Commentary
Read the latest opinions and views directly from the waste industry.

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Waste Recycling
January Fire Report: Do We Finally Have a Handle on the Lithium-ion Battery Problem?January Fire Report: Do We Finally Have a Handle on the Lithium-ion Battery Problem?

Based on the waste and recycling industry's track record, Ryan Fogelman says we will see a turn in reported fires at some point. Hopefully 2023, with fewer fires than 2022, is the watershed year where the industry finally start seeing a trend of decreasing fires in 2024 and beyond.

byRyan Fogelman
Jan 4, 2024
6 Min Read
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Waste Recycling
Recycling Markets Trend Up, Down and Sideways: A Year in Review and What's in Store for 2024Recycling Markets Trend Up, Down and Sideways: A Year in Review and What's in Store for 2024
byChaz Miller
Dec 19, 2023
4 Min Read
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Plastics
Commentary: Black Friday Was a Dark Day for the Environment. That Has to Change.Black Friday Was a Dark Day for the Environment. That Has to Change.
byDaphna Nissenbaum
Dec 18, 2023
3 Min Read
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Waste Recycling
What is “Real Recycling?”What is “Real Recycling?”
byRyan Fogelman
Dec 14, 2023
8 Min Read
Plastics Industry Association's Patrick Krieger: America Recycles Every Day logo in a gray background |
Waste Recycling
Plastics Industry Association's Patrick Krieger: America Recycles Every DayPlastics Industry Association's Patrick Krieger: America Recycles Every Day
Nov 16, 2023
3 Min Read
plastics
Waste Recycling
Driving Recycling Rates Through Policy: Support for Advanced RecyclingDriving Recycling Rates Through Policy: Support for Advanced Recycling
byJennifer Ronk
Sep 28, 2023
5 Min Read

More from Commentary

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Waste Legislation
Proposed Tax on Plastic Materials is 'Misguided,' Would Harm U.S. Economy and Workforce
Proposed Tax on Plastic Materials is 'Misguided,' Would Harm U.S. Economy and Workforce
Sep 25, 2023
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2 Min Read
tipping floor
Commodities Pricing
Up, Down and Sideways: Mixed Demand and Supply Signals Make Recycling Markets Puzzling
Up, Down and Sideways: Mixed Demand and Supply Signals Make Recycling Markets Puzzling
Sep 18, 2023
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3 Min Read
byChaz Miller
WastePro
Waste Legislation
How Waste Pro's Whole Wellness Approach Addresses Worker Mental Health
How Waste Pro's Whole Wellness Approach Addresses Worker Mental Health
Sep 12, 2023
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3 Min Read
ryan fogelman waste fire
Industry Insights
Holy Smokes! Should We Allow “Bad” Operators to Operate?
Holy Smokes! Should We Allow “Bad” Operators to Operate?
Jul 11, 2023
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10 Min Read
byRyan Fogelman
PFAS
PFAS & PFOAS
Enlightening the Path Forward: Paving the Way for PFAS Action through Essential Briefings
Enlightening the Path Forward: Paving the Way for PFAS Action through Essential Briefings
Jul 10, 2023
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3 Min Read
byEREF Staff
plastic wrappers
Plastics
Not All Single-Use Plastics Are Created Equal
Not All Single-Use Plastics Are Created Equal
Jun 27, 2023
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6 Min Read
recycling bales
Waste Recycling
Where Do Our Recyclables Go?
Where Do Our Recyclables Go?
Jun 8, 2023
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4 Min Read
byChaz Miller
Memphis Residents Take Claims of Poor Residential Waste Collection Service to Courts logo in a gray background | Memphis Residents Take Claims of Poor Residential Waste Collection Service to Courts
Waste Collection & Transfer
Memphis Residents Take Claims of Poor Residential Waste Collection Service to Courts
Memphis Residents Take Claims of Poor Residential Waste Collection Service to Courts
Jun 6, 2023
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5 Min Read
Commentary: We Should Think Local. Even About Waste. logo in a gray background | Commentary: We Should Think Local. Even About Waste.
Organic Waste
Commentary: We Should Think Local. Even About Waste.
Commentary: We Should Think Local. Even About Waste.
Apr 20, 2023
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4 Min Read
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Waste Recycling
Annual Report Unveils Growing Lithium-ion Battery Threat to the Industry
Annual Report Unveils Growing Lithium-ion Battery Threat to the Industry
Mar 14, 2023
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3 Min Read
byRyan Fogelman
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Industry Insights
Governments Must Close the Loop on the Circular Economy
Governments Must Close the Loop on the Circular Economy
Mar 10, 2023
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5 Min Read
Despite CFCs Being Banned for Decades from Consumer Products, “CFC Free” Labeling Remains Common logo in a gray background | Despite CFCs Being Banned for Decades from Consumer Products, “CFC Free” Labeling Remains Common
Sustainability
Despite CFCs Being Banned for Decades from Consumer Products, “CFC Free” Labeling Remains Common
Despite CFCs Being Banned for Decades from Consumer Products, “CFC Free” Labeling Remains Common
Mar 8, 2023
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3 Min Read
byBryan Staley
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Waste Legislation
Recyclers Scrap with Wake County, NC Officials Over Metal Scrap Ownership
Recyclers Scrap with Wake County, NC Officials Over Metal Scrap Ownership
Mar 7, 2023
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10 Min Read
byBarry Shanoff
When Wishcycling Met Rosy Scenario: Recycling Goals Should Be Ambitious But Also Need To Be Realistic logo in a gray background | When Wishcycling Met Rosy Scenario: Recycling Goals Should Be Ambitious But Also Need To Be Realistic
Waste Recycling
When Wishcycling Met Rosy Scenario: Recycling Goals Should Be Ambitious But Also Need To Be Realistic
When Wishcycling Met Rosy Scenario: Recycling Goals Should Be Ambitious But Also Need To Be Realistic
Mar 6, 2023
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3 Min Read
byChaz Miller
waste transfer
Nuisances
Alabama Couple Takes Waste Transfer Station Nuisance Case to Federal Courthouse
Alabama Couple Takes Waste Transfer Station Nuisance Case to Federal Courthouse
Feb 7, 2023
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10 Min Read
byBarry Shanoff
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Waste Recycling
Lithium-ion Battery Fires Continue to be a Growing Threat to the Industry
Lithium-ion Battery Fires Continue to be a Growing Threat to the Industry
Feb 6, 2023
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10 Min Read
byRyan Fogelman
Montauk Long Island
Waste Legislation
Why Long Island is Incapable of Regional Solid Waste Management Planning
Why Long Island is Incapable of Regional Solid Waste Management Planning
Jan 27, 2023
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9 Min Read
byRobert Lange
Taking Action: Customer Service Trends and Remaining Competitive in Waste and Recycling logo in a gray background | Taking Action: Customer Service Trends and Remaining Competitive in Waste and Recycling
Waste Management Business
Taking Action: Customer Service Trends and Remaining Competitive in Waste and Recycling
Taking Action: Customer Service Trends and Remaining Competitive in Waste and Recycling
Jan 26, 2023
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6 Min Read
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Waste Recycling
2023: New Laws, New Markets & Recycling’s Moral Halo
2023: New Laws, New Markets & Recycling’s Moral Halo
Jan 13, 2023
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6 Min Read
byChaz Miller
waste and recycling landfill fire
Waste Recycling
Worst Year for Waste and Recycling Facility Fires Ever Capped Off by Best Two Months
Worst Year for Waste and Recycling Facility Fires Ever Capped Off by Best Two Months
Jan 9, 2023
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5 Min Read
byRyan Fogelman
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Waste Legislation
Agreement Over Lee County Landfill Sparks Legal Debate
Agreement Over Lee County Landfill Sparks Legal Debate
Jan 6, 2023
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9 Min Read
byBarry Shanoff
How Composting Can Increase Crop Yields and Save Water logo in a gray background | How Composting Can Increase Crop Yields and Save Water
Organic Waste
How Composting Can Increase Crop Yields and Save Water
How Composting Can Increase Crop Yields and Save Water
Jan 4, 2023
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5 Min Read
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Plastics
2023 Will Be the Year of Waste Transformation
2023 Will Be the Year of Waste Transformation
Dec 14, 2022
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5 Min Read
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Waste Recycling
2022 Officially the Worst Year for Waste and Recycling Facility Fires
2022 Officially the Worst Year for Waste and Recycling Facility Fires
Dec 5, 2022
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8 Min Read
byRyan Fogelman
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Waste Recycling
Modernizing Recycling is an Important Path to Plastic Reduction, but Not the Only One.
Modernizing Recycling is an Important Path to Plastic Reduction, but Not the Only One.
Nov 17, 2022
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4 Min Read
byKatherine Lugar
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Industry Insights
Not A Shocktober; Another Record Month for Reported Fire Incidents
Not A Shocktober; Another Record Month for Reported Fire Incidents
Nov 8, 2022
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10 Min Read
byRyan Fogelman
recycling facility
Waste Recycling
Greenpeace vs Recycling: What Wasn't Said
Greenpeace vs Recycling: What Wasn't Said
Nov 3, 2022
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5 Min Read
byChaz Miller
fire at waste and recycling facility
Industry Insights
Environmentally Responsible Firefighting is a Reality
Environmentally Responsible Firefighting is a Reality
Oct 13, 2022
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7 Min Read
byRyan Fogelman
Developing an Emissions Inventory Can Help Companies Tackle Scope 3 Targets logo in a gray background | Developing an Emissions Inventory Can Help Companies Tackle Scope 3 Targets
Emissions
Developing an Emissions Inventory Can Help Companies Tackle Scope 3 Targets
Developing an Emissions Inventory Can Help Companies Tackle Scope 3 Targets
Oct 10, 2022
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8 Min Read
byAnne Germain
recycling rate
Waste Recycling
How Much Can We Recycle?
How Much Can We Recycle?
Sep 28, 2022
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3 Min Read
byChaz Miller

Top Stories

Waste Recycling
October 2024 Fire Report: A Discussion with Jeffrey Spangenberger of Argonne National Laboratory’s ReCell Center
October 2024 Fire Report: A Discussion with Jeffrey Spangenberger of Argonne National Laboratory’s ReCell Center

Oct 22, 2024

Industry Insights
McDermott Recognized for Leadership in Garnet Recycling by GMA Middle East
McDermott Recognized for Leadership in Garnet Recycling by GMA Middle East

Oct 22, 2024

Sustainability
Nikola Corporation Releases Inaugural Sustainability Impact Report
Nikola Corporation Releases Inaugural Sustainability Impact Report

Oct 22, 2024

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