In case you missed it: Thoughtful, newsworthy comments from industry professionals, consumers and legislators.
"Vermont's battery program marks a pivotal moment in our country's efforts to reduce the amount of materials in our landfills through responsible recycling."
— Carl Smith, CEO & president of Call2Recycle, on the state's new mandatory battery recycling program for single-use batteries. The program — which will go into effect on Jan. 1 — is the first of its kind in the nation.
"Many customers prefer not to have written contracts with their carter. This allows them to drop their carter more easily. If New York City wants to amend its regulations to require written contracts, I suspect the industry would support that instead of franchising."
— SWANA CEO David Biderman on a report released by Transform Don't Trash NYC. The report surveyed 400 small business owners in the city, many of whom stated that their businesses face faulty service and inadequate recycling from private waste haulers.
"There were some 'keeping up with the Joneses' attitudes surrounding recycling behaviors where people were concerned if others noticed that they weren’t recycling."
— University of Maine graduate student Travis Blackmer on his municipal solid waste handling study. The study found that 74% of respondents recycled more when a pay-as-you-throw program was started in their town.
"Understanding the challenging recycling commodity markets, the City wanted to provide companies with as many incentives as practicable that would benefit both parties. Additionally, we were very mindful when developing procurement specifications to consider employee benefits and work environment, as well as potential impacts on nearby communities."
— Burns & McDonnell project manager Scott Pasternak on a new MRF that will be built in Dallas, TX. Burns & McDonnell helped Dallas develop and implement a "long term and sustainable recycling process program," according to a press release.
"The closure of that facility should be a very strong signal to Indianapolis that their deal with Covanta is based on a false promise."
— Carey Hamilton, executive director of the Indiana Recycling Coalition, on Infinitus Energy's "dirty MRF" closing in Montgomery, AL. The MRF closed due to a drop in market prices of materials.
"We do not want the city’s garbage in a landfill in the watershed of Seneca Lake where we have not only a world-class wine tourism destination, but 100,000 people who get their drinking water from this pristine lake."
— Biologist Sandra Steingraber on the New York City Department of Sanitation's proposal to send the city's trash to Seneca Meadows Landfill in Seneca Falls, NY. Finger Lakes residents are opposing the proposal for fear that it will hurt tourism in the area.