More than 100 million pounds of e-waste has been collected in Wisconsin since it began a statewide ban on disposing consumer electronics in landfills three years ago, state officials told The Associated Press.

“It definitely adds up when you think about how many electronics we use now and how often we replace them,” said Sarah Murray, coordinator of the E-Cycle Wisconsin program, to the AP.

Televisions are at the top of the list of electronic waste, according to the report.

A recent survey by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources found that Wisconsin residents own about 7 million TVs, or about three per household, the report said. More than 24 million pounds of old TVs were collected in Wisconsin in the year ending June 30, 2012.

There are more than 400 registered collection sites for e-waste across the state, according to the report.

http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/article/20130514/NEWS02/130519964/100-million-pounds-of-e-waste-recycled-in-wisconsin-since-landfill?utm_campaign=corpsustain_newsletter&utm_medium=corpsustain_email&utm_source=corpsustain_20130520&utm_content=article6

Composting is a major job creator, according to a new report released from the non-profit Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Based on a survey of Maryland composters, the report found that 1,400 new full-time jobs could be supported for every million tons of yard trimmings and food scraps converted into compost that is used locally.
http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/article/20130508/NEWS02/130509938/report-composting-is-key-to-new-business-and-green-jobs?utm_campaign=corpsustain_newsletter&utm_medium=corpsustain_email&utm_source=corpsustain_20130513&utm_content=article1

Outstanding Achievement in Renewable Energy

Green Valley Dairy, Krakow, Wisconsin: At Green Valley Dairy in Krakow, Wisconsin, the management team’s “waste not” philosophy has them constantly evaluating opportunities to reclaim energy, recycle water and repurpose manure nutrients. In 2005, Green Valley Dairy set out to build on this belief. The management team determined that anaerobic digesters would help manage manure nutrients and reduce odors while decreasing the dairy’s carbon footprint. Although it was one of the first digesters in Wisconsin, the benefits of this plan quickly gained public support. Today, three anaerobic digesters have the capacity to produce 1,200 kWh of “green” electricity — most of which is used on the dairy or sold to the local utility.

http://www.usdairy.com/Sustainability/Awards/Pages/Green-Valley-Dairy.aspx

Carbon prices hit record lows today after the European Parliament rejected an emergency plan to boost the ailing EU carbon market.

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2013/04/16/eu-carbon-prices-plunge-to-record-lows/

Manufacturer-run programs for recycling mercury thermostats may be failing to keep the neurotoxin out of landfills in most states, according to a report released April 2 by the Mercury Policy Project, an environmental interest group.

http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/article/20130403/NEWS03/130409967/study-finds-mercury-thermostat-recycling-in-most-states-to-be

A revamped recycling system for San Jose, Calif., businesses has tripled the city’s commercial recycling rate.

In its first six months, the city’s new single-hauler system with two-container material sorting prompted a recycling increase from 22% to almost 70% among the 8,000 businesses affected by the change.

http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/article/20130326/NEWS02/130329958/sort-system-helps-san-jose-triple-commercial-recycling-rate

Eliminating fossil fuel subsidies worth $1.9 trillion worldwide would reduce CO2 emissions by 4.2 billion tons — a 13 percent reduction — and produce “major gains” for economic growth, according to an International Monetary Fund report.

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2013/03/28/imf-ending-fossil-fuel-subsidies-could-cut-co2-13/

The volume of carbon traded globally will grow by 14 percent this year, reaching 12 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent despite depressed prices, according to analysis by market intelligence firm Thomson Reuters Point Carbon

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2013/03/27/carbon-trading-to-grow-14-in-2013/

Until four years ago the Wisconsin Division of Facilities Development (DFD), the agency responsible for building and maintaining all state-owned properties, did almost no recycling on state building projects. Since January 2008 however, when Wisconsin started to require recycling on some projects, more than 140,000 tons of construction and demolition (C&D) waste has been diverted from landfills, representing a project cost savings of more than $4 million.