The COVID-19 crisis has had a significant impact on the waste industry, including on the health and safety of front-line workers, as well as on cashflows, margins, waste volumes, recycling contamination levels and waste generation sources. Deemed an essential service, waste collection and disposal continued throughout the COVID-19 crisis. So while maintaining day-to-day operations – even with potential risks to employee health and sudden shifts in demand – waste companies also are having to plan for recovery. This article explores the impacts and potential opportunities of COVID-19 on the U.S. waste industry.
