Day: August 15, 2019

Publications

ISTC releases 2018/2019 Year in Review

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2018/2019 Year in Review cover image

ISTC’s annual report for the period July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 is now available. The report features ISTC’s research and technical efforts during the period.

Highlights include ISTC’s work with emerging contaminants and agricultural chemicals, including a recap of the ECEC19 conference. In addition, it details progress with ISTC’s large scale carbon capture project at Abbott Power Plant and other energy research.

Also featured are the technical assistance program’s new projects with food manufacturing companies and wastewater treatment plants, as well as their work with organizations seeking to developsustainability plans and report progress on sustainability goals.

With these efforts, ISTC continues to advance sustainability in Illinois and beyond. Check out the report for more details.

Illinois, Invasive species

Chicago water pollution may be keeping invasive silver carp out of Great Lakes

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Read the full story from the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

Invasive silver carp have been moving north toward the Great Lakes since their accidental release in the 1970s. The large filter-feeding fish, which are known to jump from the water and wallop anglers, threaten aquatic food webs as well as the $7 billion Great Lakes fishery. But, for the past decade, the invading front hasn’t moved past Kankakee. A new study suggests that Chicago’s water pollution may be a contributing to this lack of movement.

Agriculture, Publications, Soil science

Cover crops, compost and carbon

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Read the full story from the American Society of Agronomy.

A new study compares techniques in organic farming that influence soil health.

Entertainment industry, Music

Lollapalooza increases green initiatives

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Read the full story in the Columbia College Chronicle.

Empty beer cups, water bottles, paper plates and napkins are some of the many pieces of trash found on the Lollapalooza grounds. With more than 100,000 people expected to be in attendance at the festival each day, sustainability efforts are going beyond picking up trash.

After receiving the Illinois Sustainability Award in 2017, the festival’s efforts to ensure an eco-friendly event have grown.

Through partnerships with organizations including Rock the Earth and the Love Hope Strength Foundation, Lollapalooza is taking on green initiatives with a number of water refill stations located across the festival grounds, bike information and maintenance assistance available and an abundance of recycling and composting bins and informational signage as part of the Rock & Recycle program.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products, Plastics

Biodegradable alternative to replace microplastics in cosmetics and toiletries

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Read the full story from the University of Bath.

University of Bath project seeking to commercialise plant-based beads for cosmetics receives major funding

Plastics

Lake Tahoe shows microplastics aren’t just an ocean problem

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Read the full story in Futurity.

Research at one of the clearest, cleanest lakes in the world suggests the problem of microplastics is widespread in freshwater systems and not just in oceans.

Plastics, Publications

Rivers Are a Highway for Microplastics into the Ocean

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Read the full story in EOS.

New research shows that rivers are the main road for all the plastic pollution that gets into the ocean, including microplastics.

PFAS

Johnson Controls’ Forever Chemicals Part of Wider Wisconsin Woes

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Read the full story in Bloomberg Law.

Johnson Controls International Plc faces continued scrutiny over its cleanup of “forever chemicals” that may leak into groundwater and surface water in northeastern Wisconsin.

The company boosted by $140 million reserves in a fund largely to cover the potential costs of cleaning up contamination tied to discharges of firefighting foams containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), at Wisconsin sites, according to an Aug. 1 Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

Agriculture, Climate change, Land use

A Time of Reckoning in the Central Valley

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Read the full story from Bay Nature.

Climate change is upending agriculture and land use in California’s Central Valley

Product stewardship, Regulation

Federal Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility Legislation Under Development

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Read the full story in the National Law Review.

For the first time in decades, federal legislators will soon consider legislation that would require manufacturers to manage and finance end-of-life recycling programs for product packaging. The bill would reflect proliferating extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws in U.S. states and municipalities, as well as abroad. An outline of the planned legislation was published by Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) and Rep. Adam Lowenthal (D-Calif.) in July, and comments will be accepted until August 21, 2019. The legislation is expected to be introduced in the fall.

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