Telling legitimate recycling from shams
Last week’s post on “recycling” batteries by turning them into roadbed aggregate, via mill slag, raised the question of what constitutes “legitimate” recycling. The US Environmental Protection Agency has been struggling with this issue for decades; claims to tur…
View the post titled Telling legitimate recycling from shamsBill 91, New Waste Reduction Act
Ontario Environment Minister Jim Bradley has introduced Bill 91, a proposed Waste Reduction Act, 2013. The new Act is intended to kickstart further waste diversion, especially in the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors, where waste diversion rates remain low. It will also requir…
View the post titled Bill 91, New Waste Reduction ActLandfill gas electricity may be eligible for permit by rule in Ontario
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment is seeking public comment on a proposed regulation to allow landfill gas power generating facilities to register in the Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR). The Registry is a much easier, quicker way to get environmental permission to bui…
View the post titled Landfill gas electricity may be eligible for permit by rule in OntarioHome Depot: Excessive enforcement causing recycling set back?
Home Depot’s decision to stop accepting waste paint and compact fluorescent bulbs for recycling is a sad setback, and another sign of trouble in Ontario’s waste reduction and diversion strategy. It is important to collect every possible used fluorescent bulb (and not throw them i…
View the post titled Home Depot: Excessive enforcement causing recycling set back?Turf wars – how green is artificial turf?
Kudos to those opposing the University of Toronto’s plan to use artificial turf for its back campus field, in time for the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games. The opponents are right: there are good reasons for health and environmental concern about ripping up grass (muddy as it may be) and replac…
View the post titled Turf wars – how green is artificial turf?Conference Board ranks Canada’s environmental performance: poor
According to the Conference Board of Canada, Canada ranks 15th of the 17 OECD countries in its environmental performance, mostly due to waste and overconsumption of water and energy. “Canada receives a “C” grade on environmental performance… Canada’s success in improving its envi…
View the post titled Conference Board ranks Canada’s environmental performance: poorSustainable remediation: what is the status?
The United Kingdom program, Contaminated Land: Applications in Real Environments, provides excellent resources on contaminated site remediation. One of their contributors, the University of Cambridge, is now seeking input on sustainable remediation. Study participants will receive the final report.
View the post titled Sustainable remediation: what is the status?Provincial budget: environmental fees going up more
Here are some excerpts from last week’s Ontario provincial budget, promising further increases in fees relating to the environment. Contaminated sites fees, water taking charges, fees for environmental compliance approvals and for hazardous waste will all go up by almost $10 million. T…
View the post titled Provincial budget: environmental fees going up moreRecycler gets $112,000 fine and probation
Rancor Wood Recycling Inc. and Randy Corfield were fined a total of $112,000 for failing to comply with Ministry of the Environment orders and with the certificate of approval for their glass and wood waste recycling site.
View the post titled Recycler gets $112,000 fine and probationThe Limits to Growth: looking good at 40?
Forty years ago, The Limits to Growth explored what would happen if we allowed the world’s population and industry to continue to grow rapidly. They compared humanity’s use of energy and materials to the globe’s long-term, sustainable capacity, and concluded that urgent ac…
View the post titled The Limits to Growth: looking good at 40?Receive Blog Posts
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