U.S. Recycling Industry Advances as Ford Targets Zero Waste and New Battery Rules Approach

New investments in waste recovery, corporate recycling initiatives and tighter disposal requirements are changing how materials are managed across the United States. Developments at Ford, a Georgia landfill and municipal recycling programs highlight growing attention to resource recovery, while North Carolina prepares to introduce stricter lithium-ion battery disposal rules.

By ScrapMonster News Desk
Published: October 26, 2026
Category: Recycling Industry News

MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): Recycling activity across the United States is expanding beyond conventional collection and disposal, with manufacturers, municipalities and environmental service providers investing in better material recovery and more efficient waste operations.

Recent developments include Ford's progress toward eliminating manufacturing waste sent to landfills, commercial renewable natural gas production at a Georgia landfill and new glass recycling infrastructure in Missouri.

Regulatory changes are also approaching. North Carolina will introduce restrictions on lithium-ion battery disposal in December, creating additional responsibilities for residents, businesses and collection operators.

Together, these developments illustrate how the economics of recycling increasingly depend on material quality, collection infrastructure, safety and reliable markets for recovered resources.

Ford Expands Recycling Efforts Across Global Manufacturing Operations

Ford Motor Company is working toward eliminating manufacturing waste sent to landfills across its worldwide operations by 2028.

In an October 21, 2026, company update, senior environmental engineer Dan Esch outlined improvements intended to recover more manufacturing materials without disrupting vehicle production.

Ford reported that 84 facilities globally have achieved its zero-waste-to-landfill designation.

The automaker has also reduced manufacturing waste disposal by nearly 25% since 2022.

Its recycling efforts cover aluminum scrap, metal offcuts, packaging materials, plastics and other manufacturing byproducts.

At the Dearborn Stamping Plant in Michigan, automated scrap collection helps separate recoverable metal from manufacturing operations.

Other facilities are using simpler collection arrangements to encourage workers to sort materials correctly and reduce unnecessary handling.

Ford acknowledged that maintaining zero-waste performance remains challenging. Three facilities lost their designation during the previous year, requiring additional work to identify suitable recycling and recovery outlets.

For industrial recyclers, the initiative highlights opportunities to recover consistent material streams generated by manufacturing facilities, provided collection and processing systems can meet operational requirements.

Georgia Landfill Begins Converting Waste Gas Into Renewable Fuel

A renewable natural gas project at Pine Grove Landfill in Columbus, Georgia, has entered commercial operation, expanding the site's role in energy recovery.

The Landfill Group, working with LS Power and project partners, announced on October 22 that the facility had begun operating on August 10, 2026.

The Columbus Power Producers project captures landfill gas produced during waste decomposition and upgrades it to pipeline-quality renewable natural gas.

The processed gas can then enter the local natural gas distribution system, creating an energy resource from methane collected at the landfill.

The developers have scheduled a ribbon-cutting ceremony for November 12, 2026.

Landfill gas projects are part of a broader waste-management approach in which operators seek to recover additional value from materials and gases generated at disposal facilities.

Unlike conventional material recycling, renewable natural gas production converts collected gas into a usable fuel. Both activities contribute to resource recovery, although their processes and economics differ.

Missouri Expands Glass Recycling With New Columbia Collection Site

Residents of Columbia, Missouri, now have an additional option for recycling glass bottles and jars.

The city introduced a second glass recycling drop-off location on October 16, 2026, through its partnership with Ripple Glass.

The new container is located at 1242 Ashland Road, in the contractor parking area on the University of Missouri campus.

It complements the city's existing collection point at the municipal landfill on Peabody Road.

Both sites accept empty, transparent glass food and beverage containers of any color. Residents are instructed to remove lids and caps, while opaque glass, ceramics and window glass are excluded.

The additional site is particularly relevant because Columbia's conventional recycling system has faced disruptions following tornado damage at the landfill in April 2025.

Glass is not currently accepted through the city's curbside recycling collection program.

Dedicated drop-off locations provide an alternative collection route, although the quality of incoming material and the availability of downstream processing remain important to successful recovery.

North Carolina Prepares for December Lithium-Ion Battery Disposal Ban

North Carolina is preparing to prohibit the landfill disposal of lithium-ion batteries beginning December 1, 2026.

The requirement forms part of the state's updated disposal restrictions under General Statute 130A-309.10.

Lithium-ion batteries are commonly found in rechargeable tools, mobile phones, laptops, household electronics and other consumer equipment.

State environmental officials are encouraging residents, businesses and local governments to establish appropriate collection arrangements before the restrictions take effect.

Improper battery disposal creates a significant safety concern. Damaged lithium-ion batteries can ignite during collection, transportation, compaction or waste processing.

These incidents can threaten workers, damage equipment and interrupt operations at recycling and waste-management facilities.

For local governments and recycling businesses, the December deadline places additional emphasis on safe battery identification, collection, storage and transportation.

The legislation also reinforces the importance of keeping hazardous or potentially reactive materials out of ordinary waste and mixed-recycling streams.

Florida Recognizes Ten Recycling Programs for 2026

The Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation has selected ten organizations for its 2026 Recycling Champion Awards.

The awards recognize businesses, public agencies and nonprofit organizations involved in waste reduction, material recovery, recycling infrastructure and community education.

Corporate honorees include Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, recognized for circular-material initiatives; Niagara Bottling, for its waste-reduction program; and WM, for investment in recycling infrastructure.

Public-sector recipients include Hillsborough County, Seminole County, Indian River County and North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District.

The recognized programs include battery recovery, fire prevention, vape collection, recycling education and material reuse.

Three Goodwill organizations were also selected for initiatives involving mattress recycling, plastic film recovery and responsible material reuse.

The recipients are scheduled to be recognized on November 18, 2026, during Florida Recycles Day at the University of Florida TREEO Center in Gainesville.

The awards reflect the variety of collection and processing approaches being used to recover materials that do not always fit conventional curbside recycling systems.

Nebraska Earns National Recognition for Campus Sustainability

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has been recognized as a leading institution for campus sustainability engagement in the 2026 Sustainable Campus Index.

The university announced the recognition on October 20.

It received the full 25 points available in the campus engagement category of the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS).

The assessment considers how universities involve students and employees in sustainability activities, communicate environmental priorities and evaluate participation.

Campus programs include recycling education, waste separation initiatives and broader efforts to encourage responsible resource use.

Although the recognition covers sustainability beyond recycling, it illustrates the importance of education and participation in supporting institutional waste-management programs.

Compost Contamination Remains an Operational Concern

Material quality is also receiving attention within the organics recycling industry.

Municipalities and composting operators continue to face challenges involving incorrectly sorted packaging, unsuitable materials and contamination in collected organic waste.

Advanced composting equipment can help manage processing conditions, but it cannot necessarily eliminate every contaminant introduced before material reaches the facility.

Persistent substances, including certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), create additional concerns when contaminated materials enter biological waste-management systems.

For organics processors, collection instructions, sorting controls and public education remain important tools for protecting the quality of incoming material.

Programs that focus exclusively on increasing collected tonnage may encounter additional processing costs if material quality deteriorates.

Waste Fleet Reliability and Compliance Services Draw Attention

Fleet operators and safety-service providers are also responding to the operational demands of waste collection.

Refuse trucks typically operate under demanding conditions, including repeated stopping, extended idling, heavy loads and frequent hydraulic equipment use.

These conditions create maintenance requirements for engines, lubricants, emissions-control systems and other vehicle components.

Equipment suppliers are preparing for changes in heavy-duty engine oil standards, including the anticipated introduction of the PC-12 specification in 2027.

Meanwhile, safety and regulatory compliance provider J. J. Keller & Associates announced leadership appointments within its Compliance Products division in October.

The company named Reggie Thomas Executive Vice President of Compliance Products, Christina McAuley Director of Marketing and Stephanie Hallman Director of Product Management.

The appointments support its development and distribution of compliance-related products used across transportation, industrial and other business operations.

These developments reflect continuing attention to equipment reliability, safety requirements and operational management across the waste-services sector.

Upcoming Recycling and Waste Industry Events

Industry conferences scheduled through the remainder of 2026 will address recycling technology, critical minerals, waste management, environmental compliance and resource recovery.

• October 25–28: Accelerate! Conference & Expo, Women In Trucking Association.
• October 28–29: Critical Minerals Expo, Battery Recycling Expo and E-Waste World Expo.
• November 9–10: Women's Environmental Leadership Summit, Tennessee Recycling Coalition.
• November 9–11: ISWA World Congress 2026, London, United Kingdom.
• November 11–13: Georgia Composting Council Fall Event and Annual Meeting.
• November 18–20: NYSAR3 37th Annual Conference & Trade Show.
• December 1–3: Great Lakes PFAS Summit, virtual event.
• December 9–10: PFAS Treatment Technology Symposium, virtual event.

Explore more industry conferences: Find recycling trade shows, professional events and industry meetings through the ScrapMonster Recycling Events Calendar.

Participants should confirm event programs, attendance arrangements and any schedule changes with the respective organizers.

Industry Outlook: From Waste Collection to Resource Recovery

The developments across manufacturing, municipal recycling, landfill operations and environmental regulation demonstrate how waste management increasingly involves several distinct activities.

Companies are seeking to recover more materials within their production systems. Municipalities are expanding collection options for materials requiring separate handling. Regulators are introducing additional safeguards for waste streams that create operational risks.

At the same time, recycling facilities and waste-service providers continue working to manage contamination, transportation costs, equipment reliability and the quality of recovered materials.

For the recycling industry, the challenge is not simply collecting more material. It is developing safe, economically viable systems capable of returning that material to productive use.

Further developments in battery regulations, recycling infrastructure and manufacturing waste programs will help determine how these efforts progress through the remainder of 2026 and beyond.