David Bodamer, Executive Director, Content & User Engagement

August 14, 2014

4 Min Read
10 Things You Need to Know for the Waste & Recycling Industry Today (August 14, 2014)

 

  1. Oakland council reaffirms garbage contract “The City Council gave final approval Wednesday to turn over garbage and recycling collection to a homegrown firm -- a move that potentially sets up a legal fight with Oakland's soon-to-be former contractor, Waste Management. The 7-1 vote to reaffirm its decision to contract with California Waste Solutions came two days after Houston-based Waste Management submitted a last-second offer with sharply lower rates. Council members had voted unanimously last month to put their faith in the homegrown company that offered lower rates and pledged to keep profits in Oakland and work with local nonprofits.” (Contra Costa Times)

  2. Federal EPA decides to hold off on Clinton landfill decision “The federal Environmental Protection Agency will hold off on making a determination on Clinton Landfill's application to accept hazardous waste, due to a recent modification of the permit that would allow collections to begin. ‘In light of the Illinois EPA's recent permit modification for Clinton Landfill, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not intend to proceed at this time with a determination on Clinton Landfill's application to accept PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) waste,’ said an agency statement released to The Pantagraph on Wednesday.” (Herald-Review.com)

  3. Several Arrested for Blocking UES Waste Station Entrance “Community activists continued on Wednesday to protest the city's building of a waste transfer station along the waterfront at East 91st Street. The group is carrying out three days of ‘civil disobedience’ by blocking the construction entrance to the Marine Transfer Station. A member of the group ‘Pledge 2 Protect’ says police have arrested at least three demonstrators.” (NY1.com)

  4. Extreme makeover: Garbage recycling trucks are transformed into unique works of art “Mobile artworks on wheels are hitting Houston streets as several recycling trucks have gotten an extreme makeover as part of a partnership celebrating the city's artists and its commitment to going green. Officials with Houston Art Alliance, the Solid Waste Management Department and the city of Houston unveiled the first six trucks in the Art Recycling Truck fleet Wednesday in Hermann Park. When first discussing the project with Harry Hayes, director of the city's solid waste management department, Orange Show Center for the Visionary Arts board member Michael Moore, said, ‘How about we turn something that most people don't see as beautiful into a piece of art that drives through the streets every day?’” (Culture Map Houston

  5. Charlotte considers swapping land with Duke Energy to bury coal ash “Charlotte city staff on Wednesday pitched a new idea for how to dispose of 4.7 million tons of coal ash perched on the banks of the city’s main reservoir: a land swap in which Charlotte would give Duke land to bury the waste. Officials proposed the idea instead of Duke Energy’s original idea to bury the ash under a planned runway at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and build on top of it, an idea the airport rejected as too risky.” (Charlotte Observer)

  6. Illinois EPA to collect household toxic waste “The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will collect household hazardous waste collection in six communities this fall. The agency said Wednesday that residents can bring leftover chemicals and other toxic wastes to sites in DuPage, Henry, Logan, Marion, Ogle and Piatt counties during the one-day events in September and October.” (KWQC.com)

  7. City expanding food-waste program “New York City will expand a pilot program this fall that takes uneaten food from the waste stream and converts it into pipeline-quality natural gas. If successful, the Department of Environmental Protection hopes the program will provide valuable information to the renewable energy industry while also leading to a significant reduction in the city's carbon output.” (Capital New York)

  8. Oneida fights suit over waste-to-energy plant “The Oneida Tribe of Indians is asking a Chicago judge to throw out a lawsuit that seeks nearly $400 million from the tribe and related parties in a stalled waste-to-energy venture. The suit was filed in March by Generation Clean Fuels LLC, a firm that agreed to lease equipment and become a partner in a trash-recycling plant proposed in Green Bay by the tribe-owned Oneida Seven Generations Corp.” (Green Bay Press Gazette)

  9. Recycling rewards program cut due to poor results “Recycling incentives in Pulaski County are getting a makeover. This comes after a 3-city-wide, 2-year-old recycling program got cut Tuesday night due to a lack in participation. The board, made up of the mayors of Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Maumelle and Jacksonville, are now formulating a new incentive plan.” (THV11.com)

  10. Lakewood expands automated recycling program, says it will reduce trash disposal costs “About 6,000 households will receive blue containers this week as the city rolls out the second phase of its recycling program. Last year, Lakewood launched the first phase, delivering large, blue bins to about 6,000 households. The second phase has more residents using the bins, starting Aug. 18.” (Cleveland.com)

About the Author(s)

David Bodamer

Executive Director, Content & User Engagement, Waste360

David Bodamer is Executive Director of Content & User Engagement for Waste360 and NREI. Bodamer joined Waste360 in January 2014. He has been with NREI since September 2011 and has been covering the commercial real estate sector since 1999 for Retail Traffic, Commercial Property News and Shopping Centers Today. He also previously worked for Civil Engineering magazine. His writings on real estate have also appeared in REP. and the Wall Street Journal’s online real estate news site. He has won multiple awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors and is a past finalist for a Jesse H. Neal Award. 

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