Lee County wants fees to take Duke Energy’s coal ash “Lee County officials say the county deserves to be paid fees, potentially millions of dollars, by Duke Energy and a partner planning to bury coal ash there. Duke announced plans last month to start shipping ash from two power plants to reclaim open-pit clay mines in Chatham and Lee counties.” (Charlotte News & Observer)

Delaware recycles and it now shows “Delaware is coming off a three-year experiment in comprehensive recycling that can only be judged a success. The amount of material diverted from landfills is enormous. Delawareans today are recycling 41.9 percent of their waste. It is quite an accomplishment, especially considering how far the state came.”

Illinois recycling company buys West Bend building for new operation “Quincy Recycle of Illinois on Monday bought an industrial building in West Bend to set up a Milwaukee-area operation, according to Prowess Commercial Real Estate Services.” (Milwaukee Business Journal)

White House praises Oberlin for its dramatic shift to renewable energy “Landfill gases such as methane were used to create only 4 percent of the city's power in 2007. By 2015, landfill gases will be the source for 59 percent, according to the city's Climate Action Plan. The gases are captured from waste composting at landfills in Mahoning County, Geneva and Milan and transmitted to Oberlin through the electricity grid. Although a Lorain County landfill is nearby, it was already under contract to sell its electricity elsewhere prior to the city's plan.” (Cleveland.com)

Two taken to hospital after vehicle strikes dump truck in Centreville “Two people are recovering in the hospital after a vehicle struck a dump truck in St. Joseph County Monday.” (MLive.com)

Hub City council OKs new recycling program “The City of Hattiesburg officially is in the recycling business. City Council on Tuesday amended a ‘charges for collection’ ordinance to include a $3-per-month subscription fee for Hattiesburg residents who wish to continue or begin curbside recycling after the first of the year.” (Hattiesburg American)

Boyd County Fiscal Court OKs emergency landfill ordinance “The Boyd County Fiscal Court passed a solid waste management ordinance in an emergency reading Tuesday, which allowed the court to do two simultaneous readings and approvals that day. The ordinance redefined the term ‘gross receipts’ written in its previous ordinance (2014-02) on solid waste management passed in the summer.” (The Independent)

City Council looks to dump leachate contract “City Council is expected to go forward with its intent to terminate the city’s leachate treatment contract at Wednesday’s meeting. A report prepared by the city’s Green Committee recommended that Council no longer accept leachate from the Ontario County Landfill when its 10-year contract with Casella Waste Systems expires March 21, 2015. Casella can extend the contract an additional 10 years at its own discretion.” (Finger Lake Times)

Haywood gears up to fix old landfill contamination “Lingering underground contamination at an old Haywood County landfill in Waynesville has prompted the county to buy out a neighboring 25-acre tract, part of a costly plan to stop the spread of pollutants. The county is purchasing the adjoining property for $850,000. The county estimates it will cost upwards of $5 million over coming years to tackle the contamination. State environmental regulations are forcing the county to fix the issue.” (Smoky Mountain News)

Officials take emergency action to store heaps of recycling “Officials took emergency action Tuesday to store heaps of recycling that have piled up in DeKalb County. County workers are currently using the central transfer station for recycling storage. It usually stores yard clippings, regular trash and recycling.” (WSBTV.com)