Municipal cans, rats and recycling: Challenges and success stories from Baltimore

Three waste and recycling officials from Baltimore recently gave their takes on what Baltimore is doing well, and what challenges remain for the city.

By Cody Boteler • Oct. 3, 2017

How Bigbelly is leveraging its compactors for smart city solutions

The Boston-based company, known for its solar-powered trash compactors, is now looking at ways to leverage the thousands of units deployed across cities.

By Cody Boteler • Sept. 29, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

Energy Codes and Building Performance Standards

Cities are using these levers to meet climate goals and address everything from data centers to building decarbonization.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

Top execs: Future of recycling to be driven by franchise contracts and revenue sharing

Executives from Waste Management, Republic Services and Casella discussed their preferences during the Resource Recycling Conference.

By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 1, 2017

The 500-year storm: Quantifying Harvey’s destruction

In the first part of this multi-part series, Smart Cities Dive takes a look at the damage Houston has suffered from Hurricane Harvey — and the remediation efforts that will need to follow.

By Kristin Musulin • Aug. 31, 2017

How garbage trucks could become the eyes and ears of cities

Truly smart cities reinforce, don’t replace, existing infrastructure.

By Michael Allegretti • Aug. 28, 2017

Texas cities may face years of debris cleanup in wake of Hurricane Harvey

Texas-based companies like Waste Management and Texas Disposal Systems have turned to social media for customer care as they face the long path to recovery. 

By Kristin Musulin • Aug. 28, 2017

Report: Traditional supermarkets will decrease by 25% over the next few years

Super warehouse formats, limited assortment and fresh-focused stores, on the other hand, will see double-digit growth, according to Inmar Willard Bishop Analytics.

By Jeff Wells • Aug. 28, 2017

APA report: Cities cannot be sustainable without holistic materials management

The report highlights how waste management affects the three pillars of sustainability: economic efficiency, environmental effectiveness and social equity.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 22, 2017

Report: Paving roads with cigarette butts could reduce waste, thermal conductivity

RMIT researchers found that mixing the immense amount of global cigarette litter with asphalt could help reduce the "urban heat island" effect in cities.

By Kristin Musulin • Aug. 15, 2017

London mayor releases environmental strategy with 'zero waste' goal by 2026

The city's draft plan mirrors others before it: reduce food waste, expand recycling access and organize commercial collections.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 14, 2017

San Diego County looks to rooftop solar, waste diversion to reach climate goals

The county issued a draft climate plan to cut greenhouse gases in unincorporated communities and county government operations and reach 90% renewable energy by 2030. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 14, 2017

Johns Hopkins report highlights Baltimore’s food system resilience

The report encourages Baltimore to develop critical food facilities, community food storage and communication plans. 

By Kristin Musulin • Aug. 10, 2017

At this NYC summer camp, kids build dream cities from scratch

New York University's Science of Smart Cities program encourages students to observe the city around them — and develop solutions to improve it.

By Jackie Snow • Aug. 9, 2017

Goodbye 'Filthadelphia': Philly sets realistic benchmarks for reaching 'zero waste'

Waste Dive spoke to Nic Esposito, Philadelphia's zero waste and litter director, about the city's action plan to reach a 2035 diversion goal. 

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 8, 2017

Report highlights correlation of states' political leanings and local waste policies

According to a survey of over 2,200 local government agendas and minutes, Waste Alert identified differences in policy priorities between left- and right-leaning states. 

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 7, 2017

Going green: What’s in it for sports venue owners?

Athletics facilities are used for a few hours each week, yet the ability to reduce energy use and costs is clear. However, the bottom line isn't the only driver.

By Kim Slowey • July 18, 2017

Minneapolis reports strong participation but low volumes in curbside organics collection

An estimated 43% of eligible households have signed up since the program was rolled out last summer. Now, the city is trying to increase education.

By Cole Rosengren • July 17, 2017

How high-tech tracking systems used by airlines can cut grocery food waste

RFID tags have been used for years to track clothing inventories and luggage — and, according to Avery Dennison's Francisco Melo, have led to a 20% reduction in items stores discard.

By Francisco Melo • July 14, 2017

NYC announces $32M rat crackdown with a host of new trash policies

In addition to investing in new cans, the city plans to reduce pick-up windows and require organics diversion in some cases.

By Cole Rosengren • July 13, 2017

NYC Food Waste Fair to offer businesses 'soup to nuts' display of reduction and diversion

The first-of-its kind event by the Foundation for New York's Strongest will feature industry exhibitions, workshops and more.

By Cole Rosengren • July 12, 2017

Incentivizing sustainability

Cities are enticing citizens to take more environmentally friendly actions — and they're seeing results.

By Jason Axelrod • July 11, 2017

Does the federal government’s inaction on clean water leave an opening for cities?

The Environmental Protection Agency's goals for clean water haven't been updated since 1972. Should cities start to step up?

By Cody Boteler • June 29, 2017

Shanghai takes 24-hour mobile grocery store for a spin

Moby, a grocery store with no workers or checkout lines, may be rolled out in more cities as early as 2018.

By Jackie Snow • June 29, 2017

Waste-to-energy group questions US Conference of Mayors' new renewable energy definition

The Energy Recovery Council believes the exclusion of incineration from a recently adopted resolution contradicts existing policy.

By Cole Rosengren • June 28, 2017

NYC sniffs out green opportunity with composting toilets in Prospect Park

Brooklyn's new toilets will save 250,000 gallons of water annually, according to estimates.

By Cody Boteler • June 22, 2017