10 trends defining the waste industry — and why they matter

Across the waste and recycling industry, changes are happening at a daily rate that are allowing vast economical and environmental improvement. A greater focus on positive goals — such as zero waste-to-landfill efforts and increased organic disposal — is keeping the industry on a path toward growth.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit qunfeng.

However some changes, like the price of recycling, are also causing shifts in the world of waste disposal — just not in a beneficial way.

Here are 10 trends that are driving the industry toward relevant and important changes:

1. CNG trucks are being widely used to cut costs and increase efficiencies

Earlier this month, Waste Management President and CEO David Steiner explained to Bloomberg Television that operating CNG (compressed natural gas) fleets makes good financial and economical sense for waste collection companies. The company now has 4,200 trucks in its fleet that run on CNG.

"Our customers want a greener solution, so it's absolutely a greener solution," Steiner said. The CNG-fueled vehicles are cleaner-burning, quieter, and also less expensive than diesel. Many companies that have switched to CNG fleets have also built filling stations in areas of service where the trucks can refuel. 

Other waste collection companies — such as Republic Services and Alpine Waste & Recycling — have also made the shift, proving that CNG fleets are a force that is moving the industry forward. According to Chaz Miller of NWRA, the most rapid acceptance of CNG trucks has been in the waste industry.

• Spokane, WA adopts CNG trucks to cut costs and emissions
• Republic adds 17 CNG vehicles to Denver fleet
• New Mack truck designed for safety, comfort

2. Cities from coast to coast are implementing programs and legislation to reach zero waste goals

The concept of "zero waste" — or, not allowing any waste to reach a landfill — is a goal that is sweeping the nation, from San Francisco to New York City. By implementing new recycling programs, banning specific products, and producing more energy from waste, municipalities are able to push their communities forward in achieving the goal in the next few decades. 

Initiatives to reach zero waste in NYC have allowed officials and residents in the city to "think about [waste] completely differently than we ever had before," according to Department of Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia.

SWANA and the California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) have even announced a partnership to develop a zero waste course and certification program, allowing leaders to learn more about how to achieve the goal. If cities are able to reach zero waste-to-landfill, the environmental impact will be enormously beneficial.

• 'Zero waste' efforts extend life of San Diego landfill by 8 years
• NYC commissioner explains challenges of zero waste
• Which U.S. cities are recycling champions?

3. More landfills are seeking expansions, causing controversy between owners and residents

As population and trash production increase, local landfills are reaching capacity — causing landfill owners to scramble for a solution. Many industry leaders have been seeking landfill expansions to combat the problem, however the expansions have not been largely popular among residents and other local organizations. Issues involving odors, traffic, and location all lead to heated opposition.

If expansions are not supported, landfill owners are at risk of closing their sites and finding new ways to dispose of waste — a task that is easier said than done.

• $3M deal may allow Virginia landfill to expand, despite DEQ opposition
• Illinois county waste disposal climbs as landfill reaches capacity
• Landfills: The good, the bad, and the trashy

4. Mergers and acquisitions — especially between small companies — continue to drive businesses forward

It is no surprise that mergers and acquisitions drive the industry forward, however acquisitions among smaller waste collection companies have been a recent trend allowing the "little guys" to make a bigger impact on the industry.

While big companies, such as Waste Management, continue to make rounds of M&As throughout the year, new collection companies have proved that they're a force to be reckoned with. Companies such as Corpus Christi, TX-based K2 are paving the way for small or family-run operations to have a large growth potential in the marketplace.

• Inland Waste buys Deffenbaugh assets in AR, KS
• K2 starts waste hauling subsidiary in Corpus Christi, TX
• Action Resources acquires 2 companies

5. Municipalities are taking action to cut food and organic waste

A recent report states that a staggering 133 billion pounds of food was wasted in — a number that the United States cannot afford. The impacts of the food waste do not only affect America's people — 49 million of which are "food insecure" — but also affect the environment due to the methane that is produced by organic waste in the landfill.

In order to combat this issue, many municipalities are implementing composting programs or funding new projects (such as organic waste-to-energy plants) to ensure food waste is being disposed of properly. Some municipalities have even gone as far as banning food scraps from the landfill, which is an initiative that is widely debated in the industry. 

• Safeway joins Oregon Food Bank to combat food waste
• Seattle defends ordinance despite 'trash-snooping' lawsuit
• CR&R to build new $100M anaerobic digestion plant in California

Stay informed. Subscribe to Waste Dive to get the latest waste and recycling industry news delivered straight to your inbox.

6. Bans and fees are being placed on common products — such as Styrofoam and plastic bags — to prevent them from reaching landfills

An ongoing debate regarding the recyclability of Styrofoam and plastic bags has led to many municipalities taking action against the products. Across the country, bans or fees on bags and Styrofoam — specifically in restaurants and grocery stores — have caused heated controversy.

The goal of such bans and fees is to decrease the probability that these products will reach landfills or pollute the environment. However, not everybody agrees with the various legislation being put in place. In New York City, hundreds of restaurants are petitioning a ban on Styrofoam, demanding for a reversal of the legislation — which will not happen, Commissioner Garcia told Waste Dive. Additionally, Honolulu replaced plastic bags with "reusable bags" that some claim are even worse for the environment.

Officials across the industry will need to try to see eye-to-eye on these issues in order to implement better solutions that are beneficial to both the consumer and the environment.  

• Cleaning up consumer behavior with plastic bag fees
• To ban or recycle? Inside the foam fight dividing the industry
• Pilot program aims to divert plastic bags, eliminate clogged machinery

7. The concept of waste-to-energy is growing as more companies find ways to turn refuse into reusable products

Companies are beginning to find new and innovative ways to produce renewable energy from municipal solid waste and landfill gas, which is truly pushing the industry toward a more sustainable future. By building waste-to-energy plants, focusing on alternative WTE methods, and testing various technologies, the waste industry is on track to a making a greener footprint on the environment. 

Additionally, waste-to-energy efforts have been saving companies money that they would likely spend on other fuel sources. A report regarding gasification of MSW stated, "Instead of paying to dispose of and manage waste for years in a landfill, using it as a feedstock for gasification reduces disposal costs and landfill space, and converts those wastes to electricity and fuels."

• Gasification of MSW may save Mother Earth
• Green3Power completes deal for Florida waste-to-energy plant
• Pelatron Q plans to build WTE plant in Kauai, HI

8. Interstate waste transportation is becoming a burden for some states

Importing and exporting solid waste and recyclables is a practice that has been done for many years, however the industry is at a tipping point regarding interstate waste transportation. Recently, Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey  introduced the Trash Reduction and Sensible Handling (TRASH) Act of  to restrict the flow of out-of state waste into Pennsylvania — and pave the way for other states to do the same.

The mode at which waste is transported from state-to-state is also changing, with many cities switching to rail service in order to decrease the cost of truck transportation. The exchange of solid waste may be completely transformed in the coming years, which is a trend that industry leaders need to be sure to monitor closely.

• Sen. Casey: 'Pennyslvania shouldn't be a dumping ground'
• Kentucky's Big Run landfill will stop taking out-of-state trash by rail
• New transportation deal drops NYC trash in Delaware before Pennsylvania

9. Low levels of commodity recycling are leading to changes in municipal recycling programs

The cost of disposing recyclable materials — especially glass — is taking a toll on companies in the industry. In some cities like Chattanooga, recyclables are going to a landfill because MRFs are not equipped to handle glass. In other cities, the cost of throwing recyclables in the landfill is simply less expensive than recycling. Therefore, many municipalities are implementing citywide recycling programs to combat this issue.

By asking consumers to pay a recycling fee, some municipalities are able to combat cost issues and keep recycling a profitable business. Additionally, many organizations are making efforts to combat sorting confusions among consumers. Recycle Across America, NWRA, and Keep America Beautiful are all rolling out new initiatives to promote more recycling and ensure it is being done properly — which will save the industry money in the end. 

• Oregon bottle deposit likely to double in
• Indiana county may cut recycling sites due to lack of funding
• Proposed recycling fee in Fort Collins, CO will not move forward

10. Companies are creating more innovative and advanced trash and recycling containers

From trash cans that can tweet their capacity to cans that are bear-proof, companies are more innovative than ever when designing waste and recycling bins. The technology offered in many of the new bins has allowed the industry to increase efficiency and decrease energy-use, which is crucial for the way the industry is shifting. 

For more Industrial Waste Sorting Technoloyinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Additional reading:
Used Sortation Conveyor - American Surplus
When to Use custom Flour Mills Machine？
Eastwoond's Tin-Zinc Electroplating System - MotorTrend

Trash cans are also becoming more available for some consumers — such as residents in Baltimore or students at Stanford University — as officials try to ensure that everybody has equal opportunity for waste disposal with access to appropriate containers. 

Putting the right practices in place can help you make sure you’re efficiently tackling waste removal, improving your environmental impact, and saving on costs.

1. Reduce waste

The first step towards more sustainable waste management practices is to cut back on the amount of waste you create. This means prioritising equipment and materials that you’ll use again and again, avoiding single-use products, and ensuring you only order items and materials you’ll actually use.

2. Implement cloud-based waste management software

Use waste management software to analyse your real-time data and gain new insights into areas like waste generation, removal, and recycling. This software can help illuminate where resources are being wasted, recycling practices are falling short, and inefficiencies lie.

For example, you can use cloud-based software to track real-time waste levels and set up automated alerts on when bins need to be emptied. This type of software can also reduce costs by helping you reduce unnecessary hauls.

You can also use waste management software to help make sure you’re segregating and removing waste in accordance with legislation, helping you reduce your risk of fines and reducing your environmental impact. Find out more about how cloud-based waste management software can help you optimise your processes.

3. Support on-site waste segregation

80% of companies don’t offer separate recycling for recyclables and non-recyclables, even though it costs up to £103.70 per tonne sent to landfill. Incorporating on-site waste segregation practices is one of the best ways to reduce your environmental impact and cut costs.

Put clear procedures and infrastructure in place to support appropriate waste segregation. This means providing on-site bins or disposal units for different waste streams such as recyclable, non-recyclable, and hazardous waste.

Make it easy for employees to engage in waste segregation by sharing your company's recycling and waste removal policy and providing clear labelling and colour coding for different types of bins or waste disposal units.

4. Repurposed materials and equipment

One of the best ways to improve industrial waste management is to reuse and repurpose your materials and equipment. By doing so, you can make more efficient use of scrap materials and equipment, saving money, improving efficiency, and saving time.

For example, you can melt metal and reuse it rather than forging new metal, saving energy and expense. A number of companies recycle non-hazardous waste such as oil filters, containers, and industrial transformers. While recycling one tonne of paper can save 17 trees.

You can set up on-site recycling facilities or request the help of a recycling partner (more on that below).

5. Choose the right partners

Waste disposal doesn’t just fall on your company alone, make sure you’re partnering with licensed, reputable waste management and recycling companies. These companies can help remove, purify, repurpose, or dispose of both hazardous and recyclable waste for you.

In addition, you can also enter into partnerships with other companies in which you trade materials that aren’t of use to you but that the other company can use in their work. For example, plastics, metals, paper, or other waste materials may be valuable to another business.

6. Optimise your processes

By implementing process optimisation, you can reduce the amount of waste you create. For example, many businesses with eco-friendly waste management practices utilise lean manufacturing principles.

A great example of this is a just-in-time inventory which involves only ordering as much inventory as you need, rather than stocking up. This can help you both cut storage costs and avoid potential waste.

7. Invest in employee training

Investing in ongoing employee training is essential for keeping employees aware of and engaged in best practices and ensuring they are confident engaging with your waste removal processes and technologies. Employee training can improve employee engagement, promote critical thinking, and ensure employee safety.

8. Request a regular waste audit

Improve recycling rates and waste segregation in your business by requesting a regular waste audit.

A waste audit involves bringing in an external expert who can help you clearly differentiate your commercial and industrial waste, review your current waste removal practices, and provide guidance on more efficient internal waste removal, segregation, and residual and recycling practices.

Beyond helping to deliver greater efficiency, a waste removal expert can provide cost-saving advice as well as guidance on how to make your practices greener.

9. Stay up to date with changing regulations

Regulations can change quickly in the waste removal space. Non-compliance can potentially lead to hefty fines. The U.K. government has previously introduced unlimited penalties for companies that pollute the environment.

To make sure you stay up to date with new regulations, regularly review the government website and subscribe to industry publications. Another wise idea is to consult an environmental compliance professional who can review your processes and offer specialised advice.

10. Embrace automation

Automated collection and sorting systems and competitors can help improve efficiency and safety, reduce human error, conserve energy, and save time. Take AI-powered robots that can identify and sort different waste materials, recycle and repurpose materials quickly and efficiently, and dispose of hazardous materials safely.

Bonus Tip: Stay informed about industry trends

Just as industry regulations are always in flux, new waste management trends and interesting innovations are making their way into the waste management industry.

To make sure you’re aware of the latest technologies and innovations, subscribe to industry publications. Don't shy away from attending industry events to find out more about what’s new in the industry and hear from waste management experts across the sector. Such events also give you the chance to network with peers and learn from their approaches.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Biogas Plant For Sale.