Each day, the Waste Dive team rounds up in our Daily Digest news, insights and moments from around the industry you may have missed.
LATEST ON EPA'S GHG STANCE
Last week, Waste Dive reported multiple sources were surprised to see no mention of greenhouse gas emissions in the EPA's recently released 2015 Facts & Figures report. This commonly cited metric for states and companies alike has been included in every report since at least 2006. In a new move, the report did include more information about positive economic indicators.
This struck some as odd given the current national conversation is about how recycling may be costing more money but is still environmentally worthwhile. The EPA said the new economic information was intentional, but didn't address questions about how that squared with the current national conversation, or why GHG data was omitted.
Yesterday, Waste Dive received the following statement attributed to an EPA spokesperson.
“It is inaccurate to say we are advocating any area more than another. Our goal was to emphasize the broad range of environmental benefits and not single out any one. For the 2018 Report, which includes 2015 data, we highlighted some information that is available in the current and previous reports. Based on inquiries, we are in the process of adding the GHG information to the website version of the data. We encourage all stakeholders to look across the lifecycle of materials to identify opportunities to reduce environmental impacts.”
Multiple EPA officials, past and present, are scheduled to speak during the inaugural MRF Summit at WASTECON in Nashville next week. Perhaps more clarity can be expected then.
IN OTHER NEWS
Babylon Town, New York officials plan study to increase ash landfill capacity by recycling — Newsday
In a first-of-its-kind project, authorities in the township are partnering with Professor Frank Roethel from Stony Brook University to extract metals from area ash landfills. Roethel estimates that up to 10% of capacity could be restored after removing metals. Under the proposed year-long pilot study — which still requires state permit approval — private waste separation and extraction companies would be hired to carry out work and would keep any revenue earned from recovered materials. Waste Dive spoke to Roethel about his longtime work on this topic in 2016.
Waste Pro elevates Sean Jennings to president — PR Newswire
The company's board of directors recently elected Jennings — the son of CEO and Chairman John Jennings — to the new position. Sean previously served as the division manager for the Tampa-Clearwater and Bradenton-Sarasota areas. He will also continue in his current role as corporate secretary along with roles on various community boards.
Residents of Cordova, Tennessee complain of missed pickups — WREG
Waste Pro recently took over collections in the Memphis suburb after Inland Waste Solutions was dropped by the city, but residents claim to not be seeing any relief just yet. According to WREG, the city says it's just a minor hiccup as Waste Pro plays catch up. In July, Memphis announced an 11-month interim contract with Waste Pro and said Inland significantly underbid its contract which led to the collection problems.
Detroit, Michigan WTE facility draws ire of AG's office over odor — Detroit Metro Times
In a letter dated July 31, Michigan Assistant Attorney General John Fordell Leone told lawyers representing Detroit Renewable Power that its current odor containment strategy isn't sufficient and requires further guidelines beyond those described in its consent judgment. According to the Detroit Free Press, facility managers often dispute that there is an odor problem, despite its years-long history of odor complaints.
Hall County, Georgia to expand landfill, considers new MRF — Gainesville Times
The Hall County Board of Commissioners recently voted to approve a $5 million contract with T&K Construction to add a new 13-acre cell to the landfill, increasing projected lifespan to around 25-30 years. Construction is set to begin by September 1 and should last for about a year. The current facility has an estimated 14 months of capacity remaining. The county is also eyeing a new automated MRF to replace its current hand-sort facility, though initial project studies have yet to begin and no capacity details have been released.
Massachusetts governor vetoes composting-oversight bill — The MetroWest Daily News
Gov. Charlie Baker vetoed a section of a bill that would have moved regulatory authority over farm composting from the state's Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The proposal originated after Northborough residents felt DAR was unresponsive to years of odor complaints about composting operations on the Davidian Brothers Farm. The facility was one of the first to begin composting after the state's 2014 commercial food waste ban took effect. While MDAR exempts farm-based operations from local zoning oversight, the DEP process would not.
TRASH WORLD
China Everbright to issue 1.66 billion rights shares, stock price drops — Bloomberg
The company will raise $1.3 billion USD from the rights issue to fund WTE projects, business expansion and loan repayment, Bloomberg reports. At a briefing today, company CFO Raymond Wong said the move will help the company lower debt and add the option for future debt financing. China Everbright builds and operates WTE facilities in 21 regions of China and will invest 60% of proceeds in WTE projects; 25% in R&D, waste sorting and atmospheric monitoring; and 15% to repay loans.
SEEN & HEARD
Is this too painful to watch? ???? ♻️ #avgeek #recycle #boeing #aviationdaily pic.twitter.com/J9FLrp5yWP
— Jonny the Pilot (@JonnyPilot) August 14, 2018
Do you have events or webinars that should be on our agenda this week? Email waste.dive.editors@industrydive.com.
