All Articles
12 stories — pricing, regulation, M&A, sustainability.
May 6, 2025 · News
Q1 2025 Waste Industry Overview: Growth, Caution, and Consolidation The first quarter of 2025 brought a mixed bag of expansion, earnings resilience, and operational restructuring across North America’s largest waste management companies. While leaders like Waste Management Inc. (WM) and Clean Harbors (CLH) posted strong EBITDA growth, the quarter also highlighted macroeconomic headwinds, mar…
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Mar 16, 2025 · History
World War II changed how the United States and its allies thought about waste. Materials that had been thrown away became inputs for the war effort, and conserving them became a civic duty. Many of the habits and systems from those years shaped later recycling programs. The Home Front: Salvage Drives and Conservation Collecting materials for the war effort As factories switched to military product…
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Mar 16, 2025 · News
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) runs a Recycling Market Development Program that helps fund projects to collect, process and find buyers for recycled materials in the state. The February 2025 funding round At its February 2025 meeting, Indiana’s Recycling Market Development Board reviewed seven applications that together requested about $10 million, against roughly…
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Mar 14, 2025 · Waste Guides
Overview of the U.S. Waste Management Industry The United States is one of the largest producers of waste in the world, making waste management a major industry nationwide. The industry handles municipal solid waste (MSW) – the everyday trash from homes, businesses, and institutions – as well as industrial, hazardous, medical, and construction debris. Americans generate hundreds of millions of ton…
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Feb 28, 2025 · News, Pricing Trends
The containerboard industry is facing ongoing price volatility in early 2025 as manufacturers struggle with supply imbalances, shifting demand, and growing frustration over traditional pricing benchmarks. Despite announced price hikes from major producers, price tracking remains inconsistent, raising concerns about how accurately industry indexes reflect real market conditions. Price Adjustments S…
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Feb 28, 2025 · Recycling
Metal recyclers rely on various types of packaging to efficiently store, transport, and process scrap materials. Proper packaging helps prevent contamination, maximizes space, and ensures the safe handling of different types of metals. Here are the most common types of packaging used in the metal recycling industry. 1. Gaylord Boxes Gaylord boxes are heavy-duty corrugated cardboard containers comm…
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Feb 3, 2025 · News
When two major players in the packaging industry team up, you know changes are coming. On January 31, 2025, International Paper and DS Smith finalized their merger, creating a new powerhouse in the packaging, containerboard, and pulp industries. Think bigger operations, greater sustainability efforts, and a stronger position in North America and EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). What does th…
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Feb 3, 2025 · News
How New Tariffs on Canada and Mexico Will Affect U.S. Plastic Companies Introduction The introduction of new tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico has sent ripples across industries, and the U.S. plastic industry stands at the epicenter of this economic storm. With $74.2 billion in U.S. plastics exports in 2023, according to the Plastics Industry Association, this sector thrives on global trad…
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Jan 20, 2025 · News
America produces an astonishing amount of waste. From overflowing landfills to oceans brimming with plastic, the U.S. remains one of the largest waste generators in the world, generating roughly 12% of the planet’s municipal solid waste with about 4% of the global population, according to a widely cited 2019 estimate by the risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft. Yet, when it comes to addressing this…
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Jan 20, 2025 · Waste Guides
Building a Circular Economy: A Guide for Green Startups The growing climate crisis has underscored the urgency of adopting sustainable practices across industries. For eco-conscious entrepreneurs and green startups, one of the most impactful models to consider is the circular economy . Unlike the traditional linear economy—where resources are used to create products that are eventually discarded—a…
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Jan 20, 2025 · Waste Guides
How to Conduct a Waste Audit: A Step-by-Step Guide for Businesses When it comes to running a business, waste management may not be the most glamorous subject, but it’s an increasingly vital one. With environmental responsibility becoming a key expectation from customers, investors, and employees, performing a waste audit is an excellent first step toward building a greener and more sustainable ope…
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Jan 20, 2025 · Waste Guides
10 Sustainable Waste Tips For Businesses As businesses strive to create positive change in their communities, sustainable practices are no longer just “nice-to-haves.” They’re essential. Waste management is a key area where businesses can make a big impact. Adopting sustainable waste solutions not only supports the environment but also increases efficiency, reduces costs, and resonates with eco-co…
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