Waste Management Services NAICS 562

Apr 24, 2026 - Study Identifies Gaps in Recycling Infrastructure Access

• A new University at Buffalo study finds that people across the US generate similar amounts of plastic packaging waste regardless of income, education, or location. Still, recycling rates vary widely due to unequal access to infrastructure, according to Resource Recycling. Published in Nature Communications Sustainability, the research shows wealthier, more educated communities are typically closer to industrial recycling facilities, while lower-income areas often lack access. Most residents in high recycling regions live within 30 miles of such facilities. The US trails Europe, recycling 14% of plastic packaging compared to 42.1%, and regional gaps persist, especially in the South and rural states. The findings highlight how limited infrastructure shapes outcomes and underscore significant implications for the recycling industry, including opportunities to expand access and improve system equity.
• Waste Dive reports that government regulations targeting PFAS are driving rapid growth in the waste and environmental services industry, as companies expand treatment and disposal capabilities. Firms such as Clean Harbors and Revive Environmental are seeing rising demand for handling contaminated materials, supported by state and federal actions to address health and liability risks. A New Jersey program alone collected more than 150,000 gallons of firefighting foam, highlighting the scale of the issue. Clean Harbors reported PFAS-related revenue rising from $40 million in 2024 to a projected $175 million this year. Industry growth is expected to continue as awareness increases, infrastructure expands, and new disposal methods, including incineration, gain broader acceptance. The PFAS treatment market could exceed $100 billion over 30 years, according to Environmental Business Journal.

• In April 2026, 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 dropped 17.2% month over month in April and fell 91.4% year over year. Natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) increased 9.8% month over month but was down 26.1% from April 2025. Color HDPE rose 58% month over month and declined 10% year over year. In April, polypropylene (PP) climbed 30.7% month over month but was 11.6% lower than a year ago. A grade film prices increased 9.1% month over month but were down 17.4% year over year. Prices for old corrugated containers (OCC) rose about 3.5% month over month and were down approximately 23.9% year over year. Aluminum can prices increased 4.4% month over month and declined 2.4% from April 2025. Sorted residential paper increased 5.9% month over month and was 41.9% lower than a year earlier.
• A new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rule restricting certain non-citizen drivers from obtaining or renewing commercial driver’s licenses is expected to strain the waste management industry by reducing an already limited labor pool, according to Waste Dive. Companies such as Waste Pro say the rule could affect up to 20% of drivers in some regions, leading to service delays and operational disruptions. The industry already faces challenges in recruiting and training drivers, with hiring processes taking 60 to 75 days. Haulers warn that losing trained workers will be difficult to offset due to federal limits on driving hours and the time required to certify replacements. Industry groups and labor unions argue the rule could worsen driver shortages, disrupt collection routes, and impact essential sanitation services, while regulators say the changes are needed to improve safety and compliance.