Waste News articles from August 2003

Waste News archives from August 2003

A Canadian battlefield; Trooper's testimony highlights latest waste import fight.(News)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Bruce Geiselman A former Michigan state trooper who uncovered bloody medical waste dripping from a trash truck entering Detroit from Canada told a House subcommittee that she wants international waste shipments halted. At the...

Survey says; WN needs recyclers' help.(News)(Waste News)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Waste News needs your assistance in compiling our annual ranking of the largest recycling companies in the United States and Canada. To be included in this year's list, visit the Waste News Web site at www.wastenews.com/ rr_survey_2003.html...

Groups urge automakers to discontinue use of lead.
August 4, 2003... Byline: Jim Johnson New York - The manufacture and use of automobiles represents the biggest source of lead pollution, according to a couple of environmental groups that are calling for automakers to stop using the metal - especially in...

Varied evaluation; Federal climate report praised by some, criticized by others.(News)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Bruce Geiselman Environmentalists are criticizing a new government report on global warming for concluding that more study is necessary, while a conservative public policy group says the panel that released the report didn't go far...

Internal scrutiny; Waste Connections follows plan for profits.(News)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Jim Johnson Waste Connections Inc. sees boosting its waste disposal internalization rate and finding additional acquisitions as two ways of improving the company's profit margins. "The most material driver to margins is the...

Calif. wins appeal in ethanol gas case.(News)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Joe Truini A federal appeals court has ruled that the government must rethink its decision to require California to use the gasoline additive ethanol. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth District ruled July 17 that the U.S....

Toshiba unit goes European; U.S. electronic component maker to reduce use of lead.(News)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Joe Truini Irvine, Calif. - Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc. said July 28 that it is implementing new manufacturing procedures to phase out lead in its products. The move reflects a trend of semiconductor makers...

Shell helps Texas remain wind power leader.(News; Shell WindEnergy)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Joe Truini The winds are blowing more than tumbleweeds around Texas these days. The state, already a national leader in wind energy production, had 1,095 megawatts of wind electricity generating capacity as of Dec. 31, second...

Paper buyers, sellers open communications.(News)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Jim Johnson Two groups on either side of the recycled paper trade - buyers and sellers - are opening up the lines of communications a bit more. The sellers, paper packers represented by the Paper Stock Industries chapter of...

Personnel.(People)
August 4, 2003... AUTOCAR TRUCK - Larry Moore appointed vice president, strategic sourcing and quality. BERGSON & CAMPBELL - James Aidala named senior government consultant. BRAKE PRO LTD. - Daryl Rossi and Charles Keck appointed regional managers;...

Senate OKs energy bill; debate goes on.
August 4, 2003... The U.S. Senate passed an energy bill July 31 that would boost the use of ethanol, provide tax incentives for building cleaner coal-fired power plants, and encourage development and use of renewable energy sources such as solar, geothermal,...

Against the grain.(Opinion; hydrogen fuel cells)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... A couple of research gremlins are attempting to prick the automotive industry's hydrogen bubble. Hydrogen-fueled automobiles, which at the very least have the verbal backing of the automotive industry and both political parties, may not be the...

Muscle in the middle.(Opinion; waste management)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... There are signs that as the federal government wrestles with politics to try to get anything done, states more and more often are taking the initiative. Two of the latest examples come from the Northeast, where in both cases several states...

Q & A with David Bell.(News)
August 4, 2003... During 2002, Waste News published four overviews of waste generator market sectors: automotive, health care, electronics and the military. In 2003, we revisit those markets, conducting Q&A interviews with one prominent official from each...

Letters.
August 4, 2003... A worse mousetrap I was surprised that you were willing to give any credit to Disney for its expiring DVD scheme ["3, 2, 1: Self-destructing DVDs may stir waste issues,'' July 21, Page 1]. It is really a wasteful venture literally and...

Bill includes $765M for Yucca Mountain.(News)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Bruce Geiselman The U.S. House of Representatives voted 377-26 on July 18 in favor of a $27.1 billion energy and water bill that would include $22 billion for the Department of Energy. The bill includes $765 million for nuclear...

High-level doubt; GAO officials raises some concern about DOE's radioactive waste plan.(News; General Accounting Office)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Bruce Geiselman Congressional investigators have doubts about the U.S. Department of Energy's cost estimates and strategies for permanently disposing of 94 million gallons of highly radioactive waste from the nation's nuclear...

Duo downplays fuel cells.(News)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Bruce Geiselman Berkeley, Calif. - Two researchers are questioning the wisdom of investing large amounts of tax dollars to develop hydrogen-fueled cars, saying the same environmental benefits can be obtained with cheaper options....

At loggerheads; Cruise line, green group disagree over dumping of sewage.(News; Oceana)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Jim Johnson A cruise line finds itself under attack from an environmental group over the company's waste management practices. Oceana, a Washington-based environmental group fighting cruise ship pollution, is calling into...

Folgers to switch to plastic coffee can.(News)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Joseph Pryweller The traditional Folgers metal coffee canister, a staple for 150 years, is poised to become the next big consumer product to move to plastic. But the move is raising questions and concerns among...

Houdek joins WN sales.(News)(Carla Houdek, Waste News)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Waste News has hired Carla Houdek as the newest member of its sales department. Houdek, who replaces Jeff McDonald, is a display sales representative, serving advertising accounts throughout the United States. She comes to Waste News...

Seattle mayor plans recyclables ban.(News)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Joe Truini Mayor Greg Nickels wants to ban yard waste and paper from commercial garbage in an effort to boost the city's recycling rate. Nickels' July 23 legislative proposal also bans paper, cardboard, bottles and cans from...

Clean neighborhood; New York., nine neighboring states to set up emission credit system.
August 4, 2003... Byline: Joe Truini Almost the entire northeastern United States has gotten on board the state of New York's plan to reduce the region's greenhouse gas emissions. Governors from nine Northeastern states have committed to work with New...

Corrections.(Correction)
August 4, 2003... * A story beginning on Page 1 in the July 21 issue regarding waste collection route productivity should have stated that only a portion of software developed for Waste Management Inc.'s WasteRoute program is proprietary to the waste hauling...

EPA will re-evaluate air pollution proposal.
August 4, 2003... Byline: Bruce Geiselman Washington - Environmental groups and nine northeastern states have won a victory in their challenge of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's changes to the New Source Review section of the Clean Air Act. ...

EPA putting itself under microscope.(News)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Tracy Hayhurst The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asks members of the private sector to be better stewards of the environment and to minimize their impact on their surroundings. Now the agency is requiring the same of itself....

Online matchmaking; NYC waste match group takes its act to cyberspace.(NY WasteMatch)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Jim Johnson Waste makers have a new tool to remake their waste. NY WasteMatch has launched an interactive online exchange for surplus and scrap materials that allows waste generators in New York City to deal directly with those...

17 nos; Michigan legislators oppose ozone rule.(News)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Bruce Geiselman All 15 of Michigan's congressmen and its two senators signed a letter opposing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed eight-hour ozone rule, saying it poses a threat to the state's economy. The...

Coming Events.(Calendar)
August 4, 2003... North America Aug. 11-14 - Joint Services Pollution Prevention and Hazardous Waste Management Conference & Exhibition, San Antonio. Contact Dawn Harper & Tim Becker (703) 247-2584 or visit www.p2-hwmconference.com. Aug. 18-20 -...

The carrot, not the stick.(Column; recycling)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Allan Gerlat Just how important is it to recycle, anyway? Most people will argue that it's a good thing for the environment. But how far the public sector, businesses and residents should go in the name of recycling is another...

Waste News Pricing Report.(News)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... TWO-WEEK SLOWDOWN: Domestic paper mills have reported little movement on all grades over the last two weeks. Export prices for recovered newspaper have increased slightly on the East and West coasts. Domestic newspaper prices should remain...

Global warming called 'hoax'.(News)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Bruce Geiselman - Days before the U.S. Senate passed its version of the energy bill, the chairman of the Environment Committee urged his fellow senators to reject amendments that would set caps on carbon dioxide emissions, saying...

a look back.(News)
August 4, 2003... Five years ago: Browning-Ferris Industries Inc.'s importation of temporary replacement workers during a Teamsters strike in Contra Costa County, Calif., results in a handful of violent altercations in and around the city of Antioch. A year...

Waste Generator Briefs.(News)
August 4, 2003... Automotive Bill provides incentive for fuel cells Washington - Legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives July 25 would provide larger tax credits for people who buy clean-fuel vehicles for use in select ozone...

Republic Services to begin paying dividend.(People)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Jim Johnson Fort Lauderdale, Fla. - Republic Services Inc. shareholders will share approximately $40 million per year through the introduction of a quarterly common stock dividend. "Our future cash flow gives us the financial...

Calif. mayor pleads guilty in garbage scam.(News)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Jim Johnson The mayor of Carson could receive a prison sentence of more than 11 years after pleading guilty to 15 charges related to his role in a corruption scheme involving the city's waste contract. Mayor Daryl Sweeney...

briefs.(waste management)
August 4, 2003... Federal Government Dems urge probe of enforcement office Washington - House and Senate Democrats are asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's inspector general to investigate management, funding and staffing needs of the EPA's...

Researchers push nuclear energy.(News)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Joe Truini Researchers at two prominent U.S. universities have concluded that nuclear energy cannot be overlooked as part of the world's future energy mix. Nuclear energy is an important option to meet future energy needs...

E-recycler: Question the handling of CRTs.(News; cathode rey tubes)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Joe Truini How do you know if your contracted electronics waste processor is actually recycling your old equipment? Simple - just ask. A small Vermont television and computer recycler is suggesting electronic waste...

Editorials.(News)(Editorial)
August 18, 2003... EPA choice facing heat Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt will go before the Senate in September as President Bush's nominee to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But it will be the environmental policies of the Bush administration that...

EPA promotes waste challenge.(news)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Elizabeth Thompson Beckley Seeking to increase the national recycling rate to 35 percent and to cut the generation of 30 priority chemicals in hazardous waste in half by 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency used the 2003...

2003 North American Legislative Review.(News)
August 18, 2003... On June 26, Maine Gov. John Baldacci signed into law a bill making Maine the first state to pass a law setting specific goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The law calls for reducing greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane and...

A Look Back.(News)
August 18, 2003... 1970: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is established. Five years ago: Allied Waste Industries Inc. announces plans to purchase American Disposal Services Inc. in a merger valued at $1.1 billion, creating the third-largest waste...

Allied's common shares grow by 110M.(News; Allied Waste Industries Inc. )
August 18, 2003... Byline: Jim Johnson Major investors in Allied Waste Industries Inc. are converting their preferred stock into common stock - a move that increases the company's number of common shares by 110 million and eliminates special dividends paid...

Auto recycler going public.(News)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Jim Johnson Automotive parts recycler LKQ Corp. plans to raise $75 million in an initial public offering. The Chicago-based company, which calls itself the largest nationwide provider of recycled parts from original equipment...

Bankrupt no more; Safety-Kleen's plan receives approval.(News; Safety-Kleen Systems Inc. )(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Jim Johnson Safety-Kleen Systems Inc. expects to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection this quarter after more than three years. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware recently confirmed the...

Not fully satisfied; Howard: U.S. seeks continued environmental progress.(News; John Howard)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Bruce Geiselman San Antonio - The country as a whole has made significant environmental progress over the past 30 years, although still more needs to be done, Federal Environmental Executive John Howard told attendees of the 8th...

Rules hamper green purchasing.(News)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Bruce Geiselman The Department of Defense is committed to purchasing environmentally friendly products. However, those overseeing the efforts at all levels, from the Pentagon to the local bases, are struggling with a dizzying array...

Circuits cut; Calif. ends deal with recycler Unicor.(News)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Joe Truini Unicor's electronic recycling program has been dealt another blow. The California Department of General Services last month notified Federal Prison Industries Inc., which does business as Unicor, that the state...

WMI pumps up dividend payment.(News; Waste Management Inc.)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Jim Johnson America's largest solid waste management firm is dramatically increasing its yearly dividend payment to shareholders. Waste Management Inc. has been paying stockholders 1 cent per share per year, but will hike that...

Power industry suffers setback; FirstEnergy loses landmark case.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Joe Truini The verdict is in for the first of the so-called New Source Review cases, and it's not looking good for the power industry. A federal court ruled Aug. 7 that FirstEnergy Corp. violated the Clean Air Act when it made...

Auto loss; Judge in Maine OKs mercury switch law.(News)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Eric Freeman A federal magistrate has rejected an challenge to a Maine law requiring automakers to pay a $1 bounty for mercury switches recovered from their vehicles and to establish consolidation centers to collect the switches....

correction.(Correction Notice)
August 18, 2003... * The Hauling & Disposal Ranking published in the July 21 listing should have noted that Leticia Inc.'s annual revenue was an estimate gathered from research company Dun & Bradstreet. Leticia Inc. tied for No. 94 in the ranking.

Laws focus on emissions, mercury.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Bruce Geiselman It was an active 12 months for environmental legislation as at least three New England states adopted laws taking aim at electric power plants and other major sources of air emissions, and several states joined the...

Waste News Pricing Report.(News)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... UP & DOWN: Domestic paper mill prices for recovered newspaper have improved in some parts of the country this month, reaching $65 to $70 per ton in certain regions. The export market for newspaper has remained flat, though. Meanwhile, export...

Waste Generator News.(News)
August 18, 2003... Military Army can burn weapons in Alabama Washington - A federal judge has cleared the way for the Army to begin incinerating chemical weapons at a military site in Anniston, Ala. U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson on Aug....

Debate begins as Bush tabs Leavitt.(George W. Bush; Mike Leavitt)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Joe Truini Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt is leaving the job he loves for a higher calling - to serve his country. President Bush nominated the Utah governor to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Aug. 11 at the Marriott...

Automakers settle air dispute.(News)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Jim Johnson A trio of major automakers and California are ending a legal spat over clean air rules. General Motors Corp., DaimlerChrysler Corp. and Isuzu Motors Ltd., along with several dealers, had challenged the state's zero...

N.C. law favors cartridge refills.(News; computer printers)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Joe Truini North Carolina has adopted a law that will allow printer users to refill any cartridge and voids contracts that ban cartridges from being remanufactured. Gov. Mike Easley signed the legislation, H.B. 999, into law...

Waste Industry Briefs.(News)
August 18, 2003... Solid Waste Hauling IESI buys 9 firms, adds $9M revenue Haltom City, Texas - IESI Corp. has acquired nine businesses in recent months that add $9 million in annual revenue to the solid waste management company. The acquisitions...

Attendees call out for stewardship.(News; waste management)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Elizabeth Thompson Beckley Washington - Product stewardship efforts between industry and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are helping advance the goals of the Resource Conservation Challenge, according to speakers at the...

Huge blackout impacts Toronto trash.(Late News)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... The massive power outage Aug. 14 that left millions of businesses and residents in the Northeast and Midwest in the dark stalled waste collection in at least one major city. Trash collection for single-family homes in the city of Toronto...

letter.(Letter to the Editor)
August 18, 2003... Feasible fuel Recently published arguments by two university professors ("Duo downplays fuel cells,'' Aug. 4 issue) against the Department of Energy's research on hydrogen-powered cars contain several errors and misconceptions about the...

2003 North Americqan Legislative Review (part 1).(News)
August 18, 2003... The following legislative review highlights some of the state and provincial environmental laws enacted in the United States and Canada since July 2002. Alabama The state passed no new waste or recycling related legislation. ...

2003 North Americqan Legislative Review (part 4).(News)
August 18, 2003... New Hampshire * House Bill 578 creates a program of self-certification on compliance with hazardous waste regulations for small-quantity generators producing less than 220 pounds of hazardous wastes per month, and requires a declaration of...

2003 North Americqan Legislative Review (part 5).(News)
August 18, 2003... Vermont * House Bill 100 extends the sunset authority to charge 1 cent per gallon on gas to support the tanks program within the Agency of Natural Resources. Contacts: Rep. William Johnson (R) (802) 828-2228 Sen....

2003 North Americqan Legislative Review (part 3).(News)
August 18, 2003... Indiana * Senate Bill 160 changes the fee for the shipment of high-level radioactive waste from a fee for the total shipment to a fee for each cask; establishes a fee for transportation of low-level radioactive waste. * Senate Bill...

2003 North Americqan Legislative Review (part 2).(News)
August 18, 2003... Connecticut * House Bill 6048 requires two of the state's coal-burning electric power plants, at Bridgeport and the AES Thames facility, to reduce mercury emissions, with a compliance date of July 1, 2008, and authorizes the commissioner...