Arlene Karidis

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.

Municipalities face complex decisions when bidding for waste management services, balancing long-term stability with the risks of market fluctuations. Experts recommend clear service levels, well-defined financial terms, and flexibility in contracts, emphasizing the importance of aligning agreements and planning years ahead to ensure cost-efficiency and adaptability to changing conditions.

Grocers face significant challenges in decarbonizing their supply chains due to high costs and thin profit margins, but startup Therm Solutions is helping them tackle these barriers through carbon credit financing.

States are taking the lead in addressing plastic waste, as federal progress on regulating plastic production and disposal remains slow and contentious. Advocates recommend beginning with proven strategies like beverage container deposit-refund programs, while extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws for packaging require careful planning and transparent implementation to avoid pitfalls and industry pushback.