Dozens Treated After California Waste Plant Fire “A mysterious chemical mixture burst into flames at a Ventura County waste facility on Tuesday, sending dozens to hospitals for decontamination and emptying homes and businesses for a mile around the plant before the danger eased, authorities said. A vacuum truck exploded into flames about 3:45 a.m. at the Santa Clara Waste Water Co., spreading about 1,200 gallons of a mysterious waste chemical mixture that contained sulfuric acid and a highly combustible organic peroxide, fire officials said.” (The Associated Press)

Trash Hauler Killed on the Job “A worker at a New Bedford, Massachusetts, trash hauling and recycling company has been killed on the job. A spokesman for the Bristol district attorney's office says 64-year-old Manuel Viera was walking in ABC Disposal's parking lot at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday when a large flatbed truck that transports Dumpsters accidentally struck him. Viera was taken to St. Luke's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead just after 5 p.m.” (NECN.com)

Bridgeton Landfill odor concerns grow as weather turns colder “There is renewed concern about a potential for increased odors from the Bridgeton Landfill with the weather turning colder. Residents say smells associated with the smoldering underground fire that were first noticed nearly four years ago can get worse when temperatures drop and wind blows from the north.” (StlToday.com)

Americans Hoarding Electronics, Not Recycling Them “The rate at which Americans acquire new electronic devices far outpaces the rate at which they recycle unwanted ones. A study commissioned by Staples, titled American Tech Recycling Habits, found that while 74 percent of Americans own two or more television sets and 38 percent own two or more smartphones, only 8 percent have recycled their unwanted gadgets.” (Environmental Leader)

New West Oahu recycling system turns construction debris into renewable fuel “Thousands of tons of construction debris produced every day in Hawaii will now get a second life, thanks to a new recycling system in West Oahu. PVT Land Company, which operates a solid waste management facility in Nanakuli, held a blessing ceremony for the system Wednesday. The $4 million facility will now recycle up to 80 percent of construction debris, with more than 50 percent converted into feedstock, a renewable fuel.” (KHON2.com)

'It's a tax': City Council debates proposed 10-cent carryout bag fee “Staten Island Council members want to toss out a proposed 10-cent carryout bag fee under consideration by city lawmakers. ‘If it looks like a tax, smells like a tax, feels like a tax -- it's a tax,’ Councilman Steven Matteo, a member of the sanitation and solid waste management committee, said during a hearing on the proposal Wednesday. ‘And it's a tax that could hurt our constituents and our businesses.’” (SILive.com)

Turlock plastics recycling company to get $1 million grant “Peninsula Plastics Recycling Inc. has one of eight projects that the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) will support with its newly established greenhouse gas reduction grants. The Turlock company will receive a $1 million grant for equipment that will allow it to recover about 45 percent of the byproduct from its recycling process and turn it into landscaping material. The project is expected to create about nine jobs, CalRecycle said in a news release Wednesday.” (The Modesto Bee)

Waste-to-Energy Plant Cuts Nestlé Factory’s Costs, Carbon “Nestlé’s on-site anaerobic digestion plant is supplying about 8 percent of the factory’s electricity demand and has eliminated its solid waste handling costs one year after commissioning. The on-site bio-energy plant was designed and built by Clearfleau for Nestlé’s Fawdon confectionery factory, near Newcastle, UK.” (Environmental Leader)

Recycling center to cut hours, stop taking glass “Charleston’s Slack Street recycling center will stop accepting glass and cut back on hours to help cut costs, members of the Kanawha County Solid Waste Authority board decided Tuesday. Members also voted on a set of working documents to officially sever their relationship with George Hunyadi, who until recently had operated the recycling center under a lease agreement with the board. Authority board Chairwoman Kasey Russell said the changes will probably take effect next week.” (WVGazette.com)

Tuscaloosa nonresidential curbside recycling service starts Dec. 1 “Businesses, nonprofit groups, churches and government agencies in Tuscaloosa will be able to leave their recycling at the curb starting Dec. 1. When the city of Tuscaloosa restored curbside garbage and recycling collection following the April 27, 2011, tornado, it limited the service to household customers.” (TuscaloosaNews.com)