Memphis sanitation worker killed in crash with train “A Memphis garbage truck driver was killed when his vehicle was hit by a train in South Memphis Thursday. The man, identified by his co-workers as James Davis, died on the scene of the accident that occurred on the tracks near Rozelle and Kerr, just east of South Parkway. Another sanitation worker, Cornelius Otis, who was a passenger in the vehicle, jumped out of the truck as the train hit. Otis was taken to the hospital where he is expected to recover.” (The Commercial Appeal)

Pennsylvania congressman launches frack waste investigation “In a reflection of growing national concern about the disposal of oil and gas waste, a Pennsylvania congressman launched an investigation Wednesday into the way his state regulates the discarding of the unwanted, often toxic material. Rep. Matthew Cartwright, a first-term Democrat from eastern Pennsylvania, wants to know more about how the contaminated leftovers from hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, are regulated.” (Philly.com)

Closing landfill could reach $20M “Members of the Ozark Mountain Solid Waste District Board were told this week that the cost of closing NABORS landfill could reach as much as $20 million, and that funding originally meant for recycling would be better spent on protecting the environment around the landfill. Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality interim director Ryan Benefield met Tuesday with the board to discuss the landfill, but solid waste district director Melinda Caldwell asked to address board members first.” (HarrisonDaily.com)

Radiation detection nearly set at W.Va. landfills “A state Department of Environmental Protection official says the installation of detectors is nearly complete at six West Virginia landfills that will accept low-level radioactive drilling waste from natural gas operations. Legislation passed earlier this year required radiation monitoring of drill cuttings sent to landfills an overturned tonnage limits for those particular landfills. The DEP then crafted emergency rules for radiation detector placement. Work on the rule started after a landfill without detectors was stopped from accepting radioactive materials determined to be slightly above background levels.” (WOWKTV.com)

New railcar refurbishing company will create 150 jobs “An Illinois-based scrap and recycling company announced Thursday it will build a new $35 million railcar refurbishing plant in Hutchinson. Mervis Railcar LLC, a subsidiary of Mervis Industries, plans to employ up to 150 people within three years of opening at the 100-acre Enterprise Park site opening south of Siemens Wind Power.” (HutchNews.com)

Macon approves $1.5 million for landfill expansion “With its landfill nearing capacity, Macon County is taking steps to add a new cell before the existing area fills up about two years from now. They’ve had another phase permitted for about 20 years, but rather than just install a liner in that property and call it a day, the Solid Waste Management Department is looking to buy an adjoining property to add to that already-permitted cell.” (Smoky Mountain News)

City turns yard waste into dollars “It's certainly not the most glamorous job, but bagging yard waste off the side of the road is something Little Rock depends on. Each year the city generates more than $100,000 from churning yard waste into usable compost and mulch. ‘We've got plenty of equipment. We've got four men that work the pave sites,’ said Little Rock Solid Waste Services manager Warren Atkins. ‘A good year we'll do about $100,000 [in sales].’” (THV11.com)

Medford schools launch textile recycling program “A new recycling program in Medford Public Schools is encouraging families not to throw out their ripped jeans, hole-filled socks and other used clothes and fabrics — which don’t get recycled as much as items like paper, cans and bottles. This September, the district installed bins outside schools to collect used textiles, which are picked up and either reused or repurposed by Bay State Textiles.” (Wicked Local Medford)

Kannapolis considers plans for electronic waste collection “City council is considering shutting down the daily drop-off site for electronic waste collection at the Public Works Operations Center on Bethpage Road and instead have electronics items collected at four to six ‘events’ a year. The city is considering the change because electronic waste vendors now want to charge the city for a service they used to offer for free, a service that could cost more than $38,000 a year.” (IndependentTribune.com)

Aussem proposes Ottawa yard waste compost facility “Plans to seek bids for citywide refuse collection in Ottawa have been put on hold in order to first study a proposal by Public Property Commissioner Dan Aussem to build a new $1 million compost facility to cut the costs of handling yard waste. The compost plant is a new wrinkle to the thoughts on what to do with yard waste.” (The Times)