$32 Billion Renewable Energy Package Goes to Senate Floor
The U.S. Senate Finance Committee led by chairman Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) approved an updated package of energy tax incentives by a vote of 15-5. The measure could cost $32.1 billion. It contains a five-year extension of the tax credit for the production of electricity from wind, geothermal, biomass and other renewable energy resources. It also extends the investment tax credit for business investments in solar, fuel cells and microturbine technology for an additional eight years. And, it modifies the list of fuels eligible for a tax credit to include fuels made from animal waste, such as bio-based compressed natural gas. The tax package goes next to the Senate floor for inclusion in the energy bill already under consideration...Read More »
Virginia Waste Imports on the Rise
The state of Virginia reports rising waste imports, according to a recently released report by the DEQ. Nearly 7.3 million tons made its way into the state in 2006, with most of it from Maryland, New York and Washington, D.C. respectively. Most of the incoming waste stream is comprised of household wastes, but facilities also reported the acceptance of hundreds of tons of medical waste, sludge, scrap tires, asbestos, and incinerator ash. Two forces are driving this trend. Declining waste volumes into Pennsylvania, which leads the Nation in imports, is the result of more stringent regulatory enforcement and permitting troubles among some of its very large landfills. However, waste volumes in general are rising and diminishing capacity in the Northeast and Atlantic states means more waste must travel to find a home, crossing a state border or two in the process. As is the industry trend, private landfills received more of those volumes. Waste Management's Atlantic Waste Disposal landfill in Sussex County led the pack by accepting more than 2.5 million tons of imported waste. According to state data and Waste Business Journal statistics, Virginia has about 17 years of remaining landfill capacity...Read More »
Casella Waste Swings To Loss In Q4; Revenues on the Rise
Casella Waste Systems Inc. (CWST), said results for the fourth quarter, showed a net loss of $20.3 million, or -$0.80 per share, compared to a net income of $1.7 million, or $0.07 per share. Though revenues increased by 4.9%, the results were partially affected by non-recurring items including a $26.9 million charge related to the closure of the Hardwick landfill. Excluding non-recurring charges, the net loss would have been $1.8 million or -$0.07 per share for the quarter. For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2007, Casella had revenues of $547.0 million, up $31.8 million or 6.2 percent over fiscal year 2006. For fiscal 2008, management expects revenues of between $560 million and $580 million. A modest increase in pricing of 2.9% coupled with declining volumes of 5.8% year over year, is leading management to focus on converting volumes to MSW from C&D and to increase landfill capacity...Read More »
Senate Hearing to Examine EPA Response to 9-11
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton announced a hearing of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works' Subcommittee on Superfund and Environmental Health to evaluate the efficacy of the EPA's 9/11 air quality testing, cleanup and risk communication relating to contamination of indoor spaces in lower Manhattan. Senator Clinton and Congressman Nadler have been critical of the federal government's response to the environmental issues created by the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks. The hearings will include testimony from the EPA's Susan Bodine, James L. Connaughton, Chairman of the President's Council on Environmental Quality, the Government Accountability Office, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health and a local resident...Read More »
House Wrestles with E-Waste Measures
A recent teleconference hosted by House E-Waste Working Group members including Rep. Albert Wynn, D-Md., chairman of the House Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, indicates a willingness to introduce a bill, but reluctance to impose fees. Problems have arisen from disagreement between TV and computer manufacturers over costs and fees. The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) recently introduced a compromise that would let TV makers levy a point-of-sale fee, while computer makers would embrace producer responsibility. Group member Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif. wants broad stakeholder support before moving forward with any legislation...Read More »
Waste Recyclers Discuss Protocol for Receiving GHG Offet Credits
Waste recyclers are planning how to get credit for their greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction benefits from carbon offset credits in any potential cap-and-trade programs created through climate change legislation. Industry representatives are discussing protocols for how their GHG reductions could be counted. At issue is which parties would get credit for the GHG offset. Many parties are involved in recyclable material conversion...Read More »
Perma-Fix Buys Nuvotec USA for $11 Million
Perma-Fix Environmental Services Inc. recently completed its acquisition of Nuvotec USA Inc. and subsidiary Pacific EcoSolutions Inc. for $11.2 million. Perma-Fix Chairman/CEO Louis Centofanti said the acquisition increases Perma-Fix's waste treatment capacity and secures additional radwaste and hazardous waste permits and licenses. PEcoS operates a low-level radwaste and LLW treatment facility adjacent to the DOE's Hanford site in Washington. Perma-Fix already operates one LLW treatment facility in Florida and two in Tennessee...Read More »
SWANA Wants Place at Renewable Energy Source Table for WTE and LFG
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), in its comments to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI), is pushing for a fair and balanced federal renewable portfolio standard (RPS). Specifically, SWANA urges that the RPS not replace existing renewable energy tax credits or incentives, and that it should place equal value in landfill gas to energy and waste-to-energy as with other renewable resources. Furthermore, the RPS should allow renewable energy credits to be unbundled with the power contracts in order to facilitate a more liquid market...Read More »
Heritage-Crystal Clean to Raise $37 Million in Public Offering
Heritage-Crystal Clean Inc., which provides parts cleaning and containerized waste services, plans to raise up to $37 million in an initial public offering. The Elgin-Illinois based company is the second largest provider of such services behind industry leader Safety-Kleen. Through its network consists of 48 branches in 38 states and more than 34,000 client sites, it performed 250,000 parts cleaning service calls during fiscal 2006. Annual sales have grown rapidly from about $16 million in 2000 to $77.1 million in fiscal 2006...Read More »
Epcor Utilities Produces High Quality Fly Ash
Epcor Utilities Inc. produces a high quality fly ash from two of its three coal powered generators at its Genesee plant in Edmonton. Fly ash is the environmentally friendly cement ingredient produced as a by-product of old coal powered power plants. Ironically, new, cleaner coal-fired power stations do not produce industrial grade fly ash because pollution control mechanisms strip out the sulfur. Fly ash is used in the production of cement as a substitute for Portland cement...Read More »
Republic to Announce Second Quarter Earnings in Conference Call July 27
In conjunction with Republic Services' announcement of second quarter earnings, interested parties are invited to listen to the company's investor conference call that will be broadcast live over the Internet on Friday, July 27, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. EDT...Read More »
OSHA and IWSA Team Up to Support National Hauler Safety Month
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has teamed up with the Integrated Waste Services Association (IWSA) to promote worker safety and raise public awareness during National Hauler Safety Month in June. According to Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., "Hauler Safety Month is focused on addressing hazards by educating waste haulers, owners, operators, and employees with best practices for safety and health."...Read More »
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