related projects. The USDA also announced that new money is available for food waste reduction.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 22, 2023

New Austin Resource Recovery director named as city implements $4M EPA reuse grant

Richard McHale has more than 30 years of experience with the agency. He has also led the Texas SWANA chapter and the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Municipal Waste Management Association.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 20, 2023

Divert breaks ground on anaerobic digestion facility driven by Washington’s organics management law

The Longview facility is one of the first projects to address the law, which set organics diversion and collection requirements when it passed last year.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 7, 2023

D.C. set to launch curbside composting pilot program in September

The pilot program aims to make composting more convenient for Washington, D.C., residents and help the city meet its 80% by 2032 diversion goal.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 31, 2023

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

Wastequip touts recycled Toter cart, safety and diversity in first ESG report

The company has been working to align its goals through a corporate responsibility program since 2020. The report reveals the carbon intensity of certain products and progress in using recycled resins in Toter products.

By Jacob Wallace • July 20, 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

‘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