Zero Waste: Page 6
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Zero waste should be an important part of climate plans, GAIA urges
Through food waste prevention, single-use plastics bans, robust composting and recycling, and other strategies, the waste sector can support the Paris Agreement’s targeted limit to global warming, a new report said.
By Maria Rachal • Oct. 5, 2022 -
To fight US plastic pollution, California AG calls for more resources and more accountability
The federal government should act more quickly to address plastic pollution and hold polluters responsible, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said during a recent seminar.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 30, 2022 -
Trendline
The Waste Dive Outlook on 2022
Get up to speed on what may be coming next around M&A, labor solutions, ESG investment trends, federal regulation, state policy, environmental justice, local programs and more.
By Waste Dive staff -
California’s last 2 WTE facilities under pressure following new state law
Now that jurisdictions can no longer count waste sent to “transformation” facilities toward their recycling targets, Covanta-operated sites in Long Beach and Stanislaus County may see a shift.
By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 29, 2022 -
Q&A
Zero waste advocates: California is making strides, but more action needed beyond EPR
Longtime zero waste advocates Ruth Abbe, Rick Anthony and Neil Seldman weigh in on implications from the state’s busy legislative session and how they hope producer responsibility systems can evolve nationally.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 28, 2022 -
City Haul: Making yard waste programs more resilient
Despite staffing shortages, contamination challenges and other issues, municipal waste leaders are working to better serve residents and help diversion goals by making programs more consistent and expansive.
By Maria Rachal • Sept. 26, 2022 -
Could plastic beer can carriers be a gateway to the reuse economy?
The HDPE carriers for many craft beers are made from recycled content, but they aren’t widely accepted for curbside recycling. From California to Vermont, people are creating systems to keep them in circulation.
By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 23, 2022 -
Council hearing features ideas to boost New York City’s stagnant diversion rate
During a public hearing on Tuesday, residents urged the Department of Sanitation to direct more time and resources to organics programs, education efforts and outreach to overlooked communities.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 21, 2022 -
US Plastics Pact launches program to boost reuse and refill concepts
Members of the brand-backed group aim to make their plastic packaging 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025, but the current scope of U.S. reuse systems remains limited.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 20, 2022 -
California Gov. Newsom signs many recycling and waste bills, vetoes two
Bills concerning the state’s container redemption program, incineration rules, battery recycling programs, plastic bag regulations and organic waste diversion were among those Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in September.
By Megan Quinn • Updated Oct. 3, 2022 -
Deep Dive // NYC commercial waste reform
Los Angeles had a rocky commercial waste zone rollout but is seeing results. What’s in store for New York?
New York has big goals for its zone system to boost diversion rates, infrastructure investment and labor standards. First, the city and haulers must navigate a transition process that one LA official called “six months of hell.”
By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 19, 2022 -
US Plastics Pact activators see federal policy as key to achieving 2025 packaging reduction goals
During a recent webinar, speakers from Mars and Keurig Dr Pepper outlined incremental progress on rethinking their packaging strategies and called for further federal action to accelerate this shift.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 15, 2022 -
Inflation may have reduced food waste, but food banks worry about lower donation supply
During a recent ReFED webinar, speakers from Feeding America, BlueCart and Purdue University said they see opportunities for partnerships to further reduce food waste during times when inflation affects donations.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 12, 2022 -
Bio-based packaging companies say mushrooms and seaweed are the next alternatives to plastic
In a recent webinar, companies made their case for “bioregenerative” packaging that uses renewable, compostable materials with the same properties as plastic. Markets and supply chains are still warming to it.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 6, 2022 -
California closes another banner year for waste and recycling legislation with numerous bills
New action on the state’s container redemption program, diversion credits for waste-to-energy facilities and recycled content standards for thermoform plastic all passed at the end of the session.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 1, 2022 -
Deep Dive // NYC commercial waste reform
New York commercial waste haulers hold their breath after submitting bids for 10-year contracts
Bids are in to operate in the Department of Sanitation’s upcoming commercial waste zone system. Haulers of all sizes are waiting to learn their fates while operating under lingering pandemic and inflationary pressures.
By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 24, 2022 -
Q&A // Environmental justice conversations
Ya Fav Trashman fights illegal dumping with cleanups and social media
Terrill Haigler, a former Philadelphia sanitation worker, has become a rising star in the waste world. He discusses his new children’s book about the profession, “I’m Cool Too,” and how street cleanliness is an environmental justice issue.
By Megan Quinn • Aug. 23, 2022 -
Lawmakers, environmentalists say 2032 phase-out target for single-use plastics in national parks is too distant
Rep. Mike Quigley and other members of Congress are calling on the Department of the Interior to reassess its timeline to cut back on the use of plastic beverage containers, straws, cups, cutlery and bags.
By Megan Quinn • Aug. 17, 2022 -
Seeking funding and connections, recyclers turn to business incubator NextCycle
Recyclers and other businesses in Michigan, Colorado and Washington, the states where NextCycle operates, discussed the program’s impact on their circular economy goals during a Northeast Recycling Council webinar.
By Megan Quinn • Aug. 12, 2022 -
New York City rolling out ‘largest curbside composting program in the nation’ with Queens expansion
After years of budget cuts and political shifts, the Department of Sanitation says this latest organics recycling iteration will be its most cost-effective and efficient approach yet. Drop-off bins are also being added in other boroughs.
By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 9, 2022 -
SWEEP sustainability standard pilot moving forward after pandemic slowdowns
Numerous companies and municipalities in the pilot are about halfway through their certification process. There’s flexibility in the work-at-your-own-pace model, but COVID-19 and staff turnover have slowed progress.
By Maria Rachal • July 26, 2022 -
Reusables player r.Cup expanding in Seattle, adding central washing infrastructure
As the reusables system rolls out at event venues in the Pacific Northwest city, r.Cup is eyeing operating in “a dozen or more markets” by the end of 2023 working through public-private partnerships.
By Maria Rachal • Updated July 21, 2022 -
EPA chemical recycling debate heats up with letters from lawmakers, activists and industry pushback
Some environmentalists and lawmakers want pyrolysis and gasification units to remain regulated as waste combustion, but the plastics industry says the label doesn’t apply to most chemical recycling. EPA will consider new rules.
By Megan Quinn • July 19, 2022 -
Gainesville, Florida, seeks to be Southeast leader with major EV deployment, zero-waste policies
The college town is aiming to be a regional leader when it comes to reuse, edible food recovery and other areas. An upcoming contract with GFL Environmental also calls for dozens of electric collection vehicles.
By Maria Rachal • July 19, 2022 -
EPA seeks feedback on environmental justice action plan, equitable use of infrastructure funds
At a virtual community meeting on Wednesday, participants urged the agency to approve recycling projects, funded with infrastructure grant money, that avoid creating further environmental harm to disadvantaged communities.
By Megan Quinn • July 14, 2022 -
Deep Dive // California's organics experiment
San Francisco Bay Area, inspiration for California’s organics law, offers recycling lessons and limitations
Organics recycling has been the norm in San Francisco, Oakland and other jurisdictions for years. Part 5 of our series explores how some are trying to elevate their diversion efforts with residual waste sorting and other strategies.
By Cole Rosengren • Updated July 12, 2022