New nonprofit Just Zero taking a national approach to zero waste and closing disposal sites

Zero waste advocates formerly with the Conservation Law Foundation say the group will provide local activists with national-level resources for drafting legislation and more.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 18, 2022

Zero-waste online grocer The Rounds raises $38M

The newly announced Series A financing follows a $4 million seed round at the start of this year for the scaling grocery refill delivery service.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Oct. 12, 2022

Reuse tech startup Rheaply targets C&D waste with Materials Marketplace acquisition

CEO Garry Cooper says adding the platform from the U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development will expand Rheaply’s reach and allow existing customers to exchange items more broadly.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 10, 2022

RoadRunner Recycling buys Compology to scale AI, metering in collection service

RoadRunner, which provides service through third-party haulers, has raised nearly $130 million to date as it scales quickly. Compology’s AI and camera capabilities will expand its data offerings for ESG-driven customers.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 6, 2022

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

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

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

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

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

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