Pinellas waste-to-energy contract stalls “The battle over who gets the lucrative contract to run the county’s waste-to-energy plant seems set to rumble on. County commissioners on Tuesday delayed awarding a 10-year contract worth an estimated $450 million to Covanta, saying they had concerns over fees for managing repairs to the plant and giving the contractor a share of electricity payments for the first time.” (The St. Petersburg Tribune)

Minneapolis recycling rate rises with single-sort service “Minneapolis’ switch to single-sort recycling has prompted residents to recycle nearly 29 percent more waste than a few years ago, when all recyclables had to be sorted into separate containers. The shift has also prompted a sizable drop in the number of workers’ compensation claims related to recycling collection, a public works official told a City Council committee Tuesday.” (StarTribune.com)

Can Oakland successfully curb illegal dumping? “For over a decade, Oakland has attempted to abate the illegal dumping of mattresses, electronics, furniture, and other large items onto city streets. The phenomenon is a problem throughout the Bay Area, but noticeably worse in Oakland. One reason for that is the city’s location as a crossroads in the East Bay. Freeway entrances and exits prove to be attractive spots for anyone, especially out-of-towners, to take care of their dirty business and illegally dump items.” (KALW.org)

Wilmington compost plant ordered to close “State environmental regulators have ordered the shutdown of an industrial scale composting plant near the Port of Wilmington that critics say produced a years-long siege of foul odors affecting tens of thousands.” (DelawareBeaches.com)

Superior City Council Approves Fee Increase for Recycling Program “Superior residents will soon be paying a little extra for recycling. On Tuesday, the City Council approved a $3.50 per month increase in the mandatory service starting on November 1. However, the fee will not show up on residents' bill until the start of the new year. Mayor Bruce Hagen, speaking before the Council, said that the cost increase is a result of the increased cost to run the city-owned landfill.” (WDIO.com)

City Council repeals bag fee ordinance “Amid pressure from a citizen group against the city's bag fee ordinance, Fort Collins City Council voted to repeal the ordinance Tuesday. The council's decision came two weeks after the city clerk confirmed that the group, Citizens For Recycling Choices, had collected at least 2,604 valid signatures to bring the issue back up to council.” (Coloradoan)

West Virginia Senate Rules Committee Moves to Ban Marcellus Waste from Eastern Panhandle “The West Virginia Legislative Rule Making Committee yesterday moved to close a loophole in state law that would have allowed radioactive Marcellus shale waste into the LCS Services Landfill in Hedgesville, West Virginia. The Committee unanimously passed a rule that provides that ‘a commercial solid waste facility that is located in a county that is, in whole or in part, within a karst region as determined by the West Virginia Geologic and Economic Survey, may not accept drill cuttings and drilling waste generated from horizontal well sites.’” (Morgan County USA)

Celebrating Halloween in New Orleans “Recycling is also ‘the thing.’ This year, the Krewe of Boo Halloween parade is going green to reduce garbage.  Months after Mardi Gras parades end, plastic beads dangle off trees, balconies and iron fences, catch the sunlight, sparkle and remind us of Carnival fun. But think about the thousands of plastic parade throws left in streets to produce tons of trash. To counter the ever-growing garbage piles, Krewe of Boo will toss unique, handmade and local throws, such as voodoo dolls, candy and doubloons that you can save or redeem for food.” (NOLA.com)

Law to ban fracking byproducts in Cayuga County tabled “A law that would ban the use of hydrofracking byproducts on Cayuga County roadways will most likely not go to a public hearing next month after it was tabled by the Cayuga County Ways and Means Committee. The resolution, tabled in a 5-2 vote, was to set a notice of public hearing on the new law. The public hearing for the law — which bans the use of brine, oil waste or natural gas waste on properties or roads in Cayuga County, as well as in any waste management or wastewater treatment facility operated by the county — would have taken place in November.” (AuburnPub.com)

Cancer Survivor In Pride Of Place On Pink Waste Truck “Waste is making the fight against cancer and raising awareness of the disease personal after unveiling its “big pink surprise” yesterday. This month – dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness – Bahamas Waste has put a photograph of Hartley Strachan, the company’s Manager of Medical Waste, on its repainted pink truck to drive home the message to the public.” (Tribune242.com)