Waste industry sets record for federal lobbying in last year

2025 Sees Record Lobbying Spending in the Waste Industry

Based on federal data, the waste industry hit a new peak in lobbying spend on the federal government in 2025. This surge comes in response to the industry’s continuous consolidation and increased involvement in national discussions regarding tax credits and other policy priorities, say experts.

The Numbers

According to OpenSecrets, public and private organizations involved in waste, recycling, and wastewater management activities spent a total of $6.5 million on federal lobbying in 2025. This data includes spending by sanitary districts, industry groups, and companies of all sizes. This spending level outpaced the previous peak in 2009 and was more than twice the sector’s 2019 expenditure.

Leading spenders mostly comprised solid waste companies. Among the country’s largest waste and recycling companies by revenue, eight out of ten reported substantial lobbying expenses. These companies included WM, Republic Services, Stericycle, Waste Connections, Clean Harbors, Enviri, Radius Recycling, and Recology. EQT, Reworld’s supporter, has also made significant lobbying investments in recent years.

Notable Non-Spenders and New-Comers

Notably, two major companies, GFL Environmental and Casella Waste Systems, did not report any lobbying expenditure in any 2025 quarter, as per Senate’s Lobbying Disclosure Act database. Waste Connections marked its entry into the lobbying arena, reporting its lobbying expenses for the first time in 2025. However, these figures do not take into account state-level lobbying, where these companies are also often active.

What Drives the Lobbying Spend?

While the motivations of these large companies vary, many focus on tax regulations and programs promoting renewable natural gas, a profitable side venture for landfill owners. Other top concerns include recycling policies, site remediation, alternative vehicle credits, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Their lobbyists often target Congressional offices and have disclosed engagements with the U.S. EPA, Department of Energy, U.S. Trade Representative, and other federal offices.

The increased spending also reflects a wider trend in Washington. Lobbying activity soared past $5 billion for the first time in 2025, due to heightened interest in the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, according to an OpenSecrets analysis. All sectors tracked by the nonprofit escalated their spending during 2025, ranging from construction to energy to finance.

Focused Spending on Policy Priorities

Reworld, the leading spender on waste issues, has been navigating complex regulatory processes for waste combustors and tax issues concerning related companies. The company’s focus remains on “policies that support innovation, resource recovery, and critical infrastructure investments, while working alongside government leaders to advance solutions that benefit both the environment and the communities we serve.”

The policies of interest included the recent revision to the emissions rules for large municipal waste combustors and methane measurement, as well as other policies pertinent to waste-to-energy. WM and Republic Services declined to comment. However, the public documents unveiled the companies’ priorities, including waste-to-energy, PFAS, the extension of the alternative fuel tax credit, recycling issues, energy and water appropriations, and hazardous waste issues.

Republic Services also lobbied for funding for the Army Corps of Engineers site remediation program. This program has been in the spotlight of several controversies linked to Republic’s hazardous waste facilities.

Lobbying Efforts and Policy Changes

It is not always apparent whether policy changes result directly from the industry’s lobbying efforts. For instance, despite WM’s disclosed lobbying for the RNG Incentive Act, the bill is still pending in Congress. However, other lobbying efforts appear to have drawn attention to specific policy areas.

Recology, among the largest waste companies, has stated that the policy environment is tilting towards “liability, compliance, and regulatory certainty.” This shift has led Recology to prioritize regulatory exposure to regulations like PFAS and the changing priorities of Congress. “Recology’s federal priorities have remained largely consistent. But the policy emphasis and approach have evolved with changes in the administration, congressional leadership, and timing of various reauthorizations such as the farm bill or surface transportation reauthorization,” stated Robert Reed, Recology spokesperson.