Bottled water, a natural resource taxing the world's ecosystem

Yahoo News
Feb. 10, 2006

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Bottled water consumption, which has more than doubled globally in the last six years, is a natural resource that is heavily taxing the world's ecosystem, according to a new US study.

"Even in areas where tap water is safe to drink, demand for bottled water is increasing, producing unnecessary garbage and consuming vast quantities of energy," according to Emily Arnold, author of the study published by the Earth Policy Institute, a Washington-based environmental group. . . Read more

Mt. Eaton Landfill's noxious gas

EPA to landfill: Reduce gas from hazardous levels

By Robert Wang
Repository Staff Writer

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the Mount Eaton Sanitary Landfill to take additional steps to reduce the amount of noxious hydrogen sulfide gas to safe levels.

EPA spokesman Mike Settles said his agency has directed the landfill’s owner, Norton Environmental, to expand its gas-extraction system to all areas of the landfill where the gas is present, install hydrogen sulfide detectors and set up a system to track the movement and speed of winds that carry the gas. . . Read more

Landfill concentration in Stark & Tuscarawas requires Environmental Justice

US EPA Environmental Justice Grants

EPA offers the following environmental justice grant programs:

1. The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreements Program provides financial assistance to eligible community-based organizations working on or planning to work on projects to address local environmental or public health concerns in their communities, using EPA's "Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Model."

2. The Office of Environmental Justice Small Grant Program provides financial assistance to eligible community-based organizations for education and training projects that address local environmental or public health issues in their communities
Read more

VIEW MAP OF LANDFILLS IN TUSCARAWAS/STARK AREA

Another C & D landfill in Ohio?

Landfill owner appeals zoning

By Jennifer Kovacs
Tribune Chronicle

HUBBARD - The company trying to build a landfill in Hubbard Township argued Thursday that zoning already allows at least a storage and transfer station on its property. A citizens group said it doesn't.

At the end of the hearing, the Zoning Board of Appeals would say only that a decision would come in "a reasonable amount of time.''

Trans Rail, which is seeking to locate a construction and demolition debris landfill on its property at Mount Everett Road, applied in April 2005 to use part of its land for open storage of rail cars, cargo and other material. The request was denied because the township considered the property zoned for light industrial while the proposed use would be classified as heavy industrial zoning. . . Read more

American Landfill Expansion Opponents Ready Lawsuit

Daniel Hockensmith
89.7 WKSU (NPR) Reporter

KENT - The Ohio EPA has extended today's deadline for public comment on a proposed 100-acre expansion of American Landfill in Stark County. But opponents of the plan say the agency's ultimate decision won't matter.

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Give or go green

Disposal with Benefits

By Kevin Savetz
CNET Networks, Inc.

If you're just not willing to pay to recycle, you may be able to find a program that pays you. Dell offers free recycling of an old PC when you buy a new Dell. The company provides prepaid airbills for shipping the old equipment and allows you to recycle two large items—such as the PC and monitor—plus smaller parts such as a keyboard and speakers. . . Read more

Landfill contaminates major aquifer

Water rules go to voters

By James J. Allen
The Hampton Union

NORTH HAMPTON, NH - An amendment to protect town drinking water supplies will go before voters on March 14.

The zoning amendment would ban Laundromats, car repair garages and hair salons among other businesses from areas near drinking water sources.

The two major, usable aquifers within North Hampton limits are being tapped to capacity. In addition to ensuring the town’s drinking water remains clean and preventing future contamination, a proposal to protect those aquifers also aims to heighten awareness of the town’s future water needs.

The Planning Board’s Richard Goeselt, who helped draw up the protection amendment, said the impetus was an understanding more than a year ago that the town needed to "beef up" regulations protecting its drinking water.

The town has three major aquifers, but one near Post and Cherry roads was contaminated due to its proximity to the Coakley Landfill. [emphasis added] . . . . Read more

"The facility will load garbage containers hauled by trucks onto its trains and transport them to a landfill site it owns in Ohio"

Garbage plan causes stink in Middletown

By Dianna Cahn
Times Herald-Record

Middletown, NY - The company that by the end of next week expects to own all shares of the Middletown & New Jersey Railroad says it intends to build a garbage transfer station in the heart of the city.

Chartwell International believes it doesn't need city or state approvals or permits to do it, because rail lines fall under the sole jurisdiction of the federal Surface Transportation Board and are exempt from local or state regulations. . . Read more

Is there something shady at Sunny Farms landfill?

Gloves come off in joint waste district meeting

By Patrick Ison
Advertiser-Tribune

FOSTORIA - Tempers flared during the Joint Solid Waste District of Ottawa, Seneca and Sandusky counties meeting.

County commissioners said they were concerned about Regis Industries' apparent failure to classify trash under Ohio Environmental Protection Agency guidelines and the EPA's failure to act.

"This district will not spend one more dime on this issue," said Carl Koebel, Ottawa County commissioner. "(Failure to act) is inexcusable." . . Read more

Hearing tries to get to the bottom of landfill issue

By Paul E. Kostyu
Copley Columbus Bureau Chief

COLUMBUS - The battle over the Tuscarawas River Basin unfolded Wednesday.

The issue is whether new and expanding landfills should be put on hold while the U.S. Geological Survey completes a 13-county study of the river basin. And though just three witnesses testified about Senate Bill 224, differences were clearly drawn. For that reason alone, State Sen. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township, and sponsor of the bill, called the third hearing critical.

Opponents said the moratorium on landfills proposed by the bill is unnecessary because environmental protections already are in place.

Proponents said landfills aren’t at risk because there is plenty of capacity and time is needed to ensure the river basin can be protected from pollution.

By the time the hearing began, State Sen. Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, was the only one listening. The rest of the nine-member Environment and Natural Resources Committee, which he chairs, had left. [emphasis added] . . Read more

Ohio EPA News Release

Ohio EPA Extends Comment Period Regarding American Landfill Expansion Permits
February 8, 2006

The public comment period concerning the draft solid waste and air permits for American Landfill in Stark County has been extended until March 13, 2006.

At the request of State Senator Kirk Schuring and in light of significant community interest, Ohio EPA Director Joe Koncelik agreed to extend the comment period 30 days to provide citizens and consultants more time to review and comment on the draft permits. Read more

OEPA grants two landfills free pass

EPA letter: Morrow landfills move forward

By Alberta Stojkovic
Marion Star

MOUNT GILEAD - Hopes for some Morrow County residents that a new law would apply to applications for construction and demolition debris landfills pending in Morrow County were dashed on Tuesday.

A letter from the Ohio EPA director states that the "grandfather clause" built into new legislation signed by the governor in December of 2005 should apply to landfill applications in Harmony and Washington townships, Morrow County Health Commissioner Krista Wasowski confirmed on Tuesday.
Read more

Waste Management seeks expansion on heels of $2.8 million fine

More landfill space sought

By Robbie Dingeman
Honolulu Advertiser Staff Writer

HONOLULU, Hawaii - Honolulu's only municipal landfill is filling up faster than anticipated, forcing the private company that runs the operation for the city to request permission to raise the height of portions of the landfill by about 40 feet, state officials said.

The Health Department's solid waste chief, Steven Chang, said the city and Waste Management Inc. last week requested a permit modification for the Waimanalo Gulch landfill, noting that the part of the landfill that takes ash from the city's HPOWER garbage-to-energy plant is expected to reach the permitted capacity by next month.

Chang said the request would take the height to 275 feet in some segments of the ash landfill. Currently, it ranges in height from 100 feet to about 235 feet, he said. . . Read more

12th contaminated well found near landfill

By Mike Dunn
Cadillac News

CADILLAC, Mich. - Another well has been added to the list.

The Wexford County Department of Public Works detected small measures of contaminants in another residential well in Cedar Creek Township this week. It is the 12th residential well found to contain the contaminant TCE since the DPW began its investigation two years ago.

The latest well is located slightly less than three-quarters of a mile from the Wexford County Landfill, according to DPW Director John Divozzo. The residence in question is south of 20 1/2 Road and east of U.S. 131. The residence is about equal in length from the landfill as the farthest previous hot well reading. Read more

Hundreds of Mission residents forced to drink bottled water

Old landfill material found leaching into reservoir

The Vancouver Sun

MISSION, B.C. - Several hundred residents of this Fraser Valley city are getting bottled water after potentially toxic material was discovered running from an old landfill into a water reservoir.

The material leaching from the landfill into Hayward Lake, which supplies drinking water to about 300 homes, was discovered by on Jan. 28 by B.C. Hydro, which owns the lake.

The power company told the District of Mission, about 80 kilometres east of Vancouver, on Feb. 1 but residents apparently were not informed until Tuesday.

District officials say the material is a toxic mixture of various chemicals.

"I really can't give you the exact sort of quantity of leachate that made its way to the lake,'' said district spokesman Dennis Clark. "It is considerable and we're taking it very seriously but I can't give you a volume measurement of it.''

Clark said all the affected residents would receive bottled drinking water while tests were done to learn the level of contamination.

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Give or go green

Donate or recycle those outdated tech products in exchange for some good karma—and maybe a discount on future shopping

By Kevin Savetz
CNET Networks, Inc

If you started off the new year with a shiny new computer, chances are you didn't even get it plugged in before the question hit: "What am I going to do with the old one?" It might seem tempting to dispatch that bulky tower and huge CRT to a dusty corner in the basement and promptly forget about them, but it's more responsible to dispose of yesterday's technology by recycling it or donating it to charity.

Whatever you do, don't park the old equipment on the curb. Besides taking up landfill space, computers and peripherals contain lead, mercury, and other toxic materials that can leach into the ground and water table. In fact, some components are considered hazardous waste, making it illegal to toss them out with household trash. . . Read more

A Louisiana Parish threatens Waste Management

St. Charles threatens trash firm

Withholding paycheck might not be legal

By Matt Scallan
The Times-Picayune

The St. Charles Parish Council on Monday told its garbage collector to pick up the trash or forget about picking up its final paycheck.

However, Chief Administrative Officer Tim Vial said more research would have to be done to determine whether the parish could legally withhold the final payment to Waste Management Inc.

The company's contract with the parish ends Feb. 28, and council members say they have heard many complaints from constituents.

"I've had some people complain that they haven't had trash picked up in six weeks," said Ganesier "Ram" Ramchandran, who cosponsored the payment resolution with Councilman Richard Duhe. . . Read more

Republic Services, Inc. Reports Record Earnings for 2005

2005 Earnings Per Share Up 14 Percent to $1.75
Company Provides 2006 Guidance

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, Feb. 6, 2006 -- Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) today reported that for the three months ended December 31,2005, net income was $60.0 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, compared to net income of $57.6 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, for the same period in 2004. Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2005 included a non-cash charge of $1.3 million, net of tax, or approximately $0.01 per diluted share, related to the acceleration of the vesting of all outstanding stock options previously awarded to employees. Revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2005 was $738.1 million compared to $687.7 million for the same period in 2004. Operating income for the three months ended December 31, 2005 was $115.4 million compared to operating income of $109.6 million for the same period last year.
Read more

Low-level radioactive waste fact sheets: An introduction

Ohio State University Extension Research

Audeen Fentiman
Richard Christensen
Karen Mancl
Joe Heimlich
Brian K. Hajek

Low-level radioactive waste has been generated for decades in Ohio and other states by nuclear power plants, industry, hospitals, universities, research institutions, and government facilities. According to federal law, each state is responsible for disposing of commercial low-level radioactive waste generated within its borders. States may form groups, called compacts, to share that responsibility. Ohio is part of the Midwest Compact; the other members are Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Every twenty years, the responsibility for hosting the Midwest Compact's low-level waste disposal facility will rotate among the member states. As the largest generator of this waste, Ohio was chosen as the first host state. . . Read more

View related news

Ohio EPA exempts Countywide LF from radioactive waste laws

Iodine triggers alarm at Countywide landfill

Committee gets update about radioactive material at landfill

EPA looking into how low-level radioactive waste got into landfill

Ohio orders landfill to isolate radioactive waste

Missing landfill records complicate Uwharrie Environmental expansion

By Mary Anderson
The Courier-Tribune Staff Writer
01/27/06

TROY, N. Carolina — When Montgomery County goes to the table with Republic Services of North Carolina to negotiate a request to expand the landfill, the county will have to rely on documentation provided by Republic for the first five years of operation.

The county has no records of host payments received or disposal fees paid for the years 1992, when the landfill opened, and 1998. . . Read more

Pennsylvania DEP denies landfill expansion

"The landfill’s application fell short of providing safeguards to protect against mine subsidence and groundwater pollution."

NEWS RELEASE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

WILKES-BARRE, 2/1/06 -- The Department of Environmental Protection today denied the expansion application submitted by Environmental and Recycling Services Inc. for its landfill in Taylor Borough, Lackawanna County.

The facility, which accepts only demolition debris, requested approximately 60 acres of new disposal area that would have comprised portions of the existing landfill as well as the closed Amity Landfill.

“The landfill’s application fell short of providing safeguards to protect against mine subsidence and groundwater pollution,” DEP Northeast Regional Director Michael Bedrin said. “Our evaluation of the designs, plans and potential affects of this project showed that the only option for environmental protection was a denial.” . . Read more

Performance of Solid Waste Landfills in Earthquakes

Neven Matasovic, M.EERI, Edward Kavazanjian, Jr., M.EERI, and Robert L. Anderson

Interpretation and analysis of observational data on the performance of solid waste landfills during earthquakes is the most reliable source of information on the seismic response of solid waste landfills. The data from several major California earthquakes indicate that the general performance of landfills during earthquakes is from good to excellent. None of the landfills on which observational data is available experienced major earthquake-induced damage. Recorded strong ground motion data indicate that amplification of both peak and spectral accelerations can occur at the top of a landfill. This, combined with the fact that only a limited number of landfills with geosynthetic liners and no landfill with a geosynthetic cover have been subjected to strong ground motions, indicate that attention to detail is warranted in the design of modern, geosynthetic-lined and/or covered landfills in areas of high seismicity. [emphasis added]

Read more

Republic Service's dump debate brewing

Val Verde dump stirring debate

By Eugene Tong
LA Daily News Staff Writer
2/01/2006

VAL VERDE - The Val Verde Civic Association has charged that both the county and the Chiquita Canyon Landfill have failed to enforce the mitigations placed on the landfill, which has applied to double its trash volume.

In a seven-page letter to the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning, the community group concluded that monitoring and other restrictions placed on the dump in 1997 as part of a previous expansion are loosely - if ever - enforced, and officials should oppose further enlargement. . . Read more