10 Things You Need to Know For the Waste & Recycling Industry Today (April 21, 2014)

Coal ash unmonitored in fill sites across N.C. “At least 1.8 million cubic yards of dry ash are buried in nearly two dozen places around Charlotte, not counting power plants. That's enough to cover 1,100 acres a foot deep in ash. An unknown amount of wet ash, removed from ponds and regulated separately, was also used as fill material. The state can't locate records before 2011 that would show where or how large those sites are. State standards are so minimal that even property owners, much less their neighbors, might not know what's underfoot. And while ash has a known ability to contaminate groundwater, fill sites are rarely tested.” (The Charlotte Observer)

The 3D Printing Landfill Of Opportunity “That will hopefully change — as 3D printers (and the materials they use) get better and more capable, meaning the quality of the the output increases, and (hopefully) the utility, longevity and sustainability of the objects printed will too. And indeed as consumers find genuine real-world utility for 3D printing. But in the short term the rise of cheaper 3D printers is going to fuel a boom in sub par machines that churn out cheap plastic trash. Just because they can.” (TechCrunch.com)

Report coming to city committee says commercial and industrial businesses have to start recycling by 2017 to meet targets “The toughest phase in the city’s recycling program must make major strides by 2017 to meet Calgary’s goal in saving landfill space, say city officials. With the first two phases in recycling policy already set — single and multi-family residential collection — conquering industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) waste will prove to be the most challenging, say councillors.” (Calgary Sun)

Two guys in garbage business rescue fawn near Okeechobee landfill “The garbage business took a brief backseat to animal rescue earlier this month when two managers at the Okeechobee landfill spotted a scared fawn running along the road. ‘When the fawn settled in the grass, we knew he needed help,’ said Waste Management’s Disposal Operations Director Bryan Tindell who was with a senior District Manager Tony Bishop on April 8 when they spotted the baby now referred to as Bambi. (The Palm Beach Post)

City examines waste removal bids – Proposals range from $5.3 to $8.1 million depending on options “Last year Waste Management hauled 45,000 tons of garbage, yard waste and recycling out of Key West. Their municipal service waste contract is coming to an end and on May 7 the City Commission will hear proposals from WM and Advanced Disposal…. The bids options provide for an extra day of trash collection (for a total of two trash days), plus the current recycle collection (once a week) and yard waste collection (once a week).” (KeysWeekly.com)

Trucking Company Faces Nearly $1 Million In Fines Over Oilfield Waste Dumping “A Wyoming-based trucking company is facing possible fines of more than $1 million for alleged illegally dumping of saltwater on a road, while criminal charges have been filed against the driver. Black Hills Trucking, Casper, Wyo, is alleged to have violated multiple environmental sections of North Dakota law by allowing the oil drilling waste to flow directly on the ground, by improperly disposing of fluid and by failing to have a proper license to haul waste.” (TruckingInfo.com)

Spartanburg County uses education, recycling in waste disposal efforts “Education, convenience and recycling are keys to Spartanburg County Solid Waste Department's strategy for responsible disposal of waste. Recent events highlight a successful campaign to encourage residents to dispose of their trash in ways that cause the least harm to the environment, County Recycling Coordinator Jes Swanson said.” (GoUpstate.com)

Pueblo City Council looks at mandating recycling for trash haulers “When City Council sits down this evening to discuss whether to require city trash haulers to offer recycling services, at least there is a network of businesses in Pueblo that take recyclables ranging from old batteries to old electronics. Trash collection and recycling are the subject of council’s 5:30 p.m. town hall meeting in council chambers at City Hall. North and East Side residents are particularly invited to the session but any city resident can attend to talk about the issue.” (The Pueblo Chieftain)

Casper electronics recycling center expanding services, adding staff “Cutting Edge Industries is a loud place. Low-tech equipment disassembly methods like hammers and floor-smashing combine with the roar of top-of-the-line machinery. The east Casper company offers something that can be hard for many of its nine employees to land: a job. Cutting Edge, an electronics recycling center run by Casper-based Nowcap Services, focuses on hiring the disabled. It hopes to work with national organizations and use Beatty’s expertise to at least double its staff.” (Trib.com)

Massachusetts DEP fines Balise Motors $5,000 after waste oil, gasoline spill at Springfield dealership “The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection announced on Friday that Balise Motor Sales has been fined $5,000 for its role in the spill of an unknown amount of waste oil and gasoline at its location off West Columbus Avenue in the city’s South End.” (MassLive.com)