Canadian city may increase property taxes to help cover recycling program

Thunder Bay is exploring a new solid waste plan that would shift tipping fees away from recycling to fund landfill maintenance.

By Cole Rosengren • June 28, 2016

Newly formed Minnesota Sustainable Growth Coalition sets circular economy goals

25 companies and organizations have formed a public-private partnership to improve the state's waste systems.

By Cole Rosengren • June 28, 2016

Why tackling food waste is a win-win for manufacturers — and 3 ways it's getting done

"Of all of the challenges facing our food system, food waste is one where everybody agrees," said Eric Kessler, founder of Arabella Advisors and senior managing director of its Good Food Practice.

By Carolyn Heneghan • June 27, 2016

Students invent filter that carbonizes Styrofoam waste for water purification

The team of eighth-graders took home the first-place prize in the FIRST Lego League Trash Trek competition. 

By Kristin Musulin • June 24, 2016

Domestic recovery of old corrugated containers reaches record high

The Corrugated Packaging Alliance reported a 92.9% recovery rate for the material in 2015.

By Cole Rosengren • June 24, 2016

Phoenix awards contract to solve its palm frond problem

The city will be partnering with a company that can turn the material into nutritional livestock feed pellets.

By Cole Rosengren • June 24, 2016

IMS Electronics Recycling disputes accusations of exporting e-waste

The nonprofit Basel Action Network (BAN) claims the company was fraudulently exporting its electronic waste to China.

By Cole Rosengren • June 23, 2016

The Ocean Cleanup to deploy prototype barrier for trash-collection testing

The organization aims to build a massive 62-mile barrier in the ocean that would pull in trash to be collected and disposed of properly. 

By Kristin Musulin • June 23, 2016

Industry CEO asks Senate to extend tax credits for biogas

Steve Miller of Bulk Handling Systems testified in favor of extending the credits at a hearing last week.

By Cole Rosengren • June 22, 2016

Dow consults with recyclers to announce new flexible packaging design

The new technology now allows certain types of food pouches to be recycled through store drop-off programs.

By Cole Rosengren • June 22, 2016

New research finds potential for turning plastic waste into fuel

Chemists have identified a way to break down polyethylene, and have tested it on bags, bottles, and film.

By Cole Rosengren • June 22, 2016

Kansas landfill sees odor complaints spike under Waste Management's ownership

Though Waste Management points to a county policy requiring yard waste separation as the issue, according to The Kansas City Star.

By Cole Rosengren • June 22, 2016

Thousands of refrigerators pile up at Canadian landfill after massive fire

As residents return to homes in Fort McMurray that had no power for a month, many refrigerators are full of rotten food and beyond use.

By Cole Rosengren • June 21, 2016

Report: Solar panel recycling may be worth $15B by 2050

As solar use expands rapidly, the report calls for the early development of collection systems to help close the loop.

By Cole Rosengren • June 21, 2016

Iowa DNR still struggling to implement alternative landfill management program

The Environmental Management System aims for a more holistic approach to recycling, but many operators find the program too burdensome.

By Cole Rosengren • June 21, 2016

Dell announces fast progress toward recycling and sustainability goals

The company says it is more than 70% of the way toward using 50 million pounds of recycled plastic by 2020.

By Cole Rosengren • June 17, 2016

Experts break down methodology behind recycling rates, caution against comparisons

The report challenges the EPA's national recovery rate of 34%, estimating the rate is closer to 28%. 

By Cole Rosengren • June 15, 2016

San Jose settles lawsuit and agrees to $100 million waterway cleanup

The city will work on a number of environmental issues, including trash collection in creeks, over the next 10 years.

By Cole Rosengren • June 15, 2016

Republic Services unveils new ash processing facility in Washington

This is the most recent in a series of infrastructure investments to help maximize recycling potential.

By Cole Rosengren • June 15, 2016

Counties adapt to struggling Illinois e-waste program

E-waste has been banned from landfills since 2012, but low commodity prices have made recycling a challenge.

By Cole Rosengren • June 14, 2016

Nevada pushes to increase recycling rates despite little financial incentive

The state, which has centuries of cheap landfill capacity, looks for ways to recycle more.

By Cole Rosengren • June 13, 2016

Maine waste-to-energy proposal shrinks due to reduced interest from local towns

A planned regional facility reduces its capacity in order to remain economically viable.

By Cole Rosengren • June 9, 2016

Research could lead to advances in beneficial reuse of MSW ash

In Europe it is common to use ash as an aggregate in cement and asphalt. In the U.S. this type of structure garnered the attention of Ripley's Believe it or Not!

By Cole Rosengren • June 9, 2016

Association of Plastics Recyclers refreshes design guidelines with 2 goals

The aim is to increase supply and enhance the quality of plastics in the recycling stream.

By Cole Rosengren • June 8, 2016

NYC bag fee postponed to allow for further negotiations with state

Leaders from the State Assembly and New York City Council have pushed the fee's start date to February.

By Cole Rosengren • June 8, 2016