Category Archives: Waste Recycling – General

All about recycling.

Americans Want Increased Waste Recycling Opportunities

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In a recent survey commissioned by the Environmental Industry Associations (EIA), the results showed that a majority of Americans want to recycle more of their waste materials but don’t always know how and what can be recycled and how to properly separate and dispose of materials that can be.

The online research survey which was conducted earlier in 2013, reported that eighty two percent of Americans have positive feelings of community pride when they recycle, and close to sixty two percent admitted to feeling guilty when throwing recyclable items such as newspaper, plastic bottles and glass containers into the trash. The survey also showed that close to seventy five percent of Americans make an effort to recycle when they are at airports, sporting events, schools and public parks, and other locations outside of their home or apartment. Close to sixty percent said their business or place of employment has recycling options available to them.

However, respondents acknowledged that if a recycling bin is not close by, more than half will dispose of that item into the trash. The other half said they would hold on to the item until they had a means to properly recycle it. The hardest places and times to recycle, with less than twenty five percent participation include vacations, dining at restaurants without recycling options, and walking in cities that don’t provide recycling bins alongside trash containers.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: If you’re trying to cut costs and boost your businesses waste recycling rate, ask your employees and customers what would be convenient and accessible for them. Would more recycling bins help? Are there opportunities for new types of recycling such as collecting food scraps or organic waste for composting and biogas? You’ll never know how much waste and energy you can save until you ask!

Rulings Change On Recycling Fees

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Two recent high court decisions in the state of Pennsylvania could have a lasting and positive impact for both residential homeowners, landlords, and businesses trying to reduce their levels of trash by increasing their output of recyclable materials.

The Commonwealth Court recently sided in favor of a waste hauler in Reading, Pennsylvania who was charged by the local court for owing past-due recycling fees. The court stated that recycling services should be self-sufficient based on the revenue generated through the re-sale of waste materials to manufacturers and other outfits, such as large-scale food waste composting, who wish to purchase them.

Currently, the state of Pennsylvania does not have a legally approved mandate in place explicitly addressing and outlining fees for recycling services provided through regional landfills. If one were to be put in place, it would need to be done through the state’s General Assembly.

In another recent Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania case, involving a different county, the court also sided with businesses and residents by affirming that the municipality named could not charge tipping or permit fees at county landfills for recycled materials brought in by those living or working in the area.

Waste Care Wants You to Remember: If your business or home is in a state that mandates no fees for recycling, you get to save twice. Once when you make the decision to recycle waste material instead of putting it in the garbage and another when you haul all that recyclable material away without charge. If your municipality is still charging fees for in-demand recyclable materials like glass, plastics, and paper, it’s time to ask some questions about where the materials are being sold and how the funds are accounted for!

 

 

Get The Facts On Battery Recycling

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Businesses of all types, large and small, rely on batteries. Whether it’s large batteries for vehicles or smaller batteries for common electronics like power tools, cell phones, or children’s toys, there are multiple items in your office or home that need batteries in order to function. In addition, municipalities and large organization use industrial, lead-acid batteries to run commuter trains and provide emergency power for essential services such as hospitals and the police. Batteries are an essential part of our daily lives and as a result, we need to properly care for and dispose of them when their usefulness has been depleted.

Batteries contain toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, nickel, and cadmium. All of these substances can harm the soil and groundwater when they are not properly disposed of.

There are federal regulations for battery disposal and recycling and several states also have their own, more stringent laws. For example, in regards to lead-acid batteries for vehicles, almost any shop or store that sells these batteries must also collect the used batteries for recycling.  As a result of this regulation over ninety six percent of lead-acid batteries are successfully recycled and kept out of landfills.

In addition, the Call2Recycle Program offered by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation offers businesses and consumers access to locations where rechargeable batteries are sold. While rechargeable batteries may cost a bit more, their lifetime is significantly longer than traditional batteries and can therefore save you money in the long run.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Even the smallest of batteries contains toxic substances so it’s important to put spent batteries aside instead of disposing of them in the trash. Many electronics and home repair stores offer battery collection, so the next time you’re in your preferred store be sure to ask. If they don’t currently have a recycling drop-off they might just start one!

 

Recycling Disaster Debris

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When a natural disaster such as a flood or hurricane hits an area, trash and waste management is generally not the first priority first-responders and municipal officials are giving thought to. However, severe weather can be responsible for generating tons of garbage and debris, including building and construction rubble, green waste such as downed trees, shrubs, and displaced soil and sand, personal and household belongings, and damaged vehicles. This excess waste material places an extra burden on the community struggling to deal with the disaster’s impact.

The type and amount of debris resulting from severe weather will vary based on geographic location and the nature of the storm, however, community leaders should be establishing disaster recovery plans before an event hits. When creating a disaster relief plan, it’s essential to include a debris management component. This will help to ensure that waste material can be effectively removed in a timely manner and lessen the impact on both the environment and families and businesses. In addition, having a set plan that accounts for collecting storm debris, recycling appropriate materials and disposing of those materials that cannot, will also help to reduce costs in an otherwise expensive clean-up.

Some benefits of establishing a municipal disaster waste recovery plan include:

  • Reducing clean-up time post-disaster allowing families to return to their homes and businesses to re-open sooner.
  • Reducing costs by not having to make rushed decisions when severe weather strikes or contracting with expensive, last-minute services providers.
  • Reducing potential environmental and human hazards by having a plan to collect and safely remove toxic and hazardous wastes exposed due to a disaster.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Severe weather and natural disasters are something we’d prefer not to think about, but having a plan in place for waste removal and recycling during such times is essential for maintaining the well being of everyone who lives in the community. If your town hasn’t created such a plan, what are you waiting for? Delays will cost you and your tax-payers money!

 

Hotel Owner Fined For Illegal Asbestos Removal

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BBA Winchester, has settled a violations claim with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  and agreed to pay more than twenty thousand dollars in fines and penalties for failing to adhere to federal guidelines for properly removing and disposing of asbestos during the demolition of a hotel located in Winchester, Idaho.

Due to the company’s failure to segregate the asbestos from other waste materials accumulated during the demolition, the entire debris pile was contaminated. This large scale contamination not only endangered the health and lives of workers employed at the job site but also resulted in an negative environmental impact to people and animals living in the community. Documents show that the company failed to perform a required check for asbestos material prior to the demolition. In addition, the company, once the asbestos was identified during the demolition, did not inform the EPA or make any attempt to follow established regulations. As the demolitions site was in a residential area, several community groups expressed concerns about the waste debris contaminating the air and groundwater.

Asbestos is a toxic pollutant regulated by the EPA to ensure public and environmental safety. When inhaled without the protection of proper safety equipment, asbestos particles can be transported into a person’s lungs and result in chronic health conditions such as lung cancer and asbestosis, an often fatal lung disease. All building owners or contractors working on building are required by law to check for asbestos and then properly remove it according to a set protocol before demolition begins.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: When it comes to asbestos, it never pays to try to cut corners. Not only can failure to follow the regulations result in big fines and negative publicity, but it can also serious endanger your life and the lives of your employees!

Recycle on the Go Helps Airports Reduce Waste

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The United States Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) offers the Recycle on the Go program as a way to encourage recycling in transportation centers and public places such as airports. Participation in the program is to assist those airport facilities and businesses to achieve a forty percent waste diversion or recycling rate. The overarching goal of the program is to help visitors and travelers remember that recycling and waste reduction is just as easy as important when they are in an airport or airport-operated businesses such as a restaurant or retail shop, as when they are at home. Increased recycling not only helps to preserve the environment and reduce the space needed in landfills, but it can also help to cost the yearly waste disposal fees that facility owners must pay to dispose of materials thrown away in the garbage.

Here are just a few of the suggestions for better waste mangaement strategies in an airport facility:

1) Airports are waste generators of items such as beverage and food containers, newspapers and office paper, and cardboard. These items are ideal for recycling so having clearly marked and regularly placed recycling bins can help reduce mixing of trash with recyclables.

2) Make sure the recycling bins are visible and contain simple signage in a variety of languages such as English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, and Russian to help ensure that all travelers can understand what waste materials go in which bins. If multiple languages cannot be placed on a sign, use symbols for paper, plastic, and garbage.

3) Stress the importance of recycling and reducing waste in signs and recorded messages available throughout the terminals. Placing information on the airport’s website can also stress to visitors and travelers the importance of properly disposing of their unwanted materials.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: If you’re responsible for managing the facility of a large travel hub, such as an airport, it’s important to regularly review your waste disposal practices. You may find that by promoting recycling, you’ll be able to reduce the amount of tonnage you send to landfills every year!

Fines For PCB Violations

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The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is continuing its enforcement of proper management and disposal of toxic substances known commonly as PCBs. The most recent business to incur fines is Phoenix, Arizona’s Veolia ES Technical Solutions which must pay a ninety five thousand dollar penalty for infractions found at their production facility.

The charges originated from facility inspections conducted in 2008 and 2010 when EPA enforcement inspectors discovered PCBs were improperly stored and disposed – therefore violating the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Proper management of PCBs is essential for worker safety and preserving the neighboring community from potential health hazards. As part of the settlement, the company must improve its disposal and storage practices for all hazardous substances.

PCBs are found in paint, plastics, industrial equipment, and oil used in electrical transformers. Over one and one half billion pounds of PCBs were used in the US until the EPA banned the manufacturing of it in 1978. However, many PCB-containing products are still used, and disposed of, today continuing to create environmental problems. Tests have shown that PCBs remain in the ground for decades and are attributed to the development of cancer and other serious health problems.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Toxic chemicals are bad for everyone – you, your employees, and the community where you do business. It pays to stay informed of the best practices and regulations surrounding hazardous substances – not only can knowledge of proper storage and disposal save you money, but it can also save lives!

 

The EPA’s Check-List For Construction And Demolition Waste

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Before you start your next construction, demolition, or remodeling project, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a few suggestions that can help to save you money and protect the environment.

1) Contact your state’s environmental protection office. They can provide information for recyclers and waste haulers. This will help you in recycling as much of your waste materials as possible.

2) Investigate local salvage businesses before purchasing new materials and products. Many offer wood, flooring, windows, cabinets, doors, hardware, and appliances that are in good condition for inexpensive prices.

3) Become familiar with the the EPA’s ReUse People website. This nonprofit group helps businesses to reduce their solid waste by salvaging building materials and making them available to low-income businesses and families in Mexico.

4) Review the United States Army Corps of Engineer’s document, “Selection of Methods for the Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling of Demolition Waste.” to become familiar with the best practices for reducing and disposing of construction and demolition waste.

5) Consider donating your unwanted or left-over construction materials to an organization such as Habitat for Humanity that can use them in building homes for low-income families.

6) For home remodeling projects, look through the “Field Guide for Residential Remodelers” pamphlet offered by the National Association of Home Builders. They provide cost-effective solutions for managing common remodeling waste.

7) For older homes, be sure to read the EPA’s resources on abating lead-paint hazards to ensure that you are staying with the law in terms of removal and disposal of this toxic substance.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Rules, regulations, and environmental best-practices are always changing, so it worth your time to stay informed. Not only will your customers see you as “green friendly” and looking out for their best-interest, but it can also keep you out of trouble and avoid costly fines from breaking the law!

Recycling Record For State Fair

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Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa is a popular annual event, attracting both local residents and tourists from all over the United States. This year, the event planners and administrators behind this week-and-a-half long Fair wanted to make sure that waste disposal costs were kept to a minimum while waste recycling rates were maximized. After working with Waste Management, the national waste disposal firm contracted to handle all waste and recycling for the Fair, to develop a strategic plan, at the close of the Fair they were able to report that the recycling rate reached an all-time high.

It was reported that the total weight for recycled waste, which included items such as paper, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and others, topped thirty five tons bypassing last year’s collection amount of twenty nine tons. In the last three years, the total amount of recyclable material collect has nearly doubled. The Fair brought over one million people to Des Moines this year over an eleven day period.

With a goal to not only increase recycling at the Fairgrounds but to educate visitors, attendees, and participants in continuing recycling after they leave, all involved feel that the strategy was a success and will be built upon in the years to follow.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: You don’t have to go it alone when it comes to improving your recycling rate! Be sure to involve your contracted waste hauler about the recycling services they offer and how they can help. If the company you work with doesn’t offer those services, maybe it’s time to look for another who can!

 

EPA Urges Septic System Care

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Whether you’re a homeowner or property manager, taking care of your home or building’s septic system is essential for saving money on water usage and protecting public health. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently reported that approximately twenty five percent, or twenty six million homes and/or business rely on septic systems for wastewater treatment.

Failure to maintain a septic system can result in wastewater overflows, which can mean costly repairs, risks to the environment and public health, and polluted waterways. If you are unsure of the overall health and level of functioning for your septic system, a licensed inspector can help.

Property managers and homeowners would also be wise to follow the EPA’s suggestions:

· Have the septic system inspected by a licensed contractor every three years and pump the tank when required.
· Pouring grease, fats, and solid matter down drains can clog the system and drainfield. Avoid doing this as often as possible.
· Waste materials such as coffee grounds, disposable diapers, feminine hygiene products, dental floss, cat litter and cigarette filters should be disposed of in the trash and not flushed through the toilet.
· Promptly fix plumbing leaks and install water-efficient products that carry the EPA’s WaterSense label.
· Refrain from driving or parking on the drainfield. A vehicle’s could damage pipes and interrupt the underground waste water flow.

The EPA’s SepticSmart program can provide septic system owners and managers with advice and best practices for maintaining a healthy and safe septic systems throughout the year and for many years to come.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Our homes and businesses need fresh water and wastewater management every day. If your property uses a septic system, be sure you’re following the EPA’s guidelines and contact a licensed contractor if you suspect problems.  Taking care of your septic system today can save you costly repairs, loss of business, and environmental fines in the future!