Arlene Karidis

Michigan State University's anaerobic digester, developed by Anaergia, is undergoing a major upgrade to handle increased organic waste and support the new Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center. The expansion will quadruple the facility's capacity by 2026, showcasing a scalable model for sustainable waste management and emissions reduction on university campuses.

Residents who go with Republic (they can stay with their previous provider for a small fee) put their recycling to the curb weekly rather than biweekly. And now yard waste collections are included in their basic service cost; prior they could opt for green waste pick up for an additional fee.

Well-calculated acquisitions drive waste management companies’ growth. In this Q&A, Meridian CEO Walter “Wally” Hall, Jr shares some of the Charlotte, North Carolina-based operation’s M&A strategies. The company now serves about 525,000 residential, commercial, industrial, and government customers in eight states.

Minnesota has passed what environmental and public health advocates call the country's toughest regulations around per- and polyfluoroalkyl

California’s SB 1383 mandates diverting 75 percent of organic waste by 2025, and Santa Barbara County has responded with an innovative facility at Tajiguas Landfill, combining a materials recovery facility (MRF), anaerobic digester, and composting to meet this target. This system not only significantly reduces landfill waste but also generates renewable energy and lowers carbon emissions by efficiently sorting and processing organic materials.

Indiana-based ArcticRx has launched a shipping container to break through the logistics barriers. The startup’s co-founders, M. Shane Bivens and Stuart M. Lowry, are focusing on commodities at high risk for damage and urgently needed for global health impacts, like vaccines, blood components, and other life-saving products.

Cummins launched a returnable packaging program using RFID tracking to reduce packaging waste, streamline asset movement, and cut labor costs across its facilities. This initiative, implemented with partner Surgere and extended to suppliers, aligns with Cummins' sustainability goals and has already earned recognition from the Reusable Packaging Association.

Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), Illinois' largest waste and recycling provider, is advancing toward net zero operations by 2040. With sustainability managers Natalie Grimaldi and Joy Rifkin, LRS focuses on landfill emissions capture, route optimization, and equipment decarbonization, while promoting recycling through state-of-the-art facilities and partnerships with schools for educational outreach.

The holidays are coming, and for most of us that means extra time for family, friends, and food. Lots of food.

Illinois has become the thirteenth state to enact a battery extended producer responsibility (EPR) bill and has cast a wide net to target almost every battery type on the market.