10 Things You Need to Know For the Waste & Recycling Industry Today (August 1, 2014)

High School Near Landfill Cleared After Radiation Tests “Radiation testing reveals a high school in Bridgeton is safe. Pattonville High is about two miles away from the West Lake Landfill and a spike was found in radioactive elements in soil on its baseball field. A month ago, an engineering firm took samples for testing. The results found levels of Thorium-230 were four times higher than normal, but that's not considered dangerous. The district has said it will get another test done to be certain.” (971Talk.com)

Oakland garbage deal scales back rate increases “The City Council handed over Oakland's $1 billion garbage and recycling franchise to a homegrown upstart that will charge homeowners lower rates than its top competitor but might not be able to deliver service when the contract begins next July. The unanimous vote late Wednesday to pick California Waste Solutions over Houston-based Waste Management sparked an uncharacteristically joyous scene at City Hall.” (Contra Costa Times)

Innovative plastics recycling plant shuttered “A Portland facility that turns hard-to-recycle plastics into crude oil will be shuttered while owner Waste Management explores newer technology options. It’s only been operating for 16 months, but perhaps not as well as the company had hoped.” (PortlandTribune.com)

Plastic bag recycling begins Friday in SA “San Antonio is headed into a new era of recycling. Beginning Aug. 1, the city will start using a new recycling processor that will be able to accept plastic bags.” (KSAT.com)

Republic Services Hires Oprah's Lawyer, Denies Charges “Republic Services responded to the lawsuit filed by Acme Metal and Mayfield Paper that hopes to recover Republic’s surcharges the plaintiffs argued are unauthorized by City of San Angelo ordinance. Representing Republic is Charles ‘Chip’ Babcock of Jackson Walker LLP of Dallas. Babcock is a ‘big gun’ in state legal circles.” (SanAngeloLive.com)

Closed Landfill Draws Growing Environmental Concerns “A closed landfill, along the Missouri and Arkansas border, has some residents concerned about potential environmental threats. The NABORS landfill is owned by the Ozark Mountain Solid Waste District, which is made up of six counties in northern Arkansas: Baxter, Boone, Marion, Searcy, Carroll and Newton. Baxter County Judge Mickey Pendergrass, who sits on the OMSWD board with other elected officials in the district, says the waste at the landfill goes well beyond what is underground.” (OzarksFirst.com)

Maine Company Turns Lobsters into Compost “The lobster parts, all sourced locally, begin a months-long journey into compost. ‘We’ll get enough to lay out for another row. We mix it with the blueberry waste, which is processed over in Machias, and the cow manure.’ The compost spends months decomposing thanks to naturally-occurring bacteria, then it’s turned over to aerate and to keep it from overheating.” (WABI.tv)

Covanta spells out plan for incinerator “The Chester Environmental Justice organization met Thursday night to discuss residents’ concerns with a land development proposal made by Covanta, which operates a trash incinerator on Highland Avenue. Covanta is seeking to construct a 16,000-square-foot rail box building that will enable the waste-to-energy incinerator to accommodate a different kind of truck that hauls municipal garbage to the facility.” (DelcoTimes.com)

Environmentalists criticize mercury recycling bill “Recycling mercury from old thermostats and light bulbs is mandated under a bill being weighed by Gov. Deval Patrick, but environmentalists say the legislation doesn’t do enough to protect waterways. If signed by Patrick, the new law will require thermostat and light bulb manufacturers that operate in Massachusetts to pay $10,000 each for a mercury recycling program and make recycling containers available to contractors and wholesalers.” (Eagle-Tribune)

Sides spar over proposed recycling expansion “The controversy surrounding a Twin City recycler's request for site approval to expand its operation was evident in the first day of a public hearing Thursday. Residents of Hilltop Mobile Home Park — which is across the street from applicant Henson Disposal — filled half the seats in Room 400 at the Government Center. American Disposal Service, which operates a landfill in west Bloomington, also had an attorney present at the hearing, which was before the Pollution Control Site Hearing Committee.” (Pantagraph.com)