EPA Issues Tougher New Rules for Shipping Hazardous Waste
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has toughened its regulations for the shipping of hazardous waste, including e-waste, for recycling between the US and other countries. The agency also added new procedures for imported wastes that flow through US transfer facilities in order to ensure that those facilities that end up with these wastes complete their recycling in an environmentally sound manner. The EPA also changed regulations for the recycling of spent lead-acid batteries and require that countries accepting batteries for recycling receive notification and give consent.
The new regulations increase the level of oversight and align US law with hazardous waste shipping procedures of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an international consortium that comprises 30 countries including the US. Moreover, it also strengthens US regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) that governs the shipment of hazardous waste within the US...Read More »
Conn. AG Wants $2.2 Million from Galante to Help Victims of Trash Scheme
As federal authorities auction off the businesses of trash kingpin James Galante, center of a racketeering scheme in New York and Connecticut, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is seeking a court order to secure $2.2 million from the proceeds to reimburse victims. Galante is currently serving an 87-month prison sentence for his role as leader of a so-called "property rights scheme" that employed mob muscle to enforce collusion among waste hauling companies in the region. Participants were exhorted to keep prices high while agreeing not to poach one another's customers. A wide ranging investigation by the FBI and IRS netted 33 convictions of co-conspirators. As part of a plea agreement, Galante will forfeit all of his interests in his trash-related companies to the federal government, subject to a reimbursement to him of $10.75 million upon the sale of the companies to a third party. The sale is expected to net tens of millions of dollars for the federal government's asset forfeiture fund, which uses the proceeds of forfeited assets for law enforcement initiatives. "Customers who were defrauded and deceived deserve to be first in line when Galante's trash empire -- headed for sale -- produces millions of dollars," Blumenthal said...Read More »
Residents Urge EPA to Pull Approval of TVA Coal Ash Disposal in Alabama
Residents around Alabama's Arrowhead landfill, near Union, are urging EPA to rescind its determination that the landfill is an acceptable location for disposing of more than 3 million cubic yards of coal ash from the massive Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) spill last December. The residents filed a Dec. 7 petition under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act (CERCLA) asking EPA to rescind its "determination of acceptability" it issued Jan. 16. The problem is that EPA recently delayed its decision on how to regulate coal ash, so it is unclear whether it will be treated as a hazardous waste or non-hazardous waste or some combination thereof depending on how it is handled or whether it is beneficially reused. Industry officials have argued that EPA's approval of the site in the first place evidences its position that coal ash is a non-hazardous waste. Conversely, the residents argue that "such coal ash contains constituents such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium and zinc which are 'hazardous substances' as defined by CERCLA," according to the residents' CERCLA petition to the agency. Moreover, the residents argue that odors from the landfill indicate that it is operating as a prohibited "open dump" in violation of the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Perry County Associates, which operates the landfill, dismisses the claim since state officials have certified the landfill is in compliance...Read More »
Waste Management Buys Ohio Waste Hauler
Waste Management of Ohio said it acquired Metro Waste Disposal, a waste company serving the Cleveland, Akron and Canton markets. Metro Disposal President Mike O'Donnell said, "Merging two of the area's best companies will enhance the ability of the combined firm to serve the future needs of our customers." Waste management, which views the Metro deal as a "tuck-in," will ultimately combine all operations including a rebranding of all Metro Disposal trucks with Waste Management signage. Terms of the deal including price were not disclosed...Read More »
Montgomery Alabama Considers Plasma Technology to Supplant Landfill
The city of Montgomery, AL is considering of the use of plasma waste gasification to reduce its dependence on landfills while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Last month the city signed an agreement with Plasma Waste Recycling, Inc. (PWR) for a $1 million feasibility study. PWR has developed a technology that employs plasma gasification to convert solid waste into a synthesis gas (syngas) that can be burned cleanly to produce energy and avoid the need for a landfill. Rob Vera, chief technology officer for PWR, estimated that 20 tons of municipal solid waste could generate about 30 to 35 megawatts per hour of electricity on a full-scale plant. Depending on the efficiency of the power-generating equipment, one ton of municipal solid waste can produce a net of 450 to 850 kilowatts per hour. The plant would be designed to handle about 500 tons of garbage per day...Read More »
Metalico Elects FCR's Sean Duffy to Board of Directors
Scrap metal recycler Metalico (Cranford, NJ) elected long-time recycling executive Sean P. Duffy to its Board of Directors effective January 1, 2010. Duffy is the President of FCR Recycling based in Charlotte, NC and a Regional Vice President of its parent, Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (Rutland, VT). FCR processes and resells recyclable materials originating from the municipal solid waste stream, including newsprint, cardboard, office paper, containers and bottles. Mr. Duffy co-founded FCR in 1983 and served that company in various capacities, including President, until it was acquired by Casella in 1999. He fills a vacancy to be created by the retirement of Earl B. Cornette who is stepping down at year-end. Metalico operates 24 metal recycling facilities in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, New Jersey, Texas, and Mississippi and four lead fabricating plants in Alabama, Illinois, and California...Read More »
Republic Services to Announce 4th Quarter Earnings on Feb. 11
Republic Services, Inc. will host a conference call to announce and discuss fourth quarter and year-end earnings on February 11, 2010 at 5 pm (Eastern)...Read More »
AERT Delisted from NASDAQ; Shares Trade on OTC Bulletin
Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies Inc. (Springdale, AR), which employs recycled polyethylene plastic to manufacture composite building materials, is voluntarily delisting its stock from the NASDAQ. Class A common stock of AERT will now trade on the OTC Bulletin Board. The stock has been trading below a $1 minimum bid price required for listing on NASDAQ even after being granted a six-month extension. The company requested that the delisting take effect immediately. "Transferring AERT's trading to the OTC market is the best and most cost effective option for AERT shareholders in this difficult economic environment. It is time to bring closure and stability to this issue while maintaining liquidity and focusing on improving and growing the company in 2010," Joe Brooks, the company's CEO, said in a prepared statement...Read More »
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