- New EPA rules unlikely to impact NC coal ash pits “New coal ash regulations issued by the Obama administration last month are not expected to greatly impact North Carolina, where the state law passed in the wake of February's massive Dan River spill generally exceeds the federal requirements. The long-awaited rules, announced Dec. 19 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, are the first nationwide standards on the disposal of coal ash, the waste left over when coal is burned to generate electricity.” (Associated Press)
- California Plastic Bag Ban Could Be Delayed Until Fall 2016 “California Senate Bill 270, passed by the state legislature and signed into law in September, would ban many retail stores from dispensing single-use plastic bags as of July 1, 2015. But in another example of a special interest perverting democracy when it does not get its way, the Plastics Industry Trade Association (SPI) has announced it has collected over 800,000 signatures to qualify for a statewide up-or-down vote in November 2016. Once that tally is confirmed, the July ban would be postponed until the following year.” (Triple Pundit)
- State regulators approve coal ash landfill in Franklin County “Ameren Missouri’s proposed coal ash landfill along the banks of the Missouri River won a key nod from state regulators on Friday, clearing the way for a project that has faced constant pushback from environmentalists. But the construction permit from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources will require Ameren to comply with new federal rules governing coal ash, a concession to opponents who had urged the department to wait for the new rules.” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
- Recycling service issues concern resident, councilman “Ackerman is among a resounding chorus of residents crying foul over Shreveport’s curbside recycling services. Complaints of missed cans, and sometimes entire streets, have persisted over the last year with some residents and even city leaders growing increasingly frustrated with the contracted service. Gary Bartels, of Republic Services, said the company has experienced a drastic decline in complaints in recent months, but some city councilors and residents say inadequate services are a persistent problem. Pratt Industries, a recycled paper and packaging company, subcontracts with Republic for curbside pickup of recycled materials.” (The Shreveport Times)
- New NY State Law Requires Recycling Of Most Home, Personal Electronics “New York State now has new rules for the disposing of electronics. Starting Thursday, state law will now mandate recycling of nearly all home and personal electronics. The electronics covered in the new law include computers, televisions, fax machines, VCRs, DVD players, printers/scanners, video game consoles, MP3 players, tablets and small servers. The law does not include appliances, batteries or light bulbs.” (CBS New York)
- Oregon Hits All-Time High Waste Recovery Rate “As 2014 comes to a close, Oregon environmental regulators are reporting how much material got thrown away in 2013. A highlight from a year ago is Oregon hit an all-time high recovery rate of nearly 54 percent. That’s the most material recycled, composted, or used for energy production in 22 years of official tracking.” (OPB.org)
- Washington’s recycling rate dips to 49 percent “Washington state’s recycling rate fell slightly to 49 percent in 2013, but remains well above the national average, according to data reported today by the Washington Department of Ecology. The 2013 rate was down from 50.1 percent in 2012. Nationally, the average recycling rate was 34.5 percent in 2012.” (Washington Department of Ecology)
- N.H. company close to assuming control of Carbon Harvest operation “A New Hampshire company is close to finalizing its purchase of the former Carbon Harvest electricity generating system that traps methane gas from the Windham Solid Waste Management District and turns it into electricity.” (Brattleboro Reformer)
- State under fire for mishandling of glass recycling program “The department that runs Hawaii’s glass recycling program is under fire by the state auditor. KHON2’s Always Investigating first exposed the problem earlier this year, reporting that glass in Hawaii is being trashed by the tons and not recycled like it’s supposed to.” (KHON2.com)
- Strike Could Affect Recycling and Trash Collection in Howard, Montgomery Counties “A strike by workers at a Maryland trash and recycling contractor could affect more than 12,600 homes in Bethesda, Aspen Hill, Colesville, northern Silver Spring and Gaithersburg, as well as 20,000 Howard County residents. Unity Disposal and Recycling LLC, based in Laurel, is one of Montgomery County’s three collection services and one of Howard County’s five waste contractors.” (CBSDC)
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