Day: July 8, 2019

California to require data reporting on recycling and composting

Read the full story in Waste Dive.

Starting July 1, per AB 901, California will expand its waste reporting program by not only collecting more detailed waste disposal information, but — for the first time — requiring recycling and composting data.

Waste disposal facilities, recyclers, composters, transporters and brokers will report to California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) on the types, quantities and destinations of materials that are disposed of, sold or transferred inside or outside the state.

This push for more accurate data gathering — part of California’s measures to track progress on its 75% recycling goal by 2020 — will help the state track waste flows, better estimate recycling and composting, and lessen fraudulent reporting.

Probiotic bacteria reduces the impact of white-nose syndrome in bats

Read the full story from Virginia Tech.

Researchers did a field trial on the effect of probiotic bacteria on white-nose syndrome in bat populations. They found that it reduces the impact of the disease about five-fold.

FRTR Presents…Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Emerging Characterization and Remedial Technologies, Session 1

Watch the video and download the presentation. You can also register for Session 2, to be held on September 26, 2019 from noon-1:30 pm CDT.

This is part of a webinar series featuring presentations delivered at the Fall 2018 FRTR Meeting and related material. The meeting’s objective was to identify and discuss the emerging science behind PFAS characterization and remedial technologies. This session discusses what PFAS are and the issues around them, as well as treatment technologies for PFAS site management.

Single-Use Plastics Directive is Published in the Official Journal of the EU

Read the full story in the National Law Review.

The Single-Use Plastics Directive — Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment—was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (click here to view). It will impact plastic food-contact materials and articles through, among others, a ban on certain single-use plastics, increased collection goals for plastic packaging, extended producer responsibility schemes, and design requirements for beverage containers.

Sector-Specific Energy Financing Primers

Through Better Buildings, DOE has developed a suite of energy financing primers that summarize how energy efficiency and renewable energy financing is done for a given market sector. The primers provide an overview of key barriers, common financing mechanisms, case studies, market data, and more. Access them in the Better Buildings Financing Navigator, or view them individually:

Older adults can serve communities as engines of everyday innovation

Read the full story from Penn State University.

Encouraging hobbies and activities is more than an important part of healthy aging. According to a team of Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology researchers, these passions of older adults can be sources of innovation that benefit the entire community.

In a study, the researchers found that older adults are often leaders in innovation, coupling their knowledge and creativity to, among other things, revitalize communities, improve the environment, and pass on skills and hobbies, according to John Carroll, distinguished professor of information sciences and technology and an associate of the Institute for CyberScience. He added that he hoped the findings helped change current notions of aging.

Don’t set it and forget it — scan it and fix it with tech that detects wind blade damage

Read the full story from Sandia National Laboratory.

Drones and crawling robots outfitted with special scanning technology could help wind blades stay in service longer, which may help lower the cost of wind energy at a time when blades are getting bigger, pricier and harder to transport, Sandia researchers say.

As part of the Department of Energy’s Blade Reliability Collaborative work, funded by the Wind Energy Technologies Office, Sandia researchers partnered with energy businesses to develop machines that noninvasively inspect wind blades for hidden damage while being faster and more detailed than traditional inspections with cameras.

Government launches ‘Electronic waste and the circular economy’ inquiry – you can respond

Read the full story at Electronics Weekly.

The House of Commons’ environmental audit select committee has launched an inquiry into electronics waste and recycling and is asking for advice.

 

GM Keeps Boosting the Energy Efficiency of Its Buildings

Read the full story at Triple Pundit.

The highly praised Chevrolet Bolt has provided General Motors (GM) with a high-profile pathway into the headline-grabbing world of electric vehicles. The company’s clean power initiatives have also garnered media spotlight. Just as importantly, though, GM has been working to share another key aspect of its clean tech journey that doesn’t often catch media attention: energy efficiency in buildings.

 

Green Ideas Challenge for Hospitality

Read the full success story from DOE’s Better Buildings Program.

The Las Vegas Sands Corporation (LVS) demonstrates its commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility through its Sands ECO360 Global Sustainability Strategy, a comprehensive roadmap to minimizing environmental impact through sustainable building development and resort operations. The Sands ECO360 strategy is made of four key pillars: green buildings, environmentally responsible operations, green meetings and events, and stakeholder engagement. As part of the Stakeholder engagement pillar, LVS encourages its guests, Team Members, and community to learn more about sustainability and join in its corporate efforts. A leading example of this is the Green Ideas Challenge implemented at The Venetian, The Palazzo, and Sands Expo which allowed resort staff to help identify opportunities for energy or water savings.