Group items tagged

The EPA today released final standards for new and modified municipal solid waste landfills and emission guidelines for existing landfills. Under the final rules, new, modified and existing landfills will begin capturing and controlling landfill gas emissions at levels that are one-third lower than current requirements, updating 20-year-old standards for existing landfills.

General Motors has surpassed its 2020 target to achieve 131 landfill-free sites four years early. The company achieved landfill-free status at 23 new sites in 2016, bringing its network of landfill-free sites to 152 worldwide.

The largest landfill in the US shut it gates forever on 10/31/13. After 56 years of operation, the Puente Hills Landfill in southeastern Los Angeles County has collected around 130 million tons of waste since 1957 and is 40 stories high in some places, according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

General Motors announced that 11 of its factories now send zero waste to landfills. The company now manages 122 landfill-free facilities.

Ford Motor Company has achieved landfill-free status across its entire network of North American headquarter facilities, resulting in the diversion of more than 240,000 pounds of waste from landfills. The company's 3 North American headquarter facilities are located in Dearborn, Michigan, Oakville, Ontario, and the Santa Fe district in Mexico City.

Nestlé Purina's Oklahoma City manufacturing facility has achieved zero waste to landfill status, Purina's seventh location to achieve this target. Nestlé has pledged to be landfill-free at all of its global locations by 2020.

London/Rotterdam, 9 April 2014. Unilever announced today that all its factories across Europe have joined those in North America in achieving zero non-hazardous waste to landfill. With similar achievements in countries from Argentina to Indonesia, it means more than three-quarters of the company's global factory network no longer sends such waste to landfill, up from 20% just three years ago.

Companies looking to implement a zero-waste-to-landfill strategy should consider conducting a waste audit and create a targeted plan to divert each waste material, writes Gina-Marie Cheeseman. "[Zero-waste-to-landfill] goals should be pursued as a process for achieving continuous improvement," says Thomas Stanczyk, sustainable waste solutions strategist for Covanta Environmental Solutions.

"MillerCoors, the second largest brewer in the US, announced on Wednesday that all of its major breweries have achieved landfill-free operations. The Fort Worth Brewery in Texas was the final of its eight sites to reach the milestone, after the facility engaged a 'Sustainability Employee Council' that focused on changing employee behaviors and making recycling easier and more accessible."

"MillerCoors, the second largest brewer in the US, announced on Wednesday that all of its major breweries have achieved landfill-free operations. The Fort Worth Brewery in Texas was the final of its eight sites to reach the milestone, after the facility engaged a 'Sustainability Employee Council' that focused on changing employee behaviors and making recycling easier and more accessible."

Marriott decreased landfill waste per occupied room in its Americas region by 4.9% from 2011 to 2012, the company announced in its 2013 sustainability report update

General Motors achieved landfill-free status at a 1.8 million square foot manufacturing facility in Rochester, New York. The company now manages 109 landfill-free facilities in total.

General Motors achieved landfill-free status at its Detroit global headquarters-a 6-tower office complex that accommodates 15,000 people per day. The company now manages 110 landfill-free facilities in total.

Every year, the world produces more than two billion tons of waste - enough to fill a fleet of trash trucks to circle the world 24 times, according to sustainability project the World Counts. The World Bank estimates the yearly global cost of dealing with waste is more than $200 billion and predicts annual waste will exceed 11 million tons per day by 2100 if current trends continue.  But where does it all go? Whether it's an island built as a landfill or the outskirts of historic monuments, the world's waste is piling up with no end in sight. The following images offer an acute reminder of the seriousness of waste management and the desperate need to address it. It's simply not sustainable.

Mars Chocolate North America achieved zero-waste-to-landfill at all 10 of its manufacturing facilities. The company plans to achieve zero-waste to-landfill across all business segments by 2015.

Something incredible has been taking place in Sweden over the past several years, somewhat of a "recycling revolution," if you will. Currently less than one percent of the garbage produced in Swedish homes ends up in the landfill today, with the other ninety-nine percent being recycled or composted.

South Korea has been using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and a 'pay-as-you-waste' system to help cut back on food waste. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the Mayor's Zero Waste Challenge as part of the city's plan to send zero waste to landfill by 2030. Thirty-one businesses, including Disney, Anheuser-Busch, Citi Field, Etsy, Whole Foods, and more, have committed to divert at least 50 percent of their waste from landfill and incineration.

Staples Canada has set a goal to divert 100,000 kilograms of batteries from landfills in 2014 and says it, with partner Call2Recycle, has collected and diverted 30,295 kg of batteries in the first quarter this year. The company also says, in the first two months of 2014 alone, it reduced emissions by 3,572 metric tons of CO².

Big Heart Pet Brands' Milk-Bone bakery in Buffalo, New York, has sent zero waste to landfill for five years, reducing its CO2 emissions by more than 18,000 tons. Since 2008, Milk-Bone has recycled more than 21 million pounds of materials via its zero landfill initiative. This has saved more than 18 million kWh of electricity, 17 million gallons of water, 9,000 barrels of oil, 45,000 mature

Unilever achieved zero non-hazardous waste to landfill across its global factory network. The company reportedly avoided around $229 million in costs and created hundreds of jobs. Editors note: Unilever explained that hazardous waste only represents a small percentage of total factory waste.

Mars Chocolate North America achieved zero-waste-to-landfill at all 10 of its manufacturing facilities. The company plans to achieve zero-waste to-landfill across all business segments by 2015.