U.S. Marines are testing a high-tech trash disposal system that can reduce a standard 50-gallon bag of waste to a half-pint jar of harmless ash. Called the Micro Auto Gasification System, the unit is currently undergoing evaluation by US Marine Corps Forces, Pacific as a possible solution to help Marines win their daily battle against the increasing trash at remote forward operating bases.
Category: News
FDA launches Web site on safe sharps disposal
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s new Web site for patients and caregivers focuses on the safe disposal of needles and other so-called “sharps” that are used at home, at work and while traveling. The site aims to help people understand the public health risks created by improperly disposing of used sharps and how users should safely dispose of them. More
An Investment in Recycling Will Create Millions of New Green Jobs
A new report released today by a coalition of labor and environmental groups estimates that recycling 75 percent of the nation’s municipal waste, in combination with incentives for manufacturers to use recycled raw materials, will create nearly 1.5 million desperately needed new jobs by 2030.
The report, More Jobs, Less Pollution, also estimates that by using a much higher level of recycled materials in manufacturing plants, we can reduce global warming pollution by as much as 276 million metric tons by 2030, an amount equal to eliminating the emissions of approximately 72 coal-fired power plants or taking 50 million cars off the road.
The report was prepared by the Tellus Institute for the Blue Green Alliance, a coalition of labor and environmental organizations that includes the Natural Resources Defense Council, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Service Employees International Union, Recycling Works! and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA).
EPA Releases New DVD with Several Videos on Reducing Runoff from Urban Areas
EPA recently released a new DVD called Reduce Runoff: Slow it Down, Spread it out, Soak it in! that includes four educational videos that provide an introduction to controlling runoff in urban areas. The videos on this DVD can help fulfill the outreach requirements for EPA’s Stormwater MS4 program as well as helping with outreach for other purposes. EPA is encouraging the airing of these programs on cable TV stations; we have full rights to the program. This DVD compilation includes:
- Reduce Runoff: Slow it Down, Spread it Out, Soak it In – an introductory video on reducing stormwater runoff and its harmful effects on the environment (8:43 minutes);
- RiverSmart Homes: Getting Smart about Runoff in Washington, DC – video regarding the District of Columbia’s RiverSmart Homes program which provides assistance to citizens to install various practices such as trees, rain barrels, and rain gardens (12:00 minutes);
- Building Green: A Success Story in Philadelphia – a look at an environmentally-friendly housing complex in Philadelphia (11:00 minutes); and
- After the Storm? – a popular video co-produced by EPA and The Weather Channel in 2004 to educate the public about watersheds and what they can do to clean up their watershed including implementing practices to address stormwater (21:39 minutes).
Copies of this DVD may be ordered from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) by emailing nscep@bps-lmit.com or calling 800-490-9198. Please be sure to include the EPA document number EPA 842-11-001, when ordering the “Reduce Runoff: Slow it Down, Spread it out, Soak it in!” DVD.
Also, these videos are posted in small screen format at http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/green/video.cfm and the Website provides an FTP link for broadcast quality videos.
he Federal Government Highlights Economic Benefits of Electronics Recycling
Top Officials Tour Electronic Waste Recycler
Contact: John Martin, (212) 637-3662, martin.johnj@epa.gov
(New York, N.Y. – November 10, 2011) Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. General Services Administration toured e-Green Management of Islip Terrace, New York to highlight the environmental, public health and economic benefits of recycling electronics. The EPA and GSA are partners in a “National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship,” which commits the federal government to promoting the recycling of electronics and advancing a domestic market for electronics recycling that will protect public health, prevent pollution and create jobs.
“The growing electronics recycling industry has the potential to create new economic and environmental opportunities,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “Our work with businesses like e-Green Management means that more of our nation’s electronics will be handled responsibly, and more jobs will be created. I commend e-Green Management for their work.”
“The federal government is the nation’s largest consumer of electronics and GSA can and will ensure that it becomes the most responsible user of these items,” said GSA Regional Administrator Denise L. Pease. “Our efforts in this region alone already keep 1300 tons or 49% of office and building waste out of landfills. Through GSA’s programs for reuse, recycling and proper disposal of e-waste, the federal government can lead by example and, at the same time, help promote job growth in this emerging industry. Supporting small businesses who continue to generate jobs and strengthen our economy is a priority of President Barack Obama.”
Every year, Americans generate almost 2.5 million tons of used electronics, which are made from valuable resources such as precious metals and rare earth materials, as well as plastic and glass. From computers and cell phones, to portable communication and music devices, the U.S. is a global leader in designing and developing new and improved electronic technologies. The responsible management of electronics provides an opportunity to promote economic development and jobs by developing a strong domestic electronics recycling market while preventing pollution.
The National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship includes four overarching goals:
- Build incentives for the design of greener electronics
- Increase the safe management and handling of used electronics
- Reduce harm from U.S. exports of e-waste and improve the safe handling of used electronics in developing countries
- Ensure that the federal government expands recycling of equipment purchased by the federal government
Under this strategy, GSA will ensure that all electronics used by the federal government are reused or recycled properly. In addition, EPA and GSA will promote development of new environmental performance standards for categories of electronic products not covered by current standards. Several federal agencies will work together to identify methods to move federal agencies toward reuse and recycling.
A key component of the strategy includes the use of certified recyclers and increasing the safe and effective management and handling of used electronics. There are two existing domestic third-party certification recycling entities, the responsible recycling, or R2, and E-Steward certifications. The electronics recycling industry is increasingly using these certification programs. Certified recyclers are regularly audited to ensure that electronics are recycled in a manner that is safe for human health and the environment.
Founded in 2007, e-Green Management is part of the R2 certification program. The company recycles used computers, color TVs, cell phones, printers and fax machines, in addition to batteries and fluorescent bulbs. E-Green Management is planning to expand the number of full-time employees of the company within the next two years.
For more information on the EPA and industry collaboration: http://www.epa.gov/electronicsstrategy
Hotel Soap Recycling Benefits Children in Need
Unlimited access to tiny individually-wrapped soaps is one of the many perks of a hotel stay. But what happens to soaps that aren’t used (or pilfered) during your visit? The answer may surprise you.
More than two million partially used bars of soap are discarded at North American hotels each day, according to the Global Soap Project. Even if hotel soaps haven’t been used, quality control standards usually prohibit cleaning staff from reusing the same soaps for multiple guests – especially if the paper wrapping is wet or opened. So, unused and partially used soaps are often destined for the landfill.
But Hilton Worldwide is planning to change all that at its 3,750 hotels by partnering with the Global Soap Project to recycle old soaps for a cause, the company announced on Tuesday. The Atlanta-based nonprofit will collect partially used soaps from Hilton and its subsidiaries, sanitize them and reprocess them into new bars – which are then distributed in developing countries.
New Training Video on Mercury Waste in Hospitals
HCWH has released a video meant to be part of training program for hospitals around the world aiming to eliminate mercury and safely manage and store mercury waste while governments search for a more permanent solution.
The video is based on the UNDP-GEF Global Healthcare Waste Project mercury waste management guidelines and was produced with support from UNEP and the government of Norway. It supports the WHO-HCWH Global Mercury Free Initiative goal of developing replicable models of sound mercury waste management in the health sector. It is available in Spanish and English and is adaptable to other languages. It is targeted for health care workers, and will be disseminated and used in developing countries.
National Home Builders Commit to EPA’s New Guidelines for Energy Star Qualified Homes
Over 400 builders pledge to develop the next generation of Energy Star qualified homes in 2012
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today recognized the leading builders across the nation who have already committed to meeting the updated and more rigorous requirements for new homes that earn the Energy Star label in 2012. With the next generation of Energy Star qualified homes, builders can offer homebuyers updated features that deliver better value, quality, and comfort while continuing to protect the environment. Since 1995, about 1.2 million new homes have earned EPA’s Energy Star, representing savings of nearly $350 million on utility bills while avoiding greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to approximately 450,000 vehicles.
“EPA has raised the bar for what families can expect when they buy a new home that has earned the Energy Star,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, Gina McCarthy. “Homebuyers can be assured when they purchase an Energy Star qualified home, they can find the quality and features they want in a new home, with even lower utility bills and greater benefits for the environment.”
More than 400 builders have already agreed to develop Energy Star qualified homes in 2012. These include six of the country’s largest builders, Ashton Woods Homes, Beazer Homes, KB Home, Meritage Homes, M/I Homes and NVR, Inc, who have all made corporate commitments to meeting the new requirements.
Under the new requirements, homes that earn the Energy Star label will be at least 15 percent more efficient than homes built to the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). They will also feature additional measures that deliver a total energy-efficiency improvement of up to 30 percent compared to typical new homes. The additional features include:
- A detailed package of home envelope air sealing, properly installed insulation, and high-performance windows to deliver comfort, durability, and lower utility bills
- A high-efficiency heating, cooling, and ventilation system designed and installed for optimal performance
- A complete water and moisture management package to protect roofs, walls, and foundations
- Energy Star certified lighting and appliances that help reduce monthly utility bills
- Third-party verification, with independent inspections and testing by a certified Home Energy Rater
Energy Star was started by EPA in 1992 as a market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products as well as new homes and commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by EPA. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved about $18 billion on their energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of 33 million vehicles.
More information about Energy Star new homes and updated guidelines: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=next_generation.ng_qualified_new_homes