Natural environment

USW Tentatively Supports RFS Compromise Announced Yesterday

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Biofuels, Climate change in the United States, Renewable Identification Number, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Natural environment

The deal aims to provide relief for merchant refiners by incorporating additional Renewable Identification Number (RINs) generated by exports while permitting 15 percent ethanol fuels to be sold year round.

Key Points: 
  • The deal aims to provide relief for merchant refiners by incorporating additional Renewable Identification Number (RINs) generated by exports while permitting 15 percent ethanol fuels to be sold year round.
  • USW members at Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) experienced significant uncertainty as the company went through bankruptcy earlier this year partly due to high RFS compliance costs.
  • The USW said that it will continue to engage Congress and the administration to ensure that RFS reform will benefit consumers and protect oil jobs without significantly impacting the ethanol industry.
  • The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors.

IFAW Accepted Into The IUCN

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Animal welfare, Biology, Natural environment, International Fund for Animal Welfare, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Conservation biology, EcoHealth Alliance

"As long time IUCN collaborators, we are honored to join the ranks of esteemed governments and NGOs to help shape conservation policy at the global level," said Azzedine Downes, President and CEO of IFAW.

Key Points: 
  • "As long time IUCN collaborators, we are honored to join the ranks of esteemed governments and NGOs to help shape conservation policy at the global level," said Azzedine Downes, President and CEO of IFAW.
  • "We align with the IUCN mission and seek additional opportunities to learn from peers, share our expertise and collaborate on solutions that work for biodiversity conservation and for human wellbeing."
  • "I am delighted to know that IFAW has at long last been welcomed into the IUCN fold," said Vivek Menon, Executive Director and CEO of the Wildlife Trust of India , Senior Advisor to the President and CEO ofIFAW and Chair of the IUCN Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG).
  • Founded in 1969, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is a global non-profit organization that protects animals and the places they call home.

Texas Manufacturer recycles water as part of green initiatives

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Waste minimisation, Etching, Sustainable development, Natural environment, Visual arts, Deforestation, Office work, Paper, Paperless office, Water conservation, Chemical milling

Texas Nameplate Co. recycles 90 percent of all its water.

Key Points: 
  • Texas Nameplate Co. recycles 90 percent of all its water.
  • The company's water conservation efforts are part of an overall effort to go green.
  • Other initiatives include acid rejuvenation, solvent reclamation, paperless business operations and green facilities.
  • "Chemical etching requires water, and the industry hasn't always been good stewards of that resource," President and CEO DaleCrownover said.

U.S. Plastics Resin Producers Set Circular Economy Goals To Recycle Or Recover 100% Of Plastic Packaging By 2040

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Water conservation, Dielectrics, Plastic, Recycling, Pellet, Universe, Plastic recycling, Plastics, Nature, Natural environment

WASHINGTON, May 9, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Chemistry Council's (ACC) Plastics Division today announced three ambitious goals that crystallize U.S. plastics resin producers' commitment to recycle or recover all plastic packaging used in the United States by 2040 and to further enhance plastic pellet stewardship by 2022.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, May 9, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Chemistry Council's (ACC) Plastics Division today announced three ambitious goals that crystallize U.S. plastics resin producers' commitment to recycle or recover all plastic packaging used in the United States by 2040 and to further enhance plastic pellet stewardship by 2022.
  • Specifically, members of ACC's Plastics Division have set the following goals for capturing, recycling, and recovering plastics:
    100% of plastics packaging is re-used, recycled or recovered by 2040.
  • "We are embracing the drive toward a circular economy for plastics because it helps demonstrate our overarching commitment to sustainable materials management," said Steve Russell, ACC's vice president of plastics.
  • "Some of these involve turning used plastics back into their basic building blocks so we can create new plastics."

New Breed of Coastal Restoration Solutions Launched

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Natural environment, Aquatic ecology, Habitat, Wetland, LOUISIANA, United States, Water, America's Wetland Foundation

"I grew up in Louisiana and the preservation of our natural environment has always been top of mind for the communities there.

Key Points: 
  • "I grew up in Louisiana and the preservation of our natural environment has always been top of mind for the communities there.
  • Our involvement in this programme is really a targeted way for our company to create value for our communities in Louisiana.
  • "For most of the past decade we have made the case for innovative coastal restoration solutions involving the private sector," said Val Marmillion, AWF managing director.
  • We hope to attract sponsors for projects of $3 to $10 million a piece to transition wetlands threatened with extinction."

The Science is clear: the conventional plastic bag is the best for the environment

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Shopping bags, Mass production, Disposable products, Plastic shopping bag, Plastics, Bags, Reusable shopping bag, Supply chain management, Economy, Natural environment, Reuse, California Proposition 67

All LCAs show scientifically that a ban on plastic shopping bags will actually harm the environment."

Key Points: 
  • All LCAs show scientifically that a ban on plastic shopping bags will actually harm the environment."
  • https://www2.mst.dk/Udgiv/publications/2018/02/978-87-93614-73-4.pdf
    The most interesting study finding is that the conventional, thin plastic shopping bag is not a single-use bag because it has a very high reuse rate at 77%.
  • As the Quebec LCA proves the conventional bag is a multi-use, multi-purpose bag while the reusable bag is a single-purpose bag.
  • Hruska adds, "The bag industry believes that every decision made in the name of the environment should be based on science and fact.

The Government of Canada and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society reach an important agreement on species at risk reporting

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Environment of Canada, Conservation in Canada, Natural environment, Wilderness, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Species at Risk Act

The agreement settles a judicial review that the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society filed in the Federal Courtin relation to section63 of the Species at Risk Acton April20, 2017.

Key Points: 
  • The agreement settles a judicial review that the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society filed in the Federal Courtin relation to section63 of the Species at Risk Acton April20, 2017.
  • Since then, the Government of Canada and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society have worked together to determine a path forward that is agreeable to both parties.
  • This agreement provides increased clarity on the implementation of the protection of critical habitat reporting mechanism of the Species at Risk Act.
  • The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society welcomes these developments and looks forward to working with the Government of Canada to protect and recover species at risk.

Johnstone Supply Leads TRC's 1st Quarter Thermostat Recycling Tally

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Nature, Natural environment, Water conservation, Chemistry, Energy conversion, Recycling, Temperature control, Thermostat, Nutrient cycle, Mercury

Kiscaden said that the success of TRC's collection efforts have reduced the number of recycled units, while adding cost to the per unit collection.

Key Points: 
  • Kiscaden said that the success of TRC's collection efforts have reduced the number of recycled units, while adding cost to the per unit collection.
  • "We are in the unusual situation that our very success reduces future opportunities in our recycling efforts," said Kiscaden.
  • "We often say that when we recycle that last mercury containing thermostat, we've crossed the finish line.
  • Thermostat Recycling Corporation, founded in 1998, is an industry-funded nonprofit corporation supported by 31 manufacturers that historically branded and sold mercury thermostats in the United States.

Jessie Banhazl of Green City Growers Featured Speaker at 12th Annual Living Future unConference

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Design, Natural environment, Environmental design, Social information processing, Architecture, Community, Landscape architecture, Placemaking, Urban design, Regenerative design, Unconference

BOSTON, May 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Jessie Banhazl, CEO and Founder of Green City Growers (GCG), was a featured speaker at The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) unConference, a sold-out gathering of 1,000+ experts in green building, placemaking and regenerative design from around the globe, in Portland, Oregon.

Key Points: 
  • BOSTON, May 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Jessie Banhazl, CEO and Founder of Green City Growers (GCG), was a featured speaker at The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) unConference, a sold-out gathering of 1,000+ experts in green building, placemaking and regenerative design from around the globe, in Portland, Oregon.
  • The unConference, which ran from May 1-4, featured a robust agenda of workshops, networking opportunities and celebration of Authenticity + Action.
  • "It was a great experience to be around so many professionals from the design and architecture community dedicated to building a more sustainable future.
  • Living Future Institute facilitates action through this annual conference, and I am so grateful we were included," says Jessie Banhazl, CEO and Founder of GCG.

Stepinac High School's Honors Academy To Present Symposium on the Forgotten Flint, Michigan Contaminated Water Crisis

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Michigan, Water supply and sanitation in the United States, Natural environment, Environment, Flint water crisis, Drinking water, Water supply network, Elmsford, New York, Midwestern United States

WHITE PLAINS,N.Y., May 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Stepinac High School's Honors Academy will present a Clean Water Solution Symposium focused on the contaminated drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigana public health emergency which remains unresolved and is now forgotten more than three years after dangerous levels of lead were detected.

Key Points: 
  • WHITE PLAINS,N.Y., May 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Stepinac High School's Honors Academy will present a Clean Water Solution Symposium focused on the contaminated drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigana public health emergency which remains unresolved and is now forgotten more than three years after dangerous levels of lead were detected.
  • For the past five years, he has served as village engineer for Elmsford, N.Y., overseeing water system operations.
  • Finance academy students will research how many homes in each of the Westchester communities were built before 1930 when lead pipes were used for drinking water.
  • First-of-its-kind-in-the-region, Stepinac's Honors Academy is a small, personalized, three-year learning program that provides academically high achieving students opportunities to pursue advanced studies leading to potential careers.