Sustainability


Green Cleaning: Where We've Been and What's Next

The professional cleaning industry, like so many other industries, is now realizing that sustainability helps minimize risk, making sustainability simply smart business.

General Motors is turning its employees

International Statistic of 2018: 90.5 Percent of Plastic Waste Never Recycled

The winning International Statistic of 2018 is 90.5%: the proportion of plastic waste that has never been recycled. The UK Statistic of 2018 is 27.8%: the peak percentage of all electricity produced in the United Kingdom from solar power on June 30, 2018.

NYC Working to Overhaul Commercial Waste Collection

The city's private garbage hauling industry has become inefficient in its operation and unsafe. The Commercial Waste Zones plan will eliminate 18 million miles of truck traffic every year, a 63 percent reduction from today, according to Arcadis, the company that completed the plan for New York City's Department of Sanitation.

Industrial LED Lighting: The New Secret Weapon in the Battle Against Pollution

Switching from conventional High-Intensity Diode (HID) lighting, such as high-pressure sodium fixtures, to modern, high-efficiency industrial-grade LED lighting has proven to be one of the most effective sustainability practices.

Wind Turbine Manufacturers Notch Big Orders

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy announced it received the order for the 487 MW SeaMade offshore wind power project in Belgium from customer Seamade NV, while Vestas announced it has received an order for 100 V120-2.2 MW turbines for an undisclosed project in the United States.

Surfer

From Grey to Green: Developing the Guidelines for Natural Infrastructure

By implementing natural infrastructure through living shoreline design, we can develop solutions that provide a multitude of benefits that include performing against the rising sea levels, managing flood risk, and providing ecological benefits, all at the same time.

Waste Recycler Settles RCRA Case with EPA

The settlement requires Rho-Chem, LLC to complete a supplemental environmental project to purchase and provide at least $352,992 worth of emergency response instruments and communication and computing equipment to the Los Angeles County Fire Department's Homeland Security/Hazardous Materials Response Section.

Cal/OSHA Cites Waste Collection Company After Fatal Accident

The worker who died was making a turn while operating the truck from the right-hand side when he fell out and was run over. Cal/OSHA investigators determined the truck had a safety chain for the truck cab opening that could not be used because a part was missing.



American Chemistry Council's CEO Staying On

CEO Cal Dooley has agreed to stay through 2019 after the council's board of directors agreed that the chemicals and plastics industry must take a global leadership role to reduce and ultimately eliminate plastic waste.

New Orleans Holds 8th Annual Household Hazardous Materials Cleanup

Orleans Parish residents were able to bring paint, pesticides, antifreeze, garden chemicals, flammable liquids, muriatic acid, small mercury devices, aerosols, pool shock, household cleaners, motor oil, automobile batteries, and motorcycle batteries for disposal or recycling.

California to Help Farmers Buy Cleaner Heavy Equipment

"Although tough new engine standards are in effect now and will eventually lower emissions, most agricultural equipment lasts for decades. We cannot wait for the older dirtier equipment to phase out naturally, so we are taking action to improve air quality sooner by helping farmers to buy cleaner farm equipment now," CARB Executive Officer Richard Corey said.

LEGO Shooting for 100 Percent Sustainable Packaging by 2025

The company's goal had been to accomplish this by 2030, but it has now moved up that goal.

U.K. Government Announces Drink Container Deposit Return Scheme to Reduce Litter

“It is absolutely vital we act now to tackle this threat and curb the millions of plastic bottles a day that go unrecycled,” Environment Secretary Michael Gove said. “We have already banned harmful microbeads and cut plastic bag use, and now we want to take action on plastic bottles to help clean up our oceans.”

First Plastic-Free Supermarket Aisle Opens in Netherlands

The aisle includes more than 700 plastic-free products, including meat, dairy, and produce. According to A Plastic Planet, the products use alternative, biodegradable packaging where necessary and will not be more expensive than plastic-wrapped goods.

Canada Working to Reduce Diesel Use in Rural Communities

The national government believes cutting reliance on diesel in rural and remote communities will decrease Canada’s carbon footprint, support climate change adaptation, and contribute to healthier communities.

Land Deal for Alaska Road Draws Environmental Criticism

The road, which proponents say is necessary to connect the remote community of King Cove to a large, all-weather airport for emergency medical evacuation in poor weather, has come under criticism from conservationists.

CA Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Reduce Plastic Straw Waste

Majority Leader Ian Calderon introduced last week Assembly Bill 1884, which would require servers at sit-down restaurants to ask customers if they want a straw before providing one. The bill would not apply to fast-food restaurants.

Program Launched to Spur EV Use in California

EV adoption continues to grow in California, but lack of charging locations remains one of the biggest barriers. PG&E said its EV Charge Network will support the adoption of EVs by increasing access to charging in locations where it has traditionally been limited and where cars often sit for longer periods of time, like workplaces and apartment buildings.

Canadian Coast Guard Seeks Proposals for Bulk Oil Removal from Wrecked Freighter

Scott Simms, Member of Parliament for Coast of Bays – Central – Notre Dame, announced Wednesday that in the coming months the Canadian Coast Guard will be seeking proposals from qualified marine salvage companies for bulk oil removal from the wreck of the Manolis L.

Ohio EPA Offers Alternative Fuel Vehicle Conversion Grants

A new grant from Ohio EPA will reimburse owners of large diesel or gasoline vehicles for a portion of the cost of the conversion or replacement of engines to use compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, or liquid petroleum gas such as propane or butane, including bi-fueled or dual-fueled vehicles that can run on both an alternative fuel and on gasoline or diesel fuel.