Category: News

ByMichal Lenchner

Addressing the enormous environmental challenges that we face, waste management has become a growing field that offers entrepreneurial opportunities, room for innovations and investment prospects. Today, more and more venture investors are looking into waste management and value reclamation.

The panel discussed the challenges around waste management, end-of-life product and material utilization, and how new solutions support the emerging trend towards innovative and sustainable business practices.

How do we know that what we are producing is really eco-friendly? To measure a product’s environmental impact and carbon footprint — a complicated calculation process — companies need to look at the amount of energy consumed, the embodied energy and the CO2 that is released in the extraction, processing and transportation of raw materials, and the manufacture of the finished product.

CalStar Products develops and manufactures sustainable building products that allow architects and builders to dramatically reduce the energy and the carbon footprint of construction projects by incorporating recycled materials. The company’s bricks and pavers have been recognized as outstanding new building products.

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Later this year, ISO will publish a new global standard for energy management. ISO 50001 will establish a framework for industrial plants, LEED green buildings of all types, commercial facilities and utilities to manage energy. Its aim is to help organizations improve their energy performance, increase energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impacts of energy-related consumption. It is estimated that the standard could influence up to 60% of the world’s energy use! Will your company be ready? Join this free webcast to find out.

 

Psychrometers:

Significant New Use, 26225-26232

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-05-06/html/2011-11025.htm

B. Proposed Action

EPA is proposing to designate as significant new uses the use of elemental mercury in barometers, manometers, and hygrometers/psychrometers.  However, use of elemental mercury in these articles when they are in service as of the publication date of this proposed rule would not be covered as a significant new use under this proposed SNUR.  Also, use of mercury in portable battery-powered motor-aspirated psychrometers that contain fewer than seven (7) grams of mercury is an ongoing use and therefore would not be covered by this SNUR. Due to EPA’s concern about use of mercury in products, the Agency may take other action to facilitate the evaluation or control of ongoing uses, as appropriate.

 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced steps to help reduce the risk of exposure to improperly reprocessed devices that can lead to the transmission of disease.

Medical devices intended for repeated use are commonplace in healthcare settings. They are typically made of durable substances that can withstand reprocessing, a multistep process which includes cleaning, disinfecting, or sterilization to remove debris and biologic materials that may transmit infection between patients. While successful reprocessing of reusable devices occurs routinely in health care settings, there are some devices which present particular challenges to reprocessing.

Based on its access to premarket and postmarket data on reprocessed devices, the FDA identified device design features that reduce the likelihood of retaining debris and that facilitate proper reprocessing. These features include smooth inner surfaces of devices with long, narrow interior channels, clear identification of components that must be discarded after patient use, and designs that take into account how fluid moves through reusable medical devices.

On June 8-9, 2011, the FDA will sponsor a public workshop to discuss these findings and collaborate with representatives from other government agencies, manufacturers, health care providers, and other stakeholders on future device design and scientific advances in reprocessing.

Read the complete article at Infection Control Today

 

The draft guidance by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers aims to delineate which waterways, water bodies and wetlands are protected by the Clean Water Act. This should provide more clarity for businesses, which need permits to discharge pollution into protected waters as well as fill protected waters and wetlands, the EPA said.

The guidance says that small streams are protected by the act if they have a “physical, chemical or biological connection” to larger bodies of water downstream, and could affect the integrity of those downstream waters. “Agencies would be able to evaluate groups of waters holistically rather than the current, piecemeal, stream-by-stream analysis,” the EPA said.

The agency indicated that it intends to expand the definition of “traditional navigable waters”, saying the term may apply under a wider range of circumstances than in previous guidance. This would make more water bodies subject to Clean Water Act protections.

The act will also apply to non-navigable tributaries to traditional navigable waters if the tributaries are relatively permanent, meaning they contain water at least seasonally. Wetlands adjacent to either interstate waters or traditional navigable waters would also be covered, along with wetlands that directly abut relatively permanent waters.

And the EPA said it is clarifying that interstate waters are also protected by the act. Waters that are not regulated by the act include artificial lakes and ponds, many agricultural and roadside ditches, and certain artificially irrigated areas, the EPA said.

Read the complete article at Environmental Leader

 

WASHINGTON – Recognizing the importance of clean water and healthy watersheds to our economy, environment and communities, the Obama administration released a national clean water framework today that showcases its comprehensive commitment to protecting the health of America’s waters. The framework emphasizes the importance of partnerships and coordination with states, local communities, stakeholders and the public to protect public health and water quality, and promote the nation’s energy and economic security.

For nearly 40 years, the Clean Water Act, along with other important federal measures, has been a cornerstone of our effort to ensure that Americans have clean and healthy waters.  The administration’s framework outlines a series of actions underway and planned across federal agencies to ensure the integrity of the waters Americans rely on every day for drinking, swimming, and fishing, and that support farming, recreation, tourism and economic growth.   It includes draft federal guidance to clarify which waters are protected by the Clean Water Act nationwide; innovative partnerships and programs to improve water quality and water efficiency; and initiatives to revitalize communities and economies by restoring rivers and critical watersheds.

“Clean water and healthy waterways are vital to the health and vibrancy of our communities and the strength of our economy,” said Nancy Sutley, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.  “Working with our partners across communities, governments and sectors, we are taking comprehensive action to ensure Americans have the clean and healthy waters they need and deserve.”

”The steps we’re outlining today will be instrumental to protecting the waters of the United States, and ensuring that the vital natural resources our communities depend on for their health and their economy are safeguarded for generations to come,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “After four decades of progress on clean water, there is still work to be done to address unfinished business and tackle new threats to our waters. American families and businesses are counting on us to maintain and improve the rivers, lakes, streams and other waters that support thousands of communities and millions of jobs across the country.”

“Healthy rivers and clean waters are fundamental to our economy, our health, and our way of life,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “With growing pressures on our natural systems, we must work to secure cleaner, safer, and more reliable water supplies for our communities.”

“As our nation’s foremost conservationists, farmers, ranchers and forest owners have a values system rooted in rural America that recognizes we cannot continue to take from the land without giving something back,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “At USDA, we are working with farmers, ranchers and forest owners to conserve land, plant stream buffers for cleaner water, and install other conservation practices. We also will continue to invest in rural water and community facility projects that help small towns ensure their citizens have access to safe and reliable drinking water. The draft Clean Water Act guidance released today reflects USDA’s work with our federal partners by maintaining existing exemptions for ongoing agricultural and forestry activities, thereby providing farmers, ranchers and forest landowners with certainty that current agricultural and forestry activities can continue.”

“The Army is very proud of our ecosystem restoration efforts across the nation,” said Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy.  “The proposed joint EPA and Army guidance will clarify Clean Water Act jurisdiction and help the Corps and its partner agencies protect important aquatic resources and watersheds that communities rely on for their quality of life and essential services.”

Clean water provides critical health, economic and livability benefits to American communities. Since 1972, the Clean Water Act has kept billions of pounds of pollution out of American waters, doubling the number of waters that meet safety standards for swimming and fishing.  Despite the dramatic progress in restoring the health of the nation’s waters, an estimated one-third of American waters still do not meet the swimmable and fishable standards of the Clean Water Act.  Additionally, new pollution and development challenges threaten to erode our gains, and demand innovative and strong action in partnership with federal agencies, states, and the public to ensure clean and healthy water for American families, businesses, and communities.

The Obama administration is safeguarding clean water by:

Promoting Innovative Partnerships

Federal agencies are partnering with states, tribes, local governments and diverse stakeholders on innovative approaches to restore urban waters, promote sustainable water supplies, and develop new incentives for farmers to protect clean water.

Enhancing Communities and Economies by Restoring Important Water Bodies

The Obama administration is dedicating unprecedented attention to restoring iconic places like the Chesapeake Bay, California Bay-Delta, Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico and Everglades, investing in action and helping states, local governments and stakeholders find pollution control solutions that are tailored to their specific needs.

Innovating for More Water Efficient Communities

The administration is working with policymakers, consumers, farmers and businesses to save water – and save money – through 21^st century water management policies and technology.

Ensuring Clean Water to Protect Public Health

The Obama administration is aggressively pursuing new ways to protect public health by reducing contaminants in Americans’ drinking water.  We are updating drinking water standards, protecting drinking water sources, modernizing the tools available to communities to meet their clean water requirements, and providing affordable clean water services in rural communities.

Enhancing Use and Enjoyment of our Waters

The administration is promoting stewardship of America’s waters through innovative programs and partnerships.  These efforts include expanding access to waterways for recreation, protecting rural landscapes, and promoting public access to private lands for hunting, fishing and other recreational activities.

Updating the Nation’s Water Policies

The administration is strengthening protection of America’s waters and American communities.  We are modernizing water resources guidelines, and updating federal guidance on where the Clean Water Act applies nationwide.  The draft guidance will protect waters that many communities depend upon for drinking, swimming, and fishing, and provide clearer, more predictable guidelines for determining which water bodies are protected from pollution under the Clean Water Act. The guidance is open for 60 days of public comment to all allow all stakeholders to provide input and feedback before it is finalized.

Supporting Science to Solve Water Problems

The administration is using the latest science and research to improve water policies and programs and identify and address emerging pollution challenges.

More information and to read the Obama administration’s clean water framework:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/clean-water

 

The drive for newer, faster, better technology is generating dramatic gains in productivity – but serious environmental impacts as well. Due in large part to high-profile media coverage, most people have seen images of children playing in smoldering, toxic e-waste dumps in developing countries. Since about 80 percent of e-waste collected for recycling ends up in these dumps – much of it from businesses – keeping discarded electronics out of this toxic trade is key issue for ensuring corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability.

Donating surplus PCs – when properly managed – helps reduce the environmental impact of IT by extending the useful life of equipment. At the same time, effective donations of used PCs magnify philanthropic giving by helping people, schools and community organizations that desperately need technology – but can’t afford it.

Taking action to address the “digital divide” is an important CSR priority. In today’s digital society, a home computer plays the role of library, post office, tutor, bank, newspaper, employment agency, medical advisor, match maker and much more. Yet one in four U.S. homes – or 28 million households – lacks a PC. And more than 13 million PCs are needed by U.S. nonprofits to streamline operations and expand services.

Directing even a small portion of surplus IT to this cause could have a dramatic impact. According to Gartner, U.S. businesses replace approximately 40 million computers every year – and about 75 percent of this equipment is four years old or less, meaning it has plenty of useful life remaining. Yet more than half is stowed away in warehouses and closets or discarded. Only 3 percent is donated, and many of these computers are “gifted” to charities without proper testing, repairs and legally-licensed software.

Read the complete article at Environmental Leader

 

Philips Lighting is launching a range of incandescent light bulbs that it says comply with impending energy-efficiency regulations.

The EcoVantage range has the same look, shape and feel as common household bulbs, available in soft white, true-color natural light and crystal clear options, and starts at $2.97 for a two-pack, Philips said. EcoVantage uses halogen technology to offer energy savings of at least 28 percent, the company added.

The lights are available in 29-watt, 43-watt and 72-watt versions, replacing 40-watt, 60-watt and 100-watt traditional incandescents. The bulbs will be sold exclusively at Home Depot, starting on Earth Day.

Philips says that if every American were to replace a traditional 100 watt bulb with an EcoVantage bulb, it would prevent emissions equivalent to 590,588 cars, saving $388 million in energy costs and eliminate the need for 3000 MW of power.

The company said the bulbs meet or exceed efficiency standards established in the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, and are some of the most environmentally friendly incandescent bulbs on the market.

The acts’ regulations have often been described as a ban on incandescents, but the legislation does not outlaw the bulbs outright. Instead, it enacts efficiency standards that most incandescents are unable to meet.

Read the complete article at Environmental Leader