A Smell in the Air, Contaminated Groundwater Below “Groundwater under the radioactive West Lake Landfill is contaminated with high amounts of radium, according to a study by the U.S. Geological Survey. The big question – is it coming from the nuclear dump, or someplace else?” (KMOX)

Trash haulers present proposals to Delray officials “Five trash hauling companies say they have what it takes to pick up garbage in Delray Beach. On Thursday, five city officials will listen to presentations from representatives from the five companies vying for one of the city's biggest contracts.” (Sun Sentinel)

Duke agrees to clean up the last of SC’s coal ash ponds “After nearly three decades of safety questions, Duke Energy is joining other South Carolina utilities in agreeing to clean up toxic coal ash that has polluted groundwater and threatened rivers across the Palmetto State. Duke will dig out and remove more than 3 million tons of contaminated coal ash from its Lee power plant in Anderson County, a site where the stability of dams that contain the refuse first arose in the mid-1980s.” (The State)

Mich. considers bill defining pyrolysis as renewable energy “A bill that passed the Michigan House of Representatives Dec. 4 would change state definitions of ‘renewable energy’ to include municipal solid waste and pyrolysis technologies. Michigan House Bill 5205 was assigned to the Michigan Senate Energy and Technology Committee Dec. 9.” (Tire Business)

Oregon E-Cycles to expand collection program “Starting Jan. 1, 2015, the Oregon Electronics Recycling Program (Oregon E-Cycles) will expand its obsolete electronics collection and recycling program to include computer peripherals and printers. The program, administered by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), is completing its sixth year of collecting and recycling computers, monitors and television sets throughout the state.” (Recycling Today)

$156M Waste to Energy Gasification Order for Mitsubishi in Japan “The Yamagata Area Environmental Office Association has placed an order for two fluidised bed type municipal solid waste gasification and melting waste to energy systems with capacity of 150 tonnes per day (tpd), and a waste heat recovery system, from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Environmental & Chemical Engineering Co. (MHIEC). The Yamagata Area Environmental Office Association is a body encompassing two cities and two towns in Yamagata Prefecture.” (Waste Management World)

Millwood objects to Waste Management’s proposed rate increase “With the ink barely dry on the Spokane County solid waste management agreement, Waste Management notified the city of Millwood of a potential rate increase. The city first received notice of Waste Management’s November filing to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission for the proposed 10.6 percent increase earlier this month.” (The Spokesman-Review)

Killeen OKs contracts for waste disposal “Killeen City Council members approved two contracts for the transportation and disposal of the city’s solid waste, both of which include slight cost increases for the city. The city’s contract with Waste Management Inc. for the disposal of municipal solid waste in the Temple landfill increases the current rate of $24 per ton to $24.40 per ton. The contract with Comal Transportation LLC increases the city’s current base rate of $260 per trailer load to $268 per trailer load.” (Killeen Daily Herald)

ND fines company $687,000 for disposal violations “North Dakota regulators assessed a $687,000 fine Wednesday against a Utah company for violating saltwater waste disposal rules. The North Dakota Industrial Commission, a three-member panel that includes Republican Gov. Jack Dalrymple, approved the sanction against Springville, Utah-based Redemption Energy LLC. The matter now goes to North Dakota District Court for collection.” (The Associated Press)

City of Sundance given reprieve on landfill debris pit “After a one-on-one meeting between representatives from the Department of Environmental Quality and the Sundance City Council last week, the city has been granted permission to keep its construction and debris pit open for the foreseeable future. This will be good news for upcoming construction projects, says Mayor Paul Brooks, and could also contribute to the funds needed to close the landfill as a whole.” (The Sundance Times)