This Week in Waste: Top Stories November 4 – November 7, 2024

#5 - Waste World Episode 4: Using Social Media to Educate Audiences About Waste and Recycling

Videos and podcasts have literally “made brands,” and their impact is prevalent in the waste industry as well. Within our industry, they are used as educator tools, community builders, brand ambassadors or all the above, and to steal a phrase, “They’ve come a long way!” Learn from a panel of peers who are using these platforms to grow audiences and reach. Hear the origin stories, how they’ve developed over time and how they measure metrics for success.

Listen to the podcast here.

#4 - WM Receives Approval from Canada for Stericycle Acquisition

WM passed the final leg of its acquisition of Stericycle, Inc. by getting an approval from the Competition Bureau of Canada.

Read the full article here.

#3 - Santa Barbara County Co-Locates Dirty MRF, Anaerobic Digester, and Compost

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.

Read the full article here.

#2 - Virginia Court Weighs in on Refuse Truck Driver’s Liability for Ignoring Stop Sign

In a case regarding the application of sovereign immunity, the Virginia appeals court reversed a lower court's ruling, finding that city garbage truck driver Jason Ellis was not exercising the necessary discretion at the time of a crash to qualify for immunity. The court held that Ellis’s driving between trash cans was routine, ministerial driving, rather than part of his discretionary duties in collecting garbage, and therefore did not warrant immunity protection.

Read the full article here.

#1 - Waste Pro Awards $30,000 to Athens Employees Celebrating 20 Years of Service

Top Waste Pro Officials gathered in Athens, Georgia, to celebrate three employees with a crystal plaque, and a $10,000 bonus, thanking them for their 20 years of dedication and service to the company.

Read the full article here.