The Latest
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Tracking the waste and recycling industry’s M&A activity
Walker Industries acquired organics assets from Miller Waste, private equity-backed companies Amlon and LJP acquired new assets, and MCS Recycle acquired four C&D MRFs from DTG in Washington.
Updated March 25, 2026 -
Anaergia project first to deliver biogas under California’s SB 1440
The state set a target for investor-owned utilities to procure enough renewable natural gas to meet roughly 12% of the gas used by residences and small businesses. Anaergia expects more projects to meet the demand.
Updated 19 hours ago -
Diesel prices surge even higher due to Iran war, surpassing $5.38
Per-gallon costs surpassed $5 for the U.S. across all major regions this week, putting additional pressure on carriers and shippers.
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US EPA seeks comments on plan to remove pyrolysis from air emissions rule
The agency seeks public comments on a plan clarifying that pyrolysis is not a form of incineration. It’s a move the chemical recycling industry pressed for, but the agency previously declined to reflect in air emissions standards.
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Maryland legislature nears approval of on-farm composting bill
The state’s Senate and House must each take a final vote on a pair of bills that would create a new grant program. It builds on previous legislation to promote organics diversion.
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US textile recycling matures with AI and EPR
The fast-innovating textile recycling sector is looking for better ways to identify and sort feedstocks for both reuse and recycling applications. Startup Refiberd, along with companies like WM and Goodwill, want to make that process easier.
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Retrieved from Titan Environmental on March 23, 2026
Michigan’s Titan Environmental closes after years of losses, lawsuits
The small, publicly traded company’s hauling assets and facility are now for sale after the platform was formed in 2023. A group of waste industry veterans, including members of the Rizzo family, had plans to grow in the Detroit market.
Updated March 23, 2026 -
EPA proposes burning more disaster debris with incinerators
The proposal would shift the way EPA regulates air curtain incinerators. The Trump administration is taking a different approach than its predecessor over emissions concerns from burning disaster debris.
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States, cities sue EPA over endangerment finding repeal
A dozen cities and counties join 24 states in challenging EPA’s rescission of a cornerstone climate rule, which leaves cities “to bear the costs of hotter summers, dirtier air, and extreme weather,” Denver’s mayor said.
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New Hampshire governor vetoes paint EPR bill, calling it a ‘sales tax’
Gov. Kelly Ayotte criticized the bill as an added tax on residents, but Casella, WM and other recycling groups had backed the program's waste diversion aspects.
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Tracker
Tracking recycling laws by state
New Hampshire’s governor vetoed a paint stewardship bill backed by haulers. Virginia lawmakers passed a mattress stewardship bill, which now heads to the governor.
Updated March 19, 2026 -
Trump appoints acting lead for EPA’s waste office
Tom Croci has a background in national security and a familiarity with fellow New Yorker Lee Zeldin, who helms the agency. Croci now leads the Office of Land and Emergency Management.
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Prescription bottle recycling a real pill for the industry
Not many pill bottles are getting recycled in the U.S. despite them being made of commonly recyclable material. A new Closed Loop Partners report calls for collaboration across the value chain to increase recycling rates.
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[Photograph]. Retrieved from Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
Virginia lawmakers pass bills to regulate PFAS in biosolids
The companion bills sent to the governor last week set limits on the presence of PFOA and PFOS in biosolids. Land application of the sludge would be banned above a certain level beginning in mid-2027.
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California’s recyclability labeling law under fire in new lawsuit
The Flexible Packaging Association and the American Forest & Paper Association are among the plaintiffs seeking a preliminary injunction to block enforcement of SB 343 come October.
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Paper industry joins Oregon EPR lawsuit
After the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors secured a preliminary injunction in February, the American Forest & Paper Association, plus groups representing grocers and other businesses, want in.
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DOD guidance recommends hazardous waste landfills, incineration to manage PFAS
The DOD’s updated PFAS destruction and disposal guidance document offers insight into the methods it sees as best for managing AFFF, and no longer suggests solid waste landfills as viable compared to other options.
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WM grants ex-CFO Rankin $1M cash bonus
The bonus is in association with a "successful" CFO transition effort, with Devina Rankin passing on the seat to company alum David Reed.
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CDL rule affecting non-citizens taking effect despite waste hauler concerns
Haulers and reps from Teamsters and AFSCME hoped an emergency motion to block the rule would be heard in court, but that case has not yet been resolved. Waste Pro says the rule will affect up to 20% of its drivers in Southwest Florida.
Updated March 16, 2026 -
ReMA advances HDPE beverage carrier spec following PakTech petition
PakTech, a recycled HDPE beverage carrier manufacturer, submitted a request for ReMA to consider adding this spec as part of its work “to ensure the circularity and sustainability of our products.”
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Recyclers target ‘hibernating devices’ to feed urgent critical minerals demand
At Remade’s annual conference, recyclers and refiners said they’re working as fast as they can to meet demand for domestic supplies of critical materials. Closer partnerships and government support can help.
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The image by Bigcran is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Oregon fines Republic $3M over Coffin Butte Landfill gas violation
Regulators sent a pre-enforcement notice to Republic in November alleging the landfill had insufficiently operated several gas control measures.
Updated March 13, 2026 -
Farm bill draft heads to House floor with food waste provisions
The draft was approved by the House Agriculture Committee in a 22-hour markup session last week. It’s the third attempt in as many years to pass a long-term budget for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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Tennessee packaging EPR bill sidelined for 2026
The bill faced pushback from groups like Ameripen and bottlers. Vowing to return stronger next year, state Sen. Heidi Campbell said she’s proud of how the bill has put EPR awareness on the map in the Southeast.
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Permission granted by Cindy Peña/Montgomery County, Maryland, Department of Environmental Protection
Montgomery County, Maryland, explores alternatives as incinerator struggles
Two of three units at the county’s Resource Recovery Facility have come offline amid serious dioxin leaks. The issues have renewed pressure on long-gestating plan for landfilling and diversion projects.