10 Things You Need to Know for the Waste & Recycling Industry Today (January 6, 2015)

Neighbors Upset Over Milpitas Landfill, Say Smell is Unbearable “Neighbors living in Milpitas are fighting with a nearby landfill, saying the smell has become unbearable. The landfill is located right off Dixon Landing Road and the 880 freeway. And later in January, the San Jose Planning Commission will consider allowing a larger landfill.” (NBC Bay Area)

Seattle's Scarlet Letter For Sloppy Trash Sorters “Beware the red tag, the scarlet letter of Seattle waste. The bright red tag says you’ve violated the city’s new trash law, making it illegal to put food into trash cans…. Seattle is the first city in the nation to fine people for not properly sorting their garbage. The law took effect on Jan. 1 as a bid to keep food out of landfills.” (KUOW.org)

State aims for 'zero' waste, but goal is far off “In a bid to ease pollution problems associated with waste disposal, state officials recently released a ‘zero waste’ plan calling for reducing, reusing and recycling nearly all the waste produced in Maryland by 2040. Landfills produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas that's contributing to climate change, they note, while polluted water leaching out of the waste mountains must be collected and treated. And though modern landfills have thick plastic liners to prevent groundwater contamination, leaks occur.” (Baltimore Sun)

Kannapolis now offering garbage and recycling pickup to businesses “The city of Kannapolis is offering a new program to businesses – commercial garbage and recycling. Currently, businesses contract with private firms for their garbage and recycling needs. The city decided to offer this service after receiving requests from businesses and determining that the program could be managed at competitive rates.” (Salisbury Post)

Burlington Co. towns oppose plans for waste treatment center “Three municipalities in northern Burlington County and a Delaware River watchdog group are protesting a proposed hazardous waste treatment center along the river in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is considering a request by Elcon Recycling Services LLC of Princeton for a site permit.” (Courier-Post)

Ontario County Landfill plans to expand gas collection system “While they await a permit for a 43.5-acre expansion, officials at the Ontario County Landfill are also planning for an expansion of the facility’s gas collection system. Casella Waste Services, operator of the 389-acre landfill, announced the methane gas collection expansion Tuesday.” (Finger Lakes Times)

Plasco misses final financing deadline for waste-to-energy plant “The city of Ottawa’s long-term waste conversion agreement with Plasco Energy Group has not been automatically terminated, now that the company has failed to meet the final deadline to secure financing to build a plant to turn waste to energy in the city by 2016, according to city manager Kent Kirkpatrick.” (Ottawa Business Journal)

Food waste now accepted at two Berkeley County recycling centers “Food waste now is being accepted for composting at no cost to the public at the Grapevine Road and South Berkeley recycling centers in Berkeley County. Open to residents as well as businesses and organizations, all food waste must be removed from manufactured packaging, the Berkeley County Solid Waste Authority said in a news release Saturday.” (Herald-Mail Media)

Jackson Residents Say Something Stinks In Their Neighborhood “Some residents of Jackson, New Jersey say that an ongoing situation in their neighborhood stinks! They are up in arms because a landscaping company recently purchased a horse farm bordering their neighborhood and they're allegedly creating a stinky mulch mess. And that's not all! There may be a much bigger story including allegations of political corruption and violations of township laws.” (MyFoxPhilly.com)

Roselle receives NJDEP Recycling Grant “The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has awarded the borough a $52,423.32 recycling grant to help to expand recycling efforts and to implement new initiatives.” (NJ.com)