Newsletter Archive

A Closer Look at Visible Light Communication

Posted 12-17-2014

Lighting has long been considered the “silent sales person” in retail applications, promoting wayfinding and guiding customers to key merchandise. Now a new technology is emerging that will put lighting in an even more direct sales role. More »

DEA Expands Set of Rules for Disposal of Pharmaceuticals

Posted 12-17-2014

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) Final Rule for the Disposal of Controlled Substances was recently published. More »

Streetlamp Retrofits Are Lighting Up the LED Market

Posted 12-17-2014

The LED retrofit market is at the beginning of a huge upward swing, according to an article in Forbes. IHS Technology reports that of the 140 million streetlights installed worldwide, just over 13 percent are LEDs, and that percentage is expected to jump to almost 65 percent by 2020. More »

Illinois Amendment Aims to Fix E-Scrap Program

Posted 12-17-2014

Elected officials in Illinois are mulling an amendment to the state's e-scrap legislation that would lead to higher manufacturer recycling goals and protections for local governments. More »

Wisconsin Tightens Focus on Movement Of CRT Glass

Posted 12-17-2014

Officials in Wisconsin have announced they will not be allowing leaded CRT glass accumulating for long periods of time to count as recycling under the state take-back program. More »

Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (PWSA) Extends Partnership with Veolia for Interim Executive Management Through 2015

Posted 11-24-2014

The Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority Board of Directors has voted to continue its nearly three-year partnership with Veolia, the world’s leading provider of environmental solutions. Since 2012, the partnership has secured more than $5 million annually in positive financial benefit, implemented operational efficiencies, and made PWSA a leader in local efforts to implement Green Infrastructure (GI). More »

Utah Firm on the Run, Electronics Left Behind

Posted 11-24-2014

The Basel Action Network released a report stating that the leader of an embattled Utah recycling firm has abandoned several thousand tons of electronics in need of processing. More »

EPA Announces Funding To Reduce Water Pollution, Recycle E-Waste, Improve Environmental Health Along U.S.– Mexico Border

Posted 11-24-2014

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is awarding over $8.6 million in grants to fund environmental improvement projects along the U.S.–Mexico border. More »

More Big Batteries Enter Recycling Stream

Posted 11-24-2014

Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE) achieves another fundamental breakthrough in lighting-class LED performance with the groundbreaking SC5 Technology™ Platform. The new platform powers the next generation of lighting with the introduction of Extreme High Power (XHP) LEDs. More »

Cree Redefines High-Power LEDs for Lighting with New SC5 Technology Platform Doubling Light Output to Radically Lower System Cost

Posted 11-24-2014

Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE) achieves another fundamental breakthrough in lighting-class LED performance with the groundbreaking SC5 Technology™ Platform. The new platform powers the next generation of lighting with the introduction of Extreme High Power (XHP) LEDs. More »

More about Veolia's Role in Dallas Ebola Response

Posted 11-24-2014

The Veolia North America facility in Port Arthur has been selected for the safe destruction of decontaminated waste associated with the Dallas apartments of the second and third Ebola patients. More »

Flexible Electronics Market May Reach $13.23 Billion

Posted 10-26-2014

According to a new market research report the flexible electronics market is expected to reach $13.23 billion by 2020. More »

EPA Indicates Landfill Cover is not CRT Recycling

Posted 10-26-2014

The federal EPA has clarified its regulatory stance on whether leaded glass destined for tile manufacturing or landfill cover should be considered recycling. More »

The LED Revolution’s Next Phase

Posted 10-26-2014

The LED revolution continues s at a rapid pace. A new report from Memoori (memoori.com), LED Lighting in Buildings 2014-2018, estimates that worldwide market penetration of LED lamps and luminaires in buildings grew to about 5% and 10% respectively by the end of 2013. More »

PC Shipments Outpace Expectations

Posted 09-15-2014

It appears PC shipments in 2014 aren't quite as lackluster as first thought. More »

700 Series T8 Lamps Eliminated

Posted 09-15-2014

In July 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced major energy conservation standards for commercial general-service fluorescent lamps. The rules, which became effective July 14, 2012, regulated 4´ T5, T8, and T12 lamps as well as 8´ T8 lamps, strengthening previous standards while extending their reach. More »

A Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Occurred On A Boeing 737 That Was Being Prepared For Departure At Melbourne Airport, According To An ATSB Report

Posted 09-15-2014

On 26 April 2014, a passenger checked in four bags for a Fiji Airways flight from Melbourne, Victoria, to Nadi, Fiji. The operating aircraft was a Boeing 737 aircraft registered DQ-FJH. The passenger was a certified remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) operator. More »

Study Shows Coastal Water, Not Sediment, Predicts Mercury Contamination

Posted 09-15-2014

A Dartmouth-University of Connecticut study of the northeast United States shows that methylmercury concentrations in estuary waters—not in sediment as commonly thought—are the best way to predict mercury contamination in the marine food chain. More »

MSW Recycling Bill Introduced in Congress

Posted 08-24-2014

A bill recently introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives aims to up the national recycling rate by requiring manufacturers to use more recycled materials in their products. More »

Federal Regulators study Certification Effectiveness

Posted 08-24-2014

In a report assessing its progress on electronics stewardship, the federal government indicated it is moving forward on major studies in several e-scrap-related areas, including a look at how the e-Stewards and R2 standards are being implemented. More »

Recycling Small Mobile Devices Emerges As Big Business

Posted 08-24-2014

As smart phones get smarter and smaller, they also get slimmer, more fragile and more prone to breaking. But most will become obsolete and be upgraded to newer, more powerful devices before they crack. More »

Seaside Heights Man Charged In Illegal Dumping

Posted 08-24-2014

New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) new initiative to crack down on illegal dumping in state parks and natural lands has resulted in charges of a Seaside Heights man who has been court ordered to pay more than $21,000 in penalties. More »

The Advantages of Induction Lighting

Posted 08-24-2014

Induction lamps operate without electrodes, eliminating wiring connections between the lamp and its generator or driver. Most wear and tear on the system occurs at this point, so its absence significantly extends lamp life. More »

Veolia Achieves OSHA VPP STAR Certification at Vancouver’s Waste Facility. Company Now Has 14 VPP Certified Sites

Posted 08-24-2014

The Washington State Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has awarded Veolia’s Vancouver facility with Voluntary Protection Program status (VPP) at the Star Award level – the highest level granted. More »

Voyageurs Study Shows Declines in Mercury, Likely Due to Pollution Controls

Posted 07-25-2014

The amount of mercury that falls in rain and snow and builds up in fish has declined substantially in two remote lakes in northern Minnesota's Voyageurs National Park, an 11-year study shows, likely thanks to pollution controls in the United States and Canada. More »

New Conductor Could Prevent Lithium-Ion Battery Fires

Posted 07-25-2014

Japanese researchers have developed a new type of lithium-ion conductor that could help prevent the kind of lithium-ion battery fires that grounded the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft last year. More »

Everyday Protocols to Reduce Environmental Impact

Posted 07-25-2014

Building occupants' behavior affects an organization's ability to meet its sustainability goals. In typical commercial buildings, occupants are responsible for 50 to 75 percent of energy consumed through their use of lighting, equipment, and HVAC. More »

Colorado Faces Tide of Old and Costly CRTs

Posted 07-25-2014

With an e-scrap landfill ban in place, Colorado is having trouble redirecting old computers and televisions downstream. More »

EPA Toughens up CRT Export Reporting

Posted 07-25-2014

The U.S. EPA has finalized a rule that will require exporters of CRT devices to file more frequent, detailed and accurate shipment information with the federal agency. More »

Vermont Establishes Law for State-Wide Single-Use Battery Recycling

Posted 06-27-2014

Vermont lawmakers passed H. 695, “Act Relating to Establishing a Product Stewardship Program for Primary Batteries,” the first single-use battery product stewardship law in the U.S. More »

Mayors Walsh and Maher Join Veolia to Commemorate Boston-Cambridge Sustainable Energy Project

Posted 06-27-2014

“Green Steam” project advances environmental goals and enhances economic competitiveness – avoiding 475,000 tons of carbon/year, equal to removing 80,000 cars BOSTON, May 20, 2014 - Veolia North America, a leading operator and developer of efficient energy solutions, today commemorated the $112 million investment in its Boston-Cambridge district energy network. More »

The State of Outdoor Lighting

Posted 06-27-2014

The DOE Lighting Facts program is a voluntary labeling program for reporting product claims. Products are tested in accordance with the Illuminating Engineering Society’s LM79 standard; the data is then verified as part of product registration. More »

Globally Focused Organization Replaces R2 Solutions

Posted 06-27-2014

The administrators of the R2 standard today introduced a new organizational structure that they say will help open the door to safer handling of used electronics in developing nations. More »

American Recycling Habits Have Room to Improve

Posted 06-27-2014

Curbside recycling is available to more than half of American adults, but the public could benefit from additional education on what can be recycled, according to a recent national survey. More »

Veolia Continues to Support Cities with Sustainable Solutions for Household Hazardous Wastes

Posted 05-26-2014

Veolia is again supporting one of the world’ largest household hazardous waste collection efforts – the New York City Department of Sanitation’s (DSNY) NYC SAFE Disposal Events. In each of New York City’s boroughs, all household hazardous waste (HHW) collected will be recycled or disposed of by Veolia at one of its facilities. More »

LED Rebates

Posted 05-26-2014

The Consortium for Energy Efficiency recently reported that more than $9 billion was available for 2012 energy efficiency rebates and incentive programs. Lighting product rebate programs now cover 70% of the country, with funding growing. More »

Colleges and Universities Recover 89.1 Million Pounds of Recyclable Materials

Posted 05-26-2014

Rutgers University and United States Military Academy (West Point) are just two of the schools topping the rankings of the annual RecycleMania Tournament, which leverages campus spirit to increase recycling and waste reduction at colleges and universities across the U. More »

R2 Solutions Clarifies CRT Glass Usage Rules

Posted 05-26-2014

The R2 Solutions board of directors voted unanimously to clarify that R2:2013 prohibits the use of CRT glass that no longer is considered a focus material (FM) as alternative daily cover at landfills. More »

EPA to Remove Over Two Thousand Drums Of Hazardous Materials from New Jersey Site

Posted 04-21-2014

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional administrator Judith A. Enck disclosed that the EPA has begun removing more than 2,000 drums and containers of toxic substances rom the Superior Barrel & Drum Company facility in Elk Township, New Jersey and sending them out of the area form proper disposal. More »

Stormwater Regulations Tighten For Recyclers

Posted 04-21-2014

Rarely has there been a more vexing subject as stormwater runoff regulations as they apply to the recyclers of scrap metals and automobiles. Researching federal, state and local regulations is a tedious task, often resulting in more confusion than enlightenment. More »

Veolia Receives Intel’s Preferred Quality Supplier Award

Posted 04-21-2014

Veolia Environnement has been recognized as one of 18 companies receiving Intel Corporation’s Preferred Quality Supplier (PQS) award for their performance in 2013. More »

Closed Cincinnati Firm Leaves Behind Major CRT Stockpile

Posted 03-17-2014

E-scrap processor 2TRG has left behind significant tonnages of CRT glass as its former Cincinnati facility, several sources, including the Ohio EPA, have informed E-Scrap News. More »

Veolia Recognized as Outstanding Supplier by Grainger

Posted 03-17-2014

Veolia Environnement North America was presented with the Sustainable Supplier of the Year Award at Grainger's annual supplier conference yesterday in Rosemont, Ill. Grainger (NYSE: GWW), the leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products serving businesses and institutions, presents awards annually to a select group of suppliers for outstanding performance throughout the year. More »

Federal Government Hints at E-Scrap Data Disclosure

Posted 03-17-2014

During a Congressional electronics recycling hearing last week, a government official said federal agencies may soon be required to publicly report how they are disposing of end-of-life electronics, a development that could have significant implications for the data-starved e-scrap industry. More »

Highlights from the EPA's Annual Municipal Solid Waste Report

Posted 03-17-2014

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its annual report on municipal solid waste generation earlier this week. Here Waste360 takes a look at some of the key charts and tables from the report. More »

Cellphone Unlocking Policy a Victory for Recyclers

Posted 03-17-2014

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and wireless carriers have recently agreed to allow consumers to “unlock” or circumvent cellphones at the end of their service agreement and switch carriers using the same phone. More »

Massachusetts Finalizes Organics Disposal Ban

Posted 02-24-2014

Massachusetts has put the finishing touches on a commercial organics disposal ban set to go into effect Oct. 1. More »

Survey Finds Most Americans are Proud to Recycle

Posted 02-24-2014

New survey data suggests that Americans are filled with pride as they fill their recycling bins, but are often left wanting when searching for recycling options while on the go. More »

R2 Certification Hits Milestone

Posted 02-24-2014

More than 500 e-scrap recycling facilities around the world are now certified to the R2 standard. More »

Electronics Official Tells Congress EPA Toxic Rules Discourage Recycling

Posted 02-24-2014

A representative of electronics manufacturers told Congress that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s(EPA) reporting requirements related to recycling negatively impact that process. More »

Veolia Achieves OSHA VPP Star Certification at Valero Site

Posted 02-24-2014

Veolia’s site-based industrial cleaning operation at Valero Houston Refinery has been accepted into OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) at the Star Award level, the highest level granted. OSHA will formally recognize Veolia’s team at an upcoming ceremony for its outstanding efforts in achieving exemplary occupational safety and health systems. More »

LED Upgrade Earns High Marks

Posted 02-24-2014

As students returned to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City in August 2012 to begin the fall session, they experienced more than just the usual round of new teachers and classes-they also found newly upgraded lighting in two large classrooms within the campus’s James Fletcher building. More »

Smart Moves - Despite the End of The Recession, K-12 Schools Are Still Looking for Ways to Do More With Less and Looking to Distributors for Ideas.

Posted 01-27-2014

Four years after the official end of the recession, the purported recovery has not yet arrived on school premises. Jim Morris, director of environmental and energy services for Virginia Beach City (Va. More »

R2 Solutions Releases Guidance Document

Posted 01-27-2014

R2 Solutions and Greeneye Partners have released a new guidance document intended to help companies conform to the new R2:2013 standard. More »

Retail Universal Waste Compliance Doesn’t Need to Be Difficult

Posted 01-27-2014

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and compliance with it, remains a regulatory challenge for the retail industry. Many retailers are forced to become experts in waste characterization to ensure compliance with environmental regulations, something that has become difficult for resource strapped retailers. More »

Managing the Lithium (Ion) Battery Fire Risk

Posted 01-27-2014

Lithium-based batteries are inexpensive, lightweight, powerful, and environmentally safer than most alternatives. However, they generate large amounts of energy and the fire and explosion risk associated with them can be high. More »

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