This Week in Waste: Top Stories April 29 – May 2, 2024

#5 - Retail Giant Albertsons and Surplus Food Tech Developer Copia Share Food Recovery Trade Secrets

In a WasteExpo Food Recovery Forum Fireside Chat: “Creating Less Waste and More Hope,” two pioneering industry leaders will illuminate on what’s transpiring within their operations; show how companies donating their surplus food are coming out ahead; and unpack what’s happening in the food recovery space at large. Presenters Melissa Kral, senior manager, sustainability, Albertsons and Kimberly Smith, CEO, Copia will tackle these hot industry topics and more on Tuesday, May 7, 2:45-3:30 p.m. at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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#4 - Republic Services Reports 8 Percent Revenue Growth in Q1 2024

Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) reported 8 percent revenue growth in Q1, attributed to a strong pricing strategy. The Phoenix-based environmental services provider achieved a net income of $453.8 million, up from $383.9 million YOY.

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#3 - EXCLUSIVE: BigBelly Prepares to Launch Smart Composting Bins

Sustainability innovator and “smart city” leader BigBelly is preparing to fully launch its composting program after a successful trial run in New York City. In its latest move, BigBelly continues to provide cities with tools to keep them as beautiful and sustainable as possible.

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#2 - Commentary: Committed to End Plastic Waste

This week at the Global Plastics Pollution Treaty Meetings in Ottawa, Canada, participants will have an opportunity to come together and move the needle towards solutions to address plastic pollution. With only two meetings left, these negotiations are at a critical point, which is why our industry has continued to come to the table supporting the effort to achieve a collaborative, robust international agreement that will put us on the path to ending plastic pollution worldwide.

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#1 - Recycling Works. If We Don’t Counter the Naysayers, It Won’t

You’ve probably seen a newspaper, television, or online article insisting that recycling isn’t working. They say what we put in our recycling bins doesn’t get recycled. Instead, it ends up in landfills. Some of these stories come from organizations with an axe to grind against plastic products. They fear that successful plastic recycling will undercut their efforts to eliminate plastics, so they insist plastics can’t be recycled. Some come from reporters who pass them on without taking the time to fact check them. Others pop up in letters to the editor or in online comments.

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