Wastes


New Energy Source: Major Advance Made in Generating Electricity from Wastewater

Engineers at Oregon State University have made a breakthrough in the performance of microbial fuel cells that can produce electricity directly from wastewater, opening the door to a future in which waste treatment plants not only will power themselves, but will sell excess electricity.

Researchers Find Substantial Water Pollution Risks From Fracking to Recover Natural Gas

Stony Brook University scientists have found that the disposal of contaminated wastewater from hydraulic fracturing – commonly known as “fracking” – wells producing natural gas in the Marcellus Shale region poses substantial potential risks of river and other water pollution that suggests additional regulation to reduce the potential of drinking water contamination.

Nitrogen Pollution Changing Rocky Mountain National Park Vegetation

A new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder indicates air pollution in the form of nitrogen compounds emanating from power plants, automobiles and agriculture is changing the alpine vegetation in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Seabirds Study Shows Plastic Pollution Reaching Surprising Levels

Plastic pollution off the northwest coast of North America is reaching the level of the notoriously polluted North Sea, according to a new study led by a researcher at the University of British Columbia.

Texarkana, Texas Receives Two Brownfields Grants Totaling $1.3 Million

At a Texarkana City Council meeting this evening, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced grant awards from the brownfields redevelopment program bringing the total to $1.3 million.

Eating Garbage: Bacteria for Bioremediation

Researchers at the University of Illinois have demonstrated that bacteria found in the dump can be used to neutralize the contaminants in the soil.

BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Worsened Marshes' Environmental Problems

The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill temporarily worsened existing manmade problems in Louisiana's salt marshes such as erosion, but there may be cause for optimism, according to a new study.

Russell Stover Candies Fined for Clean Water Act Violations

Russell Stover Candies, Inc., has agreed to pay a $585,000 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act at its facility in Iola, Kan.



GM Adds Landfill-Free Facilities

GM recently added its 100th landfill-free facility – a parts distribution center in Lansing, Mich. It is a milestone in the company’s ongoing waste-reduction efforts.

Current, Former Owners of Virginia Aircraft Plant to Investigate Site Contamination

The former and current owners and operators of Avionics Specialties Inc. in Earlysville, Va., have agreed to investigate discharges of hazardous chemicals into the soil and groundwater at the manufacturing plant and to evaluate alternatives for cleanup of the releases.

EPA Issues Framework to Help Local Governments Manage Stormwater Runoff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a new framework to help local governments meet their Clean Water Act obligations.

New Twist On Old Chemical Process Could Boost Energy Efficiency Significantly

Chemical reactions on the surface of metal oxidesare important for applications such as solar cells that convert the sun's energy to electricity. Now scientists have found that a previously unappreciated aspect of those reactions could be key in developing more efficient energy systems.

Researchers Take Big Step to Develop Nuclear Fusion Power

University of Tennessee researchers have successfully developed a key technology in developing an experimental reactor that can demonstrate the feasibility of fusion energy for the power grid.

California Construction Company to Pay $170,000 For Illegal Dumping in Protected Wetlands

Humboldt County contractor Dennis Wendt of Wendt Construction has resolved a federal lawsuit with the EPA and U.S. Department of Justice following the construction company’s unpermitted dumping of the equivalent of 200 large dump truck loads of material into federally protected wetlands.

EPA Provides $1 Million to Clean Up and Revitalize Contaminated Properties in Puerto Rico

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing $1 million to Desarrollo Integral del Sur, Inc., an organization representing a coalition of Puerto Rico municipalities, for the assessment of abandoned and contaminated sites in Guanyilla, Penuelas and Ponce.

Maine Garbage Study Shows 60 Percent of Trash Could Be Diverted

Since municipalities pay for trash disposal, usually by the ton, researchers say big savings could result from reducing volume of trash, along with the cost of hauling it and paying tipping fees for disposal, in addition to improving the environment.

EPA Awards Brownfields Grant to Mt. Shasta to Clean Up Toxic Lumber Mill

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced approximately $3.8 million in new pilot grants to nine recipients across the country for cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties. One of the grants will go to the City of Mt. Shasta, Calif.

EPA to Dispose of PCB Waste From Leaking Guam Power Authority Transformers

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be conducting work to remove polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) oils from old leaking electrical transformers stored at the Guam Power Authority’s Apra Heights and Talofofo Substation facilities.

Research Pair Concerned Birth Control Chemicals are Contaminating Wastewater

A college professor and a ecotoxicologist have teamed up to write a paper suggesting that a public discourse on birth control chemicals be held before public officials decide whether to dedicate funds to cleaning such drugs from wastewater, or not.

EPA Awarding $69.3 Million in Grants to Clean and Redevelop Contaminated Properties

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is giving out $69.3 million grants for new investments to provide communities with funding necessary to clean and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and create jobs while protecting public health.