Congressional E-Waste Plan Draws Ire from Many Corners
A legislative blueprint for e-waste regulation, detailed in a concept paper, is drawing ire from many corners including the EPA, states, industry and environmental groups, each with an axe to grind. The concept paper was crafted by staff working for lawmakers who are members of an informal, bipartisan e-waste working group. The plan calls for a new e-waste subtitle of the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA). It would ban landfilling of recyclable e-wastes, regulate it as a new category of waste while exempting it from current rules governing solid and hazardous waste; require EPA to set minimum standards for new state programs while grandfathering existing state programs; and require increased notifications and consent from receiving countries for e-waste exports. Among those critical of the measure is the Consumer Electronics Association which calls it unfair and unbalanced by placing financial responsibility on the industry for recycling its products. They cite surveys that show take-back fees would not be effective...Read More »
New York City Mayor Bloomberg Signs E-Waste Bill
As expected, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed into law a bill that requires manufacturers of computers, televisions and other electronic equipment to establish recycling programs for those products in the city and to dispose of them in an environmentally sound manner. A second part of the bill, to which the Mayor objects, would further require manufacturers to meet certain recycling benchmarks and involves an escalating fee structure. He has said that he would veto this part of the bill because it disproportionately burdens manufactures instead of wholesalers whom actually sell directly to the public. Under the legislation that passed, electronics manufacturers are to develop and operate programs that could include curbside or neighborhood collection and returns by mail and in stores. Consumers would be required to participate, and by 2010 could face a $100 fine for throwing out specific e-waste. Twelve states have adopted electronic waste laws. New York City is the first municipality to do so...Read More »
Advanced Disposal Acquires Appalachian Waste, Expanding into North Georgia
Jacksonville, Fla.-based Advanced Disposal Services Inc., continuing its expansion throughout the southeast, recently acquired Blue Ridge, Ga.-based Appalachian Waste Services LLC and its affiliate Mountain Convenience Center Properties LLC. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition adds landfill capacity and opens markets in the north Georgia and North Carolina. It is the second deal for Advanced Disposal in little over a month. In late February, they purchased the hauling and recycling operations including a construction debris landfill from Waste Services Inc. for $57.5 million. Advanced Disposal, which itself is a unit of AIG Highstar, already owns and operates waste collection, processing and disposal operations in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi...Read More »
Dell Is Powering Headquarters on Landfill Waste
With great fanfare, Dell Computer, TXU Energy and Waste Management announced a partnership whereby energy from landfill gas, a renewable resource will provide much of the power used by Dell's 2.1 million square-foot global headquarters. Forty percent of Dell's campus power needs are being met by power generated from Waste Management's Austin Community Landfill gas-to-energy plant, while the remaining sixty percent comes from existing wind farms provided by TXU Energy. "We're looking to be carbon neutral as a company and we've done that today," said Dell representative Dane Parker...Read More »
Company to Produce Synthetic Jet Fuel from Garbage
A Los Angeles-based synthetic fuel developer, Rentech, Inc. is expanding an initiative to produce synthetic biofuels including jet fuel from municipal solid waste (MSW). The company has developed a clean-energy technology that converts ordinary MSW into ultra-clean, biodegradable jet fuel, potentially meeting the needs of local airports and communities. Virgin Airlines successfully demonstrated the use of biofuels derived from coconut and Brazilian babassu nuts in a commercial airliner during a recent test flight from London to Amsterdam. According to Richard Penning, EVP of Commercial Affairs for Rentech, "We believe our technology's ability to convert non-food feedstock such as MSW into biofuels provides the aviation industry with an excellent opportunity to reduce its carbon footprint. Large cities with busy airports and decreasing landfill space are ideal areas for us to offer this solution."...Read More »
Alter NRG Closes $46-Million Bought-Deal Financing
Alter NRG Corp. closed on its previously announced bought-deal financing of 10.4 million shares at an issue price of $4.40 per each (including the full exercise of the overallotment option) for total gross proceeds of about $46 million through a syndicate of underwriters, led by Raymond James Ltd., and including Wellington West Capital Markets Inc., Canaccord Capital Corp., Paradigm Capital Inc., Blackmont Capital Inc. and Genuity Capital Markets. Net proceeds of the financing are to be used for project development and general working capital purposes. Potential projects include among others, the St. Lucie waste-to-energy project. The issued shares are subject to the customary hold period which will expire on Aug. 4, 2008...Read More »
Georgia Power Strikes another Deal for Power from Landfill Waste
Georgia Power recently signed another deal to purchase power from landfill waste. The 10-year contract with Waste To Energy Cedar Grove LLC is for electricity generated through gasification, a process whereby waste is heated in an oxygen-deprived environment which converts it into a synthetic gas and recyclable inert material. Georgia Power will buy 100 percent of the Cedar Grove plant's capacity, which will produce six megawatts of renewable energy annually with plans to expand to 18 megawatts within the year. Waste will come from the Lamar County Regional Landfill in Barnesville, GA. Georgia Power's energy portfolio now has contracts with seven qualified biomass and renewable facilities in Georgia that will generate 136 megawatts of capacity...Read More »
Republic Services to Release First Quarter and Host Conference Call on April 24
Republic Services will announce first quarter earnings and host a conference call on Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT)...Read More »
Waste Connections to Release 1st Quarter Results April 21
Waste Connections plans to announce first quarter financial results at the close of the market on April 21. The company will host a conference call the following day at 8:30 a.m. (EDT)...Read More »
Oshkosh Appoints Christian Tecca Managing Director, Geesink Norba Group
Oshkosh Corp. announced that it has appointed Christian Tecca as managing director of the Geesink Norba Group, the company's integrated European line of refuse collection and compaction equipment. Tecca was most recently president of Thomas & Betts of Richmond, VA where he managed the acquisition of Danaher Power Solutions, LLC...Read More »
Waste Services to Announce First Quarter Results on April 22
Waste Services, Inc. will release first quarter results for 2008 at the close of the market on April 22 and host a conference call the following day at 8:30 a.m. (EDT)...Read More »
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