10 Things You Need to Know For the Waste & Recycling Industry Today (April 14, 2014)

South Florida plant turning waste to cement “Garbage is starting to help pave our roads and support our buildings. A cement company based in Deerfield Beach, Titan America, has begun turning selected waste, such as car bumpers and scrap cardboard, into construction material. The refuse replaces coal used in cement-making at the company's plant in Medley, the largest cement factory in South Florida.” (Sun Sentinel)

What Can We Learn From Pictures of People and Their Trash? “A new photo project called ‘Waste in Focus’ aims to raise awareness about the giant-landfill-sized issue of waste in the United States. Sponsored by Glad and launching this week, the photo-series-meets-public-service campaign by husband-and-wife creative team Peter Menzel and Faith D’Aluisio examines what ends up in the trashcan, recycling bin and compost heap of eight average American families over one week.” (Smithsonianmag.com)

Lawsuit alleges landfill radiation has spread “There are new allegations in a federal lawsuit that radioactivity has spread beyond the confines of the West Lake Landfill and into surrounding neighborhoods. The Environmental Protection Agency says the radioactive nuclear waste at West Lake is still contained inside the boundaries of the landfill. But the attorney who filed the suit tells NewsChannel 5 he believes he'll be able to prove otherwise.” (KSDK.com)

Zero waste plan can save schools a lot of green “Going green has more than one meaning for schools in Oceanside, where a recycling program is predicted to save the district at least $100,000 annually by 2020. The Oceanside Unified School District adopted a zero-waste resolution on Jan. 21. Similar to a move by the city of Oceanside four years ago, the district’s goal is to recycle 75 to 95 percent of its waste by 2020.” (UTSanDiego.com)

Recycling center woes “The city of Princeton is still having concerns about illegal dumping of items at its recycling center on North Euclid Avenue. At this week’s meeting of the Princeton City Council, Commissioner Ray Mabry said the community enjoys having a recycling center, but some people are abusing it. In recent weeks, furniture and prescription drugs have been dropped off at the center. As he’s said before, probably 95 percent of the people are following the guidelines, but the other 5 percent are causing a problem for everyone else. Also, there are people, outside of the Princeton community, who are apparently bringing their yard waste to the adjoining brush collection site, he said.” (BCRNews.com)

Local officials object to DEQ permit for north BR landfill “A state agency’s green light for an industrial waste landfill in north Baton Rouge is prompting city-parish Councilman Trae Welch to seek Metro Council approval to pursue possible legal action to stop the permit. Welch said further that he wants representatives from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to appear before the council to explain why the agency approved the application for the landfill when ‘every single elected body went on record saying they did not want it.’” (The Advocate)

Houston to collect cartons for recycling, too “Houstonians accustomed to throwing out glossy cardboard cartons of milk, juice, soup and others foods and beverages now can send them to the curb in a green container for recycling. The Carton Council, a consortium of carton manufacturers, has helped the city's existing paper recycling processors purchase equipment that will keep much of these materials out of landfills. The predominantly paper cartons can be repurposed into paper towels, tissues and even building materials, said Gary Readore, chief of staff in the city's Solid Waste Management Department.” (Chron.com)

Wood Door Recycling Launched by Graham and Maiman Doors “Wood door manufacturing divisions of the ASSA ABLOY Door and Perimeter Security Group have launched an End-of-Life Recycling program for wood doors and frames. The free recycling program offers recycling and disposal of door products. Wood doors also can be donated to Habitat for Humanity.” (Woodworking Network)

Gurnee approves commercial waste pickup program “Village of Gurnee trustees have approved a commercial waste hauling and recycling program for its businesses, similar to what it has offered to residents for years. The Board Monday night, April 8, selected Waste Management of Illinois as the low bidder from four service providers who applied to aggregate all Gurnee business refuse and recycling accounts under one master account negotiated by the Village for maximum group cost savings.” (Lake County News-Sun)

Area municipalities receive $317,000 in recycling funds  “The City of Natchez, along with the City of Brookhaven and Wilkinson County, received more than $300,000 last week to fund a regional recycling effort. Natchez Community Development Director James Johnston said the three entities have been awarded a little more than $317,000 through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s Regional Recycling Cooperative Grants Program. The grant will help pay for educational and marketing efforts to educate residents of participating communities on recycling, as well as transportation and equipment. Plans for Natchez include placing recycling bins downtown in the Main and Franklin streets area and on the bluff, as well as a compactor at the Natchez Convention Center for use by downtown businesses” (NatchezDemocrat.com)