Wastes


DOJ Seeks Contempt Order Against Pesticide Manufacturer

A May 2017 court order required the defendants to comply with the 2011 consent decree, but HPI and Garvey continue to store thousands of pounds of uncharacterized, often unidentified, chemicals, some with labels indicating they have been stored for a dozen years or more, according to DOJ, which said many of HPI's facilities lack functional fire suppression equipment.

TCEQ Fines Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc.

The fine was included in $1,083,788 in fines against 46 regulated entities for violating state environmental regulations.

Dow Signs MOU to Work on Environmental Protection in China

"We are pleased to be sharing our environmental technical expertise with the Chinese government to help accelerate positive change. We appreciate this opportunity to learn together how to best develop public policy blueprints that incorporate global private sector experience," said Neil Hawkins, corporate vice president, Environment, Health and Safety, and chief sustainability officer for Dow.

DEP Penalizes Energy Corporation of America for Drilling Violations

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has collected a $1.7 million civil penalty prescribed in a consent order and agreement with Energy Corporation of America (ECA) for violations at 17 well sites in Greene and Clearfield counties.

LANL Cleanup Public Meeting Set for Jan. 16

NMED will host the meeting and the Environmental Management Los Alamos field office will present information concerning cleanup work completed in fiscal year 2017 and the coming year's cleanup milestones and target dates.

WHO, UNEP Collaborating on Environmental Health

It is the most significant formal agreement on joint action about environment and health issues in more than 15 years, according to the partner organizations.

Plastics Makers and Recycling Stakeholders Partner for Omaha Plastics Recycling Campaign

Plastics Makers and Recycling Stakeholders Partner for Omaha Plastics Recycling Campaign

The campaign is part of the Wrap Recycling Action Program (WRAP), a public-private partnership that promotes recycling of plastic wraps and bags.

Montana Agency Sets Hearing on Landfill Near Yellowstone River

The proposed Yellowstone Disposal landfill would accept municipal solid waste and oilfield exploration and production solid waste, according to the draft environmental assessment. Montana DEQ has set a public meeting for Dec. 18 and is accepting comments until Jan. 29, 2018.



Executive Order Issued for Post-Fire Waste Cleanup in California

The order allows qualified professionals at the federal agency to assist state and local officials in immediately removing visible hazardous debris such as batteries, flammable liquids, asbestos siding, paint, and pipe insulation from burned homes.

Spain Joins UN Clean Seas Campaign

The announcement came Oct. 18 at the Volvo Ocean Race Ocean Summit in Alicante.

IKEA U.S. Launching National Mattress Recycling Program

An estimated 18 million mattresses with box springs are disposed in the United States annually, which causes about 50,000 mattresses to be disposed in landfills daily across the country. And some mattresses are illegally dumped, adding to landfill waste.

Affected Florida Counties Urged to Accelerate Debris Cleanup

Plans submitted to the department will be posted publicly on its website. All of the plans must include an estimated date of completion, and any county that plans to request reimbursement for debris removal following Irma must submit a plan.

OSH Pros' Feedback Sought on Corporate Sustainability Standard

"The GRI 403 standard provides a lever for change in corporate reporting practices on OHS globally," said Kathy A. Seabrook, chair of the CSHS Board of Directors. "Safety and health professionals need to step up, participate, and influence the final standard through this public consultation period. It's a significant development in our profession."

First Convention on Mercury Control Now in Force

"The Minamata Convention shows that our global work to protect our planet and its people can continue to bring nations together. We did it for the ozone layer and now we're doing it for mercury, just as we need to do it for climate change – a cause that the Minamata Convention will also serve. Together, we can clean up our act," said Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment.

INTERPOL Operation Nets 1.5 Million Tonnes of Illegal Waste

Most of the illegal waste discovered during the operation was metal or electronic waste, and generally it was related to the car industry. In all, 226 waste crimes and 413 administrative violations were found, including criminal cases of 141 shipments carrying a total of 14,000 tonnes of illegal waste and 85 sites where more than 1 million tonnes of waste was illegally disposed.

New Orleans Climate Plan Calls for Reducing Waste, Using More Clean Fuels

"In New Orleans, we face a triple threat: subsidence, coastal erosion, and sea level rise. This strategy will help us transition to a low-carbon economy that not only helps manage our climate risk, but also creates new businesses, jobs, and wealth," Mayor Mitch Landrieu said.

Missouri Issues Final Permit Modification for Bannister Federal Complex

The permit includes an approved contingent remedy for 225 acres of the Kansas City site that are currently in the final remedy stage for soil and groundwater contamination.

Waste Cans a Big Part of NYC Anti-Rat Program

More frequent trash pickup, increased fines for illegal dumping, changing the rules to require larger buildings to put out the trash in the very early morning hours as close to the pickup time as possible, and eliminating dirt basements in the city's public housing buildings are all part of the $32 million plan.

Europe

Waste as an Energy Source: the Path to a Low-Carbon Economy

Climate change, renewable energy, low-carbon economy: For some, these are catchwords and arguments for a global ecological rethink. For others, they stand for a business segment that couples environmentally friendly technologies with a clear vision to ensure we can leave a world worth living in for future generations.

DOE Completes Evaluation of Hanford's Tunnel 2, Finds 'High' Risk of Collapse

The two PUREX storage tunnels hold mixed radioactive and chemical waste. A section of Tunnel 1 collapsed May 9, and state authorities then ordered DOE and CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company to immediately assess the integrity of both.