Zero Waste: Page 4

New York City Council outlines big plans for curbside organics, textiles and EPR

A new agenda calls for the expansion of curbside residential organics collection citywide, along with more than a dozen other policies, to accelerate progress toward "zero waste" by 2030. Mention of a "save-as-you-throw" program is notably absent.

By Cole Rosengren • March 16, 2020

Ambrosia, organics recycler behind food waste-based cleaning product, eyes expansion

The company is still scaling up plans for more processing capacity, but its CEO also now sees potential for a new business line. The concept could gain traction amid rising consumer awareness of food waste, experts say.

By Cole Rosengren • March 10, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Trendline

The Waste Dive Outlook on 2021

Entering a second year of operating during a pandemic, the waste and recycling industry is poised to see further corporate traction on ESG goals, tech upgrades and M&A activity, as well as key policy developments from the Biden administration.

By Waste Dive staff

Baltimore council members back goal of 'zero waste' by 2040 amid incinerator litigation

Activists pushing for the closure of Wheelabrator Baltimore are calling for a dramatic turn toward waste reduction and diversion. A majority of council members introduced a resolution Monday in support of that plan.

By E.A. Crunden • UPDATED: March 10, 2020 at 10:24 a.m.

House lawmakers debate regulatory role of federal government in plastics and recycling

In a Wednesday hearing, lawmakers formed stances along partisan lines over several pieces of federal recycling legislation. Republicans took a hard line against plastics bans and seemed to scrutinize shifting oversight to the federal government.

By E.A. Crunden • March 05, 2020

Gov Inslee signs Washington single-use bag ban, vetoes PCR requirements

Plastics were a prominent focus for state lawmakers this session. While Washington will join a growing list of states by banning bags, it will not pursue recycled content requirements due to fiscal concerns.

By E.A. Crunden • UPDATED: April 6, 2020 at 8:20 a.m.

Waste Management's Tara Hemmer says industry needs to be more proactive on climate issues

Speaking at the Global Waste Management Symposium, the senior vice president emphasized a need to be more proactive around emerging topics such as plastics and the Green New Deal.

By E.A. Crunden • Feb. 26, 2020

NextGen Cup Challenge, driven by McDonald's and Starbucks, rolls out reusable cup pilot in California

The programs — set to debut at independent coffee shops around San Francisco and Palo Alto — could pave the way for major chains to eventually make the switch as they seek to meet their environmental goals. 

By E.A. Crunden • Feb. 20, 2020

Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act debuts in Congress, instigating packaging EPR debate

The bill would also establish a national container deposit system, ban single-use plastic products and set recycled content requirements. Staunch opposition is expected from some recycling and plastics trade groups.

By E.A. Crunden • Feb. 11, 2020

National EPR campaign kicks off with anti-plastic film screening, activist support

Rep. Alan Lowenthal, sponsor of the upcoming Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, rallied activists around the bill at a Washington event. The film teases out likely divides between industry and advocacy groups.

By E.A. Crunden • Feb. 10, 2020

Tracking the future of US recycling policy in Congress

The CLEAN Future Act, which aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050, proposes numerous recycling and waste-related initiatives such as a national bottle bill, EPR task force and zero-waste grants.

By Nami Sumida • UPDATED: March 3, 2021 at 10:31 a.m.

Deep Dive

2020 could be the year of legislative boom – or bust – for national recycling policy

An influx of legislation in Congress aims to tackle problems facing the recycling industry amid rising public attention. The bills range widely in their industry backers and odds of success.

By E.A. Crunden • Jan. 29, 2020

Starbucks ramps up waste reduction goals, focusing on reusable and recyclable cups

The coffee giant's "resource positive" goals seek 50% reduction in waste sent to landfills by 2030. Its emphasis on changing cup design for recyclability, as opposed to compostables, differs from some competitors.

By E.A. Crunden • Jan. 24, 2020

California plastics tax ballot initiative on track for 2022 following court ruling

Recology, a key backer of the proposal, successfully petitioned for an extension of the signature gathering process due to recent pandemic disruptions.

By Cole Rosengren • UPDATED: July 6, 2020 at 1:51 p.m.

Opinion

If you're not recycling glass are you really recycling?

As more municipalities drop glass over financial pressure, processors maintain the market is viable. Neil Seldman of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance argues glass is still essential.

By Neil Seldman • UPDATED: Jan. 17, 2020 at 8:46 a.m.

DC weighs new expanded polystyrene ban amid national focus on plastics

The District of Columbia is part of a growing trend of local and state governments embracing increasingly bold measures to curb pollution and address environmental concerns. 

By E.A. Crunden • Jan. 08, 2020

Deep Dive

7 pressing questions for the waste and recycling industry in 2020

The year is shaping up to be a major one for the industry's future. We'll be digging into safety, corporate consolidation, climate commitments, recycling policy, organics, PFAS, politics and more.

By Cole Rosengren , E.A. Crunden • Jan. 06, 2020

Denver mayor signs plastic and paper bag fee into law

The Denver City Council pursued a fee due to a state preemption law on product bans. The Colorado city is the latest in a wave of local governments to pass or enact bag policies throughout the country.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 06, 2020

Deep Dive

Can Loop disrupt society's packaging habit? Inside TerraCycle's grand experiment

The reusable shopping platform, which launched with big hype and is now eyeing retail, has already raised one key question in its early days: What are the true costs of convenience?

By Karine Vann • UPDATED: Dec. 23, 2019 at 9:17 a.m.

Climate change becomes widely recognized corporate factor for waste and recycling

While many of the largest companies have been releasing sustainability reports for years, 2019 marked a potential turning point in the level of detail and acknowledgment for this looming issue.

Philadelphia's first 'Pitch & Pilot' seeks tech to reduce waste

The initiative is part of a strategy to improve government services with private sector partnerships and community engagement, rather than a top-down approach. 

By Jason Plautz • Dec. 17, 2019

Blue Bottle, aiming for 'zero waste' in 2020, could eliminate to-go coffee cups

The upscale coffee chain's goals mirror a larger shift as more and more companies target their waste footprints. The cup pilot will begin in two California locations.

By E.A. Crunden • Dec. 13, 2019

Dive Awards

Climate Solution of the Year: California's SB 1383

The Golden State's plan to curb waste could have implications for the whole country as it offers sweeping opportunities for infrastructure expansion while combating climate change. 

By E.A. Crunden • Dec. 09, 2019

Dive Awards

Disruptor of the Year: New York City Council

The council's Oct. 30 vote to pass a commercial waste zone system was among the most consequential legislative moves for any local market this year – and that was the point.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 09, 2019

Philadelphia reports 50% diversion rate, ongoing 'zero waste' progress

Despite high-profile recycling issues earlier this year, the city says its plans are still on track. Waste reduction and organics recycling are among the top priorities moving forward.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 25, 2019

Q&A

Adam Minter on why secondhand markets are the true circular economies

Waste Dive spoke with the "Junkyard Planet" author about what the waste industry can learn from the reuse sector, textile recycling trends and misconceptions about e-waste he discovered writing the new book "Secondhand."

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 12, 2019