Packaging EPR programs are currently in place in parts of Europe, Canada and elsewhere, but to date, this system hasn’t reached the U.S. | Skylines/Shutterstock
Extended producer responsibility for a wide range of recyclables is gaining steam around the country. Haulers and MRF operators say it’s critical that these proposals are crafted well – both to preserve what already works and allow for much-needed changes.
The recycling industry has become increasingly consolidated in recent years following major corporate acquisitions. Fernando Cortes / Shutterstock
It may not receive a lot of media attention, but corporate concentration in America’s waste industry negatively impacts the lives of nearly all Americans and contributes to a range of economic and environmental burdens.
Revenue from Waste Management’s recycling business fell by 20% last year, but earnings were nearly flat. | Dan Leif/Resource Recycling, Inc.
Lower commodity prices continued to batter recycling revenues for the largest garbage and recycling companies last year. But recent moves to charge communities for MRF processing helped soften the financial blow.
Industry group SWANA is working with the federal government to supply free face coverings for the waste and recycling industry. | beton studio/Shutterstock
Coronavirus infections among workers have caused a MRF to shutter and delayed collection of recyclables elsewhere. The federal government and one state are working to provide masks and funding to help programs cope.
A leader with Waste Connections said that his company has seen increased collection volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic. | Resource Recycling file photo.
Two large publicly held waste and recycling companies are taking in higher residential volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they say contamination has been flat. Recently, they’ve also started seeing critical upticks on the commercial side.
A handful of industry groups and plastics producers are teaming up on a 60-day effort to try to capture a wider variety of materials from the flow of curbside recyclables in Portland, Ore.
If GFL’s initial public offering is approved by regulators, the company would become the fourth largest publicly traded waste and recycling business in North America. | Philip Lange/Shutterstock
Waste giant GFL Environmental has filed for an initial public offering, aiming to raise up to $2.4 billion. The company also released recycling-specific financial figures.
Seven facility operators across the U.S. will receive grant funds to boost PP sortation and collection. | CalypsoArt/Shutterstock
The Recycling Partnership has delivered financial assistance to seven more U.S. MRFs through its Polypropylene Recycling Coalition.
Material on the line at the Balcones Resources MRF in Austin, Texas. The company will begin processing in San Antonio in 2024. | Resource Recycling, Inc.
The seventh-largest city in the U.S. is switching recycling sortation contractors, with a unanimous vote April 7 to approve a contract with Balcones Resources. The city previously had a processing deal with Republic Services.
Materials recovery facilities opened recently in two U.S. regions. | Juice Flair/Shutterstock
Recycling facilities in Iowa and New Jersey recently started up operations, processing single-stream recyclables from nearby communities.