Waste News articles from December 2006

Waste News archives from December 2006

A Look Back.(Council of American Building Officials has approved a standard for building steel-framed homes)(Ford Motor Co. says to recycle all of its recalled tires )(GrassRoots Recycling Network bounced off from bioreactor landfill debate)(Chronology)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... 10 years ago: The Council of American Building Officials approves a standard for building steel-framed homes, a move that is expected to greatly increase steelmakers' demand for scrap metal. 5 years ago: Ford Motor Co. says it will follow...

High court hears climate case.
December 4, 2006... Byline: Elizabeth McGowan Fittingly, the two attorneys arguing the first case about global warming before the U.S. Supreme Court did so on a balmy Nov. 29 when the temperature in the nation's capital rose 10 degrees above normal. At...

Byproducts movement grows inside, outside U.S.(United States)(Wayne Nastri)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Joe Truini The need to reduce raw material consumption has never been greater, but neither has the opportunity to do so. Each year, U.S. industries generate 464 million tons of coal ash, foundry sand and construction and...

Correction.
December 4, 2006... * A listing of the Largest Landfills in each state in the Nov. 6 issue misidentified the owner of the Roxana landfill in Illinois. The owner is Allied Waste Industries Inc.

Broin to make ethanol in Iowa.(News)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Joe Truini Broin Companies has unveiled plans to build a cellulose-to-ethanol production facility at one of its existing Iowa ethanol plants. The company's Voyager Ethanol facility in Emmetsburg, Iowa, will produce ethanol from...

Xerox research leads to erasable paper that may reduce waste stream.(News)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Joe Truini Xerox Corp. is experimenting with reusable, self-erasing paper that could reduce fiber use and waste paper. Scientists for the Stamford, Conn.-based company have developed an experimental printing technology that...

Dell takes 'a big step forward' with free e-recycling.(Dell Inc.)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Joe Truini Dell Inc. anchored itself securely atop the scrap electronics recycling heap when it launched a program this year to take back all of its products free of charge, with no strings attached. Consumers around the world...

ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS.
December 4, 2006... ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS: Showing off their Waste News Environmental Awards at last week's Byproducts Beneficial Use Summit are, from left, Tod Arbogast, Dell Inc. (corporate category); Patrick FitzGerald, RecycleBank (corporate category); Barbara...

Huge, and way up in the air.(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Like many of the cases taken up by the nation's highest court, the global warming case that was argued before the Supreme Court last week is epic. Epic in scope, epic in scale, epic in the imprint it will surely leave on the country. Since...

At Deadline.(Internal Revenue Service invests in clean-coal projects)(Poland wants to join Methane to Markets Partnership )
December 4, 2006... 9 coal projects net $1 billion from IRS The Internal Revenue Service has allocated nearly $1 billion in tax credits to nine planned clean-coal projects. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 authorized $1.65 billion in credits for clean-coal...

Corner offices grow greener.(Corporate officers grow environmentally responsible )
December 4, 2006... Byline: Jim Johnson Corporate chieftains are growing greener. A new survey commissioned by Siemens Building Technology Inc. of "C-suite-level'' employees, including CEOs and chief financial officers, revealed a greening trend in...

Turner's top man supports green building.(Turner Construction Co invests in green design)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Jim Johnson Green building has a vocal advocate in a high place. Thomas Leppert is CEO of Turner Construction Co., the nation's largest contractor and largest builder of green building projects. Even Leppert admits his...

Network aims for 85% C&D recycling rate.(News)(Institution Recycling Network)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Jim Johnson Mark Lennon considers himself a failure if his company can't recycle at least 85 percent of a construction or demolition project. As founder and principal of the Institution Recycling Network, Lennon works with...

Krause changes name.(Suppliers)
December 4, 2006... Krause Plow Corp.'s board of directors has voted to change the company's name to Krause Corp. to better reflect the growth of its K-Pac Solid Waste Handling division and its Ag Tillage Products division. Krause is based in Hutchinson, Kan....

Waste Generator Briefs.(Briefs)
December 4, 2006... Retail Wal-Mart emphasizes fluorescent bulbs Wal-Mart said it plans to sell 100 million compact fluorescent light bulbs by the end of next year, a move that will cut 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gases. The bulbs also will...

Waste Services grows in Florida; Canadian firm invests $75M.(Waste Services Inc to buy landfill, debris transfer stations and Pro Disposal Inc)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Waste Services Inc. is spending $75 million to buy a construction and demolition debris landfill as well as a rolloff collection company in Florida. The Burlington, Ontario-based company is buying the landfill in Charlotte County from...

2Eco-Troubadour helps kids smile & think green.(At Your Disposal)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Jim Johnson In talking with Stan Slaughter, it's unclear whether he or his youthful audiences get more out of his traveling environmental education show. "We move. We sing. It's been said I'm a cross between Pete Seeger and...

Inbox.(At Your Disposal)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Pete Fehrenbach Last week brought yet another fresh ripple of trash-related intrigue from that ever-dependable wellspring of such stuff, Toronto. In a lengthy report, the Toronto Globe & Mail analyzes the waste-diversion...

EPA reverses course on TRI frequency change.(News)(Toxics Release Inventory Program)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Bruce Geiselman The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will abandon plans to reduce the reporting frequency required for companies under the Toxics Release Inventory Program. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson announced the...

Waste Industry Briefs.(ReCellular Inc partners with Vivo (Brazil) to manage retired cellular phones)(GreenCitizen Inc expands business upto San Franciso)(World Waste Services Inc to open three new facilities)
December 4, 2006... Recycling ReCellular makes S. American connection ReCellular Inc., a reseller and recycler of wireless cell phones, has announced a two-year partnership with Vivo, the leading mobile telecommunications service provider in South...

Take it to the bank: RecycleBank's biz plan works.(News)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Elizabeth McGowan By merging technological advances with incentives, visionaries Patrick FitzGerald and Ron Gonen have anointed curbside recycling with the "street cred'' that elevated it from a do-gooder act to a profitable,...

Personnel.(Autocar L.L.C appoints Tony Ciofalo )(Harris Waste Management Group appoints Suzanne Evans and Chris Falzone )(MACTEC Engineering & Consulting appoints Mark McClain )
December 4, 2006... AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES - Rose Hamann elected president, board of directors. AUTOCAR LLC - Tony Ciofalo appointed sales manager, northern region. BRACEWELL & GIULIANI LLP - Jeff Holmstead named senior...

Right-sizing Christmas.(proper managemen of packaging waste this christmas)(Viewpoint essay)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Allan Gerlat 'Tis the season... to get more stuff, to give more stuff. To generate more packaging waste. To accumulate and clutter, for our shelves and attics. Sounds pretty bah humbug, right? Well, it isn't really our style,...

NBA's Jazz reach arena deal with nuke waste firm.(News)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Joe Truini The home of the National Basketball Association's Utah Jazz has been renamed EnergySolutions Arena following a deal with EnergySolutions LLC. EnergySolutions provides nuclear waste services to governments,...

Green schools' promise; Study: Eco-friendly facilities would save big money.
December 4, 2006... Byline: Jim Johnson America could save billions of dollars over the years by building green schools - enough money to hire an additional teacher at each building, according to a new study. A study of 30 ecologically friendly school...

AIG subsidiary keeps making solid investments; Interstate Waste joins growing stable of firms.(AIG Highstar Capital II to acquire Interstate Waste Services Inc)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Jim Johnson A New York-based investment fund continues to see opportunity in the solid waste business, this time purchasing Interstate Waste Services Inc. for an undisclosed amount. AIG Highstar Capital II, a unit of the...

Transportation industry completes U-turn on crumb rubber and fly ash.(News)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Joe Truini It's been a long road, but the highway transportation industry is embracing sustainability and giving the environment equal consideration with function. Legislation enacted in 1992 mandating the use of crumb rubber...

The race is to the swift.(Dell Inc's free recycling program)(California's environmental poicy on the green house gas emissions)(Xerox Corp uses environmentally friendly technology)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Innovation and forward thinking seem to be everywhere. At least there are multiple examples in this issue of Waste News. Let's start with the obvious, the three Waste News Environmental Award winners, which are highlighted on Page 1. Dell...

Ruesch finds movement evolved while away.(Paul Ruesch returns from Mexico to address on beneficial use agenda)(Biography)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Joe Truini Back after a two-year sabbatical in Mexico, one person who got the beneficial byproduct use ball rolling is amazed by what has come of his work. "It's like whole new different topics are being discussed. Concepts...

Warner, Inhofe seek top GOP spot on EPW.(Senate Democratic Caucus appoints Barbara Boxer)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Bruce Geiselman The Senate Democratic Caucus has named Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., as the new chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee. However, a struggle may lie ahead among Republicans, who will become the minority...

Stericycle's overseas issues; British government causing snag in company's European expansion.(News)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Mike Colias Crain's Chicago Business The U.K. is trashing a Lake Forest, Ill.-based medical waste hauler's plans to expand overseas. Stericycle Inc.'s $131 million buyout of an Irish company in February gave the waste hauler...

CAPITAL BRIEFS; A summary of recent developments in federal and state environmental legislation and regulation.(Briefs)
December 4, 2006... LEGISLATION GENERAL ENVIRONMENT Illinois: House Bill 4137 authorizes the purchase of fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles from state funds and requires that beginning in July 2007, all gasoline-powered vehicles purchased from state funds be...

California hopes to lead GHG revolution.(Green House Gas revolution in California)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Bruce Geiselman California grabbed the national spotlight in September when it became the first state to approve mandatory greenhouse gas emission caps for all major industries that include penalties for noncompliance. The...

FLOORED.(News)
December 4, 2006... FLOORED: The Mohawk Group's display at last month's Greenbuild International Conference & Expo in Denver highlighted the flooring company's recycling efforts. CAPTION(S): photo

Coming Events.(Calendar)(Calendar)
December 4, 2006... Dec. 4 - Managing Solid Waste Sustainability Symposium, New York. Contact Christine Fazio (212) 238-8754. Dec. 4-7 - Ecobuild Federal 2006, Washington. Call (508) 790-4751 or (800) 996-3863 or visit www.ecobuildfederal.com. Dec. 5-6 -...

Letters.
December 4, 2006... Absolute zero In labeling the zero-waste goal "a lightning rod for radicalism'' ["The journey, not the goal,'' Editor Allan Gerlat's column from Nov. 6, Page 8], you betray the nervousness you must feel as you contemplate a world without...

Stock Report.(At Your Disposal)
December 4, 2006... 3 graphs: Waste News Stock Index * Calvert Social Index Fund * Dow Jones Industrial Average * table: Percentage Change by Market Segment: see print copy.

Inbox.(United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization environmental report)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. store near Cleveland, Ohio evacuated)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Pete Fehrenbach E-I-E-I-O: Cows, pigs and chickens cause more global warming than cars, the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization reports in a recent study. Duck, everyone. Run for your life. I can envision a certain...

Climatic and seasonal wishes.(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... The health scare that has befallen Sen. Tim Johnson carries great ramifications for environmental management, particularly climate change. As has been well reported, if the Democrat from South Dakota is unable to continue with his Senate...

Plastics recycler filling China pipeline.(Parc Corp.)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Nina Ying Sun Plastics News The largest commodity exporter in the Midwest, based on number of containers, is a plastics recycler. Parc Corp. of North Aurora, Ill., founded and owned by Chinese-born Kathy Xuan, has established a...

Big firms pushed for more green power; EPA challenges Fortune 500 companies to increase alternative energy usage.(News)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Bruce Geiselman Fortune 500 companies are being encouraged to double their current level of green power purchasing. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched its Green Power Challenge on Dec. 4, encouraging the nation's...

Pa. switches auto mercury program.(Pennsylvania)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Jim Johnson Pennsylvania is merging its mercury switch removal program with a larger national effort aimed at capturing the toxic metal from older vehicles when they are recycled. The state has been operating an independent...

A Look Back.
December 18, 2006... 10 years ago: Newark Group acquires the international division of William Goodman & Sons Inc., a prominent scrap paper exporter. 5 years ago: The plastics industry asks the National Football League not to ban plastic beverage containers...

At Deadline.(Intechra Holding Corp acquired EPC, Market2Market and SpaceFitters)(General Motors Corp energy use cut)(U.S. BioEnergy Corp initial public offerings)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... Intechra to buy 3 electronics recyclers Intechra Holding Corp. plans to acquire three information asset disposition companies across the United States, which will increase its recycling capacity by 50 percent and annual revenue to more than...

CAPITAL BRIEFS.(Sustainable Building Act of 2007 enacted by Assembly Bill 35 )(School facilities prohibited on contaminated or remediated sites)(Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 ammended)
December 18, 2006... LEGISLATION GENERAL ENVIRONMENT California: Assembly Bill 35 enacts the Sustainable Building Act of 2007 and requires the California Integrated Waste Management Board to adopt regulations for sustainable building standards for the...

Correction.
December 18, 2006... * A news brief on page 5 of the Nov. 20 issue, "Water bottler earns green building honor,'' should have referred to the U.S. Green Building Council as a nonprofit coalition of building industry leaders promoting environmentally responsible...

2006 in Review: Top 10 Stories.(California approves legislation aimed at reducing the greenhouse gas emissions)(United States Supreme Court tackles climate change case )(United States Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. rejects plans for reforming New Source Review program under the Clean Air Act)
December 18, 2006... Byline: @@Text: 1. States fill the void on GHG 1. States fill the void on GHG States began taking action on their own to address greenhouse gas emissions in 2006, citing a lack of federal leadership on the issue. California - the...

Closing EPA libraries on hold.(News)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Bruce Geiselman Hold on to those EPA library cards. The federal government has delayed its plans to throw away thousands of documents as it addresses Congressional concerns over the closing of several libraries operated by the...

The incredible shrinking scrap tire pile; State laws, better markets spurring turnaround.(News)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Joe Truini U.S. scrap tire recovery rates are increasing while stockpiles are decreasing due to state cleanup laws and growing markets for crumb rubber. Scrap tire piles have shrunk 80 percent since 1990, when they contained...

Northeast expansion plans; Casella looks to 2011 to complete aggressive landfill strategy.(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Jim Johnson Casella Waste Systems Inc. figures to boost annual earnings by 2011 thanks to efforts to expand capacity at the company's existing landfills. The Rutland, Vt.-based solid waste management company said it is looking...

Wind industry receives early present.(News)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Joe Truini The wind power industry is celebrating Congress' rare move to extend a tax credit before it expires, which has crippled development in the past, and the industry is calling for transmission reforms to provide greater...

David Wood.(death of David Wood)(GrassRoots Recycling Network)(Obituary)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... David Wood, former executive director of the GrassRoots Recycling Network, attorney and zero-waste advocate, died Dec. 10 in Madison, Wis. He was 43. Wood, a native of Clifton Springs, N.Y., joined the GRRN's board in 2000 and served as...

Separate faith leaders strive for common goal.(James Jones)(Dr. Rajwant Singh)(Akbar Ahmed )
December 18, 2006... Byline: Elizabeth McGowan One English bishop plans on using next year's Easter season as a lesson in global warming. He's asking congregations to engage in a carbon fast during Lent. By dousing electrical lights in their homes, the...

Price of WN to rise in '07.
December 18, 2006... Waste News is raising its subscription prices for 2007. The cost to subscribers in the United States will be $64 for one year and $109 for two years. In Canada and Mexico, the rates beginning with the first issue of 2007 will be $74...

Illinois approves mercury plan.(Rod Blagojevich)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Joe Truini Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's plan to reduce power plant mercury emissions by at least 90 percent by 2015 has won final approval from the state. The Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules signed off on...

Court OKs biosolid land use for L.A. area.(Los Angeles)(Gary Alan Feess)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Bruce Geiselman A federal judge has cleared the way for the city of Los Angeles and Orange County to continue land application of treated sewage sludge - or biosolids - in Kern County, Calif. U.S. District Judge Gary Alan Feess...

Bright lights in the sky.(Superfund program)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... The world continues to have a lot of environmental problems. But on the positive side, there has been huge progress in recent years with two major areas of eyesores - Superfund sites and scrap tire stockpiles. Since the Superfund program...

WN's latest resource ready to use.
December 18, 2006... The 2007 Waste News Buyers Guide is now available online. The resource can be used to find suppliers of equipment, products and services in environmental management. More than 3,200 companies in 328 product categories are listed in this...

Le green c'est chic.
December 18, 2006... Byline: Allan Gerlat Being trendy, for better or worse, is a lot of what we're about as a culture. It's no different for environmental matters. As we at Waste News looked back at 2006, we saw discussion and actions on global warming as...

Researcher works on ways to reduce holiday food waste; 'Twas the week before Christmas.(Timothy Jones)(RecycleBank)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Elizabeth McGowan Nagging fears of not presenting enough food to friends and family to gorge on at holiday gatherings prompts cooks to overbuy and overprepare. So unless they resort to backyard composting or live in a community...

Garbage collector rescues 1-day-old 'Noel' on morning walk to work; 'Twas the week before Christmas.(Bruce Coleman)(All Service Refuse)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Jim Johnson Bruce Coleman doesn't like to be late for work, so he routinely starts out early enough to make the 10-minute walk from his home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to All Service Refuse. But one day this month, the trash...

Energy bar maker tempts employees with cash; From hybrid cars to walking to work, firm makes it pay.(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Jim Johnson Workers at Clif Bar & Co. can earn thousands of dollars in incentives if they switch to driving biodiesel or hybrid vehicles on their commute to work. The Berkeley, Calif.-based energy bar maker has created a...

Coming Events.(Calendar)(Calendar)
December 18, 2006... Jan. 14-16 - Construction & Demolition Exhibition & Conference, San Antonio. Call (630) 585-7530 or visit www.cdrecycling.org. Jan. 17 - Hazmat Logistics China Conference, Shanghai. Contact Max Henry 86 21 5102 1617 or visit...

Waste Generator Briefs.(Dell Inc. expands consumer electronics take-back and recycling program)(Future demand for hybrid-electric vehicles high)(TXU Corp. invests in Skyonic Corp.)
December 18, 2006... Electronics Dell goes worldwide with free recycling Dell Inc. has completed the rollout of its free worldwide consumer electronics take-back and recycling program, the company said Dec. 12. Most recently, the Round Rock,...

Personnel.(Craig Teune )(Matthew Germane )(George Terwilliger)(Curtin Winsor )(Andrew Kingston )(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... ABITIBI-CONSOLIDATED INC. - Bruce Magnuson appointed major accounts executive. ARSENAULT ASSOCIATES - David Reed appointed fleet management consultant. AUTOCAR LLC - Craig Teune appointed Great Lakes region sales manager. DRAGUN...

Waste Industry Briefs.(PET bottles recycling increases)(Wastequip Inc. acquires Mountain Tarp)(ADS LLC acquires DWC Technologies)
December 18, 2006... Recycling 2005 provides mixed results for PET The recycling rate for PET bottles in the United States increased in 2005 for the second year in row, reaching its highest level since 1999, according to a report from the National...

Spitzer's energy panel has big plans for power industry.(Eliot Spitzer)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Erik Engquist Crain's New York Business A committee advising Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer is likely to push for the adoption of the most aggressive energy and environmental policies in the nation. Its recommendations, due...

Superfund program reaches milestone.(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Jim Johnson More than 1,000 Superfund sites are now clean thanks to the federal Superfund hazardous waste program started more than 25 years ago. The new milestone includes 40 locations that were completed during the federal...

Calif. focuses on green wineries.(California)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Joe Truini From the ground to the glass, California vineyards and wineries are becoming better environmental stewards. The number of California wineries and vineyards adopting environmentally sustainable practices has increased...

N.J. threatens to sue over Pa. power plant.(News)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Joe Truini New Jersey is threatening to sue the federal government for allegedly ignoring clean air laws regarding the permitting of a Reliant Energy Inc. coal-fired power plant in Pennsylvania. Attorney General Stuart Rabner...

Ohio singer-songwriter rocks a green theme.(Alex Bevan)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Allan Gerlat Alex Bevan sings about chasing your women and drinking your beer. But he also sings about algae, moss and slime. The folk singer-songwriter became an area celebrity 30 years ago with his song about the skinny...

NYC businesses can request 9-11 air test.(New York)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Bruce Geiselman The federal government is spending $7 million to test indoor spaces in Lower Manhattan as a result of the collapse of the World Trade Center in 2001. "We hope that the program will provide peace of mind to...

Beehler faces long road to EPA inspector general.(Environmental Protection Agency)(Alex Beehler)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Bruce Geiselman Alex Beehler's road to inspector general of the Environmental Protection Agency is blocked. This month the Senate environment committee approved Beehler's nomination along party lines, but Republicans face a...

Outgoing Inhofe lashes out at media.(James Inhofe)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Bruce Geiselman Sen. James Inhofe went out swinging. The Republican chairman of the Senate environment committee used the last meeting he chaired to air complaints and concerns about the media's coverage of global warming. ...

New Products.(New chipper attachment from Bobcat Co.)(Allegheny Shredders Corp. introduces SelecShred grinder )(Scale Monitoring Module from PC Scale Inc)
December 18, 2006... Bobcat Co., a division of Ingersoll Rand, has introduced the 8B, a high-flow chipper attachment. The 8B reduces branch volume 10-to-1, and it includes a variable gpm setting, a reset override system, and a smart valve and pressure valve to...

Mich. firm to launch smart, green trash cart.(Michigan)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Tracy Hayhurst Don't expect to see bumper stickers proclaiming "My trash cart is on the curbside honor roll'' any time soon, but the people at Cascade Engineering are rather proud of their new offspring, the EcoCart. Slated to...

AWARDS.(IKEA International A/S and American Forests Council get Conservation Community Award)(SmartPower gets Green Power Pilot Award for 2006 )(Platts' Energy Pioneer Award goes to EnerNOC Inc.)
December 18, 2006... Ikea, forest group gain green award Ikea and American Forests Council have received the Natural Resources Council of America's annual Conservation Community Award. The companies' collaborative efforts resulted in the planting of over...

Stock Report.(At Your Disposal)
December 18, 2006... 3 graphs: Waste News Stock Index * Calvert Social Index Fund * Dow Jones Industrial Average * table: Percentage Change by Market Segment: see print copy.