Newsletter Archive

Food Waste Disposal Impacts Landfill Space

Posted 12-09-2016

Consider this: In the U.S. alone, food waste is estimated at between 30 to 40 percent of the food supply. More »

SSL and Streetlighting Guidance

Posted 12-09-2016

OLED lighting continues to develop as a potentially strong complementary source to its solid-state cousin, LED. The OLED source consists of a stack of organic films layered between electrodes and typically encased in plastic or glass. More »

Report Predicts Huge Growth for Smartphone Resale

Posted 12-09-2016

The collapse of e-scrap company Creative Recycling Systems is still being felt in South Carolina, where nearly a dozen solid waste agencies are being sued by Creative’s former landlord. More »

More Fallout from Creative Failure

Posted 12-09-2016

The collapse of e-scrap company Creative Recycling Systems is still being felt in South Carolina, where nearly a dozen solid waste agencies are being sued by Creative’s former landlord. More »

Universal Recycling Laws Paying Dividends in Vermont

Posted 12-09-2016

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation has released it’s first ‘Universal Recycling Status Report’ which found that recycling and composting increased by 11,793 tons from 2014 to 2015 – 2%. More »

EPA Issues Rule Finalizing Changes to Existing Hazardous Waste Export and Import Regulations

Posted 12-09-2016

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule to improve the nation’s hazardous waste regulations to protect public health and the environment. The updated Hazardous Waste Import and Export Regulations streamline the hazardous waste export and import process, implement mandatory electronic reporting for international shipments and electronically linking export information. More »

Safety, Recycling And OSHA: Can They All Get Along?

Posted 11-15-2016

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration isn't the reason a recycling firm should be concerned about safety. An industry expert said recycling companies of all kinds – from e-scrap processors to materials recovery facilities – should make safety a priority because it's the right thing to do. More »

Controls Get More Complex

Posted 11-15-2016

For decades, outdoor lighting was controlled using an astronomical time switch or photosensor. This allowed the luminaire to be turned on or off based on time of day or daylight. Typically, luminaires were controlled at the circuit level with no individual luminaire control. More »

Waste Not, Want Not – Driving the Industrial Circular Economy

Posted 11-15-2016

Sulfuric acid is one of the most widely used chemicals in the world and a critical component of the industrial supply chain. More »

California Governor Signs Bill Enabling CRT Glass Recycling

Posted 11-15-2016

California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a bill proposed by Assembly member Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) to enable the recycling of cathode ray tube (CRT) glass, found in now obsolete televisions and monitors. More »

Celebrate America Recycles Day Today

Posted 11-15-2016

America Recycles Day (ARD), celebrated on November 15 every year, is dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and to buy recycled products. More »

Why Lithium Batteries Catch Fire

Posted 10-20-2016

Lithium batteries are compact, lightweight batteries that hold considerable charge and fare well under constant discharge-recharge conditions. The batteries are found everywhere -- in laptop computers, cameras, cell phones, and electric cars. More »

Fight over New Jersey's e-scrap Reform Bill Continues

Posted 10-20-2016

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) suggested several amendments to an e-scrap reform bill that would hand greater program control to manufacturers. The state's recycling community said it objected to the changes. More »

Plainville to Offer WiFi From LED Streetlights

Posted 10-20-2016

The town of Plainville in Connecticut has installed 1,400 new LED street lights. Some of the new streetlights will also act as WiFi hubs, according to NBC Connecticut The town will reportedly be the first in Connecticut to offer a WiFi signal from its streetlights More »

€240m Waste to Energy Contract for Veolia in France

Posted 10-20-2016

Veolia has secured a €240 million contract to build and operate a waste to energy plant for the Syndicat Départemental d’Elimination Des Déchets De L’Aube (SDEDA) – the Aube Regional Waste Disposal Authority. More »

The DOE Reports LED Lighting At 6% of National Lighting Stock

Posted 10-20-2016

The DOE recently updated its biannual report, Energy Savings Forecast of Solid-State Lighting in General Illumination Applications. This major report models adoption of LEDs in the U.S. general lighting market. More »

Pennsylvania Bill Would Boost Manufacturer Targets

Posted 09-16-2016

Legislation introduced in Pennsylvania increases the amount of e-scrap that manufacturers would be on the hook for recycling each year. More »

State Officials in California Propose Push Toward EPR

Posted 09-16-2016

A memo circulating within California's waste management agency says the packaging industry has failed to offer up viable voluntary options to help the state significantly cut down the amount of packaging material going to disposal. More »

Veolia Secures £338m Camden Waste & Recycling Contract

Posted 09-16-2016

Veolia, has secured a contract with the London Borough of Camden to manage a range of environmental services in the borough for the next eight years. More »

Doe Report; Led Lighting Forecast Shows Massive Growth

Posted 09-16-2016

For the first time, the Department of Energy has released a sales forecast that includes energy savings for Solid State Lighting, including LEDs, for the next 19 years. Previous forecasts provided details through 2025 and 2030, but the latest report takes a look at projections through 2035. More »

Veolia Expands its Industrial Regeneration Activities

Posted 08-09-2016

Veolia has finalized an agreement with Chemours to purchase the assets of its Sulfur Products division as a tuck-in to Veolia North America's Industrial Business. This purchase strengthens Veolia's industrial regeneration business in the United States. More »

CRT Stream Does Not Flow Evenly Nationwide

Posted 08-09-2016

Collection figures from two West Coast states suggest CRT volumes are beginning to decline, but that trend isn't playing out everywhere. More »

Veolia Builds Training Facility at Its Pennsylvania Nuclear Services Site

Posted 08-09-2016

Veolia in North America through its subsidiary (Veolia ES Alaron, L.L.C.) has partnered with customer Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems (MNES), Inc. to build a training facility at Veolia’s Alaron Nuclear Services site in Wampum, Pa. More »

New York State Offers Cities $3 Million in E-Scrap Grants

Posted 08-09-2016

New York state will provide a temporary injection of money to help local governments manage e-scrap collections and recycling. More »

Organizations Disapprove of Electronics Legislation

Posted 08-09-2016

In an unprecedented alliance of solidarity, five of Pennsylvania’s organizations have united in disapproval of CDRA and its proposed amendment, (HB1900 - Ross). More »

EASA Warns On Airline-Device Lithium Battery Risk

Posted 08-09-2016

European aviation regulator EASA has warned that operators could be exceeding lithium battery limits in their portable inflight entertainment systems, or by storing too many backup batteries for cockpit portable electronic devices (PEDs). More »

E-Scrap Bills Pile up in State Legislatures

Posted 07-12-2016

Minnesota made significant changes to its e-scrap program. However, its neighbor Wisconsin failed to pass major updates. Those are just two notes in our look at six action-packed months in state-level policy. More »

AMA Recommends Minimizing Blue-Emission of LED Street Lights

Posted 07-12-2016

While numerous studies have found economic value of switching to LED-based streetlights, the American Medical Association says that some LED streetlights are harmful to human health and the environmental. More »

Veolia and The NYC Department Of Sanitation Recognized For Hosting The Largest Residential Household Hazardous Waste Program In The World

Posted 07-12-2016

With more than 8.4 million residents, New York City is home to an enormous amount of household hazardous waste, including batteries, latex paint, insecticides, motor oil, bleach and expired medications. More »

E-Waste Survey Results Shared

Posted 07-12-2016

The Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center (RMC), in partnership with the Center for Survey Research at Penn State Harrisburg, recently completed a state-wide survey of Pennsylvanians to understand how much e-waste is likely destined for recycling programs. More »

More Than 500,000 Hoverboards Recalled After Fires, Burns

Posted 07-12-2016

There have been 99 reports to the Consumer Product Safety Commission of hoverboard battery packs that exploded or caught fire, the U.S. regulator said Wednesday. More »

Get Ready to Stock V2.0 Products

Posted 07-12-2016

Energy Star, an EPA voluntary product labeling program that was founded in 1992, is designed to help consumers identify and promote energy-efficient products—including lamps and residential luminaires. More »

E. Windsor, Conn. Facility Agrees to EPA Settlement for Toxic Substances Handling

Posted 06-12-2016

An East Windsor, Conn., facility that handles solid waste has agreed to pay $23,000 and comply with federal law to settle claims by the US Environmental Protection Agency that it violated federal laws regulating toxic substances. More »

Bill Pulled Back In North Carolina

Posted 06-12-2016

A bill that eliminates North Carolina's electronics recycling program and landfill ban was scheduled for a vote in the state's Senate this week, but it was reportedly pulled from consideration at the last minute. More »

Boston Medical Center Avoids 8,500 tons of Carbon Annually by Leveraging Veolia's "Green Steam" Energy

Posted 06-12-2016

Boston Medical Center, a 496-bed academic medical center located in Boston's historic South End, is using Veolia's sustainable"Green Steam" to meet its thermal energy needs, while avoiding an estimated 8,500 tons of carbon emissions annually. More »

The DOE Evaluates Flicker Meters

Posted 06-12-2016

The DOE recently published a report on the performance of new commercially available flicker meters. The study is aimed at helping lighting and meter manufacturers measure and report flicker. More »

Another Federal Bill to Limit E-Scrap Exports May Be On the Way

Posted 06-12-2016

An industry coalition that pushed for a national ban on sending e-scrap abroad is now looking for legislators to introduce a bill to Congress that would focus on the dangers of counterfeit material. More »

Examining the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015

Posted 05-19-2016

The most comprehensive congressional update of the energy sector in nearly a decade, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 (EPMA; S.2012)—which has a rough companion already passed by the House—updates myriad efforts by the federal government, led by the DOE, to advance the slow but mostly steady progress the country has made improving efficiency in commercial and residential buildings, which consume 72% of the country’s electricity demand and 42% of total energy. More »

Lobbyist Attempts to Down Illinois Bill

Posted 05-19-2016

A lobbyist has been hired by R2 and e-Stewards to stage a last-minute fight against a bill that's moving swiftly through the Illinois legislature. More »

Universities Should Consider P3S to Meet Infrastructure Needs

Posted 05-19-2016

More colleges and universities should consider joining the slowly growing number of institutions that are using public-private partnerships to address infrastructure and other capital needs, argues the head of one nonprofit organization. More »

Electronics Recycling: An Evolving Industry

Posted 05-19-2016

Here’s one thing we know: The core tenet of a successful electronics recycling business is minimizing total sourcing and processing costs while improving backend efficiencies and vendor relationships. More »

EPA Issues Final Methane Rules For New Oil and Gas Operations

Posted 05-19-2016

As a further step in the Obama Administration’s commitment to take action on climate change and protect public health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing comprehensive steps to address methane emissions from both new and existing sources in the oil and gas sector. More »

Studies Point to Sustained, Long-Term Green Construction Growth

Posted 04-19-2016

Life will change, and change rather drastically, for energy managers and folks with similar roles during the next few years. The reason is simple: Recent research and commentary point to the extent that the buildings themselves will change. More »

CRT Outlet Closed Loop Nears Collapse

Posted 04-19-2016

With financial and regulatory pressure mounting, Closed Loop Refining and Recovery is on the brink of closing and leaving more than 90 million pounds of stockpiled CRT material in its wake. More »

Illinois House Unanimously Approves Bill on CRTS, Certifications

Posted 04-19-2016

With financial and regulatory pressure mounting, Closed Loop Refining and Recovery is on the brink of closing and leaving more than 90 million pounds of stockpiled CRT material in its wake. More »

Compromise Reached on Streetlights in Las Cruces

Posted 04-19-2016

A compromise between the astronomical community and city officials in Las Cruces, NM on LED street lighting has been reached, according to the Las Cruces Sun. More »

Federal, Municipal Clients in the Pacific Northwest Renew Key Water and Wastewater Service Agreements with Veolia

Posted 03-16-2016

Veolia, the global leader in environmental solutions and optimized resource management, recently completed contract renewals with four key clients in the Pacific Northwest. More »

The DoE Releases NPRM on Light Bulb Efficiency

Posted 03-16-2016

One of the biggest changes in the energy landscape during the past few years is the transition to LEDs. Not only is this hugely important in and of itself, but it is a powerful symbol that the government and industry are taking energy efficiency seriously. More »

New York to Subsidize Counties' E-Scrap Budgets

Posted 03-16-2016

New York state officials will dip into an environmental fund to pay half of the e-scrap recycling expenses incurred each year by counties. More »

Rechargeable Battery Shipments to Be Barred From Airliners

Posted 03-16-2016

Cargo shipments of the rechargeable lithium batteries used in countless consumer products should no longer be allowed on passenger planes because they can create intense fires capable of destroying an aircraft, a U. More »

Bankrupt Processor Leaves Behind CRTs

Posted 03-16-2016

Global Environmental Services filed for bankruptcy in recent months and has since been accused of leaving a wake of CRTs and piles of processed glass in Kentucky and Texas. More »

179D Tax Deduction Extended To End Of 2016

Posted 03-16-2016

On Dec. 18, 2015, President Obama signed a tax bill that includes a two-year extension of Section 179D of the tax code, known as the Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction (CBTD), to Dec. 31, 2016. It also raises the bar on energy efficiency, making the deduction more difficult to earn. More »

Rhode Island Faces E-Scrap Program Challenges

Posted 02-22-2016

Rhode Island is the latest state to report it is grappling with a shortfall in funding for a manufacturer-backed electronics recycling program. More »

Light-Years Ahead

Posted 02-22-2016

Ranked as the fifth-busiest airport in the world and the second busiest in the United States, LAX in Los Angeles serves more than 70 million passengers annually. As part of the recent $118 million LAX Curbside Appeal and Roadway Improvement Project, which was launched to modernize this prominent 55-year-old international gateway, the airport pursued a bold new approach to its exterior terminal lighting with help from Gexpro, Eaton, and a team of experienced architects, lighting designers, engineers, and contractors. More »

Bill DiCroce Named President and CEO of Veolia North America

Posted 02-22-2016

Veolia, the global leader in environmental solutions and optimized resource management, has named William J. “Bill” DiCroce as the new president and CEO of Veolia North America. More »

What Does the JPMorgan Chase/Current LED Deal Say About the Future?

Posted 02-22-2016

The deal announced yesterday between Current – GE’s energy startup – and JPMorgan Chase & Co. for a massive LED replacement project has the feel of being something of a milestone. More »

Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill Vetoed By Gov. Christie

Posted 02-22-2016

Lawmakers have reintroduced an e-scrap bill that was vetoed by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie last month. More »

MIT Looking to Boost Incandescents

Posted 01-25-2016

The issue of which is the best form of lighting may not be resolved after all. The world is gradually shifting to LEDs. However, Science Alert reports that The Massachusetts Institute of Technology aims to give industry at least an option in its choice of lighting. More »

How the Circular Economy Can Unleash Value for Your Organization

Posted 01-25-2016

Today we know our planet's natural resources are limited and the world's demands are increasing. How is your organization or community preparing to thrive in this new competitive environment? More »

The DOE Evaluates White-Tunable LED Lighting

Posted 01-25-2016

The U.S. DOE’s CALiPER program has released Report 23: Photometric Testing of White-Tunable LED Luminaires, the first in a planned series on this nascent product category. More »

Updated: Bill to Update New Jersey Program Heads to Governor

Posted 01-25-2016

A bill overhauling New Jersey's e-scrap law is headed to Gov. Chris Christie, but the recycling industry isn't sure whether he'll sign it. More »

Experts Weigh in on Top CRT Glass Issues

Posted 01-25-2016

Participants in a webinar this week spoke openly about two particularly contentious issues facing CRT glass management: downstream capacity and manufacturer funding. More »

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