Zero Waste
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SWANA joins Canada Plastics Pact
The association, already a member of the U.S. Plastics Pact, says joining the Canadian counterpart further affirms its recent emphasis on shifting from solid waste management to resource management.
By Megan Quinn • June 28, 2024 -
Jacob Wallace/Janmckinley
Exhibit brings together waste artists-in-residency from DSNY, Recology
Artists who have embedded with waste agencies and haulers around the country are showing work together in one exhibit for the first time. The show shines a light on the civic and environmental possibilities in art.
By Jacob Wallace • May 10, 2024 -
Jacob Wallace/Janmckinley
GrowNYC compost drop-off funding runs out amid New York budget talks
The nonprofit has become a fixture in communities and at farmer’s markets for its food scrap collection program, but emergency private funding was not enough to keep the programs afloat through the current fiscal year.
By Jacob Wallace • May 9, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Well-known circular economy specialist appointed as CalRecycle director
Zoe Heller is well-known in the industry for her work with CalRecycle and the U.S. EPA. Supporters says her skill set will help her manage the role as California works through major recycling, organics and diversion programs.
By Megan Quinn • May 8, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
EPA unveils environmental justice ‘clearinghouse’ with hundreds of resources
The online library is an "excellent start" for municipal leaders looking to center environmental justice in their work, the National League of Cities’ sustainability director said.
By Ysabelle Kempe • May 3, 2024 -
John Moore via Getty Images
Q&AISWA says waste should become a ‘transformation industry’ as UN projects rising global tonnage
A recent UN report projects global waste volumes could reach 3.8 billion metric tons by 2050, at significant cost. Carlos Silva Filho, president of ISWA and a contributor to the report, shares his thoughts on a new vision for the sector.
By Cole Rosengren • April 30, 2024 -
DjordjeDjurdjevic via Getty Images
Pacific Coast grocers reduce wasted food tonnage by nearly 25% over 4 years
The reductions came via a public-private partnership among stakeholders across the food supply chain to share best practices to reduce food loss and waste 50% by 2030.
By Jacob Wallace • April 17, 2024 -
Andrey Deryabin via Getty Images
State officials list batteries, tires, PFAS-containing materials as most challenging to manage
The survey found a need for more resources and infrastructure to address the challenging materials.
By Jacob Wallace • April 15, 2024 -
Courtesy of Green Li-ion
Green Li-ion opens battery materials recycling plant in Oklahoma
The company aims to close the loop on battery materials with the new facility, which produces raw materials from unsorted scrap.
By Kate Magill • April 11, 2024 -
Jacob Wallace/Janmckinley
Education, transparency key to improving New York City’s recycling system, experts say
Recycling capture rates declined from 2017 to 2023 in New York City. Critics say DSNY is losing its focus on waste reduction and should redouble its efforts to get recycling and organics collection right.
By Jacob Wallace • Updated April 11, 2024 -
nycshooter via Getty Images
New book tackles waste crisis at the personal and policy levels
Author Edward Humes’ new book, “Total Garbage,” aims to serve as a how-to guide for reducing waste in everyday life while advocating for changes in U.S. waste policy through EPR and other means.
By Megan Quinn • March 25, 2024 -
The image by Carl Young is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
How 3 large states want to address waste with federal climate funding
The U.S. EPA received 45 state priority climate action plans, the first step in accessing Climate Pollution Reduction Grant funding.
By Jacob Wallace • March 21, 2024 -
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Environmental justice funding and recycling resources top of mind at NRC conference
National Recycling Congress participants such as Reloop and the the U.S. EPA delved into the roles both small community groups and large federal agencies play in advancing environmental justice initiatives.
By Megan Quinn • March 13, 2024 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
LASAN putting recycLA commercial waste program out to bid, ending contract extension talks
LA Sanitation and Environment officials hope that a reconfigured “recycLA 2.0” can yield better environmental outcomes and more competitive pricing by 2027. The move affects haulers such as Athens Services, WM and Republic Services.
By Cole Rosengren • March 8, 2024 -
Courtesy of Divert
Q&AHow federal attention to methane and retailer relationships are benefitting Divert
Vice President Chris Thomas discusses how the U.S. EPA’s support for anaerobic digestion and Divert’s large customer base can allow the company to expand despite broader market challenges.
By Jacob Wallace • March 5, 2024 -
Cole Rosengren/Janmckinley
Negotiation stalemate pushes Los Angeles to verge of rebidding commercial waste contracts
Haulers such as WM and Republic Services say they need more time to discuss a contract amendment. LA Sanitation staff and elected officials appear ready to put the whole recycLA franchise system back out to bid.
By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 26, 2024 -
Win McNamee via Getty Images
D.C. updates strategy to reach ‘zero waste’ by 2040, including many policy proposals
The plan extends the deadline for an 80% diversion rate to 2040. It calls for actions such as building a MRF, implementing commercial waste zones and banning certain items from disposal.
By Megan Quinn • Feb. 22, 2024 -
Courtesy of Rheaply
Rheaply eyes expansion plans in multiple cities to reuse more furniture amid office rethink
The Chicago-based startup aims to bring more businesses onto its reusable materials exchange platform to divert items from disposal.
By Megan Quinn • Feb. 21, 2024 -
Extreme-Photographer via Getty Images
Janmckinley5 issues to watch as New York reshapes its commercial waste system
Many questions remain about how companies were selected, how much recycling investment will occur, how soon companies get electric vehicles, when implementation will begin and more.
By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 16, 2024 -
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Long Beach, California, advances Bioenergy Devco plans in shift from WTE to digestion
Following negotiations, an anaerobic digester is set to replace a mass burn facility in Long Beach. The transition occurs amid significant regulatory shifts for such facilities in California over the past decade.
By Jacob Wallace • Feb. 15, 2024 -
Permission granted by Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery
SWEEP certifies first company for environmental achievement
Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery is the first in a pilot cohort to receive certification under the standard, which recognizes achievement in sustainable materials management practices.
By Jacob Wallace • Feb. 9, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Zero-waste advocates see opportunity in EPA’s $4.6B GHG reduction grants
The U.S. EPA is offering funding for states, municipalities and tribes to implement major climate projects. Advocates say that interested groups need to be part of local plans by March 1.
By Megan Quinn • Jan. 25, 2024 -
(2023). [Photograph]. Retrieved from NYS DEC.
New York solid waste plan calls for disposal surcharge, expanded food diversion requirements
The new plan includes several focus areas and recommendations to reach a goal of 85% recycling of the total waste stream, as well as lower waste emissions, by 2050. It also supports extended producer responsibility laws.
By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 17, 2024 -
Courtesy of Republic Services
5 waste and recycling trends to watch in 2024
The evolving M&A market, the rise of EPR, pending PFAS regulations, renewable natural gas and methane reduction are some of the biggest issues facing the industry this year.
By Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Jan. 5, 2024 -
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By the numbers: Key 2023 waste and recycling trends
Look back on the year through data points on issues such as labor, M&A, federal funding, state policy and commodity pricing.
By Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Dec. 22, 2023
