Industry Says That Flow Control Clashes With Key High Court Ruling
On January 8th, the U.S. Supreme court will hear oral arguments in the case United Haulers Association Inc. et al. v. Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Management Authority et al. Waste industry attorneys are arguing to the Supreme Court that it should reverse the Feb. 16 2nd Circuit court opinion on "flow control" ordinances because it is inconsistent with the landmark 1994 case C&A Carbone v. Town of Clarkstown. United Haulers argues that the flow control ordinances have the same protectionist effects as the ordinances ruled against in Carbone. The 2nd Circuit opinion distinguishes between privately and publicly owned landfills. Industry groups reject this narrow reading of Carbone...Read More »
Waste Connections Acquires Some Waste Management Operations in Southeast
Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE: WCN) is buying some of rival Waste Management Inc.'s operations in the Southeast. They include 5 or 6 hauling, several transfer and one landfill within the company's existing footprint of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi. These are expected to contribute about $22 million in annual revenue. Synergies are expected but the company believes it will have to invest roughly $3 million in capex to upgrade acquired fleet operations. Completion of the acquisition is subject to the usual local consents. The company also announced that it has refinanced one of its loans and in so doing, expects to save about $600,000 a year, according to spokesman Worthing Jackman...Read More »
Study Indicates That the Nation Wastes Nearly Half Its Food
A study conducted by an anthropologist at the University of Arizona concludes that the nation wastes almost half of its food through consumer inefficiencies and producer mismanagement. Timothy W. Jones, an anthropologist at the University of Arizona has spent the last 10 years measuring food loss, examining farms and orchards, warehouses, retail outlets, dining rooms and landfills. He concludes that an average American family tosses out the equivalent of $590 per year in meats, fruits, vegetables and grain products alone. Similarly, producers often lose product in transport and by making poor judgments about market conditions...Read More »
New Orleans Faces Higher Waste Management Costs Next Year
New Orleans is looking at a steeply higher waste management bill next year, which could exceed $35 million. The new contracts will replace the existing contract with Waste Management that had been $18 million annually. New Bids have been received from local companies: SDT Waste & Debris Services of Chalmette and The Ramelli Group of New Orleans. Mayor Ray Nagin has pledged to bring "Disneylike" cleanliness to the city but has been criticized for obscuring the bidding process and for stonewalling the public...Read More »
Clinton Named Chair of Subcommittee on Superfund and Environmental Health
In what must be seen as a prelude to tougher environmental action from Congress, Senator and possible presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton has been appointed to chair the Subcommittee on Superfund and Environmental Health. "I am looking forward to chairing this subcommittee, which will enable me to focus on improving programs to clean up and redevelop contaminated sites in New York and across the country," said the Senator. "I also plan to look closely at ways to strengthen laws designed to protect our families from exposure to toxic chemicals, such as lead and mercury."...Read More »
Allied Waste Industries Announces Secondary Offering
Allied Waste Industries, Inc. (NYSE: AW) announced that one of the company's major shareholders, Apollo Management, L.P., intends to reduce its ownership stake from 17.9 percent to 8.9 percent by selling 33 million common shares in a transaction underwritten by UBS Investment Bank...Read More »
Covanta Shareholders Approve Amendments That Improve Access to Capital
Covanta Holding Corporation (NYSE: CVA) shareholders approved two amendments to the certificate of incorporation that are expected to improve liquidity and access to capital markets. Removed were restrictions on the acquisition and transfer of stock by owners of 5% or more and required stockholder approval of any preferred stock issued to affiliates or holders of 1% or more of the common stock...Read More »
Study Reveals Greening Trends of Corporate America
A new study commissioned by Siemens finds that the majority of corporate respondents expect their companies to be aligned with green industry practices within three years. The study entitled "Green Perspective from Corporate America" showed that respondents viewed the practice as a means of enhancing both profitability and corporate responsibility. Moreover, the study predicts a "green tipping point" to be reached in corporate America by 2009, but which could occur as early as 2007...Read More »
Veolia and Sylvania Partner to Safely Recycle Lighting and Electronics Waste
Veolia Environmental Services, a subsidiary of the Veolia Group (NYSE: VE) launched a partnership with Osram Sylvania to safely recycle lighting and electronics waste. Under the program formerly known as OnyxPak, RECYCLEPAK allows businesses a convenient way to dispose of small quantities of electronics and lighting wastes with one price covering all necessary requirements, including documentation and compliance...Read More »
Hollywood Produces More Air Pollution Than Most Other Industries
A University of California at Los Angeles study finds the entertainment industry in Hollywood produces more air pollution than all but one of five other areas of industry. The entertainment industry produces more air pollution than is produced individually by aerospace manufacturing, apparel, hotels and semiconductor manufacturing, the study found. Only petroleum manufacturing produced more air pollution...Read More »
New Board Members for EIA's Women's Council
The Environmental Industry Associations' Women's Council members approved new board members to lead the group in 2007. Charged with the important mission of promoting the advancement of women in the waste industry, the board is comprised of some heavy hitters. They include: Mary Margaret Cowhey of Land and Lakes Co.; Melissa Gauger of International Truck and Engine Corp; Christine Loch of Allied Waste Industries; Danielle Forget of Waste Corp of America; Kathy Trent of Waste Management; Madeleine Szots with Labrie Group; and Nancy Bretas of Republic Services, Inc...Read More »
General Environmental Management 3Q Revenues up Losses Too
General Environmental Management (GEM), a hazardous waste and environmental services firm based in Pomona, CA, reported solid gains for its third quarter ended September 30. Revenues rose 36% to $7 million from $5.2 million a year ago. However, the company's net loss widened to $4.4 million (or $0.07 per share) from $780 thousand (or $0.03 per share) a year ago. Various financing charges and advisory fees were to blame...Read More »
Environmental Management Solutions Inc. and Biogénie To Merge
Environmental Management Solutions Inc. (TSX: EMS) and Biogénie S.R.D.C Inc. announced that the two companies would merge their complementary operations. To effect the merger, EMS will acquire all the shares of privately held Biogénie for $55 million through a combination of cash and shares. EMS is focused primarily on the management, treatment and disposal of organic waste but also performs site assessment and remedial services including the treatment and recycling of contaminated soil. Biogénie specializes in on-site and off-site soil treatment and reclamation for public and private sector clients across Canada as well as in the United States, France and United Kingdom...Read More »
New E-Recycling Machine Automates Work That Workers Used To Do By Hand
Creative Recycling, a Tampa Fla. electronics recycling company, introduces a new recycling machine called "David" that automates work that workers used to do by hand, or with several different machines, or by outsourcing to other companies...Read More »
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