The waste and recycling industry showed strong resilience despite rising inflation and other economic pressures. Advanced recycling increasingly made its way to mainstream media, with talks about how to curb plastic pollution. Here are the top 10 stories on Waste360 in 2022.

What’s the True Promise of Nonmechanical (Molecular) Recycling?

Arlene Karidis

We are hearing more and more about recycling technologies other than conventional mechanical methods, with the promise they can better manage hard-to-recycle plastics, especially packaging. These processes are further broken down into categories, also with different terminology describing what seems to be the same or similar processes.

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WM Reports Strong Q1 2022 on Rising Recyclable Commodities Pricing

Stefanie Valentic

WM reported strong financial results in Q1 on robust recycling commodities pricing, yet challenges remain. CEO Jim Fish expressed confidence in the Houston-based waste services provider reaching full-year guidance despite inflationary pressures.

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Career Hauling: How Waste Leaders Navigate Industry Challenges - Michael O'Connor

Stefanie Valentic

A second chance could mean the world to those who need it. Michael O' Connor is the former owner and managing partner of Premier Waste Services, which was acquired by Waste Connections in April 2021. From trouble to trash, he has worked the ranks from the back of a sanitation truck to operations. A second chance gave him the opportunity to join an industry in which his talents shine. Here is his story.

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Coast to Coast: Sea Bags Sails Away with Sustainable Handbags and Home Decor

Stefanie Valentic

When Waste360 editors travel, what do they observe about the waste and recycling infrastructure of the respective destinations they visit? In a new series from Waste360, readers will learn about the people and businesses that are working to change the way we view the world of waste.

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Episode 10: Let’s Talk All Things Ocean Plastic

Liz Bothwell

This week, Charlotte is diving into a complex topic: Ocean Plastics. Let’s unpack how much there is, where it comes from and what we can do with it once we can clean it up from the waterways. Watch and let us know what you think.

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Is Recycling a Fraud?

Chaz Miller

Over the last few years, recycling has been subject to a barrage of bad press. First it was the bad markets caused largely by the Chinese decision to ban the imports of recyclables. Then came the stories claiming that our recyclables get tossed into landfills or are sent overseas to be dumped. That was followed by easily quotable and highly misleading statistics such as only nine percent of plastics are recycled. No wonder many people are suspicious about recycling.

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Episode 7: The Reality of RIC codes

Liz Bothwell

Behold the “sacred recycling numbers”. That’s often what RIC codes or Plastic Resin Identity Codes are referred to as. But plot twist: they do not really mean that the item with that code is actually recyclable. You may already know this, but let’s dive into this with Charlotte to get the finer details on everything RIC codes. Enjoy!

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Women in Waste Leave Stereotypes in the Dust

Allison Eckley

The waste industry has traditionally been male-dominated, not only by the numbers but also by society and culture’s perception of people working in the field. For those in the industry, we know that women are earning a variety of roles across companies on all levels. Here are three Wastequip women who are making a difference in the industry.

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VF Works Toward Apparel Circularity

Arlene Karidis

The way clothes are designed and manufactured, and what happens to them once consumers no longer want them, is taking its toll on the environment. Multiple studies conclude tens of millions of tons of clothes are landfilled or incinerated annually, often after short lives, and after a lot of energy and other resources went into creating them.

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How to Properly Fight a Lithium-ion Battery Fire

Ryan Fogelman

The waste and recycling industry continues to face problems generated from the hazards of lithium-ion batteries. So, how do we get a better grip on this problem? How do we continue to address the issues we are facing? How do we put solutions in place to prevent these incidents from getting out of hand?

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