Recycling

Commentary

Don’t demonize plastic food packaging. Recycled, it’s better for the environment than some alternatives

Plastics are the most sustainable option. Food suppliers are decades away from other material that performs as well at food safety and waste.

By Kevin Kelly • March 13, 2026

Commentary

California is ‘nowhere near’ emissions goals. It’s still sending organic waste to landfills

California trucks much of its organic waste to landfills instead of recyclers, largely because of an exclusive franchise hauling system.

By Clemens Stockreiter • February 25, 2026

Commentary

As oil and gas companies pivot to plastic, California neighborhoods become sacrifice zones again

As oil and gas companies pivot to plastic, certain California neighborhoods become unhealthy sacrifice zones again.

By Veronica Herrera and Daniel Coffee • December 17, 2025

Commentary

McDonald’s ice cream machines are so unreliable they’re a meme. They might also be a climate solution

Californians generate 1.5 tons of e-waste every minute. So-called "right to repair" policies can extend the lifespan of consumer products, ultimately helping lower emissions. In an election year, candidates should be giving the issue more attention.

By Reid Heavner • April 18, 2024

Commentary

California’s organic waste law isn’t perfect, but pressing pause is the wrong move

The Little Hoover Commission recommended pausing California's landmark law aimed at reducing organic waste in landfills. Senate Bill 1383 could use an update, but given the importance of reducing methane emissions, pressing pause would be a mistake.

By Chris Thomas • November 1, 2023

Commentary

How California bottle recycling overhaul could give heaps of landfill money back to consumers

Californians pay more than $1 billion in recycling deposits annually but few people bother to redeem the empties. The state's sparse redemption system is largely to blame. A new law could help grow and modernize bottle recycling and give consumers significant returns.

By Liza Tucker • June 28, 2023

WhatMatters

Is California’s organic waste recycling a failure?

Reuse, reduce… recalibrate?  According to one watchdog agency, California is “falling short” in its ambitious organic waste recycling efforts and may need to hit the pause button until state agencies and local governments can sort themselves out. But that rankled the state officials in charge, who considered the very suggestion, well, garbage — prompting a […]

By Lynn La • May 24, 2023

Commentary

California could tear its circular economy if metal recycling is deemed hazardous waste

Any effort to regulate scrap metal facilities as hazardous waste treatment facilities threatens an important sector of California's circular economy and hinder key environmental goals.

By Guest Commentary • December 27, 2022

Commentary

Advanced recycling is booming except in California. A new plastics law is to blame

Innovative advanced recycling processes that enable the reuse of products such as artificial turf are taking off around the country, except in California where a new plastics law prevents greater adoption.

By Guest Commentary • November 3, 2022

WhatMatters

Lawmakers spending the week in Maine, Canada

What do Ireland, Israel, Maine and Canada have in common? They’re among the locations to which California lawmakers have embarked on special interest-funded trips during their month-long summer recess, which comes to an end Monday when they return to Sacramento for the frenzied final month of the legislative session. The latest junket began Sunday, when […]

By Emily Hoeven • July 26, 2022