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Author Archives: Stefanie Valentic

About Stefanie Valentic

Stefanie Valentic is an award-winning journalist who has covered the waste and recycling industry for more than five years. Throughout her career, she has led editorial teams and served as a keynote speaker, moderator and panelist at numerous trade shows and conferences. Valentic earned a journalism degree with a specialization in business and economics from Ohio University, where she was also a Kiplinger Fellow. She is a member of several organizations, including the Association of Ohio Recyclers, Junior League and the Society of Professional Journalists. She currently serves as a Cuyahoga County Recycling Ambassador and previously held the role of Circular Cleveland Ambassador.

Waste Pro expands post-collection footprint across SE

Published: October 14, 2025
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Family-owned Waste Pro is projecting record revenue growth as it expands its Southeastern US footprint. | Courtesy of Waste Pro

As it approaches its 25th anniversary, Waste Pro is broadening operations beyond collection through a series of acquisitions across the Southeast. Continue Reading

Study links tagging tactics to lower contamination rates

Published: October 14, 2025
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To tag or not to tag: A new report from SWANA analyzes the delicate approach municipalities take when enacting fines for curbside recycling. | ADragan/Shutterstock

A new report from the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) examines the role penalties and education play in reducing curbside contamination, enhancing bale quality and increasing the effectiveness of curbside programs.  Continue Reading

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Federal Signal paves new way with acquisition

Published: September 30, 2025
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Federal Signal’s New Way Trucks acquisition positions the company to expand its footprint in the automated side loader segment. | Courtesy of New Way

Federal Signal Corporation is expanding into the refuse collection vehicle market through a $396 million acquisition of New Way Trucks in a strategy aimed at capturing automated side loader market share. Continue Reading

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Containerboard prices begin slow recovery

Published: September 16, 2025
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As US mills cut capacity, e-commerce sales and a shift in trade tensions could boost recovery for containerboard pricing. | Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

The North American containerboard industry is slowly recovering from a post-COVID inventory contraction and demand is expected to bounce back at a “modest” 0.53% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2027, according to Rabobank’s Q3 2025 report.

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California’s 2024 carpet recycling rate exceeds annual goal

Published: September 16, 2025
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The market for recycled carpet in California continues to scale, boosted by supplemental subsidies and infrastructure improvements. | FrankHH/Shutterstock

California’s carpet recycling rate has improved for the fifth consecutive year, with Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) citing financial incentives, including grants, as a key driver of the continued growth. Continue Reading

Diversion Dynamics: Threading together a circular system for textiles

Published: September 23, 2025
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Transparency in the recycling supply chain instills consumer confidence when it comes to donations and secondhand outcomes. | Neenawat Khenyothaa / Shutterstock

Editor’s Note: Diversion Dynamics is a monthly column exploring partnerships that drive recycling.

Learn more about EPR and the California Responsible Textile Recovery Act (SB 707) at the Textiles Recovery Summit, February 23-25, in San Diego, California.

As seasons change, so do fashion trends, contributing to 92 million metric tons of textile waste globally. Today’s consumer habits are generating textile waste on a Mount Everest-sized scale, far beyond that pile of clothes on your bedroom chair. Continue Reading

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Northeast commodity prices continued falling in Q2

Published: September 9, 2025
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MRFs in the Northeast saw recycled commodity prices dip in Q2 2025, with haulers reflecting a continuing decrease in their quarterly earnings results. | Rozenskip/Shutterstock

In the Northeast, recycled commodity prices continued to decline in April-June, with MRFs experiencing an average decrease of nearly 6% compared to the first quarter of 2025, according to the Northeast Recycling Council’s (NERC) second-quarter MRF Values Survey Report. Continue Reading

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Greif streamlines operations through asset sales

Published: September 3, 2025
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The packaging manufacturer announced positive third-quarter financial results despite uncertain macroeconomic drivers and lower volumes. | T.Schneider/Shutterstock

Packaging manufacturer Greif reported strong third-quarter financial results and shared details about its recent divestitures during an investor call. Continue Reading

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