10 Things You Need to Know for the Waste & Recycling Industry Today (August 22, 2014)

Even working 15-hour days, Metro Detroit garbage haulers struggle to clear flood debris “A week after massive floods hit Metro Detroit, garbage crews are working 15-hour days to haul away water-damaged debris lining residential streets. Residents in Royal Oak, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Warren and several other Detroit suburbs are still emptying out soggy basements overrun by the Aug. 11 storm. Much of the garbage is still sitting on curbs waiting for pickup as crews struggle to deal with the shear amount of material that needs to be moved.” (MLive.com)

For Sorters’ Eyes Only: A Brief History of the RIC “This desire gave birth to the modern resin identification code (RIC) system, created by SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association in 1988 to help make it easier for sorters and recyclers to separate different types of materials into one of six (eventually seven) different, broadly-defined resin groups. The goal then was the same as it is now; to reduce waste and ensure that the recyclable plastics entering the municipal waste stream could be collected and given a second life. The question has become, is the RIC still a vehicle for achieving that goal?” (InTheHopper.org)

GameDay Challenge expands the competition to the recycling bin “Do you like to recycle?  Do you like college football? Do you like to recycle while attending college football games? Well, there’s a competitive program for that. GameDay Recycling Challenge is returning this year as college football stadiums will compete to see which school produces the least amount of waste — including plastics — at their stadiums and tailgating areas, organizers said.” (Plastics News)

OfficeMax Grand & Toy, TerraCycle Launch K-Cup Recycling Program “OfficeMax Grand & Toy, an affiliate of global office products provider Office Depot, and TerraCycle Canada today announced the launch of the nation’s first K-Cup Packs retailer recycling pilot program. K-Cup Packs, the single-serve coffee pods manufactured by Keurig, have become one of OfficeMax Grand & Toy’s most popular coffee products due to their convenience. Until now, however, the coffee capsules have not been recyclable via retailers in Canada. To remedy this coffee pod recycling challenge, OfficeMax Grand & Toy decided to partner with TerraCycle to offer a K-Cup Pack recycling system to their customers.” (Environmental Leader)

General Assembly sends compromise coal ash bill to the governor “Both the House and Senate voted Wednesday to approve a measure that leaders are calling a ‘first in the nation’ bill that manages the removal of coal ash from 33 unlined pits throughout the state, despite objections from some environmental groups that the measure leaves too much of the decision making to an appointed board. The state House voted 83 - 14 Wednesday afternoon to approve the bill. Shortly after 7 p.m., the Senate approved the bill 38-2.” (WRAL.com)

Shutdown of Sonoma County's compost facility averted “A shutdown of the composting facility at Sonoma County’s central landfill was averted Wednesday when the public agency in charge of the program voted to continue trying to find a way to solve the water pollution problems plaguing the site. The alternative facing the 10-member board of the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency was to begin winding down operations before the rainy season and start hauling to other counties the 100,000 tons of yard waste and food scraps collected from residents’ bins every year.” (The Press Democrat)

Charlotte to study ‘pay as you throw’ idea for garbage “Your water bill is based on how much water you use. Your power bill is based on how much electricity you consume. That principle could be coming to garbage pickup in the city of Charlotte, which is studying whether to implement a ‘pay as you throw’ fee method, in which residents pay for how much garbage they produce.” (Charlotte Observer)

Jersey City Incinerator Authority has new recycling program for household appliances, e-waste “Jersey City residents now have the opportunity to recycle large household appliances and electronic equipment through the Jersey City Incinerator Authority's "White Goods and E-Waste" recycling programs. The program allows residents to dispose of these white goods and/or e-waste products either by arranging a pick-up over the phone or by bringing the waste to be recycled in person to the JCIA’s headquarters, located at 501 Rt. 440.” (NJ.com)

Plastic bags widely used as Sioux City drafts ban “As city officials consider the possibility of a ban on plastic bags, a public survey shows that many Siouxland residents still use them regularly. Officials posted the survey on the city website, sioux-city.org, in June to gather feedback on whether action is needed to curb use of the disposable sacks. They say a ban could reduce the bags' environmental impact and eliminate some litter from city streets.” (Sioux City Journal)

Horry County to cap 33 acres of landfill by 2015 “The Horry County Solid Waste Authority will be capping 33 acres of its 1,700-acre property at the start of 2015, later than anticipated because of the county’s repeal of a portion of flow control. For about the last 20 years, the authority has been filling the 33-acre tract of the landfill, which is 100 feet deep and 100 feet high, with municipal solid waste and some construction and demolition, or C&D, debris.” (Myrtle Beach Online)