Government and Regulations — November 21, 2019EPA Finalizes Streamlined System for Managing Recycling Aerosol Cans, Saving More Than $5 MillionThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a streamlined system for managing hazardous waste aerosol cans that is clear, practical, and protective and promotes recycling. EPA estimates this change will save at least $5.3 million annually in regulatory costs. “The rule will benefit approximately 25,000 facilities across numerous industries such as the retail, construction, and manufacturing […] Government and Regulations — November 21, 2019
Government and Regulations — November 19, 2019Maryland Recycling Programs Experiencing Mixed ResultsMaryland is doing relatively well in its recycling and composting efforts, but it is still underperforming in some areas and is overly dependent on burning trash, according to a new study from Environment Maryland Research & Policy Center. State of Recycling in Maryland highlights how structural challenges, the rise of plastic, effects of failing to […] Government and Regulations — November 19, 2019
Collection/Transfer — November 19, 2019Massachusetts State Senate Plans Plastic Bag BanMassachusetts upper chamber’s Ways and Means Committee released a bill that would ban single-use plastic shopping bags at store checkouts statewide and would preempt any plastic bag regulations already in place at the municipal level, such as Boston’s local ordinance. Under Senate President Karen Spilka’s plan, recyclable paper bags would cost ten cents a piece […] Collection/Transfer — November 19, 2019
Government and Regulations — November 19, 2019Cárdenas, Bucshon Introduce the RECOVER ActUnited States Representatives Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) and Larry Bucshon (R-IN) have introduced the bipartisan Realizing the Economic Opportunities and Values of Expanding Recycling (RECOVER) Act. This bill (H.R. 5115)would allocate $500 million in matching federal grants to eligible states, local municipalities, and tribal governments to invest in improving their recycling infrastructure, programs, and education efforts. their […] Government and Regulations — November 19, 2019
Education — November 17, 2019EPA Wraps Up America Recycles Week with Second Annual Recycling SummitU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler convened EPA’s second Recycling Summit on America Recycles Day to address the major challenges facing the U.S. recycling system. The Summit engaged executives and leaders from across the recycling value chain to build on their success over the last year and commit to continuing to work together […] Education — November 17, 2019
Government and Regulations — November 13, 2019Aerial Methane Survey Finds a Fraction of Point Sources Responsible for More Than a Third of California’s Methane EmissionsAn article published in the current issue of the journal Nature highlights the high-tech efforts and important findings of the California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission and NASA to pinpoint emissions of the climate super pollutant methane. The results will be used to help state and local agencies and businesses prioritize investments to reduce […] Government and Regulations — November 13, 2019
Government and Regulations — November 12, 2019Notice of Legal Changes to California Mattress Recycling ProgramAs of Jan. 1, 2020, futons will be added to the mattress recycling program in California and will be subject to recycling fees. The $10.50 fee and recycling obligations apply only to the futon mattress, not to the futon frame or base. This change is a result of Assembly Bill 187 (AB 187) signed into […] Government and Regulations — November 12, 2019
Collection/Transfer — November 11, 2019St. Paul, MN Voters Say Yes to City’s Trash Collection SystemBy a nearly 2-to-1 ratio, St. Paul voters said “Yes” to continuing the city’s organized trash collection system. In a year dominated by complaints about the turbulent rollout of organized trash collection, those who showed up on Election Day to support the citywide service outnumbered opponents by nearly 14,000. The public’s support for the system […] Collection/Transfer — November 11, 2019
Collection/Transfer — November 10, 201971% of California Voters Support Tax on Plastics Manufacturers According to SurveyA survey of California voters found that 71 percent support key policies of a 2020 ballot initiative to tax plastic manufacturers. The “California Recycling and Plastics Pollution Reduction Act of 2020” would assess a fee of up to 1 cent per plastic package. The fee could be passed on to consumers in the form of […] Collection/Transfer — November 10, 2019
Collection/Transfer — November 10, 2019Senate Interior Appropriations Bill Requires EPA to Act on eRINsThe RFS Power Coalition applauds the passage of H.R. 3055 (116), the Senate’s Interior Appropriations bill. The Interior-EPA portion of the spending package includes a provision led by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) requiring the EPA to take swift action on existing eRIN applications: Electric Pathway.—The Committee notes the backlog of applications under the Renewable Fuels […] Collection/Transfer — November 10, 2019
Collection/Transfer — November 10, 2019EPA Continues Progress Under PFAS Action PlanAs part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) extensive efforts to help communities address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the PFAS Action Plan, the Agency is releasing the Systematic Review Protocol for five PFAS toxicity assessments for a 45-day public comment period. The assessments are being developed under the Integrated Risk Information System […] Collection/Transfer — November 10, 2019
Collection/Transfer — November 8, 2019Lawmakers Propose Radical Legislation to Address Global Plastic WasteU.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif) are circulating a discussion draft of legislation to tackle plastic waste. “The sheer volume of plastic pollution that is inundating our communities, our waterways, and even our bodies is nothing short of a crisis,” says Udall. “Our children are already bearing the cleanup costs of a generation of single-use […] Collection/Transfer — November 8, 2019
