Some States' Medical-Waste Rules Complicate Ebola Fight “Dealing with this collection of pathogen-filled debris without triggering new infections is a legal and logistical challenge for every U.S. hospital now preparing for a potential visit by the virus. In California and other states, it is an even worse waste-management nightmare. Though the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend autoclaving (a form of sterilizing) or incinerating the waste as a surefire means of destroying the microbes, burning infected waste is effectively prohibited in California and banned in at least seven other states.” (Governing.com)

EPA blasts Medina County's 5-year recycling plan, recommends changes “Medina County Solid Waste District officials are rewriting much of their five-year plan in response to criticism from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. In a 19-page advisory opinion, the EPA pointed out multiple statistical errors, some of which inflated the county's actual recycling rate and its financial solvency predictions.” (Cleveland.com)

North Valley group prepares protest of transfer station “A group of North Valley residents are organizing to fight the placement of a transfer station at Edith and Griegos. About 60 people showed up to a North Valley Coalition meeting Wednesday night to discuss the proposal and most said they would like to see the project stopped. They expressed concerns about safety, groundwater contamination, traffic congestion, odors, unhealthy emissions, noise and decreased property values.” (Albuquerque Journal)

Dynamic Recycling expected to add 110 jobs “Dynamic Recycling of La Crosse will invest more than $2 million in improvements to the former ATK Sporting Group complex in the town of Onalaska, creating the 7½-year-old business’ fourth home and making room for an expansion that could mean up to 110 new jobs. According to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Dynamic will be eligible for up to $360,000 in Economic Development Tax Credits during the next three years. The actual amount awarded will depend on the number of jobs created during that time.” (LaCrosseTribune.com)

Landfill analysis pits money vs. intangibles “Keystone Sanitary Landfill owners Louis and Dominick DeNaples have sweetened the deal. In an updated version of their application to extend the landfill’s life by piling on waste for 48 years, local colleges and universities, the boroughs of Dunmore and Throop and the Dunmore Senior Center, would all receive grant money. Keystone tied the grants to the approval of its application.” (TheTimes-Tribune.com)

Butler Co. man killed at recycling facility “A Butler County man died Thursday after being electrocuted while on the job. WDTN-TV reported that Geoffrey Garnett, 33, of Sommerville, was working as a welder at the Cohen Recycling Center in West Carrollton around 3:30 p.m. when he was shocked somehow.” (WLWT.com)

Legislative committee rejects landfill bill “Members of the legislative Energy Development and Transmission Committee have rejected a bill which could remove public votes on landfills and solid waste disposals related to oil and natural gas exploration. Todd Leake farms southwest of Grand Forks, and testified before the committee against the bill. He says the bill is another example of the oil industry bypassing the rights of counties in North Dakota.  Leake says the waste in question may be labeled as ‘non-hazardous’ by the EPA, but the opposite is true.” (PrairieRepublic.org)

Salem pioneers cigarette butt recycling program “Whoever thought you could recycle cigarette butts? But you can, and Salem will soon become the first community in New England to do so by teaming with TerraCycle’s Cigarette Waste Brigade. Up to 200 receptacles bearing stickers that read “Recycle Your Butts Here” will be placed across the city in the coming weeks to provide an easy way to reduce a prolific form of littering, according to city officials, and help keep Salem’s streets a little cleaner.” (The Salem News)

Landfill in McClellandtown assessed $20,000 penalty “A McClellandtown landfill will pay a $20,000 civil penalty for failing to conduct detailed site inspections to detect the potential for off-site odors, according to a state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman.” (TribLive.com)

New Guidance Published To Help Reduce Risk Of Waste Fires “New guidance for waste and recycling sites has been issued today (20 October) by the Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum, to provide site operators with the information and standards needed to reduce fire risk.” (CIWM Journal Online)