Tag: epa

New Pig’s Forum Gets the Waste Out

Posted: January 22, 2014
Source: Environmental Protection.com

New Pig Corporation recently launched an online forum, The Waste Minimization Forum, with many resources to help plants minimize waste and save money through sustainability initiatives and lean manufacturing. Members can join the forum (www.wastemin.com) free, and the forum’s publisher, New Pig’s Andy James, is stocking it with interesting and useful posts, infographics, a guide to creating a waste inventory, and tools such as a waste minimization savings calculator (accompanied by a 12-minute explanatory video).

According to the company, the forum is dedicated to creating real, usable insights and information that plants can use immediately. No question is too large or too small to be discussed on the forum, and “no fluff or spin is allowed. No selling.”
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EPA Takes Important Step in Implementing the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act

Posted January 17, 2014
Source: EPA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued a final rule that is a crucial step in the development of a national electronic manifest (e-Manifest) system, which will upgrade the current paper-based system of tracking hazardous waste to an electronic one.

“Today’s action is a key step in bringing the oversight of these potentially dangerous materials into the 21st century,” said Mathy Stanislaus, EPA assistant administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “Once fully implemented, the national e-Manifest system will provide greater access for emergency responders to information about the types and sources of hazardous waste that are in transit between generator sites and waste management facilities.”

The final rule authorizes the use of e-Manifests to track hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. This will allow the current process, which requires paper forms, to be streamlined and greatly reduce the millions of paper manifests produced each year.
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EPA Proposes Updates to Air Standards for Newly Manufactured Woodstoves and Heaters

Posted January 3, 2014

Updates would make the next generation of woodstoves and heaters significantly cleaner and more efficient

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing standards for the amount of air pollution that can be emitted by new woodstoves and heaters, beginning in 2015. The agency’s proposal would make the next generation of stoves and heaters an estimated 80 percent cleaner than those manufactured today, leading to important air quality and public health improvements in communities across the country. The proposal would affect a variety of wood heaters manufactured beginning in 2015 and will not affect heaters and stoves already in use in homes or currently for sale today.

Smoke from residential wood heaters, which are used around the clock in some communities, can increase toxic air pollution, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide and soot, also known as particle pollution, to levels that pose serious health concerns. Particle pollution is linked to a wide range of serious health effects, including heart attacks, strokes and asthma attacks. In some areas, residential wood smoke makes up a significant portion of the fine particle pollution problem. EPA’s proposal would work in concert with state and local programs to improve air quality in these communities.
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