Environmentalists Everyday » Landfills/Transfer Stations

Press Release: NSWMA Comments on Proposed EPA and OSHA Rules

Thom Metzger — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:25:48 +0000

Institutes of the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) recently submitted comments regarding proposed rules by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). NSWMA’s Landfill Institute offered comments on EPA’s proposed rule regarding amendments to the mandatory reporting of greenhouse gases, and NSWMA’s Healthcare Waste Institute recently submitted comments regarding OSHA’s blood-borne pathogens standard. Read full release here.

NSWMA & SWANA Comment on Changes to EPA Program

Thom Metzger — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:40:14 +0000

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) sent joint comments to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson regarding a petition recently filed by the Center for a Competitive Waste Industry asking EPA to reorganize and restructure the Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP).

NSWMA opinion article published in newspapers throughout country

Thom Metzger — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 08:33:37 +0000

More than 20 daily newspapers have published an op-ed drafted by NSWMA President and CEO Bruce J. Parker (Reason for optimism this Earth Day? For starters, let’s talk trash!”), including the Miami Herald, the Kansas City Star and the Sacramento Bee. In this article, Parker states, “Proper waste management is actually one of America’s greatest environmental successes. In the last two decades alone, we have witnessed a startling transformation in how we deal with all the garbage.”

NSWMA Comments on Possible Combustible Dust Rules

Thom Metzger — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:22:20 +0000

The National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) has filed comments with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding possible new rules addressing “combustible dust,” which likely will be proposed later this year. NSWMA’s comments expressed a concern that OSHA has included the solid waste industry as a target for regulation even though in September 2008, OSHA issued an advisory stating there was no history of combustible dust events at transfer stations, materials recovery facilities (MRFs) or landfills. Read more.

Concern over Proposed EPA Updates to Landfill Emission Factors

Thom Metzger — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:53:52 +0000

On May 5, NSWMA joined the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) in submitting comments on the EPA’s proposed revisions to AP-42, Fifth Edition, Volume I, Chapter 2.4 Municipal Solid Waste Landfills and the Background Information Document for Updating AP-42 Section 2.4 for Estimating Emissions from Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. These emission standards are very important to the landfill industry because they affect federal, state and local air quality permits. NSWMA and SWANA expressed concern on the following issues:

- The rejection of non-methane organic compounds concentration data from NSPS/EG Tier 2 studies using the geoprobe method; and
- The rejection of data submitted in 2000 and 2001 and the failure of EPA to advise of the rejection until 2009.

The two associations hope that through the further review of new data submitted by their members and a thorough review of current published technical literature, EPA can revise the draft AP-42 and background information document accordingly.

Fortune Video Features SC Johnson Landfill Gas to Energy Project

Thom Metzger — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:42:22 +0000

Fortune magazine released a video that includes images of the landfill gas to energy project in Racine, Wisconsin, that powers SC Johnson’s nearby manufacturing facility. This video is located on the CNN/Money website.

Radio Green Network Interviews WM about Their Dedication to Environment

Thom Metzger — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 23:01:17 +0000

The host of Green Earth Radio Patty Kovaks interviewed Waste Management Int’l VP Lynn Brown regarding Waste Managment’s dedication to environmental issues, their approach to landfills, plans for recycling and goals for public education. This interview may be downloaded from the Green Earth Radio archive.

Washington Post Highlights Successful Landfill Re-Use

Thom Metzger — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 22:06:17 +0000

In the article From Trash to Nature Trail, the Washington Post highlights how one former landfill was turned into a beautiful spot for hiking. “A landfill is probably the last place one would look for a pastoral midday hike, but the Blue Mash Trail near Laytonsville is just that. The 550-acre Oaks Landfill was open from 1982 to 1997, and with the exception of a sign, there is little to hint of the grassy hill’s former use. Hiking at what was once a landfill is to have a front-row seat to Mother Nature reclaiming what is hers.”

Methane from garbage will fuel Tulsa cement factory

Thom Metzger — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:48:17 +0000

Officials from the Waste Management landfill and the LaFarge cement plant have signed an agreement to use piped-in methane gas from the landfill to aid in the cement-making process.

The plan could save both companies thousands of dollars and eliminate the equivalent of 450,000 tons of coal a year from LaFarge’s manufacturing process, company officials said.