The Latest

  • Two green dumpsters, one with an open top, in front of a brick wall
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    Sliveoak via Getty Images
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    Tracking the waste and recycling industry’s M&A activity

    Catch up on the latest deals including Certified Waste Solutions acquiring a California company, Sibelco closing its purchase of Strategic Materials and FCC Environmental acquiring a Florida company with a C&D landfill.

    Updated June 12, 2024
  • A man in a suit stands at a podium with a sign that reads "The 2024 ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit." His image is projected on a screen behind him.
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    Jacob Wallace/Janmckinley
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    USDA’s Vilsack touts updated, ‘accountability-focused’ national food waste strategy

    Vilsack said the strategy has taken on renewed importance as global efforts to curb methane pollution ramp up. He also said he is looking to the farm bill to ensure the priorities will be funded.

  • Anaergia's Rialto Bioenergy Facility in California
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    Permission granted by Anaergia
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    Rialto Bioenergy Facility sold to Sevana Bioenergy for $20M

    The deal closes the book on a difficult chapter for Anaergia, which removed the massive facility from its earnings last year amid financial troubles.

  • Waste Connections truck on display at WasteExpo 2022
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    Maria Rachal/Janmckinley
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    EPA says Waste Connections landfill in California violated Clean Air Act

    The agency found that operators of the Chiquita Canyon site failed to properly inspect gas wells. The landfill has been under increased scrutiny from regulators due to ongoing odor issues.

  • A Republic Services truck sits at a work site behind a chain link fence in Somerville, Mass.
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    Cole Rosengren/Janmckinley
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    Environmental services segment still has plenty of M&A runway

    Republic Services, Clean Harbors, Crystal Clean, Reworld and other companies have been very active with M&A in recent years. Here’s why analysts and executives expect that to continue.

  • Old battery packs for mobile phones
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    Andrey Deryabin via Getty Images
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    Battery EPR bill heads to Illinois governor’s desk

    The bill had industry support from NWRA, LRS and other haulers, who see the legislation as a way to more responsibly manage batteries and prevent fires.

  • PFAS is virtually inevitable in the waste stream.
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    Photo illustration by Brian Tucker/Janmckinley/Janmckinley
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    Water treatment company Ovivo expands PFAS treatment, destruction offerings

    Ovivo’s licensing deal with Evocra allows the company to offer a foam fractionation technology on top of existing destruction services. EPA regulations have spurred mitigation companies to broaden their PFAS offerings.

  • The front of the EPA building
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    Megan Quinn/Janmckinley
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    EPA, Sierra Club, agree to regulatory timeline for incinerators

    The two sides are closing the book on a complaint first brought in 2023 alleging the EPA unreasonably delayed the regulations. A new rule for commercial and industrial incinerators must be finalized in September.

  • California Treasurer Fiona Ma stands in a red jacket behind a lectern with the words "California Democrats State Convention" on the front.
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    The image by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Janmckinley

    How California Treasurer Fiona Ma became ‘obsessed’ with waste and recycling

    That obsession could affect the industry if Ma wins her bid for lieutenant governor. She has received backing from state waste companies over the years but has not always aligned with them on policy.

    Updated June 12, 2024
  • New York State Senator Peter Harckham speaks during a June 7, 2024, debate.
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    Retrieved from New York Senate.
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    New York EPR for packaging bill fails to pass before end of legislative session

    The state Senate approved the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act on Friday, but the bill stalled in the Assembly. Bottle bill expansion and mattress EPR legislation also failed to advance.

  • A man wearing a winter coat and scarf stands in front of a garbage truck with the words "100% Electric" printed on the side.
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    9 senators call for EPA funding to address landfill methane

    They want more than $11 million in additional appropriations to the EPA for fiscal year 2025, which would be used for more advanced monitoring technology and upgrades to municipally owned landfills.

  • Several people walk in the exhibit hall of WasteExpo, surrounded by displays from companies
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    Megan Quinn/Janmckinley
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    Plan for these upcoming waste and recycling conferences

    Upcoming events in 2024 will cover recycling, e-waste, MRF innovations, the Canadian market, biogas, thermal conversion and more.

    Updated June 12, 2024
  • United States map with recycling arrows superimposed on top
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    Photo Illustration: Shaun Lucas/Janmckinley; Getty Images

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    Tracker

    Tracking notable recycling laws by state

    Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed into law an update to the state’s battery EPR program, which adds rechargeable batteries, easily removable batteries and some medium-format primary batteries.

    Updated June 4, 2024
  • Several people sit at a raised wooden desk behind a U.S. and New York state flag. Facing them are another row of people dressed in suits.
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    Jacob Wallace/Janmckinley
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    NYC officials spotlight commercial waste zone selection, pricing and M&A

    A tense council hearing elicited more context about how the Department of Sanitation selected companies for coveted 10-year contracts but little new information on implementation timing beyond the first zone.

  • Sign reading "Yakima County Public Services Solid Waste Division - Terrace Heights Disposal Area" in front of a heavy-duty truck at an outdoor area.
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    [Photograph]. Retrieved from Yakima County, Washington.
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    Washington finalizes landfill rule, Divert and EnviTec announce plants and other RNG news

    Washington finalized its landfill methane rule while digester companies around the country made RNG-related announcements in May. Two U.S. senators also introduced a federal RNG incentive bill.

  • Trucks line up behind a waste facility
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    WM CEO says medical business growth makes Stericycle deal an attractive fit

    During the Stifel Cross Sector Insight Conference, WM executives shared more insight about how Stericycle’s positioning in the medical waste and recycled paper markets aligns well with their long-term plans.

  • Green GFL Environmental truck
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    Jacob Wallace/Janmckinley
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    GFL Environmental entertaining offers to sell some or all of its business

    The company may be favoring an offer for its environmental services division, according to investment firm Stifel. GFL executives have previously expressed frustration with their experience as a publicly traded company.

  • EPA Administrator Michael Regan speaks at a PFAS regulation event in front of a crowd of people under a tent
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    Retrieved from U.S. EPA.
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    Janmckinley

    Hazardous waste incinerators see PFAS disposal opportunity, emissions questions remain

    The U.S. EPA’s latest destruction and disposal guidance provides updated data on incineration's effectiveness, while noting the need for more research about the products of incomplete combustion.

  • Large bundles of plastic bags, cans and milk containers await processing at a recycling center.
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    shaunl via Getty Images
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    Colorado’s PRO appoints executive director to manage state’s EPR rollout

    Juri Freeman, CAA’s new executive director for Colorado, joins as the state buckles down on EPR implementation. Currently an RRS principal, he has served in numerous recycling and composting roles across the state.

  • Synthesis gas Dresser-Rand DATUM compressors from Siemens that are part of Fulcrum Bioenergy's Nevada facility
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    Courtesy of Siemens
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    Fulcrum BioEnergy shutters Nevada waste-to-SAF facility, CEO departs

    The company once touted itself as the first to launch a commercial waste-to-sustainable aviation fuel facility. Now, Fulcrum has laid off workers and executives have departed as the company’s funding dries up.

  • A plastic bottle moves through an AMP sorter
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    Courtesy of AMP
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    AMP, Virginia waste company collaborate on AI-powered facility to divert recycling from MSW

    AMP and Recycling and Disposal Solutions say a newly built facility will divert about 60% of MSW previously headed to the landfill. AMP’s technology is meant to be co-located at landfills and transfer stations.

  • A truck with Stericycle branding sits among cars on the road with a tall office building behind it.
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    Jacob Wallace/Janmckinley
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    WM to acquire Stericycle in $7.2B deal

    WM sees the acquisition as a way to capitalize on anticipated growth in the healthcare waste sector and position itself as a “single, trusted provider” for numerous waste services.

  • Noble Environmental trucks in Pennsylvania
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    Permission granted by Noble Environmental
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    Executives used Noble Environmental as ‘piggy bank’ to benefit Archaea, lawsuit alleges

    To rocket Archaea to success before selling it to BP, the executives used trade secrets and personnel from their first venture, Pennsylvania waste company Noble Environmental, the lawsuit alleges.

  • GFL Environmental truck at Waste Expo
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    Cole Rosengren/Janmckinley
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    GFL Environmental selling Detroit-area residential business to Priority Waste

    The pending deal, which includes more than 70 municipal collection contracts in the region, could make Priority the largest residential service provider in the state.

  • Office building in Lexington, Kentucky
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    Jon Cherry via Getty Images
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    Rubicon president and CFO Schubert resigns; interim CFO named

    Kevin Schubert is the second top executive to depart the company in recent months. The change comes as the company has trimmed its business in a bid to reach profitability.