Environmental News

Chemical Recycling Solutions is a Web site-based free chemical exchange that allows industry and manufacturers an opportunity to recycle unused, discarded chemicals and save money on disposal and purchasing costs. Source: Environmental Protection, 2/3/10

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Doug Scott has notified computer, television and printer manufacturing companies doing business in Illinois of advancements in requirements as they implement recycling programs for excess electronic waste (e-waste).

The law requires electronic manufacturers and retailers to properly manage discarded and unwanted electronic products, should they wish to sell their products in the state. They must establish a system for recycling and/or reusing computers, monitors, televisions and printers discarded from residences. Source: Illinois Government News Network, 2/1/10

A panel of experts convened by the mayor and City Council issued more than 100 recommendations Monday on how to make New York City's building codes more environmentally sound by imposing energy-saving requirements on construction and renovation work. Source: New York Times, 2/1/10

* Jan 28, 2010 A new study on the surface chemistry of silver-colored, mercury-based dental fillings suggests that the surface forms of mercury may be less toxic than previously thought. A report on the study appears online in American Chemical Society's journal Chemical Research in Toxicology. Source: Environmental Protection, 1/28/10

Pretreating polycarbonate plastic may be the key to disposing of bisphenol A (BPA) in an eco-friendly way, scientists have found. Their new study is in the American Chemical Society's Biomacromolecules, a monthly journal. Source: Environmental Protection, 1/28/10

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest purchasers of green power among higher education institutions. Source: U.S. EPA, 2/1/10

A new market study by ABI Research, "e-Waste Recovery and Recycling," forecasts that the worldwide market for e-waste recovery will grow from $5.7 billion in 2009 to nearly $14.7 billion by the end of 2014, representing a CAGR of 20.8% over the forecast period. This figure represents money generated through reclamation of valuable materials from e-scrap. Source: ABI Research, 1/29/10

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold three public hearings on the proposal to strengthen the nation's air quality standards for ground-level ozone, also called smog. Exposure to smog is linked to a number of serious health problems, ranging from aggravation of asthma to increased risk of premature death in people with heart or lung disease.

The agency is proposing to set the "primary" standard, to protect public health, at a level between 0.060 and 0.070 parts per million measured over eight hours. EPA is also proposing to set a separate, seasonal "secondary" standard to protect the environment, especially plants and trees. Source: U.S. EPA, 1/29/10

) Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs have become all the rage over the past several years, touted by many as the preferable "green" way to light a home, save energy, and promote environmental responsibility. While they may use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, CFL bulbs are filled with toxic mercury that, when disposed of, contaminates landfills and the environment. Source: NaturalNews.com, 1/27/10

More states are requiring schools and government buildings to use environmentally friendly cleaning products, raising debate about their costs and benefits. After a burst of legislation last year, 10 states including Connecticut, Illinois and New York require or encourage "green" floor waxes, window cleaners and other products in schools, according to Green Seal Inc., a nonprofit that certifies the products. Similar bills are expected to be debated this year in at least five states. Source: Wisconson State Journal, 1/27/10

As businesses become increasingly strategic about sustainability programming, using metrics to measure and manage social, environmental and economic impacts has become standard practice. Yet, there's still significant variation in how companies interpret and use the resulting data to guide their activities. Source: GreenBiz, 1/26/10

For a third year, Intel Corporation heads the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of top green power purchasers in the U.S. with Kohl's Department Stores and PepsiCo holding second and third place, respectively. Source: GreenBiz, 1/25/10

Kraft Foods has met its goal to reduce its packaging by 150 million pounds two years ahead of schedule with a variety of lightweighting and material replacement efforts. Source: Greener Design, 1/27/10

More Americans are buying energy efficient lighting and are aware of the energy-saving benefits -- but most are clueless about the phaseout of incandescent bulbs that starts in two years. Source: Greener Buildings, 1/28/10

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Accountability System is an internet-based system designed to track GLRI projects in order to assess the GLRI's effectiveness. Entities receiving GLRI funds will be required to enter basic data about their projects such as location, funding, measures, and relationship to the GLRI Action Plan. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes National Program Office

Biofuels producers combine to make up an $8 billion dollar industry in Iowa and support about 80,000 jobs, but it is suffering. "With volatile oil prices, the global credit crunch and the lapse of the federal biodiesel tax incentive, almost half of the state's biodiesel plants have gone idle or have already closed their doors," the Iowa Biodiesel Board said on Jan. 21, the same day Gov. Chet Culver was in Washington testifying before a U.S. Senate subcommittee on extending the tax incentive. Source: Biodiesel Magazine, 1/27/10

Illinois Environmental Protection Director Doug Scott is encouraging Illinois youth to apply for the annual Governor's Green Youth Awards. The Award recognizes outstanding environmental protection and conservation projects created and developed by Illinois students. Source: Illinois Government News Network, 1/26/10

The Green Guide for Health Care, in collaboration with Practice Greenhealth, is launching a one-year Green Guide for Health Care Operations Pilot Program for healthcare organizations engaged in any or all aspects of green operations initiatives, based on Green Guide v2.2 Operations section. The intent of the Operations Pilot is to create a learning community of peers to share best practices across the different areas that comprise sustainable health care operations using web-based tools and resources, and to facilitate market transformation as the Green Guide evolves to meet the sustainability guidance needs of the healthcare community. Source: Environmental News Bits, 1/26/10

Governor Pat Quinn's office has launched a new Green Illinois Web site at green.illinois.gov. The page has sections on sustainable school programs and green project funding, including the Zero Waste Grant. Source: Environmental News Bits, 1/22/10

Waste Management, Inc., the largest waste services and recycling company in North America, has announced that its subsidiary WM Recycle America is implementing the Responsible Recycling (R2) Program for electronics recyclers. The R2 Program establishes a set of accepted practices that helps protect the environment and workers' health and safety during the handling of e-waste, provides the ability for third parties to monitor activity and offers greater transparency in the fast-growing electronics recycling sector. Source: Hazmat Management, 1/18/10

Under scrutiny from environmental groups and students, colleges seek alternatives to the popular fuel... Source: Chronicle of Higher Education, 1/10/10

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Cornell University have launched a Web site to help campus-based institutions develop clean energy and carbon-reduction strategies. Source: Environmental News Bits, 1/21/10

Due Date for Submissions: Proposals must be received by EPA by noon Central standard time on January 29, 2010. Source: U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office, 1/22/10

Comments are now being accepted by the Canadian and United States Governments on Governance issues as input to the binational negotiations to amend the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA). (Due date: February 14, 2010) Source: U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office, 1/21/10