Waste Management Services NAICS 562

Jan 22, 2026 - Senate Approves EPA Budget

• In mid-January, the Senate approved an $8.8 billion EPA budget, which is headed to President Trump's desk, according to Waste Dive. The budget carries significant implications for the waste management industry, which relies on federal research, enforcement, and regulatory clarity. Although the budget is 4% lower than last year and includes a 47% cut to Superfund, it preserves funding for landfill methane studies, PFAS research, and water quality programs that shape future waste handling and disposal requirements. The bill also directs EPA to evaluate whether fuels made from plastic waste or tires should qualify under the Renewable Fuel Standard, a decision that could influence recycling markets and waste-to-fuel projects. Continued PFAS research and agricultural mitigation funding signal ongoing scrutiny of contamination pathways that affect landfills and wastewater systems.
• The EPA recently awarded $58 million to 17 communities in the second round of Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grants, a cycle in which 307 local governments sought about $1.072 billion, according to Resource Recycling. The program, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, supports recycling, organics, reuse, and waste diversion projects as the agency faces broader budget pressures. The largest awards went to Kansas City, Missouri; Delaware County, Pennsylvania; the Municipality of Isabela, Puerto Rico; Chicago, Illinois; and Cincinnati, Ohio, each receiving $5 million. Other sizable grants included $4.9 million for Rapid City, South Dakota, $4.82 million for Fort Worth, Texas, and $4.5 million for Shoreline, Washington, reflecting strong national demand for recycling and reuse infrastructure investment.

• In January, prices for curbside recyclable materials showed mixed movement across categories, according to RecyclingMarkets.net. The US average price for post-consumer PET bottles and jars slipped 0.6% month over month and fell 67.3% year over year. Natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) increased 11.5% month-over-month but was down 36.7% from January 2025. Color HDPE rose 8.3% month over month and declined 40.3% year over year. Polypropylene (PP) climbed 23.2% month-over-month but was 26.8% lower than a year ago. A grade film prices dropped 6.5% month-over-month and 25.5% year-over-year. Prices for old corrugated containers (OCC) held steady month over month and were down 34.5% year over year. Aluminum can prices were unchanged month over month and declined 9.7% from January 2025. Sorted residential paper remained flat month-over-month and was 43.3% lower than a year earlier.
• Waste and recycling operators face rising fire risks as lithium-ion batteries from electronics and disposable vapes continue to enter waste streams, according to consultant Ryan Fogelman, as reported by Resource Recycling. His data show facility fires in the US and Canada have sharply increased in recent years, with vapes a major contributor. Fogelman argues bans on single-use vapes are ineffective, urging tobacco and vaping companies to fund battery collection through extended producer responsibility programs. He highlights the hazards of vapes, which combine biohazard, chemical, and battery risks, and calls for design changes requiring removable batteries. Fires linked to discarded batteries are costing the industry about $2.5 billion annually, alongside risks to workers and communities. Fogelman warns that without better design, infrastructure, and manufacturer accountability, the “vape effect” will continue to escalate.