Solid waste companies talk disposal pricing, ESG and Biden in Q1 earnings outlooks Waste Management, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Covanta and Casella Waste Systems leaders comment on pandemic recovery trends and other pressing topics. Published May 10, 2021 Spencer Platt via Getty Images The industry's publicly traded solid waste and recycling companies have marked one year since the pandemic's initial effects, and their first-quarter earnings are showing ongoing signs of economic recovery underway. Common discussion threads in this latest round of quarterly earnings calls included the following. Disposal pricing expected to keep rising After seeing somewhat less activity in this area during the depths of the pandemic, many companies now anticipate price increases will ramp back up as economic activity normalizes.