Environmental News

The burgeoning issue of electronic waste, or e-waste for those of us who have to shorten tech phenomena into sound bites, is both a consumer concern and a commercial concern, and now the U.S. Environment Protection Agency has named it as one of its six overriding priorities. The fact is, we can no longer sweep these things under the rug, so to speak. Source: GreenTech Pastures, 8/23/10

It's not enough for Chicago to be charged up about electric vehicles coming later this year; the city has to prove it's plug-worthy. Source: Chicago Tribune, 8/23/10

Addressing the potential health risks of benzidine dyes, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and nonylphenol (NP)/nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released action plans that will apply previously unused Toxic Substances and Control Act authority to safeguard health and the environment. Source: Environmental Protection, 8/20/10

On September 25, 2010, DEA will coordinate a collaborative effort with state and local law enforcement agencies to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from our nation's medicine cabinets. Collection activities will take place from 10:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. at sites established throughout the country. The National Take-Back Day provides an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications for destruction. These drugs are a potential source of supply for illegal use and an unacceptable risk to public health and safety. Source: DEA, 8/24/10

With many large companies recently completing their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports and Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) questionnaires, and entering budget planning in the fall, it is time to move away from spreadsheets to reduce risk, save money, increase productivity, and establish an enterprise-class source of record for carbon emission data. Source: ClimateBiz, 7/29/10

Sean Meenan has made Habana Outpost and Cafe Habana leaders among New York's growing collection of ecologically conscious restaurants. Source: New York Times, 8/23/10

With bedbugs on the rise, it's harder than ever to donate a mattress. But it can often be done if the mattress is clean and bug-free. Source: This Green Blog, 8/21/10

Halfway through the public comment period for ULE 880 -- Sustainability for Manufacturing Organizations -- Joel Makower takes stock. Source: GreenBiz, 8/23/10

Imagine that you're the chief sustainability officer of a Fortune 500 company. During a meeting with your CEO, you say, "We need to talk to consumers about using less." Improbable? Sure. Impossible? Perhaps not. An important conversation to start? Absolutely. Source: GreenBiz, 8/20/10

Agriculture is extremely complicated. Adding sustainability to the mix makes it more so. The Sustainable Agriculture Partnerships 2010 Conference, held last week in San Francisco, attempted to cover this thorny topic. The gathering included farmers, food processors, crop science companies, coffee growing cooperatives from Nicaragua and brand name firms you find in your kitchen cabinet. Combining all actors in one room to discuss food needs in a growing world provided a unique glimpse into the challenges faced when implementing sustainability. Source: GreenBiz, 8/17/10

Spurred by concerns about conservation and cost, public utilities across the country have begun to partner with libraries, enabling loans of portable Kill A Watt electricity meters, which can be used to gauge home power usage. Source: Library Journal, 8/16/10

Local residents who have ever wondered exactly how much electricity is gobbled up by their household appliances now have a way to find out: Head to the local library. Libraries throughout Santa Clara County are loaning out new Kill-A-Watt EZ Meters for free to residents, which can be taken home and plugged in to any household appliance to find out exactly how much energy the appliance uses, and what that costs the homeowner. The program has been a hit with the public, especially in Sunnyvale, where the meters have been checked out 64 times since July 1. Source: San Jose Mercury News, 8/12/10

A plan by three struggling suburban school districts to create a revenue-generating wind farm has picked up some velocity this summer. Source: Chicago Tribune, 8/20/10

Sunny Delight Beverages Company, is joining the sustainability bandwagon: its manufacturing plants followed the zero waste route, and made other environmental strides as well. Source: Triple Pundit, 8/20/10

You hear so much about green cars these days, from the ubiquitous Prius to the rarified Tesla. But what if you want to take matters in your own hands, but aren't, shall we say, mechanically inclined? Green Drop Garage in Portland, Oregon is an unusual amalgamation of things, something that should be replicated widely, if we're to decrease our automotive impact on the planet on a useful scale. Source: Triple Pundit, 8/20/10

Despite growing awareness of the problem of plastic pollution in the world's oceans, little solid scientific information existed to illustrate the nature and scope of the issue. Now, a team of researchers from Sea Education Association (SEA), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and the University of Hawaii (UH) published a study of plastic marine debris based on data collected over 22 years by undergraduate students in the latest issue of the journal Science. Source: Science Daily, 8/19/10

Scientists in Scotland have unveiled a new biofuel made from whisky by-products that they say can power ordinary cars more efficiently than ethanol. Source: Planet Ark, 8/20/10

Japan's government plans to subsidize domestic plants producing clean-energy and energy-efficient goods under steps to support the slowing economy, the Nikkei newspaper said, as the murky outlook keeps firms from boosting spending at home. Source: Planet Ark, 8/20/10

Scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have detected a plume of hydrocarbons that is at least 22 miles long and more than 3,000 feet below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, a residue of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Source: Science Daily, 8/19/10

A University of Illinois metabolic engineer has taken the first step toward the more efficient and economical production of biofuels by developing a strain of yeast with increased alcohol tolerance. Source: Science Daily, 8/20/10

Land taken out of farm production for lack of water is being proposed for solar projects. Utilities and farmers are interested. Source: New York Times, 8/10/10

Energy use in New York State continues to rise, but the peak load has stopped climbing, thanks in part to demand-side management. Source: New York Times, 8/12/10

The Vineyard Golf Club, where President Obama is expected to play this month, is thought to be the only completely organic course in the United States. Source: New York Times, 8/16/10

Joined by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, officials from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced an award of more than $300,000 to Rochester General Hospital to fund a lighting retrofit project. Rochester General Hospital CEO Mark Clement said that the award, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) will save the hospital more than $80,000 per year in energy costs. Source: NYSERDA, 8/12/10

A team of research institutions that includes Cornell University and the University of Buffalo received a $1.3 million funding award from the US Department of Energy to study the potential of storing power plant gas emissions in underground rock formations, according to an announcement made today by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. Source: NYSERDA, 8/18/10

The State of Minnesota is seeking nominations/applications for the 2010-11 Governor's Awards program. Applications are being accepted for projects that reduce waste and pollution at the source, conserve natural resources, protect groundwater, save energy, and practice sustainability. This is an opportunity to recognize leaders at the highest level of environmental achievement. The application deadline is September 15, 2010 Source: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 8/19/10

Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation that promotes energy independence by furthering the use of solar power by individuals and by industry. The new laws establish strengthened targets for utilities that will be purchasing more solar energy and help homeowners who want to increase their solar energy usage. Source: Office of the Governor, 8/17/10

A Swiss chemical producer may soon be the first company to receive approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to use nanosilver to make clothing smell better, stay cleaner and destroy germs. Source: AOL News, 8/18/10

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 boosted a 35-year-old Department of Energy grant fund called the State Energy Program, adding $3.2 billion on top of regular annual funding of about $500 million that goes to states for energy efficiency and alternative energy projects. As a result, Massachusetts, Arizona, Kentucky and other states are moving ahead on hundreds of projects that were at a standstill because of lack of funding. A majority of the stimulus dollars are going toward energy upgrades at state facilities, including hospitals, office buildings, prisons, universities and schools. The rest are slated for homes and commercial buildings, as well as local government facilities. Source: Stateline.org, 8/13/10

Cutting back on water consumption or going to zero liquid discharge at an ethanol plant doesn't exactly translate into increased income. However, as several speakers pointed out June 16 at the 2010 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW), the yield in positive public opinion just might make it very worthwhile. Features ISTC's Kishore Rajagopalan. Source: Ethanol Producer Magazine, 6/16/10

Cincinnati created a Bedbug Remediation Commission in 2007 and, like other local and national governments around the world, the city is trying to mobilize strategies to control infestations of the resilient insects, which can hide in almost any crack or crevice and can go a year or more without eating. On Aug. 10, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a consumer alert about off-label bedbug treatments, warning in particular of the dangers of using outdoor pesticides in homes. The Ohio Department of Agriculture has mounted a more unusual response to the crisis: it petitioned the EPA for an exemption to allow in-home use of propoxur, a pesticide and neurotoxin banned in the 1990s out of concern for its effects on children. Source: Time Magazine, 8/18/10

Prof. Eric Williams, a professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering in the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University in Tempe, recently wrote an article titled Three Reasons Why a Ban on e-Waste Exports is Wrong in Discovery News. The gist of this article is: Given the increased use of electronics, the problem of e-waste is bound to get worse. But trade bans can cut jobs and push recycling to the black market. This post provides an alternative analysis. Source: (Re)blog, 8/17/10

The first thing you will notice is that I am bringing the concept of a supply chain into the 21st Century by calling it what it actually is...a Supply Network. A chain is linear, and has links above and below, while a network is dynamic and connected in many places Source: Matter Network via Reuters, 8/17/10

While the devastation wrought by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf cannot be understated, the truth is environmental destruction - especially in habitable regions - on this scale is the exception in the United States, not the norm. While few would argue that the US is currently on a path of Sustainable Development, many would argue that strict domestic environmental legislation, makes creating the sort of heavy pollution for which countries such as China regularly garner negative attention all but impossible. The truth, however, is grayer. The US hasn't gotten significantly greener since the wave of environmental legislation of the 1970's, but rather we've simply taken our dirtiest, most polluting industries abroad - even ones that purport to be green. Source: JustMeans, 8/17/10

Rising nitrogen levels are suffocating the vegetation and marine life in saltwater ponds and estuaries on Cape Cod, posing a threat to the shellfishing industry and the tourist economy. Source: New York Times, 8./18/10

When it comes to international environmental challenges, climate change is among the most commonly cited top priorities. But EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson today added e-waste and four other issues to the agency's areas of focus. Source: GreenerComputing, 8/17/10

Nashville's most prolific trash producers have four years to change their habits or start paying for their excessive waste, the Metro Council decided Tuesday. Source: Nashville Tennesseean, 8/18/10