In addition to recycling and composting, there’s another way communities can help fight climate change – by converting more of their waste into energy. The Center for American Progress (CAP) recently published a great story on how recovering energy from waste reduces greenhouse gas emissions and supports local economies. According to CAP, the United States [...]
Tag Archives: Plastics
New York City reconsiders recycling; kudos to Mayor Bloomberg
An op ed in Tuesday’s New York Times praised Mayor Bloomberg for expanding New York City’s recycling program to include, among other items, rigid plastics, such as toys, yogurt cups and plastic forks and knives. Reversing New York’s decade long drop in recycling rates is a worthy goal that will improve the quality of life [...]
Honolulu facility turns lost fishing nets into energy
According to experts, lost fishing nets unintentionally claim far too many marine animals every year. Entanglements of large nets, some of them weighing upwards of hundreds of pounds, get caught up in currents, where they can ensnare marine mammals and sea turtles, endanger ships, and wreak havoc on delicate ecosystems. Recent stories by CNN (video [...]
Cleveland evaluates integrated energy generation and recycling project
We noted with interest last week that the city of Cleveland is evaluating options for the development of an integrated waste management center that likely would include both recycling and energy recovery technologies. The story comes via Waste Management World, which writes that Cleveland has explored a variety of innovative technologies, including thermal conversion, pyrolysis, [...]
EPA report marks significant gains in vehicle efficiency, propelled by chemistry
The automotive industry has seen significant improvements in vehicle efficiency in recent years, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) annual report. Fuel economy values increased by 16 percent while carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions decreased by 13 percent between 2007 and 2012. There was an estimated increase of 1.4 miles per gallon for cars and [...]
Recycling of rigid plastics achieves major milestone
Here’s a Hint: There’s a Good Chance You Can Recycle them in Your Area This week, there’s much good news to report on the recycling of rigid plastics, a category that includes cups, tubs and containers as well as larger items like toys and laundry baskets. According to new data, recycling of rigid plastics (excluding [...]
Energy recovery… There’s an app for that!
Through the power of technology, the benefits of recovering energy from everyday waste now can be experienced right at your fingertips. And it’s fun. Covanta Energy has launched a new game for the iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad that allows you to earn points for feeding the energy production process while sorting out recyclables and [...]
Plastic film recycling reaches 1 billion pounds annually
It’s always encouraging to see that Americans are recycling more of the materials they use every day, so we were pleased to see that plastic film recycling — the category of plastic recycling that includes plastic bags, product wraps and commercial shrink film — has grown so dramatically in just six years. According to a [...]
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle… and Recover
Most of us have heard the phrase “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” and today more and more voices are adding a fourth “R” to the mix to help ensure our nation’s energy future: Recover. As in recovering energy from waste. All four “Rs” play a key role in the U.S. EPA’s waste management hierarchy, and according to [...]
Fuel-efficient vehicles packed with chemistry innovations steal the scene in Detroit
Fuel-efficient vehicles stole the scene at this year’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, signaling that chemistry-based innovations that improve automotive energy efficiency may power the industry for years to come. Higher demand for fuel-efficient cars was evident in the more than 50 new models and concepts introduced during the January 14-15 press preview. [...]
- A new year, but the same unworkable Safe Chemicals Act
- Re: “Think Those Chemicals Have Been Tested?” in Sunday’s NYT
- PR stunts miss the point on safety
- See how chemistry helps the U.S. save up to $85 billion a year in reduced energy costs
- New video and report: The chemistry behind energy efficient buildings
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News Releases
- ACC Commends Senators Lautenberg and Vitter for Bipartisan Leadership to Reform TSCA May 22, 2013
- American Chemistry Council Convenes Capitol Hill Discussion on Safety of Chemicals in Consumer Products May 22, 2013
- New York Policy and Business Leaders Host Forum on How Shale Gas Can Transform State’s Manufacturing Sector, Economy May 21, 2013
- ACC President Highlights Shale Gas and Manufacturing at Senate Energy Committee Natural Gas Forum May 21, 2013
- Expansion of Consumer-Driven Chemical and Plastics Applications Suggests Continued Modest Economic Growth May 21, 2013
