This toolkit analyzes the structure and implementation of organic waste bans and presents examples from states and cities with existing or proposed waste bans. The toolkit provides a resource to help state and local governments, advocates, and other stakeholders evaluate options for developing policies to address food waste and tailor approaches to state or local context. The toolkit analyzes organic waste bans from a holistic perspective, examining the structure of organic waste ban laws as well as other factors including funding, infrastructure, enforcement, and education. Together, these components can have a significant impact on how an organic waste ban policy will function in a given state or locality.
Day: July 23, 2019
16 companies rethinking packaging
Read the full story in GreenBiz.
The United States generates almost 80 million tons of packaging waste each year, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. When landfilled or incinerated, this waste pollutes the environment and poses health risks (PDF) to humans and wildlife. Packaging is also the main source of the plastic pollution that is clogging the ocean and expected to exceed the weight of all fish by 2050 at current rates. The food industry is largely responsible for this growing packaging problem.
About half of the packaging waste in the United States comes from food and beverage products. Studies suggest that large food corporations such as Nestlé and Unilever generate most of the plastic waste.
Recognizing this issue, and under pressure from consumers, several of these corporations recently have pledged to reduce the environmental impact of their packaging. Many smaller companies in the food and beverage and industry are doing the same, and some have been on the forefront of packaging innovations for years. Food Tank highlights 16 food and beverage companies to exhibit the industry’s various approaches to sustainable packaging.
EPA Revises its FOIA Regulations
Read the full story at JD Supra.
The Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule June 26, 2019, revising the agency’s Freedom of Information Act regulations. According to EPA, those regulations, last updated in 2002, required revision to comply with the 2007, 2009 and 2016 amendments to FOIA and to “clarify” and “improve” the agency’s FOIA process. The revisions, which take effect July 25, 2019, without opportunity for public comment, centralize the agency’s handling of FOIA requests and specify which officials have the authority to make final determinations, and on what basis.
Dust-Lead Hazard Standards: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Finalizes Revisions
Read the full story at JD Supra.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued a final rule addressing the Dust-Lead Hazard Standards (“DLHS”) and the definition of Lead-Based Paint (“LBP”).
Bricks made from loofah and charcoal could promote biodiversity in cities
Read the full story at de zeen.
Plants and insects can thrive on the surface of these Green Charcoal bio-bricks, engineered as an alternative to concrete by researchers at the Indian School of Design and Innovation in Mumbai.
Sustainable toiletries packaged in soap aim to eliminate single-use plastics
Read the full story from Inhabitat.
Single-use plastic may be the biggest issue of our time, but admittedly, it’s sometimes an uphill battle to find alternatives. But now, when it comes to finding sustainable toiletries, there’s a eco-friendly option. Already well-known for innovative and sustainable designs, Mi Zhou has just unveiled Soapack, a collection of sustainable shampoo packaging made out of soap.
From Gambling to Solar, U.S. Tribes Bet on New Revenue Stream
Read the full story in Bloomberg.
Dozens of new solar and wind projects are sprouting up on tribal lands across the U.S. as Native Americans seek new ways to boost their economies beyond casinos and untaxed cigarettes.
NASA’s new moon mission reignites fuel cell research at Ohio lab
Read the full story from Midwest Energy News.
Technology for space and aviation could eventually benefit renewable energy storage and alternative-fuel vehicles.
Watseka hears from solar energy company about possible project
Read the full story in the Iroquois Times-Republic.
A solar company could provide solar energy services for the city of Watseka.
Bob Vedder, of Preeminent Development of Bourbonnais and Native Sun Group from Colorado Springs, Colorado, spoke to the pubic safety committee Tuesday.
The offering would be no capital outlay, lower fixed rates and a 15 percent cash incentive.
Decoupling debunked – Evidence and arguments against green growth as a sole strategy for sustainability
Is it possible to enjoy both economic growth and environmental sustainability?
This question is a matter of fierce political debate between green growth and post-growth advocates. Considering what is at stake, a careful assessment to determine whether the scientific foundations behind this decoupling hypothesis are robust or not is needed.
This report reviews the empirical and theoretical literature to assess the validity of this hypothesis. The conclusion is both overwhelmingly clear and sobering: not only is there no empirical evidence supporting the existence of a decoupling of economic growth from environmental pressures on anywhere near the scale needed to deal with environmental breakdown, but also, and perhaps more importantly, such decoupling appears unlikely to happen in the future.
‘Decoupling debunked’ highlights the need for the rethinking of green growth policies and to complement efficiency with sufficiency.
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