Arlene Karidis

Q2’s diversion rate stands at 90 percent—a huge bump from a few years ago when a waste audit showed that about half of the divertible materials were landing in the trash. Alongside that leap, contamination has plunged from 22 percent to just under seven percent in two years.

Dynamic pricing software like Wasteless uses AI to reduce food waste and boost grocery profits by automatically adjusting prices for perishables as they approach expiration, encouraging earlier purchases with smaller markdowns. Since its launch in 2017, the technology has helped grocers reduce waste by up to 80%, save millions, and increase revenue, particularly benefiting meat, poultry, and fish sales, while addressing sustainability and market challenges.

Diversys Software is revolutionizing recycling management by offering a digital platform that replaces traditional paper-based tracking with electronic manifests, enhancing transparency and accountability across the supply chain. The platform's automated data capture, GPS tracking, and cloud-based access improve operational efficiency and compliance, while helping organizations prepare for stricter environmental regulations.

The Hudson River is one of the nation's largest Superfund sites due to toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Despite a dredging project that removed millions of cubic yards of contaminated sediment, the river still suffers from lingering pollution, prompting ongoing evaluations and calls for further action.

Waste Pro has been deeply involved in recovery efforts following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, providing crucial waste management services in Florida and Western North Carolina. Division managers Jennifer Herring and Daric Huntt share their experiences, detailing challenges like navigating hazardous roads, doubling trash volumes, and adapting operations to support municipalities with debris removal while facing ongoing cleanup and restoration needs.

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.