OSWER Discussion Forum

Score One for the Environment!

rbassler — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:01:35 +0000

EPA challenged sports teams and facilities to make a specific environmental commitment for Earth Week, to slow climate change. These events could range from hosting an electronics collection or recycling event or an event to reduce wasted food. Do you know of any local stories of teams or their facilities making an impact this Earth Day?

Federal agencies have also been doing their part –many are participating in the Federal Green Challenge that encourages government agencies to lead by example in reducing the federal government’s environmental impact. Learn more about this year’s winners. Climate Change affects us all. Did you know 42% of our greenhouse gas emissions are linked to the energy used to produce, process, transport and dispose the food we eat and the goods we use? Tell us about ways you reduce waste at home and at work.

Identifying Closed Landfills for Solar Energy Projects

rbassler — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:53:44 +0000

Thousands of closed landfills nationwide may be great sites for solar energy projects. There are at least 15 solar projects installed on capped landfills in the US, with many more planned for the future, marking a growing trend for renewable energy land use.

EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory partnered to release “Best Practices to Siting Solar PV on MSW Landfills” to provide landfill owners/operators and solar energy developers with insight into the emerging best practices in this growing field. To learn more, EPA offers more information through the RE-Powering America’s Land initiative website.

To see if the landfill in your area has been pre-screened for renewable energy potential, please take a look at the “Landfill” layers for each renewable technology in the RE-Powering Renewable Energy Interactive Mapping Tool.

Are there solar on landfill projects installed or underway in your area? What additional ways can the EPA support communities interested in installing solar at MSW landfills?

Hurricane Sandy – Managing Disaster Debris

rbassler — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:58:28 +0000

Much debris was left behind due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, emphasizing the importance of debris management planning and finding ways to manage the debris, including collecting and recycling the debris. EPA encourages communities to plan for natural disaster debris. In its “Planning for Natural Disaster Debris” guidance document, EPA describes the steps a community can take to prepare for dealing with the debris created by natural disasters to speed recovery. How has your community prepared for natural disaster debris?

15th Annual America Recycles Day – Nov. 15, 2012

rbassler — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:54:18 +0000

By Presidential Proclamation, November 15 was America Recycles Day. This year, the focus was on wasted food. Food is now the single largest type of waste going to municipal landfills – over 33 million tons of food ends up in landfills each year. Learn more about EPA’s efforts to reduce wasted food and conserve resources.

Can you share any tips you use at home or at work to reduce the amount of food going to waste? What other ways will you incorporate Reduce, Reuse, Recycle into your daily routines?

Revitalizing Communities

rbassler — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 21:22:49 +0000

Many communities have been hit hard by auto sector and other manufacturing industry closures and bankruptcies. EPA, the Department of Labor (DOL) and other organizations are working to assist these communities with their revitalization efforts. With this in mind, what are the critical first steps needed to promote revitalization, as you see them, and how can EPA help mobilize its federal, state, and local partners to help you begin to take them?

April 22 is Earth Day. What are you and your neighbors doing to make your community greener, healthier and more involved in activities to promote protecting the environment all year long? How could EPA best convey information to communities to advance local recycling efforts?

rbassler — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:33:27 +0000

EPA also offers opportunities for communities to get directly involved on Earth Day – and after. To learn more, EPA offers information on Take Action on Earth Day.

More than 97% of our food waste ends up in landfills and incinerators each year. Much of this is wholesome, uneaten food that could have been donated to those in need. How can EPA help you and your community reduce food waste?

rbassler — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:08:44 +0000

Food waste is defined as any food substance, raw or cooked, which is discarded, or intended or required to be discarded. Food wastes are the organic residues generated by the handling, storage, sale, preparation, cooking, and serving of foods. Food waste also includes uneaten food and food preparation scraps from residences or households.

How can EPA help consumers increase their donations of used electronics to 3rd-party-certified electronics recyclers? How can EPA leverage its partnerships with manufacturers and recyclers to encourage the use of certified recyclers that use the best Environmental Sound Management (ESM) practices and create domestic jobs?

rbassler — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:28:01 +0000

Americans recycle 34% of the 250 million tons of trash they produce in a year. While this represents progress, there are many more opportunities to recycle and conserve resources – including recycling of used electronics.

Americans discard more than 2 million tons of obsolete electronic products annually, such as cell phones and computers. While 27% of the discarded electronics are recycled, 73% ends up in our landfills (Read the full report, Electronics Waste Management in the United States through 2009, PDF). The rapid growth of the consumer electronics sector presents unique new challenges and opportunities for increasing recycling of these products. EPA encourages Americans to donate their used electronics to 3rd-party certified recyclers or drop them at collection points including retailers and municipalities that work with 3rd-party certified recyclers. Using 3rd-party-certified recyclers helps to ensure that used electronics are recycled under safe and environmentally protective conditions.

How can EPA better leverage the Partnership for Sustainable Communities with HUD, DOT, EDA and other federal agencies to bring implementation resources to projects?

rbassler — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:13:34 +0000

EPA’s Brownfield Program continues to look to the future by expanding the types of properties it addresses, forming new partnerships, and undertaking new initiatives to help revitalize communities across the nation. Under the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, EPA is working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to help improve access to affordable housing, more transportation options, and lower transportation costs while protecting the environment in communities nationwide.

How can EPA’s brownfield resources be better aligned with private resources to enable a successful brownfield project?

rbassler — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:20:54 +0000

During these challenging economic times, EPA is looking to maximize resources. The private sector could offer additional opportunities for the Brownfields program to spur economic development and revitalize communities.