Waste News articles from August 2002

Waste News archives from August 2002

Calling in the marines; NYC waste plan would phase out city's use of land transfer stations.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... The city of New York will rely solely on marine transfer stations to handle its residential trash under a new solid waste plan that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg unveiled July 31. Under the plan, which requires the New York City Council's...

At Deadline: EPA unveils diesel emission penalties.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Aug. 1 unveiled monetary penalties that it will impose on manufacturers of heavy-duty diesel engines for trucks and buses that are unable to meet tighter emissions standards. Manufacturers that...

Waste News Commodity Pricing Report.(recovered high density polyethylene)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... HDPE SURGES: Markets for recovered high density polyethylene, both natural and colored, have remained strong as the demand for scrap material continues to increase. Gains in scrap pricing have surpassed increases in virgin resin as recovered...

EPA, Congress clash over cleanup progress.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Senate sparred at a recent hearing over how Superfund sites are being handled. EPA assistant administrator Marianne Horinko told a Senate subcommittee that her agency is making significant...

Waste Generator Briefs.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Telecommunications Firm gets OK for recyclable cell phone Garden Grove, Calif. - Hop-On.com Inc., a company that is developing disposable and fully recyclable cell phones, has received federal approval for the world's first digital...

Dow halts pesticide's use on residential lawns.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Dow AgroSciences LLC is discontinuing the use of the herbicide clopyralid on residential lawns in the United States. The company has petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to delete residential turf uses from the clopyralid...

Seeking to defy gravity.(California Air Resources Board)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... California is at it again. Everyone involved with environmental issues knows what that means, and depending on your viewpoint, that can be a good thing or a bad thing. The state - so often significantly more aggressive in protecting the...

Golden moment.(Bloomberg's waste management plan)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... A gold mine of opportunity awaits waste management companies up and down the East Coast and beyond thanks to a plan unveiled last week by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Not only will the Waste Managements and IESIs of the world have...

Mass. power plant feels heat.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 5, 2002... Federal and state agencies have issued a new draft water discharge permit for Pacific Gas & Electric National Energy Group's Brayton Point power plant to reduce the facility's environmental impacts on Massachusetts' Mount Hope Bay. But the...

Mining industry asks for bond relief.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Mining officials testified before a House Resources subcommittee last week asking the government to adjust reclamation bonding requirements. The Department of the Interior requires surety bonds to cover environmental cleanup of public...

A cloudy picture.(Clear Skies proposal)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Should the environment take a back seat to the economy when times are tough? I'm sure there's an immediate and strong reaction to that question representing both answers. With current uncertain economic times, it's a very pertinent...

States set waste policies.(Washington state House Bill 2308)(recycling of construction waste )(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... The construction, soft drink and farming industries must all adhere to new waste guidelines passed within the last 12 months. This past spring, the state of Washington enacted substitute House Bill 2308, which backers hope will encourage...

EPA, GE agree on river sediment testing in N.Y.(sediment contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls from General Electric)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 5, 2002... About 30,000 sediment samples will be taken from the Upper Hudson River by General Electric Co. this year and next to help create a plan to dredge millions of cubic yards of sediment contaminated with PCBs. The U.S. Environmental Protection...

Coming Events.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... North America Aug. 19-21 - BioCycle Northeast Conference, Portland, Maine. Call (610) 967-4135. Sept. 6-8 - Great American Trucking Show, Dallas. Call (888) 349-4287 or fax (812) 949-9600. Sept. 8-11 - National Recycling Coalition...

Waste Industry Briefs.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 5, 2002... Recycling Smurfit-Stone to handle Philly recycling Philadelphia - Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. will purchase and process the city of Philadelphia's recyclables under a one-year contract covering 1.4 million residents and various...

Bush sends Clear Skies initiative to Congress.(greenhouse gas emissions from power plants)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 5, 2002... The Bush administration has sent legislation to Congress that would implement the president's Clear Skies initiative for greenhouse gas emissions from electric power plants. Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., and Reps. Billy Tauzin, R-La., and Joe L....

A Look Back.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Five years ago: Metal Management Inc. continues its consolidation binge with the purchase of four companies in Arizona, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. Metal Management officials say the acquisitions will boost the company's annual revenue by...

IESI makes 'big' buys; Texas-based hauler adds firms in 3 southern states.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... IESI Corp. is entering Oklahoma in a ``big way,'' according to its president and CEO. The Haltom City-based solid waste management company has acquired Total Waste Systems Inc. and Centerpoint Disposal Inc., both of Norman, Okla. The...

Okla. firm violates hazardous waste rules, union alleges.(Continental Carbon Co. )(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... A union has filed a lawsuit against Continental Carbon Co. for allegedly violating federal hazardous waste regulations and endangering employees. The Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union filed the...

N.Y. deal; Foster Wheeler sells plant to Wheelabrator.(Wheelabrator Technologies Inc.)(waste-to-energy plant)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 5, 2002... Foster Wheeler Ltd. is selling its interest in a Hudson Falls, N.Y., waste-to-energy plant to Wheelabrator Technologies Inc. The agreement, reached July 23, provides Foster Wheeler with an undisclosed amount of cash, eliminates $52.6...

Bills would block exports.(of solid waste from Canada to US)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Two congressmen from Michigan have introduced legislation in the House and Senate aimed at keeping Canadian waste out of Michigan landfills. ``Canada has plenty of room to dispose of its own unwanted trash,'' said Rep. John D. Dingell,...

Farmers fight air regs for animal waste, diesel pumps; Calif. law irks 2 industries.(California Farm Bureau Federation lawsuit)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... California farmers are challenging a federal decision to enact air pollution regulations governing their operations. The California Farm Bureau Federation claims that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ignored its comments before...

Venture may aid medwaste generators.(joint sales and marketing agreement)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Millions of residential and commercial waste generators have another disposal option if they use needles and other sharp objects, thanks to a new venture from Waste Management Inc. and Sharps Compliance Corp. The two Houston-based...

Q & A with Hermina Morita.(recycling laws in Hawaii)(Brief Article)(Interview)
August 5, 2002... On June 25, Hawaii became the 11th state in the nation, and the first since 1986, to adopt a container recycling law. Rep. Hermina Morita co-sponsored the bill that will impose a 5-cent deposit on all beverage cans and bottles except for milk...

Automobile makers to battle greenhouse gas standards; Calif. laws irk 2 industries.(fuel economy standards for California vehicles)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Automobile manufacturers vow to fight a new California law aimed at reducing automobile emissions by the end of the decade. But a trade group representing a dozen vehicle makers said it pledges to work with the federal government to raise...

North American Legislative Review: Part 1 of 3.(Statistical Data Included)
August 5, 2002... This review surveys the state and provincial laws enacted or introduced in the U.S. and Canada since July 2001. Part 1 covers the states that lie east of the Mississippi River and Canada's six eastermost provinces. Alabama * House...

North American Legislative Review: Part 2 of 3.
August 5, 2002... Kentucky * House Bill 174 charges an environmental impact fee to be paid by distributors on each container sold or distributed in Kentucky, by fast-food retail establishments or by retail establishments; and charges a $1 per ton tipping...

North American Legislative Review: Part 3 of 3.
August 5, 2002... New Jersey The New Jersey Legislature enacted no new waste or recycling laws. Contacts: Sen. Henry McNamara (R) (201) 848-9600 Sen. Joseph Suliga (D) (908) 587-0805 Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D) (609)...

Part 1 of 2: East of the Mississippi.
August 5, 2002... Maps with legend: see printed publication.

Allied automates to cut costs.
August 19, 2002... Allied Waste Industries Inc. has launched an automation project to cut costs and improve earnings. During a recent quarterly conference call, Allied officials told analysts about efforts around the country to test automated residential...

New Products & Technology.(waste management industry)
August 19, 2002... SAFETY-KLEEN CORP. has introduced Pig Mat Pads to absorb spilled liquids such as oil, water, coolants, solvents, acids and bases. Incorporating multiple absorbing layers, Pig Mat Pads are constructed with thermal bond points for added...

NYC's hope: Cap disposal costs.(New York City examining marine transfer of refuse)
August 19, 2002... A plan to run all of New York City's trash through a network of publicly owned marine transfer stations ultimately will not lower disposal costs, but the goal is to put a cap on future price increases, according to the city's top trash man. ...

Waste News Commodity Pricing Report.(corrugated containers prices decreasing)
August 19, 2002... ABOUT-FACE: The surge in prices for old corrugated containers has run its course and is reversing. Prices in some markets are dropping as quickly as they increased over the last two months. Overseas buyers have backed off, nearly halving their...

Stericycle settles antitrust case.(Stericycle Inc., accused of antitrust violations in dealings with Browing-Ferris Industries Inc.)
August 19, 2002... Stericycle Inc. has agreed to pay $320,000 in civil penalties and costs to the state of Arizona to settle an antitrust investigation, but the medical waste disposal company denies that it did anything wrong. The agreement in principle,...

Cruising for a bruising; Cruise line admits dumping oil, will pay $1 million fine.(Star Cruises PLC, new owner of Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd. reports itself to EPA)
August 19, 2002... The world's fourth-largest cruise line is paying a $1 million fine after admitting that it dumped waste oil at sea for years. A plea agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice calls for Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd. to also go on probation...

Supplier News.
August 19, 2002... LFG&E creates biogas service team El Cajon, Calif. - LFG&E International has formed a group of biogas specialists to provide support services to engineers, contractors, owners and operators. LFG&E International has named the group the...

Coming Events.(2002 scheduled nation-wide conferences, meetings in waste management industries)
August 19, 2002... North America Sept. 6-8 - Great American Trucking Show, Dallas. Call (888) 349-4287 or fax (812) 949-9600. Sept. 8-11 - National Recycling Coalition Annual Congress & Exposition, Austin, Texas. Call (703) 683-9025. Sept. 18-20 -...

Corrections.(correction in legislative update for Wisconsin; Trans-Alaska Pipeline information)(Correction Notice)
August 19, 2002... * An article on Page 12 of the July 22 issue should have said the Trans-Alaska Pipeline opened in 1977. * The state legislative update for Wisconsin on Page 15 of the Aug. 5 issue should have listed Sen. David B. McBride, (302) 744-4167,...

Follow that bill; E-waste and landfill policies just some of new changes.(states enact, plan electronic and other recycling programs)(Brief Article)
August 19, 2002... Waste haulers and recyclers around the country may need to adjust their business practices to come into compliance with enacted or pending legislation passed by several states. North Carolina counties could receive funding for establishing...

Alaska takes EPA lawsuit to high court.(Environmental Protection Agency accused of usurping Alaska's air quality permit policy)
August 19, 2002... Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the federal government from usurping the state's authority and meddling in its air quality permit program. ``At stake in this suit is Alaska's ability to use common sense...

Waste Generator Briefs.
August 19, 2002... Mining EPA to help supervise Idaho cleanup Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has agreed to participate in a cross-governmental partnership to oversee the cleanup of mining-related contamination in the...

A diet of a different sort.(reducing, recycling food waste examined in University of Arizona food debris study)
August 19, 2002... Study after study tells us that Americans keep getting fatter. Now a new report on food waste generation shows that it's not because we're eating everything in sight. Research by the University of Arizona concludes that the average...

Should NYC phase out its use of land-based transfer stations?(Letter to the Editor)
August 19, 2002... Yes, and the city should also shut down all private putrescible truck-based transfer stations. The waste handling industry has committed atrocities in New York City unlike anywhere else they do business in this country over the past decade....

Water's the way.(examination of New York City's thoughts in marine transfer of refuse)(Editorial)
August 19, 2002... New York City, you may have heard, has closed its gargantuan landfill on Staten Island. Thus it needs a new plan for getting rid of the 28,000 tons of garbage its denizens generate every day. Among the many goals the plan must achieve, it...

Enviro woes mount for Kmart; Gov't seeks millions from retailer.(Department of Justice seeks $128 million from Kmart Corp. to cleanup Superfund sites: Beede Waste Oil site in Plaistow, N.H.; Hows Corner site in Plymouth, Maine; Jack Goins site in Cleveland, Tenn.; Lenz Oil Services Inc. site in Du Page County, Ill.; and Peterson/Puritan Inc. site in Cumberland and Lincoln, R.I.)
August 19, 2002... The U.S. Department of Justice filed a claim July 30 against Kmart Corp. in the federal bankruptcy court in Chicago seeking $22 million in past costs and $128 million in future costs related to the cleanup of five Superfund sites. The...

At Deadline.(news regarding: Leach Company Inc. acquisition of Federal Signal Corp, Wittke Waste Equipment Ltd., stock market status of U.S. Plastic Lumber Corp., Alcan Inc., interest in Corus Group PLC)
August 19, 2002... Federal Signal to buy Leach, Wittke Federal Signal Corp. is making a big push into the waste management industry, announcing Aug. 16 its intention to buy privately held refuse truck makers Leach Co. and Wittke Inc. for undisclosed amounts....

Letter: Gag reflex.(Letter to the Editor)
August 19, 2002... After reading Joe Truini's article [``A fork in recycling's road,'' July 8], recovering from my hyperventilation and mild cardiac arrest, I decided that I need to write to your paper and present our reality. Recycling is alive, well,...

A Look Back.(Brief Article)
August 19, 2002... 1990: A total of 140 recycling laws are enacted in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Five years ago: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency enacts new medical waste incineration rules. Industry experts predict that the rules will...

Report blasts animal farms; Industry groups say Sierra Club study is unfair, 'bizarre'.(meat and poultry industry leaders criticized)
August 19, 2002... The Sierra Club has released a report highlighting what the environmental group calls hundreds of criminal and civil environmental violations in the animal farming industry. But an industry trade group fired back at the Sierra Club, saying...

Del. oil refinery faces suit; State alleges Motiva's haz waste site had no permit.(Motiva Enterprises L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
August 19, 2002... A Delaware oil refinery is being sued by the federal government and the state of Delaware due to a tank explosion last year that killed one person and caused thousands of gallons of used sulfuric acid to spill. Work near a storage tank at...

Ariz. agency walks it like it talks it.(Arizona Department of Environmental Quality)(Brief Article)
August 19, 2002... Nearly 75 percent of the debris generated by the construction of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality's new headquarters lived to see another day. The material recycled at the six-story building in Phoenix included wood, gypsum,...

Firm falsely promoted technology, SEC charges.(Environmental Solutions Worldwide Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 19, 2002... The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a lawsuit against a Pennsylvania firm alleging that it perpetrated a massive stock fraud by falsely claiming it had developed a technology that could greatly reduce companies' nitrous oxide...

Mass. fines town for trashing recyclables.(Wayland, Massachusetts)(Brief Article)
August 19, 2002... The town of Wayland has agreed to a $25,000 civil penalty for allegedly dumping recyclable plastic at a landfill. ``The Board of Selectman and the Board of Health believe that this settlement is in Wayland's best interests,'' said Mary...

Court rejects S.C. plutonium lawsuit.(Department of Energy is allowed to ship plutonium to South Carolina)(Brief Article)
August 19, 2002... South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges lost his battle in a federal appeals court on Aug. 6 to stop the federal government from shipping plutonium from a former weapons site in Colorado to the federal government's Savannah River Site near Aiken. ...

Waste Industry Briefs.(includes multiple records)(Brief Article)
August 19, 2002... Flow Control Waste group fights N.C. county's plan Washington - The National Solid Wastes Management Association filed a brief in a federal court July 29 in opposition to a plan by a North Carolina county to reinstate its flow control...

Food waste soars; Homes generate 474 pounds a year, researchers say.(Brief Article)
August 19, 2002... Americans generate far more food waste than ever imagined - more than three times more. New research from the University of Arizona shows that the average household creates 474 pounds of food debris per year - much higher than an earlier...

U.S. to pay for Calif. cleanup.(Brief Article)
August 19, 2002... A federal appeals court has ruled that the federal government must pay for the cleanup of a Superfund site in Torrance, Calif., that manufactured synthetic rubber during World War II. Dow Chemical Co., which operated the plant on behalf of...

North American Legislative Review: Part 2 of 2.
August 19, 2002... This review, Part 2 of 2, surveys the state and provincial laws enacted or introduced in the U.S. and Canada since July 2001. Part 2 covers the states that lie east of the Mississippi River and Canada's seven westernmost provinces. Alaska...

North American Legislative Review: Part 2 of 3.(waste disposal regulations)
August 19, 2002... Colorado * Senate Bill 41 expands the state Hazardous Waste Incinerator Siting Act to include all hazardous waste processors. * Senate Bill 52 repeals provisions allocating money from the waste tire fund to the commission for higher...

North American Legislative Review: Part 3 of 3.(waste disposal regulations)
August 19, 2002... Minnesota * Senate File 1495 requires all diesel fuel sold in the state for use in internal combustion engines to contain at least 2 percent biodiesel fuel oil, effective June 30, 2005. * Senate File 1555 bans the use of phosphorous...