EPA confirms recycling, waste infrastructure grants on track for disbursement

EPA will move forward with awarding the second round of solid waste and recycling grants. The news comes after uncertainty over the status of numerous federal funding opportunities for the waste and recycling sectors.

By Megan Quinn • April 15, 2025

Prepare now to protect urban forests from storms

As FEMA funding fades and disasters intensify, risk assessments, standing contracts and debris-management plans are crucial, one conservation director says.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 14, 2025

New York City begins curbside organics enforcement

The city runs the nation’s largest organics program. It has increased processing capacity in recent years with new contracts and a composting facility expansion.

By Jacob Wallace • April 11, 2025

Denver adds flexibility to building performance guidelines

Following public input, including some backlash from building owners, the new rules will push back compliance deadlines, remove electrification report requirements and reduce penalty rates, the city said. 

By Joe Burns • April 9, 2025

America’s aging water infrastructure faces new threats

The U.S. urgently needs to increase funding to shore up facilities, experts say, as climate change and emerging contaminants like PFAS pose growing threats.

By Julie Strupp • April 1, 2025

Preparing manufactured homes for extreme weather: 5 barriers

Zoning, financing and other regulations can leave this more affordable form of housing vulnerable. Some communities are addressing the risk.

By Leslie Nemo • April 1, 2025

New Mexico occupational safety bureau advances heat safety rule

If passed, the state would be the sixth to implement its own heat-related guidance, after a federal standard appears to have lost steam.

By Zachary Phillips • March 31, 2025

FEMA disaster preparedness role could decrease following Trump executive order

The administration plans to publish a national resilience strategy with further details within 90 days, it said.

By Ryan Kushner • March 28, 2025

US infrastructure gets a C, its highest grade ever, in ASCE report card

Infrastructure needs long-term, continuous investment to maintain and continue to improve, however, the civil engineering group said. 

By Michelle M. Havich • March 26, 2025

Nearly 3,000 city leaders gathered in Washington last week. Here’s what they had to say.

Mayors, council members and nonprofit leaders heard from Vice President JD Vance, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and others at the National League of Cities meeting.

By Dan Zukowski • March 21, 2025

3 concerns about California’s neighborhood decarbonization pilot program

Decarbonization is essential to achieve carbon neutrality, but tenants and low-income homeowners might pay a steep price due to factors they can’t control.

By Teresa Linares • March 20, 2025

City leaders name housing, public safety and infrastructure as top issues

The National League of Cities Congressional City Conference brought together 3,000 city leaders to discuss these issues, with appearances from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Vice President JD Vance.

By Dan Zukowski • March 18, 2025

EPA to end environmental justice programs, monitoring tools

As part of the Trump administration’s end to environmental justice programs, it has cut off access to EJScreen, a monitoring tool used to track environmental justice metrics. 

By Megan Quinn • March 14, 2025

EPA revisiting dozens of climate, environment rules in ‘day of deregulation’

The agency said it would roll back a range of rules and programs, including some that are foundational to its efforts to address climate change. A new WOTUS definition is expected, as well as rollbacks to an emissions reporting program.

By Jacob Wallace • March 13, 2025

DOT removes equity, environmental factors from IIJA funding decisions

The move rolls back a Biden-era policy that included these considerations in decision-making criteria for infrastructure projects.

By Julie Strupp • March 12, 2025

California wildfire air pollution insights coming from air sensor network

Residents can track localized pollution, including particles from the wildfires that tore across Los Angeles in January, thanks to improvements in air quality sensor tech.

By Kalena Thomhave • March 10, 2025

EPA $20B funding freeze leaves ‘green bank’ nonprofits unable to pay bills

“Local projects across the country will be unable to move forward without legal intervention” if EPA or Citibank does not unfreeze the funds, a Climate United Fund spokesperson said.

By Diana DiGangi • March 4, 2025

FEMA halts enforcement of flood rebuild rule, New York Times reports

By not requiring buildings at risk of repeated flooding to be elevated or moved, the government isn’t saving money, critics say.

By Robert Freedman • Feb. 19, 2025

Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro sues Trump administration, citing frozen IRA funding

The state’s agencies have limited access to over $3.1 billion in funding for activities including distributed solar deployment, well plugging and weatherization, according to the lawsuit.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 18, 2025

Boston expands net-zero emissions requirements to new buildings, large additions

The zoning change requires most new buildings to be net zero when they open. The city previously set similar performance standards for existing buildings.

By Joe Burns • Feb. 4, 2025

The Smart Cities Outlook for 2025: Change is coming

From new federal policies to growing technologies like AI and robotaxis, cities will encounter many changes while they continue to tackle housing, homelessness, climate and equity issues.

By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Jan. 31, 2025

Zeldin is confirmed as the new EPA administrator. What’s next?

The former New York representative will helm the agency as it navigates executive orders pausing climate programs and reviews pending regulations that could affect the waste and recycling industries.

By Megan Quinn , Jacob Wallace • Updated Jan. 30, 2025

Biden urges mayors to continue the climate change fight

Then-President Biden and then-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke at a U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting Jan. 17.

By Danielle McLean • Jan. 21, 2025

LA fires damage power, sewer and water infrastructure

AccuWeather says economic loss and rebuilding could cost between $250 billion and $275 billion, making these the most expensive fires in U.S. history.

By Julie Strupp • Jan. 15, 2025

HUD doles out $12B in disaster recovery grants

The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s leader made the announcement in Asheville, North Carolina, where Hurricane Helene obliterated buildings and infrastructure in September.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Jan. 10, 2025