EPA Assessment Finds Most Americans At Cancer Risk
Toxic chemicals pose an elevated cancer risk to two-thirds of Americans living in nearly every part of the country, says an assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency. A long-awaited study of health risks from 32 toxic chemicals concludes that 200 million people live in areas where the cancer risk from exposure to these substances is higher than what the EPA considers a minimum level of concern. The assessment, based on 1996 data, found that automobile and truck emissions are a major cause of exposure to the chemicals, with power plants and other industrial sources also involved...Read More »
PC Recycling Rules May Be Eased
In an attempt to encourage recycling of PCs and televisions, the Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to ease rules regarding their disposal. Both types of devices generally contain CRT (cathode-ray tube) monitors, each containing up to 8 pounds of lead, which protects users of the products from radiation. The rules change would discourage the flow of e-waste to landfills and incinerators and promote safe reuse and recycling. Under the proposed new rule, if monitors are being considered for possible reuse, they would be classified as "products" instead of "waste," so they would not have to meet the waste requirements of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act...Read More »
Waste Holdings Takes On New Name
Waste Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: WWIN) has announced the approval of its name change at its Annual Shareholders Meeting. The new name is Waste Industries USA, Inc. and does not affect the outstanding common stock of Waste Holdings. Waste Industries USA shares will continue to trade on the Nasdaq under the current symbol "WWIN", the same symbol used for the shares of Waste Holdings. The executive officers and directors of Waste Industries USA will be the same as Waste Holdings...Read More »
Pennsylvania Waste Association Launches Website
The Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association, which represents private-sector waste disposal site operators and waste haulers, has launched a website that provides the first central clearinghouse for information about the waste industry in Pennsylvania. The site explains the mission of PWIA, provides a history of the industry in Pennsylvania, offers in-depth information about the economics of the industry, and features a detailed visual exploration of how a landfill is designed and how it works...Read More »
Waste Management, Omaha Start Nebraska's First Gas-To-Energy Plant
Waste Management Inc. (NYSE: WMI), the Omaha Public Power District and Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns have celebrated the opening of Nebraska's first landfill gas-to-energy facility at the Douglas County Recycling and Disposal Facility in Elk City. The station generates about 3.2 megawatts of electricity, or enough electricity for more than 2,000 homes. Waste Management leases three acres of land to OPPD for the generating plant. OPPD pays Waste Management for the gas and for building, operating and maintaining the plant. In turn, OPPD offers its customers the opportunity to buy some of the renewable energy at a slight premium...Read More »
EPA Forms New Superfund Advisory Committee
EPA Administrator Christie Whitman has announced the formation of a new advisory panel to make recommendations on the role Superfund should play in addressing the nation's hazardous waste sites. The advisory panel is being formed as a Subcommittee to the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology. The subcommittee will reach consensus-based recommendations on three major issues: the role of the National Priorities List in cleaning up the worst Superfund sites, the role of Superfund at so-called "mega sites" (sites where cleanup costs are expected to exceed $50 million) and measuring program performance...Read More »
China Plans To Stop Illegal High-Tech Imports
China will crack down on illegal imports of junked computers and other high-tech trash following reports of health and environmental damage caused by unsafe recycling, according to the nation's official Xinhua News Agency. Chinese environmental officials will also shut down factories where toxic chemicals are being released by the improper recycling of e-trash, mostly printers, computer screens and circuit boards from countries like the United States, the report said. Xinhua said the crackdown comes after international attention was focused on health problems in the town of Guiyu, near Hong Kong in the southeast province of Guangdong by environmental groups and The Associated Press...Read More »
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