10 Things You Need to Know For the Waste & Recycling Industry Today (August 12, 2014)

LA sanitation workers expected to receive $26 million settlement “Trash truck drivers who say they were denied meal breaks are expected to receive a $26 million settlement tomorrow from the Los Angeles City Council. Los Angeles city officials and attorneys for more than 1,000 current and former drivers reached the deal back in February. However, it was not publicly discussed by officials at the time because it still required approval from a judge. With that approval by a Superior Court judge in place, the city council is free to vote on the settlement.” (SCPR.org)

Packaging’s Role in Reducing Food Waste “The American Institute for Packaging and the Environment (AMERIPEN) has published a brochure, Reducing Fresh Food Waste: The Role of Packaging, to help create a better understanding of packaging’s role in reducing food waste. The free brochure helps explain the role of packaging in a sustainable food supply.” (Environmental Leader)

Stericycle relocation plan moving forward “An embattled medical waste company is moving full steam ahead with a relocation plan to Tooele County, even as the company recorded two more emergency emission bypass events in the past two weeks at its Davis County plant. Jennifer Koenig, vice president of corporation communications for Stericycle, told the Standard-Examiner the Illinois-based incineration company had two bypasses in the last two weeks. She insists, however, a new generation system installed in the past few days has taken the risk out of future bypass incidents, generated by power bumps.” (Standard Examiner)

Decatur recycling program continues to grow in numbers “For several years following its inception, the city of Decatur’s recycling program struggled to increase participation numbers past 15%, but after switching to a simpler system in 2011, participation has more than doubled. Assistant City Manager Billy Tyus says since making the switch to a single bin system the recycling program has increased its numbers to 57% of all eligible households.” (WSOYam.com)

The UK Needs to Recycle Another 1.7M Tonnes to Reach 2020 Target “Figures published last week show that the annual rate of recycling is slow moving as ‘waste from households’ in England was 44.2 percent in 2013, only a slight increase from 44.1 percent in 2012. In her blog Goodwin said the following: ‘The recycling rates published this week are disappointing. They support the view that many in the sector have been worrying about for some time – that we look increasingly likely to miss the 50 percent recycling rate in 2020.’” (GPTWaste.com)

Lafayette unveils new recycling trucks “The city of Lafayette unveiled four new recycling trucks that should be easy to spot. The new trucks feature vinyl wraps to encourage more people to recycle. Each vinyl wrap was designed by the Mayor’s Youth Council and includes the city’s flag as well. Last year recycling saved the city about $170,000 in tipping fees.” (WLFI.com)

Chicopee receives $400,000 in EPA grants to clean up Uniroyal and Facemate “Two additional federal Environmental Protection Agency grants will help the city continue the long process to clean up the former Uniroyal and Facemate properties. The competitive grants, each totaling $200,000, are to be used to clean up brownfields. The city has already received four similar $200,000 grants to remove hazardous materials from the two sites, said Lee Pouliot, planner and administrator.” (MassLive.com)

EPA and GlaxoSmithKline reach $317,550 settlement for hazardous waste violations at Upper Merion facility “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Monday that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has agreed to properly manage the hazardous waste at its research and development facility located at 709 Swedeland Road in Upper Merion Township as part of a settlement agreement that also carries a $317,550 penalty for alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations.” (MainlineMediaNews)

Partnership Settles Hazmat Claims for $70,000 “A partnership of members of Burlington's Handy family has agreed to pay $70,000 to settle claims that hazardous materials spilled from an auto shop on Riverside Avenue near a drain that empties into the Winooski River, Attorney General Bill Sorrell announced today.” (SevenDaysVt.com)

National Grid fined $15K for wetlands violations “The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection penalized the New England Power Company $15,156.25 after an inspection found repeated instances of erosion from the company’s substation on Middle Road.” (Newbury Port News)