 Wow, a lot happened this year. To make some sense of it all, here is a snapshot of the big trends that informed our reporting on the waste and recycling industry throughout 2021.
One theme was the major boom in industry mergers and acquisitions. There were so many deals in 2021 that we made this handy tracker to keep them all straight.
Labor news also continued to dominate the headlines. The industry dealt with pandemic-related service disruptions due to labor constraints and halted curbside programs while awaiting news from OSHA on vaccine mandates and weighing worker pay and overtime factors.
Recycling and waste policy also had its moment in the sun, with multiple states passing laws to curb single-use plastics, create extended producer responsibility models for packaging and more. The federal infrastructure bill also passed in November, providing an infusion of recycling infrastructure funding for 2022 and beyond. Meanwhile, Congress introduced numerous recycling bills, though most haven't gained traction.
You can read more about these top trends in our 2021 by-the-numbers story here. What trends do you think will take shape in 2022? Shoot us an email — we’d love to hear your thoughts on which themes we should be watching closely as another year begins.
Our regularly scheduled newsletters will return next week. Thanks for reading!
 Megan Quinn
Reporter, Waste Dive
Twitter | Email UPDATED Catch up on all the bills in Congress this year related to e-waste, food waste and recovery, plastics, recycling, zero waste and more. |
UPDATED Figuring out how to mitigate contamination and safely dispose of the chemicals is a rapidly evolving issue. Follow Waste Dive's ongoing coverage. |
The arrival of vaccines brought new considerations for employees and employers, while shifts in the broader U.S. workforce created new challenges for hiring and retention. |
Paper & Plastic Recycling Conference speakers predicted mostly favorable near-term demand for commodities due to e-commerce trends and brand commitments. Yet some worried new PCR laws may overly pressure pricing. |
2021 brought a new EPA administrator, a nominee to lead the agency's waste efforts that is vocal on PFAS and environmental justice, the long-anticipated National Recycling Strategy and recycling funds in the infrastructure package. |
Local groups have worked for years to address health, safety and equity issues. Conference participants from the U.S. EPA, New Jersey and reuse centers shared how industry operators can learn from their efforts. |
UPDATED In a major year of acquisition activity, catalysts have included pending tax changes, more expensive environmental standards and pandemic fatigue. Stay up to date with our original reporting and insight on key deals. |
Anaergia, BDC, Generate Capital and Vanguard Renewables believe they're poised to expand food waste recycling around the country. ESG trends, rising disposal tip fees and state or local policies are all key drivers. |
Leaders from Waste Management, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental and other groups weighed in on labor solutions, fleet technology and the economy at WasteExpo. |
Deep Dive Greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change are under growing scrutiny from regulators and investors alike. Finding the most precise way to measure them remains a complex effort. | | |
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