WIH RESOURCE GROUP

Biomass Energy – Clean Green Renewable Energy

wihresourcegroup — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:00:22 +0000

Biomass is currently one of the latest sources of renewable energy. Together with solar energy and wind power it makes a convincing argument for not using fossil fuels anymore and rather reverting to natural processes to obtain the energy / power that we need. Biomass consists of plant matter that is specifically grown for its ability to generate heat or electricity. Mostly this would mean that Biomass consists of dead plant matter, but plants that are still alive can also generate heat and are therefore also included in the term Biomass.

In order to produce the heat or electricity, the biomass needs to be directly incinerated and fed fuel to keep it burning. This means that biodegradable waste can therefore also be included if it is able to burn and generate heat or electricity. Unfortunately fossil fuels also fall in this category as they are traditionally used to burn in order to generate electricity.

The main purpose of investigating biomass energy is to find sustainable, renewable energy in order to eliminate the usage of fossil fuels for the purpose of generating electricity. In the following sections we will explore what biomass energy is, how it works, its sources and it potential. It is always important to make decisions such as these based on facts rather than emotional arguments.

What is Biomass?

When looking at biomass, it is important to remember that biomass consists mainly or dead or even living biological matter. In the context of biomass energy this biological matter is usually plant-based. It is carbon based and consists of molecules of hydrogen (as well as small amounts of oxygen), nitrogen and various other smaller molecules of other chemicals. Although biomass is generally plant-based, animal matter can also be included for the benefit of the chemical molecules that it can contribute.

Why use Biomass?

One of the biggest advantages of using biomass is the fact that it is a renewable energy source. Making use of biomass energy means that the carbon emissions usually associated with burning fossil fuels are drastically reducing, thereby diminishing the carbon “footprint” left behind. This also means that it can contribute to reducing the so-called greenhouse effect, as well as the production of the so-called greenhouse gasses. All of this in turn helps to prevent and minimise global warming.

When using biomass for energy purposes, the carbon produced when burning is turned into carbon dioxide when it combines with the oxygen around it. When emitted into the air, the carbon monoxide is ‘inhaled’ by living plant matter. This, in turn, then results in oxygen being released into the atmosphere, reducing the carbon production that the burning of fossil fuels causes. This means that biomass makes more biological and environmental sense when thinking about sustainable and renewable energy.

Types of Biomass

Scientists recognize four types of biomass:

Wood and agricultural products: This consists of so-called ‘home-grown’ products such as wood logs and chips etc. It is important to note that almost any biological matter can produce biomass energy. Agricultural biomass come from waste products such as fruit pits, corn cobs etc.
Solid waste: This is everyday waste / ‘garbage’ that can be used to produce energy. It is easily burnt and many plants are already using this method of generating energy.
Landfill gas: This is methane gas that is produced during the decaying and rotting process of biological matter. Landfills are artificial environments for these processes to take place, but are just as effective in generating gas that can compete successfully with the so-called ‘natural gasses’.
Alcohol fuels: Liquid fuels such as ethanol and methanol are produced using biological matter such as wheat, corn and potatoes. Once again, this is done during the decaying and fermentation processes.

Sources of Biomass

There are 5 distinct sources of biomass: Garbage, Wood, Waste, Landfill gases and Alcohol fuels. The biggest source of biomass currently is garbage. The day-to-day waste of households hold the biggest potential for biomass energy as it is already habit to incinerate garbage. Wood comes in at second place with the so-called ‘black liquor’ its biggest contributor. Black liquor is the waste product of the pulping process.

Hot on its heels is waste with it main contributors being municipal solid waste (MSW), manufacturing waste and landfill gas. In the last place are the liquid fuels such as ethanol and methanol which are the result of the fermentation of certain plant types such as corn and sugarcane. Together these sources of biomass have the potential to produce significant amounts of energy that could successfully replace the use of fossil fuels such as coal as a source of energy.

How Biomass energy works?

The process of producing biomass energy starts with the process of photosynthesis in plants. When plants absorb sunlight, the process starts with breaking down the components of sun, air and water into products that the plant uses to grow and thrive. One waste product of the process is oxygen which the plant releases into the air. This is why plants are so important as they “clean” the air of carbon dioxide and release oxygen back into the air.

The next step comes when the plant dies and becomes a waste product. As a waste product plant matter (as well as animal waste) can be collected and burned to generate energy. Because these products are all completely natural, the waste product from the incineration process is carbon dioxide which can easily be absorbed by other, living plants. The carbon emissions are greatly reduced and in many cases not even produced.

Potential for Biomass Energy

Studies by the United States of America show that the use of biomass energy can increase sharply over the next 20 – 30 years. They are already producing 1.2 percent of their total energy needs through the use of biomass energy. It is also predicted that four percent of their transportation energy needs (fuel) can be produced in 2010 with an expectation of up to 20 percent in 2030.

The Department of Energy also believes that biomass energy can be producing up to 14 percent of the USA’s energy consumption by 2030. The potential for biomass energy is huge and is making significant inroads in proving to be the most economic solution to the quest for renewable and sustainable energy sources.

Converting Biomass to Energy

In order to convert biomass into energy, scientists and energy plants can use 1 of 3 conversion methods:

Thermochemical conversion takes place when plant matter is heated but not burned. The heating process helps the plant matter to break down into its natural gasses, liquids and solids. These are then processed to become the energy producing fuel such as methanol and alcohol that is required. The gasses are collected to help fuel the turbines that generate energy.
Biochemical conversion is when bacteria etc. is used to break down the plant matter. It makes use of the fermentation process to break plant matter down into solids, gasses and fluids. Once these have been achieved, they are processed and turned into energy generating fuel.
Chemical conversion is the process that converts oils (like canola oil) into useful fuels – even petrol and diesel for trucks. Algae has also been known to produce the so-called ‘biodiesel’ for trucks and is acknowledged as a better source than the cooking oil from restaurants.

Click here to view full-size image

Biomass Energy Pros and Cons

As with any fuel, there are many pros and cons attached to it.

On the pro side, the obvious benefit is that the biomass fuel is sustainable and renewable. Although they are as effective as fossil fuels, they don’t cause much pollution. Using the garbage that would normally go into a landfill helps to reduce the pollution to the environment. From a political point of view, the use of biomass energy reduces countries’ need to depend on foreign countries for their oil supply.

The cons of biomass energy aren’t immediately visible. The first concern is that biomass energy does release greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. However, the amount is considerably less than that released by fossil fuels. There are special cleaning requirements for a biomass energy plant. There is also the question of how much it costs to erect a biomass energy plant compared to the cost of a fossil fuel energy plant.

Although there are also cons to the use of biomass energy, it is clear that it is still a more sensible approach to the constant threat of global warming. It may be a little too late to repair the damage already done, but it is still possible to overlook the “inconveniences” of biomass energy in order to prevent future damage and disaster.

Biomass Energy Finance

Biomass energy is still a controversial topic in many governments. There is clear competition between the supporters of fossil fuel energy and biomass energy. For this reason governments are wary of offering their support to biomass energy initiatives too quickly. In a domino effect, private investment is tied to the government’s policies on biomass energy and can therefore not be tapped into easily.

Earlier this year the UK government has relented and offered their support for biomass energy pioneers, offering to finance both the non-fuel as well as the fuel aspects of building plants. This unlocks the doors for private investors into the industry. There is an biomass energy estimated £13 billion in private investment money that has been waiting for the government to change its policy on biomass energy.

Call 480-241-9994 or Click us today to reach our trained professionals to discuss your needs today.

Source: Clean Green Renewable Energy and WIH Resource Group, Inc. (WIH)

RELATED LINKS
http://www.wihrg.com

Clean Green Renewable Energy

ABOUT WIH RESOURCE GROUP
WIH Resource Group is a global leader and provider of comprehensive waste management, recycling, transportation/logistical and business solutions, specializing in, among other services, waste management operational performance assessments, transportation / logistics, alternative fuels use, solid waste planning, waste and recycling market studies, business development, business valuations, due diligence and Mergers and Acquistions (M&A) transactional support and environmental services.

WIH Resource Group’s experience includes the oversight of operations, maintenance, finance, human resources, business development, sales, safety and environmental compliance while maintaining responsibility for multi-million dollar publicly and privately held assets including: a variety of collection operations, Sub-title D and hazardous and Class II landfills, transfer stations, intermodal facilities, recycling centers, buyback centers, material recovery facilities, vehicle and container maintenance operations, call centers and payment processing operations.
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, the company serves both private companies and public sector Agency clients throughout North America and internationally. To learn more about WIH Resource Group, Inc. visit http://www.wihrg.com .

Website: http://www.wihrg.com
Daily News Blog: http://www.wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com
Follow WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource

ABOUT WIH RESOURCE GROUP

WIH Resource Group is a global leader and provider of comprehensive waste management, recycling, transportation/logistical and business solutions, specializing in, among other services, waste management operational performance assessments, transportation / logistics, alternative fuel use, solid waste planning, waste and recycling market studies, business development and environmental services. Based in Phoenix, the company serves both private and public sector clients throughout North America and globally. Our customers include both public agencies and private sector businesses customers throughout North America. To learn more visit http://www.wihrg.com

About the WIH Resource Group’s Principal Bob Wallace, Principal and Vice President of Client Solutions, WIH Resource Group, Inc. (WIH) and Waste Savings, Inc. (WSI), former Boardmember SWANA ~ State of Arizona Chapter (Solid Waste Association of North America), APWA (American Public Works) ~ National Solid Waste Rate Setting Advisory Committee and Member of WASTEC (Waste Equipment Technology Association) NSWMA ~ Phoenix, Arizona USA. (bwallace@wihresourcegroup.com).

WIH Resource Group’s White Paper on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Fuel Use in Refuse Collection Vehicles Industry is Available for Purchasing: The entire 65-plus page report and Appendices: $299.00 US Funds – Visa and Mastercard Accepted.

Order Your Copy today!

Phone: 480.241.9994 ~ E-mail: admin@wihrg.com

Should you have any questions about this news or general questions about our diversified services, please contact Bob Wallace, Principal & VP of Client Solutions at WIH Resource Group and Waste Savings, Inc. at admin@wihrg.com

Feel free to visit our websites for additional information on our services at: http://www.wihrg.com and our daily blog at http://wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com

WIH Resource Group on Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wihresourcegroup

Follow Bob Wallace and WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource

Filed under: Alternative Fuels, Bill Gates Cascade Investments, BioMass, blue kaizen, bob wallace, Casella Waste, CH2M Hill, Clean Energy, Climate Change, CNN News, collection vehicle routing, consulting, Consulting Solutions, energy, environment, Environmental business journal, Environmental Protection Agency - EPA, facebook, FleetRoute, fuel efficiency, GBB, Global Economy, Global Econoy, Global Fuels, Google Search, Greenhouse Gases, guam integrated solid waste management plan, hawaii waste to energy, HF&H Consulting, hybrid, inc., Landfill gas, Landfill Gas Recovery, linked in, logistical solutions, MBA, Merger and Acquistion, New Green Deal, obama, Obama Administration, Oneida-Herkimer, Politics, Producer Responsibility (EPR), r.w. beck, railroad, recycling, Renewable Energy, renewable fuels, republic services, Resource Recovery, route audits, route optimization, Routesmart, Routeware, RW Beck, saic, SCS Engineers, Solid Waste, solid waste consulting, solutions, Surface Transportation Board, Sustainability, the daily green, Transfer Stations, Transportation, twitter, URS, urs corporation, waste management, Waste Management Consulting, waste savings, Waste to Energy (WTE), wastebyrail, Western Governors Climate, Western Governors Climate Initiative, Weston Solutions, WIH Resource Group, WIH Resource Group Press Release, Zonar Systems Tagged: Biomass Energy - Clean Green Renewable Energy, Biomass is currently one of the latest sources of renewable energy. Together with solar energy and wind power it makes a convincing argument for not using fossil fuels anymore and rather reverting to, but plants that are still alive can also generate heat and are therefore also included in the term Biomass., Renewable Energy

San Diego Won’t Sell It’s Miramar Landfill via WIH Resource Group, Inc.

wihresourcegroup — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:42:01 +0000

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders is abandoning a potential sale of the Miramar Landfill – a key piece of his fiscal recovery plan — after three private companies withdrew from the bidding process without making an offer.

Instead the mayor said he will move forward with possibly outsourcing the landfill’s operations through managed competition, which allows private firms to compete against city workers for jobs. That option will likely result in far less taxpayer savings than a sale because the city won’t be able to charge the operator a franchise fee of as much as $10 million annually.

The decision ends a seven-month period in which the three firms – Allied Waste Services, Texas Disposal Systems and Waste Management – researched the landfill and negotiated with city officials over various details. In the end, none were willing to submit a formal offer.

“We still believe that selling the landfill was the best option for the city,” Sanders said in a statement. “At the beginning of this process, there was a lot of interest and enthusiasm. But at the end of the day, all of the bidders preferred to run the landfill instead of buy it.”

San Diego faces a $56.7 million budget deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1 and leaders are exploring a wide range of options to increase revenue or slash expenses. Soliciting bids to take over operations at Miramar Landfill is one of the most frequently mentioned for saving taxpayer money and city leaders even attached it to a campaign to increase the city’s sales tax, which voters roundly rejected in November.

But the potential sale appears to have been doomed by the landfill’s complicated ownership structure and an unwillingness by the private companies to shoulder the financial risk of unknown environmental liabilities.

The city has operated Miramar Landfill since 1959 when it signed a $500-a-year lease deal with the military, which owns the property. The lease, which extends through 2045, changed several times through the years, notably expanding the site from 450 acres to the existing 1,400-acre plot.

The north and south sections of the landfill have already been filled. The active western portion has collected 39 million tons of trash with room for an additional 19 million tons. At the current pace — 988,000 tons of solid waste and 348,000 tons of greenery added annually — the projected closure date is 2022.

City officials were adamant that whoever took over operations would have to assume the landfill’s liabilities, including any costs associated to its eventual closure.

Bob Gregory, chief executive and principal owner of Texas Disposal Systems, said he was “unable to come to a comfort level” in large part because of the environment liability and questions over what role the military would play.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity. We were very excited about the prospect, still are excited about the prospect if they want to do it under a different set of circumstances,” he said. “It was a business deal that had a great deal of financial risk.”

In a statement, Allied Waste also said it would prefer an operational agreement rather than a purchase. A Waste Management official didn’t return a call for comment.

The goal had been to hand the city’s lease over to a private company that would, in turn, give the city a steep discount on dumping fees and pay the city an annual franchise fee of as much as $10 million. That money could then be spent on public safety, parks and libraries.

That’s not possible today. The landfill’s $37 million budget is fee-based and stands apart from the city’s $1.1 billion operating budget. The law does not allow the city to use the fees except at the landfill.

The separate fund also results in the city, which is prohibited from charging most residents for trash pickup, having to pay dumping fees at Miramar of up to $11 million annually from its operating budget.

Now the city will try the less aggressive route of managed competition, a change viewed by some as an opportunity for the roughly 130 city employees who would have lost their jobs had the landfill been sold. Now they’ll be given a chance to submit their own proposal against private firms for the work.

Joan Raymond, head of the city’s blue-collar union which represents many of those workers, was on vacation and didn’t immediately return a call for comment.

City Council President Tony Young said the mayor has taken a prudent approach with the landfill.

“I think we have to have an understanding of what our assets, especially a big asset like that, is worth,” Young said. “Now we’ve found that there’s not a big market for it for whatever reason. I’m actually really happy that now the employees get a chance to bid on it and the taxpayers will be able to get probably a better price in regards to running it because it’s going to have some competition involved.”

The Mayor’s Office is expected to begin the managed competition process for the landfill in May or June, but final approval may not come until mid-2012.

Call 480-241-9994 or Click us today to reach our trained professionals to discuss your needs today.

Source: Sign On San Diego and WIH Resource Group, Inc. (WIH)

RELATED LINKS
http://www.wihrg.com

Website: http://www.wihrg.com
Daily News Blog: http://www.wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com
Follow WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource

ABOUT WIH RESOURCE GROUP

Order Your Copy today!

Phone: 480.241.9994 ~ E-mail: admin@wihrg.com

Feel free to visit our websites for additional information on our services at: http://www.wihrg.com and our daily blog at http://wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com

WIH Resource Group on Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wihresourcegroup

Follow Bob Wallace and WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource

Filed under: Alternative Fuels, Bill Gates Cascade Investments, BioMass, blue kaizen, bob wallace, Casella Waste, CH2M Hill, Clean Energy, Climate Change, CNN News, collection vehicle routing, consulting, Consulting Solutions, energy, environment, Environmental business journal, Environmental Protection Agency - EPA, facebook, FleetRoute, fuel efficiency, GBB, Global Economy, Global Econoy, Global Fuels, Google Search, Greenhouse Gases, guam integrated solid waste management plan, hawaii waste to energy, HF&H Consulting, hybrid, inc., Landfill gas, Landfill Gas Recovery, linked in, logistical solutions, MBA, Merger and Acquistion, New Green Deal, obama, Obama Administration, Oneida-Herkimer, Politics, Producer Responsibility (EPR), r.w. beck, railroad, recycling, Renewable Energy, renewable fuels, republic services, Resource Recovery, route audits, route optimization, Routesmart, Routeware, RW Beck, saic, SCS Engineers, sex, Solid Waste, solid waste consulting, solutions, Surface Transportation Board, Sustainability, the daily green, Transfer Stations, Transportation, twitter, URS, urs corporation, waste management, Waste Management Consulting, waste savings, Waste to Energy (WTE), wastebyrail, Western Governors Climate, Western Governors Climate Initiative, Weston Solutions, WIH Resource Group, WIH Resource Group Press Release, Zonar Systems Tagged: attorney, deficit, garbage, GBB, gregory canyon landfill, HF&H, inc., mayor jerry sanders, mayor of san diego, miramar, ocean beach, pala indian, Routeware, san diego, San Diego Won't Sell It's Miramar Landfill via WIH Resource Group, sign on san diego, Solid Waste, texas disposal systems, tribe, waste management, Waste Management Consulting, waste-by-rail, WIH Resource Group, zero waste san diego

Solid Waste Collection Vehicle Routing – Route Optimization – WIH Resource Group, Inc.

wihresourcegroup — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:46:01 +0000

Whether you want to optimize solid waste or recycling collection routes for a fleet of 5 trucks or 150, or need routing for high density areas or point-to-point collection, WIH Resource Group provides both routing software tools as well as WIH’s Team of Field Route Auditors can perform manual route audits that make onroute waste collection and dispatch operations both efficient and cost-effective.

These tools eliminate hours spent on manual routing, maximize productivity, optimize equipment and staff allocations, and allow you to gain better control over your operations.

In addition, WIH Resource Group provides independent software service provider analysis. In other words, if you are trying to determine the best mix of software and onboard hardware technology, WIH Resource Group can assist you in perfoming a Techonology Assessment Study
aimed and evaluating and identfying major providers of the most relevant technology to meet your specific goals, objectives and needs in collection vehicle routing, GIS, GPS, onboard computer, real time collection vehicle tracking, fleet management, routing software or other industry technologies.

Waste Collection Routing Software Technology

WIH Resource Group works with its partners to provide software technology that is automated and designed primarily to support solid waste and recycling collection services.

The software application will generate efficient vehicle routes for solid waste collection over a street network, and can also be used for street cleaning, newspaper / postal delivery, and other applications that require an arc-routing solution with side constraints.

Our Partner’s Collection Vehicle Routing Software
Technology offers comprehensive routing software and end-to-end efficiency tools tailored to the needs of specific industries with strong focus on immediate and long-term directly measurable return on investment (ROI).

The route optimization software is for Waste Collection that supports multiple lines of business including Commercial (Front Load), Residential and Roll-Off (Industrial).

WIH’s routing solutions technology partner’s software is designed to approach routing the way you would route manually. This design philosophy produces routes that are immediately useable in the field. After all, hitting the ground running is the ultimate test of success for route optimization software.

Higher Productivity and Lower Operating Costs

WIH Resource Group Clients can realize higher productivity gains and lower operational costs than alternatives along with the reduction in hauling onroute collection costs, disposal costs and capital costs.

Savings opportunities can be realized by reducing miles driven, hours spent, reduction in the number of vehicles required and reduction in total disposal cost. WIH’s waste and recycling collection routing software solutions integrate product suite for the Waste Industry and also provides for other opportunities like dynamic dispatching, real-time vehicle tracking and planned v/s actual comparison, thus providing increased operational excellence.

Reduce Your Operating Expenses by 5-25% Through Route Optimization

WIH Resource Group offers routing optimziation through
its partners in software technology, onboard technology (hardware) and through route audits for route planning, route optimization, vehicle tracking, scheduling & dispatch software and services to create instant savings and lasting value for WIH’s Clients.

Here are a few of the benefits WIH Resource Group’s Route Optimization Services offer our Clients:

Decreased Labor Costs
Decrease Onroute Mileage
Increased Route Density
Decreased Maintenance Costs
Reduced Driver Overtime
Improved Customer Service
Real Time Vehicle / Asset Tracking
Improved Driver Communications
Improved New Customer Intergration
More Accurate Collection Service Pricing
Reduced Fuel Costs
Maximize Driver and Fleet Productivity
Improved Customer Retention

WIH Clients can optimize their residential, commercial and roll off collection lines of business routes daily or weekly or they can optimize their previous day and same day tickets for the various service types and container sizes while meeting transfer station, yard and landfill time windows.

Our Routing Software Partners’ route planning and route optimization solutions have been implemented by the first and second largest solid waste and recycling collection companies – as well as other top waste haulers - in North America with combined fleet size of over 35,000 vehicles and has proven savings of 10% to 35%.

Waste and Recycling Collection Route Auditing

WIH Resource Group understands that every solid waste collection organziation (Public Agency or Private Sector Company) is different, that’s why we go out of our way to tailor specialized services to your specific needs. The following information offers ways that WIH’s Route Optimization Program turns “route audits” into more profits for your company.

WIH’s Field Team will perform driver ride-alongs taking snapshots to establish a benchmark of your current operations and identify new revenue and cost reduction opportunities for your routes, customer service, billing, sales and safety departments.

The WIH Field Team will then verify your customers’ service levels that may include the following:

Confirming bin or cart quantity and size
Listing non-paying customers that currently receive your services
Confirmation of customers with extra garbage and/or overfilled containers
Equipment optimization
Report of bin and cart condition
Verify customers being serviced are actually “active”
Route numbers and days of pickup are correct
Service codes are correct
Standardized addresses
Rates match what is actually being collected
Service types (curbside pickup, carry out, road service, alley pickup, etc.)
Commercial stop times
Confirm route sequencing
Identifying unmarked bins and carts
Identifying overlapping routes
Color confirmation of bins and carts
Provide profit analysis for each route each day
Provide profit analysis for each commercial customer
Provide productivity report for each driver and route
Provide safety report for each driver and identify potential risks

Auditors are also able to verify Route Data, which usually includes some or all of the following:

Customers being serviced are on the Drivers Route
Route Numbers and Days of pickup are correct
Service Codes are correct
Standardized Addresses
Rates match what is actually being picked up
Service Types (Curbside Pickup, Carry Out, Road Service, Alley Pickup, Etc.)
Commercial Stop Times

Some of our extended lines of services include:

Route Sequencing
Bin and Cart Counts
Identifying unmarked Bins and Carts
Identifying Overlapping Routes
Color Confirmation of Bins and Carts
Productivity and Route Profitability Reports

Call 480-241-9994 or Click us today to reach our trained professionals to discuss your route audit needs today.

Source: WIH Resource Group, Inc. (WIH)

RELATED LINKS
http://www.wihrg.com

Website: http://www.wihrg.com
Daily News Blog: http://www.wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com
Follow WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource

ABOUT WIH RESOURCE GROUP

Order Your Copy today!

Phone: 480.241.9994 ~ E-mail: admin@wihrg.com

Source: WIH Resource Group

Feel free to visit our websites for additional information on our services at: http://www.wihrg.com and our daily blog at http://wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com

WIH Resource Group on Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wihresourcegroup

Follow Bob Wallace and WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource

Filed under: Alternative Fuels, Bill Gates Cascade Investments, BioMass, blue kaizen, bob wallace, Casella Waste, CH2M Hill, Clean Energy, Climate Change, CNN News, collection vehicle routing, consulting, Consulting Solutions, energy, environment, Environmental business journal, Environmental Protection Agency - EPA, facebook, FleetRoute, fuel efficiency, GBB, Global Economy, Global Econoy, Global Fuels, Google Search, Greenhouse Gases, guam integrated solid waste management plan, hawaii waste to energy, HF&H Consulting, hybrid, inc., Landfill gas, Landfill Gas Recovery, linked in, logistical solutions, MBA, Merger and Acquistion, New Green Deal, obama, Obama Administration, Oneida-Herkimer, Politics, Producer Responsibility (EPR), r.w. beck, railroad, recycling, Renewable Energy, renewable fuels, republic services, Resource Recovery, route audits, route optimization, Routesmart, Routeware, RW Beck, saic, SCS Engineers, sex, Solid Waste, solid waste consulting, solutions, Surface Transportation Board, Sustainability, the daily green, Transfer Stations, Transportation, twitter, URS, urs corporation, waste management, Waste Management Consulting, waste savings, Waste to Energy (WTE), wastebyrail, Western Governors Climate, Weston Solutions, WIH Resource Group, WIH Resource Group Press Release, Zonar Systems Tagged: collection, management, route optimization, routing solutions, Solid Waste, solid waste collections vehicle routing, solid waste management plan, Waste Management Consulting, Where does your trash go?, WIH Resource Group

US Landfill Disposal the Big Picture – WIH Resource Group

wihresourcegroup — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 02:05:07 +0000

US Landfill Disposal the Big Picture – WIH Resource Group.

Filed under: Uncategorized

U.S. EPA: UC Davis Takes 1st place in National – WIH Resource Group, Inc.

wihresourcegroup — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 21:53:03 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will present UC Davis with an award for their impressive efforts to reduce waste during this year’s Aggies’ football season. The Northern California university took home first prize for achieving the highest waste diversion rate in the country as part of EPA’s 2010 Game Day Challenge, a national competition for colleges and universities to promote waste reduction at their football games.

The Aggies’ blew away their competitors by achieving a nearly 90% diversion of waste to recycling and composting, 20% higher than the second place university, Ohio State University. Their high mark was achieved during the October 23, 2010 home game when nearly all the waste generated by the crowd of 6,835 on hand was composted or recycled. The amount of waste sent to a landfill – only 90 pounds!

“We applaud UC Davis as the first university in the country to set a goal of operating a zero-waste stadium,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “The team colors may be Aggie blue and gold, but, by reducing their stadium’s environmental footprint, they are also very green.”

The Aggies opened their new stadium in 2007. Key to their success in approaching their zero waste goal has been a commitment by their concessionaire to only sell items that come in recyclable or compostable packaging. For example, only candy in paper boxes is sold, and beverages are served in compostable cups, including a compostable straw. Student monitors provide assistance to fans to help them place their waste in the correct containers.

During the EPA’s National Game Day Challenge 77 participating schools targeted more than 2.8 million fans at football games. The schools together diverted more than 500,000 pounds of waste from landfills, which prevented the release of nearly 940 metric tons of carbon dioxide. This is equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from 179 cars.

Participating schools tracked the amount of recycled, composted, reused, donated, and disposed of waste during one home football game. Winners were determined based on the amount of waste that was diverted from the landfill in relation to the amount of generated waste and the number of people at the game.

The EPA will present the award to UC Davis at their Plan Green conference on Wednesday, February 16, 2011. The conference is part of UC Davis’ ongoing efforts to advance sustainability practices at the University.

The greening of stadium operations is a growing trend across the country. Annually, approximately 48 million people attend college football games and another 17 million attend professional football games. These 65 million fans can generate a lot of waste, at least 19,500 tons every year.

San Francisco stadiums have been among the leaders in greening major league sporting events. In 2009, the San Francisco 49er’s achieved an 81% recycling rate while the Giants achieved a 75% rate. Their success diverting waste to recycling and composting is part of the City of San Francisco’s overall efforts to achieve a zero waste goal by 2020.

With more than 106 million people who watched this year’s Super Bowl from home, the best opportunity to reduce waste is in our homes and in our cities and towns. Of all the leftover chili, barbecue, chips, and 7-layer dip at Super Bowl parties across the country, only 2.5% is composted. The rest of this food waste makes up 21% of all waste going to municipal landfills. Only one out every two aluminum cans is recycled. The energy from recycling just one aluminum can will power a TV for 3 hours, enough time to watch the game. By taking a few small steps to recycle cans and compost our leftover food, fans can reduce the environmental footprint of our sporting events.

For more information on the winners, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/partnerships/wastewise/challenge/gameday/results.htm. Photos available for download at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/a36163ac8f9df5ce85257831006744b6?OpenDocument.

Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

RELATED LINKS
http://www.wihrg.com

Website: http://www.wihrg.com
Daily News Blog: http://www.wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com
Follow WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource

ABOUT WIH RESOURCE GROUP

Order Your Copy today!

Phone: 480.241.9994 ~ E-mail: admin@wihrg.com

Source: WIH Resource Group

Feel free to visit our websites for additional information on our services at: http://www.wihrg.com and our daily blog at http://wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com

WIH Resource Group on Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wihresourcegroup

Follow Bob Wallace and WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource

Filed under: Alternative Fuels, Bill Gates Cascade Investments, BioMass, blue kaizen, bob wallace, Casella Waste, CH2M Hill, Clean Energy, Climate Change, CNN News, collection vehicle routing, consulting, Consulting Solutions, energy, environment, Environmental business journal, Environmental Protection Agency - EPA, facebook, FleetRoute, fuel efficiency, GBB, Global Economy, Global Econoy, Global Fuels, Google Search, Greenhouse Gases, guam integrated solid waste management plan, hawaii waste to energy, HF&H Consulting, hybrid, inc., Landfill gas, Landfill Gas Recovery, linked in, logistical solutions, MBA, Merger and Acquistion, New Green Deal, obama, Obama Administration, Oneida-Herkimer, Politics, Producer Responsibility (EPR), r.w. beck, railroad, recycling, Renewable Energy, renewable fuels, republic services, Resource Recovery, route audits, route optimization, Routesmart, Routeware, RW Beck, saic, SCS Engineers, sex, Solid Waste, solid waste consulting, solutions, Surface Transportation Board, Sustainability, the daily green, Transfer Stations, Transportation, twitter, URS, urs corporation, waste management, Waste Management Consulting, waste savings, Waste to Energy (WTE), wastebyrail, Western Governors Climate, Western Governors Climate Initiative, Weston Solutions, WIH Resource Group, WIH Resource Group Press Release, Zonar Systems Tagged: 2010 game day challenge, Aggies, ARC, california, composting, Football, GIS, recycling, routing, socal, UC Davis, waste diversion

2010′s Top 10 Waste Age.com Articles via WIH Resource Group, Inc.

wihresourcegroup — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:48:23 +0000

In Waste Age’s recent online edition of their weekly Waste Age WIRE newsletter, they presented 10 of the most popular articles posted on www.WasteAge.com in 2010 and five of the most read entries published on The Heap, their staff-written blog on the site, last year.

Recycling was a popular topic last year – four of the 10 articles below deal with the subject in some form. However, it was the potential positive effect that the drive for renewable energy could have on the waste-to-energy industry that most piqued their readers’ interest.

Topics addressed in the most popular Heap entries include the 2010 Olympics, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and the hit movie “Toy Story 3.”

1. Fuel for the Fire

A renewable energy push could spark demand for the refuse-derived fuel produced by waste-to-energy plants.

Read More

2. The E-Waste Disconnect

States continue to implement differing e-waste laws but a federal electronics recycling program doesn’t appear to be on the immediate horizon.

An interview with former Waste Management Chief Operating Officer Larry O’Donnell after his appearance on the CBS reality TV program “Undercover Boss.” On that show, O’Donnell pretended to be a new hire at Waste Management, trying out a number of frontline jobs.

Read More

4. When Disaster Strikes

Managing the debris caused by events such as hurricanes and tornadoes requires thorough preparation.

In the aftermath of a $25.5 million judgment against Waste Management in a defamation lawsuit filed by Texas Disposal Systems, the company said it would appeal the verdict.

Read More

6. Fleet on the Forefront

A look at the New York City Department of Sanitation’s pilot testing of hybrid trucks.

Approximately 832.4 million pounds of post-consumer film were recycled in 2008, according to a report.

The department was required to produce the plan by the state Energy, Climate Change and Economic Security Act of 2008.

The U.S. EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) honored eight landfill methane capture projects for “innovation in generating renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.”

Read More

10. Recycling’s Rebound

Despite some wild swings, the pricing of recycling commodities largely improved from the economy’s darkest days.

Read More

Source: Waste Age Magazine and www.wasteage.com

RELATED LINKS
http://www.wihrg.com

Website: http://www.wihrg.com
Daily News Blog: http://www.wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com
Follow WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource

ABOUT WIH RESOURCE GROUP

Order Your Copy today!

Phone: 480.241.9994 ~ E-mail: admin@wihrg.com

Source: WIH Resource Group

Feel free to visit our websites for additional information on our services at: http://www.wihrg.com and our daily blog at http://wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com

WIH Resource Group on Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wihresourcegroup

Follow Bob Wallace and WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource

Filed under: Alternative Fuels, Bill Gates Cascade Investments, BioMass, blue kaizen, bob wallace, Casella Waste, CH2M Hill, Clean Energy, Climate Change, CNN News, collection vehicle routing, consulting, Consulting Solutions, energy, environment, Environmental business journal, Environmental Protection Agency - EPA, facebook, FleetRoute, fuel efficiency, GBB, Global Economy, Global Econoy, Global Fuels, Google Search, Greenhouse Gases, guam integrated solid waste management plan, hawaii waste to energy, HF&H Consulting, hybrid, inc., Landfill gas, Landfill Gas Recovery, linked in, logistical solutions, MBA, Merger and Acquistion, New Green Deal, obama, Obama Administration, Oneida-Herkimer, Politics, Producer Responsibility (EPR), r.w. beck, railroad, recycling, Renewable Energy, renewable fuels, republic services, Resource Recovery, route audits, route optimization, Routesmart, Routeware, RW Beck, saic, SCS Engineers, Solid Waste, solid waste consulting, solutions, Surface Transportation Board, Sustainability, the daily green, Transfer Stations, Transportation, twitter, Uncategorized, URS, urs corporation, waste management, Waste Management Consulting, waste savings, Waste to Energy (WTE), wastebyrail, Western Governors Climate, Western Governors Climate Initiative, Weston Solutions, WIH Resource Group, WIH Resource Group Press Release, Zonar Systems Tagged: acquistions, financial analysis, M&A, mergers, private equity investor, reccling, Solid Waste, teh great garbage patch, transactional support, valuations, waste age, wasteage.com

EPA Releases Guidance on Evaluating GHG Emission Reduction Technology for Industrial Sources – WIH Resource Group, Inc.

wihresourcegroup — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:59:53 +0000

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its long-awaited guidance on implementing Clean Air Act permitting for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a requirement which is set to begin next month. Substantive limits on GHG emissions will be based on a Clean Air Act requirement that certain new and modified emission sources must employ the “best available control technology” (BACT) to limit regulated air pollutants. As a result, the guidance focuses on the process that state agencies will use as they are developing permits for individual sources to determine whether there are technologies available and feasible for controlling GHG emissions from those sources.

EPA’s PSD and Title V Permitting Guidance for Greenhouse Gases (the Guidance) is not a formal rulemaking and does not establish binding regulations, but it does provide permitting authorities and permittees with greater clarity on how EPA expects its new GHG permitting requirements to be implemented. One of the many lingering questions about EPA’s new permitting requirements has centered on how facilities will select the BACT for GHGs. The Guidance makes clear that permitting authorities will continue to make BACT determinations on a case-by-case basis using the five-step “top-down” process that has been in place for over two decades. In addition to the Guidance, EPA issued a series of sector-specific white papers which evaluate available and emerging GHG control technologies. EPA also released a “Greenhouse Gas Emission Strategies Database,” which provides additional information on sector-specific strategies and technologies for controlling GHG emissions.

While the Guidance provides a degree of much needed clarification for permitting authorities and permittees alike, much uncertainty remains. EPA estimates that at least 23 jurisdictions will be unable to meet the January 2, 2011, deadline for implementing the Tailoring Rule. Eight of those states intend to cede authority to EPA for issuing GHG permits. The remaining 15 states, however, will be unable to issue permits for new and modified facilities with GHG emissions that exceed EPA’s regulatory thresholds, meaning that permitting in those jurisdictions will likely grind to a halt for an indeterminate length of time.

EPA’s GHG rules also face legal and legislative challenges. The Tailoring Rule and other aspects of EPA’s GHG regulatory regime have been challenged in multiple lawsuits proceeding in the federal court system. See EPA Proposes to Require Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Ten Other States to Update Clean Air Act Permitting Programs to Address Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Marten Law Environmental News (Sept. 24, 2010). Furthermore, legislative efforts to either delay or terminate EPA’s authority to implement GHG regulations were likely bolstered by the results last month’s mid-term elections.

I. Background

Over the past year, EPA has taken a number of steps that will result in the direct regulation of GHG emissions under the Clean Air Act beginning on January 2, 2011. In December 2009, EPA determined that GHG emissions from mobile sources endanger human health and welfare.[1] EPA and NHTSA subsequently issued a joint rule that established the nation’s first standards for greenhouse gas emissions and set new corporate average fuel efficiency (CAFE) standards for new passenger vehicles and light trucks for model years 2012.[2]

Due to the Clean Air Act’s domino-like structure, the new mobile source GHG rules, which go into effect on January 2, 2011, will also trigger permitting requirements for stationary sources under the PSD program. Under the Clean Air Act’s PSD program, new and modified facilities that emit more than 100 or 250 tons per year (depending on source type) of “any air pollutant” must obtain PSD permits. Such facilities are also required to use BACT for each pollutant that is “subject to regulation” under the Clean Air Act and emitted by the facility.[3]

In May 2010, EPA finalized a rule to “tailor” applicability of the PSD and Title V operating permit programs with respect to GHGs. Literal application of the 100/250 ton statutory thresholds to GHGs would vastly expand the number of sources subject to PSD permitting. Therefore, EPA established much higher thresholds for GHGs. For the first six months of 2011, EPA has limited GHG permitting to sources already required to obtain a PSD or Title V Operating Permit due to their other air emissions. Those sources would only be required to address GHGs in their permits if their emissions exceed 75,000 tons a year (for the PSD program, these would be new or increased GHG emissions). For two years after that, PSD and Operating Permits also would be required based only on a facility’s GHGs emissions, even if not required due to emissions of other pollutants. EPA also committed to undertake another rulemaking, beginning in 2011, to consider whether to apply greenhouse gas permitting requirements to smaller sources.

II. The Guidance

A. PSD Applicability

The Guidance first clarifies that the Tailoring Rule does not change the basic PSD applicability process for determining whether there is a new major source or modification that would trigger permitting requirements. However, GHGs will be subject to a unique two-part calculation that evaluates a facility’s emissions on both a “global warming potential” and traditional mass basis. EPA provides a detailed discussion of this process, including numerous flow charts and practical examples.

1. New Sources

During the Tailoring Rule’s first phase (January 2 to June 30, 2011), new sources that would be required to obtain a PSD permit for other regulated pollutants (referred to as “anyway” sources) will also be required to incorporate GHGs into their permit if the facility will have the potential to emit (PTE) GHGs equal to or exceeding 75,000 tons per year measured on a carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) basis.[4] During the first phase, GHG emissions alone will not trigger PSD permitting requirements.

During the second phase (permits issued on or after July 1, 2011), PSD applies to GHG emissions if either: (1) PSD for GHGs would have been required under the first phase; or (2) if the facility’s potential GHG emissions are equal to or greater than 100,000 tons CO2e and exceed the traditional 100/250 ton PSD thresholds measured on a mass basis.

2. Modified Sources

During the first six-month phase, modified major sources will be required to incorporate GHGs into their permits if: (1) the modification would be considered major regardless of GHG emissions (i.e. emission increases of other regulated pollutants would trigger permitting requirements); and (2) the emission increase and net emission increase attributable to the modification would be equal to or greater than 75,000 tons CO2e and greater than zero tons on a mass basis.

For permits issued on or after July 1, 2011, modifications to existing major sources will be required to incorporate GHGs into their permits if: (1) the criteria for the first six-month period are met; or (2) the existing source as a PTE equal or greater to 100,000 tons on a CO2e basis and 100/250 tons on a mass basis, and the modification has an emission increase and net emission increase equal to or greater than 75,000 tons CO2e and greater than zero tons on a mass basis. For minor sources, modifications will trigger PSD permitting if the modification alone has actual or potential GHG emissions equal to or greater than 100,000 tons CO2e and 100/250 tons on a mass basis.

B. BACT Determinations

The Guidance next details how BACT will be determined for new and modified major GHG sources. EPA did not identify specific BACT for different facility types. Instead, the Guidance clarifies that permitting authorities will retain discretion to make BACT determinations on a case-by-case basis, including using the traditional five-step “top-down” process that has been in place for decades. The five-steps are as follows:

Step 1: Identify all available control technologies;
Step 2: Eliminate technically infeasible options;
Step 3: Evaluate and rank remaining control technologies;
Step 4: Evaluate the cost-effectiveness and environmental and energy impacts of potentially available control technologies; and
Step 5: Select the BACT and establish enforceable emission limits.

The Guidance places an emphasis on energy efficiency, whether through technologies, processes, or practices, noting that “[a]pplying the most energy efficient technologies at a source should in most cases translate into fewer overall emissions of all air pollutants per unit of energy produced.” EPA also notes that efficiency will play an important role in reducing GHG emissions since end-of-stack (i.e. add-on) controls for GHGs are not as well-advanced as they are for other regulated pollutants.

EPA, however, also identified carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) as an add-on pollution control technology that is “available” for large CO2-emitting facilities including fossil fuel-fired power plants and industrial facilities with high-purity CO2 streams (e.g. hydrogen and ammonia production, natural gas processing, and cement production). Accordingly, EPA suggests that CCS should be listed as an available technology in Step 1, although the agency notes that technological and cost considerations may eliminate CCS as an option later in the five-step evaluation process. This aspect of the guidance may prove controversial since CCS has yet to be demonstrated on a commercial scale, and sequestration opportunities are currently limited.

With respect to fossil fuel-fired power plants, the Guidance does not specify that fuel switching (converting from coal to natural gas) should be selected as BACT because doing so would potentially “redefine a coal-fired electric generating unit.” EPA notes that permitting authorities should take a “hard look” at the proposed design to discern which design elements may be changed to achieve emission reductions without fundamentally redefining a proposed source. EPA, however, notes that permitting authorities will retain significant discretion:

EPA does not interpret the Clean Air Act to prohibit fundamentally redefining the source and has recognized that permitting authorities have the discretion to conduct a broader BACT analysis if they desire. The “redefining the source” issue is ultimately a question of degree that is within the discretion of the permitting authority. However, any decision to exclude an option on “redefining the source” grounds must be explained and documented in the permit record, especially where such an option has been identified as significant in public comments.

This aspect of the guidance is also likely to draw criticism from industrial sources.

C. Biomass

It remains unclear whether emissions attributable to the combustion of biomass may be excluded when determining whether a new or modified facility must incorporate GHGs into their PSD permit. The Tailoring Rule did not provide biomass emissions with a blanket exemption that had been lobbied for by the biomass industry. The Guidance notes that permitting authorities may consider the environmental, energy and economic benefits that may accrue from the use of certain types of biomass (e.g. landfill methane) for energy generation. The Guidance also notes that permitting authorities may take into consideration federal and state policies relating to biomass as way of addressing climate change when evaluating the environmental, energy, and economic benefits of biomass fuels.

EPA intends to issue guidance in January 2011 that will provide a suggested framework for evaluating biomass in Step 4 of the BACT analysis. EPA also expects to determine by May 2011 whether it will issue a supplemental rule regarding whether it is appropriate, and if so how, to quantify carbon emissions from bioenergy or biogenic sources when making an initial PSD threshold determination.

D. Sector-Specific White Papers

In conjunction with the Guidance, EPA also published seven white papers, which detail sector-specific technologies for addressing GHG emissions that may be useful in the BACT evaluation process:

E. GHG Mitigation Database

Finally, EPA released a GHG Mitigation Database, which will include specific performance and cost data on current and emerging measures for reducing GHG emissions, including available data on the environmental impacts associated with those measures. EPA plans on expanding the database, which is currently limited to electric generating and cement production.

III. Conclusion

EPA accepted public comment on the Guidance. But since the Guidance is not a formal rulemaking, EPA indicated that it may or may not publish a revised version reflecting public comment. Public comments reflected some of the practical concerns that remain about PSD permitting for GHG emissions. For example, one comment requested clarification on whether “fleet netting” is permitted when determining PSD applicability. Fleet netting would allow entities with multiple facilities to offset the emissions increases attributable to a new or modified source by shutting down or curtailing another source, with the net result being an aggregate decrease in GHG emissions.

Other comments raised concerns regarding the inclusion of CCS as “available” technology. One comment asked EPA to clarify that BACT determinations should not require new or modified sources to be made “capture ready” due to concerns that modifications based on current technology run the risk of locking in obsolete technology that could become stranded or never used. Comments similarly asked EPA to clarify that BACT determinations should not require a facility to relocate based on the potential for future geologic storage of CO2 emissions.

Finally, comments asked EPA to consider the use of GHG offsets (i.e. offsite emission reductions) as part of the BACT analysis. These comments and others highlight the contentions nature of EPA’s GHG regulatory framework and the uncertainties that remain for permitting authorities and regulated entities.

For more information on the Guidance or complying with EPA’s greenhouse gas regulations, please contact Dustin T. Till or any member of Marten Law’s Climate Change practice group.

[1] Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases Under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act; Final Rule, 74 Fed. Reg. 66496 (Dec. 15, 2009).

[2] Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards; Final Rule, 75 Fed. Reg. 25324 (May 15, 2010).

[3] 42 U.S.C. § 7475(a).

[4] Each of the six principal GHGs contribute to global warming in differing degrees. For example, methane has 21 times the global warming potential (GWP) as carbon dioxide. Thus, one ton of methane is measured in carbon dioxide equivalents as 21 tons CO2e. Note that emissions under the Tailoring Rule are measured in short tons (2,000 pounds) while emissions under EPA’s Mandatory GHG Report Rule are measured in long or metric tonnes (2,000 kg).

SOURCE: EPA and Dustin T. Till – Marten Law

RELATED LINKS
http://www.wihrg.com

Website: http://www.wihrg.com
Daily News Blog: http://www.wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com
Follow WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource

ABOUT WIH RESOURCE GROUP

Order Your Copy today!

Phone: 480.241.9994 ~ E-mail: admin@wihrg.com

Source: WIH Resource Group

Feel free to visit our websites for additional information on our services at: http://www.wihrg.com and our daily blog at http://wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com

WIH Resource Group on Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wihresourcegroup

Follow Bob Wallace and WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource

Filed under: Alternative Fuels, Bill Gates Cascade Investments, BioMass, blue kaizen, bob wallace, Casella Waste, CH2M Hill, Clean Energy, Climate Change, CNN News, collection vehicle routing, consulting, Consulting Solutions, energy, environment, Environmental business journal, Environmental Protection Agency - EPA, facebook, FleetRoute, fuel efficiency, GBB, Global Economy, Global Econoy, Global Fuels, Google Search, Greenhouse Gases, guam integrated solid waste management plan, hawaii waste to energy, HF&H Consulting, hybrid, inc., Landfill gas, Landfill Gas Recovery, linked in, logistical solutions, MBA, Merger and Acquistion, New Green Deal, obama, Obama Administration, Oneida-Herkimer, Politics, Producer Responsibility (EPR), r.w. beck, railroad, recycling, Renewable Energy, renewable fuels, republic services, Resource Recovery, route audits, route optimization, Routesmart, Routeware, RW Beck, saic, SCS Engineers, sex, Solid Waste, solid waste consulting, solutions, Surface Transportation Board, Sustainability, the daily green, Transfer Stations, Transportation, twitter, URS, urs corporation, waste management, Waste Management Consulting, waste savings, Waste to Energy (WTE), wastebyrail, Western Governors Climate, Western Governors Climate Initiative, Weston Solutions, WIH Resource Group, WIH Resource Group Press Release, Zonar Systems Tagged: best available control technology” (BACT), BioMass, Clean Air Act, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), EPA and Dustin T. Till - Marten Law, EPA Releases Guidance on Evaluating GHG Emission Reduction Technology for Industrial Sources, ghg mitigation database, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Greenhouse Gas Emission Strategies Database, MSW management, PSD applicability process, waste advantage magazine, waste news

A Climate Plan for Climate-Change Deniers – WIH Resource Group, Inc.

wihresourcegroup — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 19:24:09 +0000

In the global-warming debate, scientists are, admirably, still trying to save the day. Last week, the American Geophysical Union announced plans to mobilize about 700 climate scientists in an effort to improve the accuracy of media coverage and public understanding of their field. Separately, a smaller group of scientists organized by John Abraham of the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota said it was putting together a “rapid response team” to bring accurate climate science to public debates. on the decline, along with their view of the need for immediate action to slow climate change. And it’s true that science education, when done well, may help accomplish these goals.

On the face of it, such efforts certainly make sense. The scientists hope, not unreasonably, to bring more attention to the climate-change crisis. More crucially, they seek to halt the slide in public opinion on the issue, with recent polls finding Americans’ belief in the evidence for global warming.

But will it lead to meaningful policy? Or will this latest round of efforts instead result in another spate of news stories about scary end-of-the-world scenarios, another series of debates over whether global-warming science is a hoax and more wasted time – time we don’t have?

There is good reason to think that those who are worried about climate change would make greater progress – especially among Republicans, who profess increasing skepticism about warming – if they focused less on arguing the scientific reality and more on building support for specific solutions that all sides can agree on.

The first problem with focusing on the science debate is that the spectacle of dueling scientists confuses people. We have already seen this story unfold in the media: Two opposing sides, given similar exposure, argue about complexities that most Americans feel they have little ability to assess. Instead of focusing on the causes of climate change in simple terms that people can grasp and act upon, it is all too easy for scientists to get trapped in a debate with skeptics about whether they can prove that warming is real and how they can show definitively that its effects are imminent. Faced with this sparring, it becomes fairly easy for the average person to dismiss climate change as an open question and cross it off the list of things they need to worry about.

Which brings us to a related problem: People are already overwhelmed with worries about unemployment, economic insecurity, federal debt and even terrorism. We should not expect them to start worrying about whether the Earth is warmer, glaciers are melting, or floods and droughts will become more common. A global warming crisis simply can’t compete with the long list of crises average Americans already face.

Finally, the global warming debate increasingly turns more on political belief than on scientific fact. Until relatively recently, environmental issues were largely nonpartisan. Republican presidents such as Richard Nixon have historically achieved significant environmental gains, and voters across party lines used to express fairly equal levels of support for environmental protections.

But while some environmental priorities continue to be shared across the political spectrum, global warming is not one of them. Surveys show a sharp and increasing political divide on a range of beliefs involving climate change, with tea party conservatives voicing the greatest skepticism. Mention “global warming” in a room full of average Americans, as I have done on several occasions, and you will find that they quickly align with one camp or the other. The idea that global warming is a hoax is no longer a fringe perception but a part of the Republican Party brand.

Even if climate scientists manage to convince some conservative skeptics that global warming poses an urgent threat, Republican leaders have backed themselves into a corner. The issue has become so politically polarizing that it would be nearly impossible for them to retreat from their stance and to get behind legislation that is thought to concern global warming.

I’m not suggesting that we halt efforts to educate the public about warming. For all sorts of reasons, such initiatives are critical. But we must stop thinking that these efforts are a necessary precondition for getting anything done on this issue.

So what’s a conservative politician who secretly cares about climate change to do? How can Republicans, in Congress or in legislatures around the country, make the case to their colleagues – and how can they bring conservative voters along?

They must start by focusing on climate-friendly policies and stop assuming that we must first achieve unanimity on global warming science. People can support the transition to a carbon-free energy future without believing, or even knowing, that it might influence glaciers, coral reefs or Arctic ice.

There is a long list of carbon-reduction measures that strong majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents firmly support, including mandating better fuel efficiency, increasing federal funding for clean-energy research, spending more for mass transit, raising efficiency standards for homes and other buildings, and requiring utilities to produce more energy from renewable sources. They even support limits on emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases – just as long as they are seen as anti-pollution measures, not “caps.”

For instance, an October poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found that 73 percent of Republicans favor requiring better fuel efficiency for cars, trucks and SUVs; 64 percent want more federal funding for research on wind, solar and hydrogen technology; and 55 percent favor spending more on public transportation. Pew polls over the summer, meanwhile, found that 74 percent of Republicans favor requiring utilities to produce more energy from renewable sources, while 57 percent back limits on carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions.

Even as avowed a climate-change denier as Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) is open to considering action on black carbon (more commonly known as soot), thought to be the second-largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide. As he told the Guardian last year, his interest in black carbon stems from concern about poor families in Africa who suffer lung disease as a result of cooking with wood stoves. “I am surprised that anyone would be at all surprised that I would be trying to find out about black carbon while I don’t buy the idea that anthropogenic gases are causing global warming,” he said.

In focus groups conducted by my firm on behalf of numerous environmental organizations over the years, climate skeptics almost always tell us that such steps are good things to support, even if global warming isn’t real. New energy approaches are good for the planet, for human health, for energy independence and for our economy, they say.

The current political and economic terrain isn’t fertile ground for cap-and-trade or for other comprehensive legislation to address global warming, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make progress on the many solutions that people agree on across party lines. So let’s set a bold target for the clean-energy production we will need in 10 or 20 years and start demanding a plan that will achieve it.

The wary, the unconvinced and the downright skeptical don’t have to be a barrier to change. They might even join in.

Meg Bostrom is co-founder of the Topos Partnership, a communications strategy firm. Together with the Social Capital Project, Topos researched and authored the 2009 report “Climate Crossroads: A Research-Based Framing Guide.”

SOURCE: The Washington Post, Meg Bostrom

RELATED LINKS
http://www.wihrg.com

For Additional information on WIH Resource Group, Inc. contact:
Bob Wallace, Principal & VP of Client Solutions
WIH Resource Group – Waste Management, Recycling and Logistical Solutions
Email: admin@wihrg.com Phone: 480-241-9994 Website: http://www.wihrg.com
Daily News Blog: http://www.wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com
Follow WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource

ABOUT WIH RESOURCE GROUP

Order Your Copy today!

Phone: 480.241.9994 ~ E-mail: admin@wihrg.com

Source: WIH Resource Group

Feel free to visit our websites for additional information on our services at: http://www.wihrg.com and our daily blog at http://wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com

WIH Resource Group on Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wihresourcegroup

Follow Bob Wallace and WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource

Filed under: Alternative Fuels, Bill Gates Cascade Investments, BioMass, blue kaizen, bob wallace, Casella Waste, CH2M Hill, Clean Energy, Climate Change, CNN News, collection vehicle routing, consulting, Consulting Solutions, energy, environment, Environmental business journal, Environmental Protection Agency - EPA, facebook, FleetRoute, fuel efficiency, GBB, Global Economy, Global Econoy, Global Fuels, Google Search, Greenhouse Gases, guam integrated solid waste management plan, hawaii waste to energy, HF&H Consulting, hybrid, inc., Landfill gas, Landfill Gas Recovery, linked in, logistical solutions, MBA, Merger and Acquistion, New Green Deal, obama, Obama Administration, Oneida-Herkimer, Politics, Producer Responsibility (EPR), r.w. beck, railroad, recycling, Renewable Energy, renewable fuels, republic services, Resource Recovery, route audits, route optimization, Routesmart, Routeware, RW Beck, saic, SCS Engineers, sex, Solid Waste, solid waste consulting, solutions, Surface Transportation Board, Sustainability, the daily green, Transfer Stations, Transportation, twitter, URS, urs corporation, waste management, Waste Management Consulting, waste savings, Waste to Energy (WTE), wastebyrail, Western Governors Climate, Western Governors Climate Initiative, Weston Solutions, WIH Resource Group, WIH Resource Group Press Release, Zonar Systems Tagged: A Climate Plan for Climate-Change Deniers - WIH Resource Group, americans, Climate Change, climate plan, democrats, evidence of Global Warming, global warming, global warming hoax, green resources, inc., republicans

November 15 is America Recycles Day! I Recycle. Do You?

wihresourcegroup — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 15:15:54 +0000

Annual Day of Celebration Raises Awareness and Encourages Action to Increase Recycling Nationwide

STAMFORD, Conn., Nov. 12, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — “I Recycle” is the theme of the 2010 America Recycles Day (ARD), which takes place on November 15. Millions of Americans have pledged to increase their recycling habits at home and at work over the 13-year history of ARD, a nationally-recognized initiative dedicated to encouraging people to recycle more at home, at work, and on the go.

National nonprofit Keep America Beautiful is proud to lead the celebration, providing resources and supporting the activities of over 1,500 grassroots event organizers across the country.

“Recycling is the easiest thing that any individual can do to reduce his or her carbon footprint, save energy and protect natural resources,” said Matthew M. McKenna, president & CEO of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. “While we celebrate the power of recycling on this special day, it’s something we should all make a conscious effort to do every day of the year.”

“On America Recycles Day, EPA encourages all Americans to consider their role in creating a healthy environment by being responsible consumers. By making smarter choices, consuming less, and reusing and recycling, each of us can contribute to a healthier and more sustainable environment,” said Mathy Stanislaus, EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response.

More than 2,000 events have been registered in 2010 ranging from electronics recycling events and paper drives to contests and art exhibits. You can find events near you by visiting americarecyclesday.org, which features a search-by-zip code tool. Even if there’s not a formal event in your area, there are lots of ways to take part.

Take the America Recycles Day Pledge and commit to recycling as often as possible. Spread the word and tell your friends.
Download the America Recycles Day badge and show your support by featuring it as your Facebook avatar for the day.
Find out what you can recycle in your community and where – you might be surprised at your options. Visit earth911.com and simply type in your zip code for the most comprehensive listing.
Are you a recycling pro? Take it to the next level with the America Recycles Day Challenge.
Join Disney’s Friends for Change and, on America Recycles Day, take an old t-shirt to a Disney store to be recycled and turned into paper.
Download the Aluminate™ iPhone App to help boost your aluminum recycling efforts. Alcoa will donate $1 to Keep America Beautiful for every download!
Get more recycling facts, tips and tools at americarecyclesday.org.
Commit to recycle, and ask your friends to as well, by making a Dream Machine ‘Bottle Promise’ at www.facebook.com/DreamMachine.

Additionally, Keep America Beautiful is a proud partner of The Dream Machine recycling initiative, a multi-year collaboration between PepsiCo, Waste Management, and Greenopolis to make thousands of recycling bins and interactive kiosks available in popular public venues. As part of America Recycles Day 2010, Keep America Beautiful is proud to announce that affiliates in Oak Park, Ill., Manatee, Fla., and Mansfield, Mass. have committed to place more than 650 recycling bins in highly trafficked locations throughout each of their communities.

America’s leading companies and organizations support recycling through sponsorships and partnerships with America Recycles Day 2010: Alcoa Foundation, American Chemistry Council, Anheuser-Busch, Earth911.com, Disney’s Friends for Change, Naked Juice, Nestle Waters North America, PepsiCo and Waste Management.

About Keep America Beautiful, Inc.

Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation’s largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. With a network of over 1,200 affiliate and participating organizations, Keep America Beautiful forms public private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. To join America Recycles Day, visit www.americarecyclesday.org. To learn more about Keep America Beautiful, visit www.kab.org.

CONTACTS:
Robert Wallace/ Larry Kaufman
Tel: 203.659.3016/ 203.659.3014
Email: rwallace@kab.org / lkaufman@kab.org

SOURCE: Keep America Beautiful, Inc.

ABOUT WIH RESOURCE GROUP

Order Your Copy today!

Phone: 480.241.9994 ~ E-mail: admin@wihrg.com

Source: WIH Resource Group

Feel free to visit our websites for additional information on our services at: http://www.wihrg.com and our daily blog at http://wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com

WIH Resource Group on Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wihresourcegroup

Follow Bob Wallace and WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource

Filed under: Alternative Fuels, Bill Gates Cascade Investments, BioMass, blue kaizen, bob wallace, Casella Waste, CH2M Hill, Clean Energy, Climate Change, CNN News, collection vehicle routing, consulting, Consulting Solutions, energy, environment, Environmental business journal, Environmental Protection Agency - EPA, facebook, FleetRoute, fuel efficiency, GBB, Global Economy, Global Econoy, Global Fuels, Google Search, Greenhouse Gases, guam integrated solid waste management plan, hawaii waste to energy, HF&H Consulting, hybrid, Landfill gas, Landfill Gas Recovery, linked in, logistical solutions, MBA, Merger and Acquistion, New Green Deal, obama, Obama Administration, Oneida-Herkimer, Politics, Producer Responsibility (EPR), r.w. beck, railroad, recycling, Renewable Energy, renewable fuels, republic services, Resource Recovery, route audits, route optimization, Routesmart, Routeware, RW Beck, saic, SCS Engineers, sex, Solid Waste, solid waste consulting, solutions, Surface Transportation Board, Sustainability, the daily green, Transfer Stations, Transportation, twitter, URS, urs corporation, waste management, Waste Management Consulting, waste savings, Waste to Energy (WTE), wastebyrail, Western Governors Climate, Western Governors Climate Initiative, Weston Solutions, WIH Resource Group, WIH Resource Group Press Release, Zonar Systems Tagged: America Recycles Day (ARD), Increase Recycling Nationwide, landfill operations, solid waste collections vehicle routing

WIH Resource Group, Inc. Company Overview

wihresourcegroup — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 00:58:44 +0000

Welcome to WIH Resource Group, Inc.’s Blog!

WIH Resource Group is a Global Leader in Developing Client-Specific Environmental and Logistical Solutions.

Company Overview

WIH Resource Group (WIH) is based in Phoenix, Arizona and provides its expertise to our clients in both the public and private sectors throughout North America. WIH and its affiliates also specialize in financial and operational analysis of integrated solid waste management. At WIH Resource Group, one of our primary missions is to serve the solid waste and recycling needs of local governmental agencies, municipalities and private sector clients. The combined team of experts at WIH Resource Group are uniquely qualified to assist you with consulting services.

National Leader in Solid Waste Consulting: The WIH Resource Group Team offers unique qualifications and experience needed to provide the full range of consulting, technical research and development services required to successfully complete integrated solid waste and recycling projects. The WIH Resource Group team has worked with hundreds of municipalities, multiple jurisdictional solid waste authorities and private sector clients across the Western United States to evaluate, plan, improve financials and operations, assess and improve their regulatory compliance and management throughout their individual organizations.

Knowledge of Local and National Solid Waste Systems, Trends, Regulations and Economics: The WIH Resource Group Team have established a track record of providing solid waste consulting services to numerous public and private sector clients. Key members of our Team have completed hundreds of solid waste and recycling projects throughout the United States.

Solid Waste and Recycling Cost of Services: As part of the WIH Resource Group team, our CPAs have developed and provide a tool known as the “Model Rate Program” that lists the major procedures and steps that typically are performed in a rate setting or cost of service analysis.

Program Development and Implementation: Working with cities on program planning and implementation is a primary service of the WIH Resource Group team. We have experience in solid waste and recycling program planning, development and implementation.

Waste Reduction / Diversion and Disposal Options: Members of the WIH Resource Group Team have performed and led large scale projects that focused waste reduction including identifying additional recyclables that can be collected, processed and marketed; improvements to recycling collection or processing operations.

WIH Resource Group and our diversified team of industry experts are commited to continue to provide our diverse client base with information and sustainable solutions that assist them in reaching their client-specific goals and various initiatives.

Real World Industry Experience
The WIH Resource Group team has over forty years of combined management and project experience in developing solutions to challenges in environmental, solid waste & bio-solids management, transportation and logistics. Prior to joining WIH Resource Group, several members of our team spent over forty years (combined) with some of the largest Fortune 500 solid waste companies and the largest provider of solid waste management services in North America, in various senior-level key management positions throughout the United States.

Our experience includes the oversight of operations, maintenance, finance, human resources, business development, sales, safety and environmental compliance while maintaining responsibility for multi-million dollar publicly and privately held assets including: a variety of collection operations, Sub-title D and hazardous and Class II landfills, transfer stations, intermodal facilities, recycling centers, buyback centers, material recovery facilities, vehicle and container maintenance operations, call centers and payment processing operations.

We look forward to serving you and assisting you in reaching your goals.

For Additional information on WIH Resource Group, Inc. contact:
Bob Wallace, Principal & VP of Client Solutions
WIH Resource Group – Waste Management, Recycling and Logistical Solutions
Email: admin@wihrg.com Phone: 480-241-9994 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 480-241-9994 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Website: http://www.wihrg.com
Daily News Blog: http://www.wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com
Follow WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource

ABOUT WIH RESOURCE GROUP

Order Your Copy today!

Phone: 480.241.9994 ~ E-mail: admin@wihrg.com

Source: WIH Resource Group

Feel free to visit our websites for additional information on our services at: http://www.wihrg.com and our daily blog at http://wihresourcegroup.wordpress.com

WIH Resource Group on Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wihresourcegroup

Follow Bob Wallace and WIH Resource Group on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wihresource