Government and Regulations — February 17, 2019Assembly Democratic Resolution Package Dedicated To Increase Recycling, Clean Up Plastic Pollution Clears Assembly PanelAssembly Democrats Nancy Pinkin, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Carol Murphy and Jim Kennedy sponsored two resolutions aimed at combatting the negative impact plastics have on our environment. The resolutions cleared the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee Thursday, of which Assemblywoman Pinkin is chair. “Every year, 100 billion plastic bags and 25 billion Styrofoam plastic coffee […] Government and Regulations — February 17, 2019
Government and Regulations — February 16, 2019EPA Acting Administrator Wheeler Signs MOU with National FFA Organization to Enhance Environmental EducationU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed a first-time Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National FFA Organization to advance educational outreach for EPA’s ongoing environmental and public health initiatives. “Today’s MOU will expand EPA’s environmental education programs to an important and diverse new audience: the National FFA Organization’s 670,000 student members,” said EPA […] Government and Regulations — February 16, 2019
Government and Regulations — February 14, 2019NWRA Responds to EPA’s PFAS Action PlanThe United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) released its comprehensive PFAS action plan. The action plan identifies the steps the EPA is taking to address PFAS. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, known as PFAS, are found in a wide range of consumer products that people use daily such as cookware, pizza boxes and stain repellants. Most […] Government and Regulations — February 14, 2019
Government and Regulations — February 14, 2019EPA Acting Administrator Announces First-Ever Comprehensive Nationwide PFAS Action PlanAt an event in Philadelphia, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced EPA’s Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Action Plan. This historic PFAS Action Plan responds to extensive public interest and input the agency has received over the past year and represents the first time EPA has built a multi-media, multi-program, national […] Government and Regulations — February 14, 2019
Government and Regulations — February 12, 2019NWRA Urges Baltimore City to Reconsider Air Quality RegulationsThe National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA) sent a letter to the Baltimore City Council urging it to reconsider proposed air quality regulations. The regulations would require the installation of monitoring equipment that is costly and may not accurately measure the air emissions as required by the proposed rule. “NWRA believes there is uncertainty concerning […] Government and Regulations — February 12, 2019
Collection/Transfer — February 11, 2019Trash Police? Providence, RI Says Goal of Recycling Checks is Improvement, Not PunishmentEnvironmental inspectors Steven Badessa and Al Giuliano trudged up Pavilion Avenue one frigid morning last week and peered into recycling bins placed at the curb for pickup. The first blue lid they flipped open revealed a cluster of single-use plastic bags holding a bunch of bottles and cans. “There’s too many plastic bags,” Giuliano said, […] Collection/Transfer — February 11, 2019
Collection/Transfer — February 7, 2019Southbridge, MA Cracks Down on ‘Dirty’ RecyclingAs of March 1, Southbridge recycling bins with contents that are more than 15 percent non-recyclable materials won’t be emptied during their scheduled pickup every other week, interim recycling coordinator Anna Smith said. Letters notifying residents and property owners of the plan went out this week. Inspectors also put stickers on offending residents’ bins. In […] Collection/Transfer — February 7, 2019
Collection/Transfer — February 7, 2019Expand Connecticut’s Bottle Bill, Reduce Plastic WasteThe amount of plastic produced since 2010 is more than was produced during the whole last century. Packaging amounts for 40 percent of the plastic uses. Because plastics do not biodegrade easily, they fill up landfills and end up in our oceans. In the ocean, the plastic eventually breaks down into small particles where they […] Collection/Transfer — February 7, 2019
Government and Regulations — February 4, 2019With Plastic Bag Recycling Difficult, Washington Ponders Ban at Stores – and Fees for Paper BagsA bill to ban Washington stores from providing customers with single-use plastic bags was approved last Thursday by the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee Such a ban would be a huge step forward for the environment and public health, said Bruce Speight, state director of Environment Washington, a Seattle-based advocacy group. “Nothing we use […] Government and Regulations — February 4, 2019
Collection/Transfer — February 4, 2019EPA Finalizes Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals RuleThe U.S. EPA has finalized the long-awaited rule — Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals and Amendment to the P075 Listing for Nicotine. The Final Rule was signed on December 11, 2018, and is expected to be published in the Federal Register in the coming weeks. The Final Rule is intended to streamline requirements for […] Collection/Transfer — February 4, 2019
Collection/Transfer — February 1, 2019Washington’s Department of Ecology Hopes to Address Recycling Issues with New LegislationNew legislation proposed by the Washington state Department of Ecology hopes to address some of those deficiencies in regional recycling and solid waste management. The ultimate goal is to attract more businesses to recycle and use materials in the state, and offer state help for waste managers at the county and city level as they […] Collection/Transfer — February 1, 2019
Compost/Organic Recycling — January 31, 2019Policy Alert: SB1383 Organic Waste Diversion Poses Big Challenge for CaliforniaIn the next few years, California cities, counties and waste haulers will be facing a challenge unmatched since the beginning of mandatory recycling. As part of the state’s efforts to combat climate change, Governor Brown signed into law SB 1383 in 2016, establishing targets for reducing the landfilling of organic waste by 50 percent by 2020 and […] Compost/Organic Recycling — January 31, 2019