Environmentalists. Every Day. America's Solid Waste Industry

On July 14, the EIA Women’s Council will present a free webinar for the members of NSWMA and WASTEC, called “Trends in Composting and Organics Recycling in the U.S.” During this session, Nora Goldstein, Editor of BioCycle Magazine will present an interesting look at composting and organics recycling trends in the U.S. She will explore high-value compost markets and provide insight to generating renewable energy from organic wastes  The session will include time for Q&A. See details and register here.

The Coalition led charge for biomass as a sustainable renewable green energy for the state with a rally attracting about 150 people in front of the Massachusetts State House on June 23, 2011, from 9:30- 11:30 am. See photos from that event here.

The Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA) and the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA), worked together to develop viable, in-use construction and demolition (C&D) wood fuel specifications. The specifications are based on industry experience, permit requirements for boilers using C&D wood as a fuel stock and regulatory requirements governing the use of this material. The specifications provide real world guidance on what works in the marketplace for C&D wood fuel buyers (boiler owners and operators) and sellers (C&D wood processors). Read full announcement here.

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).

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.”

In an article titled,  “Methane from Landfills Localities are finding new ways to use a potent greenhouse gas,” Governing Magazine’s September issue quotes NSWMA’s President and CEO Bruce Parker.  “Methane can be used for multiple purposes,” says Bruce J. Parker, president and CEO of the National Solid Wastes Management Association. What’s more, Parker says, it’s reliable. “Unlike sun and solar power, you have continuous access. A landfill is taking gas out 24/7.”

Republic Services has published a new sustainability report. “The sustainability report was an opportunity to identify and discuss what we already do to protect the environment and to set a course to do more,” CEO James E. O’Connor said. “Being green is not just a philosophy at Republic. We’ve been doing it for years.” The report is available at www.republicservices.com/sustainability.

A piece in the June 2009 issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance labeled waste-based energy one of the “5 Pillars of Renewable Energy,” along with solar, wind, geothermal and biofuels.

NSWMA’s Bruce Parker was interviewed by Zach Shtogren Big Think’s senior editor.  It is an interesting exchange about environmental issues related to the solid waste industry.

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.