The association says the act would inadvertently subject communities to CERCLA legislation.

The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), Arlington, Virginia, with support from the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), Silver Spring, Maryland, has expressed concerns with H.R. 2467, the PFAS Action Act of 2021. The two waste groups have urged the U.S. Senate to oppose the act in a letter written Aug. 9.

According to a news release from the NWRA, the legislation would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). According to the groups, doing so could inadvertently subject communities to increased environmental burdens and waste disposal costs.

“While we share the goal of addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination and holding accountable those entities that are responsible for releasing it into the environment, H.R. 2467 would instead assign environmental cleanup liability to innocent essential public services and their customers,” says Darrell Smith, president and CEO of the NWRA. “We have no choice but to oppose the legislation and encourage you to vote against it in its current form.”

According to the NWRA, H.R. 2467 would offer a CERCLA liability shield to airports that release PFAS into their environment through their use of firefighting foam. Congress should extend the same CERCLA liability protection to municipal solid waste landfills as receivers of PFAS, NWRA contends.

The letter to the Senate includes draft legislative language that provides a narrow exemption from CERCLA liability for municipal solid waste landfills.

The funding will go towards 11 projects to develop biomass resources that can be converted to low-carbon fuel for planes and ships.

The U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) has announced nearly $34 million in funding for 11 projects that will support high-impact research and development to improve and produce biofuels, biopower and bioproducts.

These biomass resources, otherwise known as feedstocks, can be produced by municipal solid waste (MSW) streams and algae and converted into low-carbon fuels that can significantly contribute to the decarbonization of transportation sectors that face barriers to electrification, like aviation and marine.

By lowering the carbon footprint of the transportation sector, the DOE says biofuels will play an important role in reaching the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

“From food waste to yard trimmings, biomass technology is converting our everyday trash into low-carbon fuel for planes and ships while cutting costs and supporting our critical transportation sector,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm in a release. “The companies and universities leading these projects will ensure that our cutting-edge biofuel technologies reduce carbon emissions, create new jobs up and down the supply chain, and are made in America by American workers.” 

Transportation accounts for approximately 30 percent of total U.S. energy consumption and generates the largest share of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. According to the DEO, biofuels serve as a low-carbon alternative to petroleum and can also be used in the production of carbon-heavy products like plastics, fertilizers, lubricants and industrial chemicals. 

Selected projects will both research and develop waste for energy conversion, as well as improve algae farming practices to increase production.

Awardees across five projects will expand understanding of the potential for municipal solid waste (which typically consists of a complex mixture of food waste, glass, metals, yard trimmings, woody waste materials, non-recyclable paper and plastic, construction and demolition waste, rags, and sludge from wastewater treatment) to become biofuel energy. The process of converting waste into biofuel has significant potential to divert large volumes of garbage from the landfills to the refinery.

Meanwhile, awardees across six projects will look into diverse strains and farming practices of algae and explore new ways to improve their growth. Algae uses sunlight and nutrients to grow, and then can be converted to a variety of biofuels and products.

“Converting waste into resources relies on continued scientific advancement and innovation to overcome the technological and economic limitations that stand in the way of lasting change,” said Dr. Bryan Staley, President & CEO of the Environmental Research & Education Foundation. “Through these projects, DOE’s significant commitment to waste conversion will move the needle substantially.”

For a full list of funding recipients, visit here.

The machine offers more swing torque and a longer wheelbase than previous model.

The new Cat M320 wheeled excavator optimizes performance and efficiency at the job site with up to 9 percent more swing torque than the Cat M320F to get work done faster. Its longer wheelbase increases operating stability and improves machine ride at speeds reaching 21.7 mph. From dirt to asphalt, this wheeled excavator is designed to meet operators’ needs for efficient operation in a range of applications, the manufacturer says.

The company adds that improvements to the hydraulic system increase machine efficiency when working with a range of Cat attachments. Upgrades in machine design reduce the time needed for daily maintenance, while extended filter life and longer service intervals maximize machine uptime availability at the job site while lowering ownership costs.

The new M320 is powered by a 129.4-kilowatt (174-horsepower) Cat C4.4 engine that meets EU Stage V and U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final emissions standards. Efficiency increasing standard features like one-touch low idle with automatic engine speed control, auto engine idle shutdown and on-demand electric cooling fans combine to conserve diesel and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) to lower operating costs, Cat says. The machine also can run on B20 biodiesel.

The new M320 features a dedicated swing pump to provide consistent power. The advanced hydraulic system is designed to automatically balance power and efficiency to give operators more machine control for precise working requirements. Its unique heavy-lift mode feature boosts lifting capacities to efficiently handle heavy loads, increasing machine flexibility, Cat says.

The new M320 design saves owners up to 5 percent in maintenance parts with its new, longer-lasting filters, Cat says. Offering a 50 percent longer service life than previous filter designs, the new hydraulic oil filter with anti-drain valves to safeguard from contaminating the oil during replacement delivers improved filtration performance and a 3,000 hours replacement interval. Two fuel filtration levels protect the engine from dirt particles in the diesel.

The M320 features centralized grease points with an available automatic lubrication system option for the implement and swing system. All SOS ports are positioned at ground level. The operator tracks machine maintenance intervals and filter life from inside the cab on a touch-screen monitor to improve maintenance planning efficiency.  

Standard product link technology on the M320 is designed to improve fleet management and excavator servicing by recording and reporting critical operating data and machine fault codes to key personnel. New Remote Troubleshoot allows the dealer to run diagnostic testing of fault codes from the office while the machine is operating, potentially saving a trip to the job site.

Two larger next-gen cab designs–deluxe and premium–are available for the new M320. All controls are positioned in front of the operator, within easy reach.

Operators intuitively navigate through machine functions with the new large 10-inch touch-screen monitor with jog dial.

Advanced viscous mounts found on the M320 cab decrease machine vibration feedback, reducing operator fatigue

Standard rearview and right side cameras, along with large cab windows with small cab pillars, help to improve job site visibility for the operator, according to Cat. An optional 360-degree visibility system combines input from multiple cameras around the machine to give operators an unparalleled view of their surroundings. The excavator’s new flat engine hood design also improves visibility.

Paper association questions packaging recycling rate average calculated by "New York Times."

The Washington-based American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has responded to a New York Times article in which the author cites an average recycling rate for paper and plastic combined that may well give readers the wrong impression about high paper and board recycling rates.

An Aug. 9 news release from the AF&PA has been issued in response to a late July Times story on the extended producer responsibility (EPR) law passed in Maine, titled, “Maine Will Make Companies Pay for Recycling. Here’s How It Works.”

The article includes a reference to the United States recycling rate for plastics and paper products being 32 percent. The AF&PA says that “is like telling [readers] the average elevation of Denver and Death Valley is about half a mile. It may be technically true, but it clouds over more than it reveals.”

The association adds, “Whatever is true of plastic, the fact is that for all paper, the recycling rate was 66 percent in 2020. The recycling rate for paper-based packaging specifically—like cardboard boxes and corrugated containers—was a whopping 89 percent. In fact, more paper is recycled by weight from municipal waste streams than plastic, glass, steel and aluminum combined.”

Companies who collect, recycle and consume old corrugated containers (OCC) and other paper packaging have expressed uneasiness with the EPR law passed in Maine and another in Oregon that may be poised to place a fee on the already well-established and profitable recycling of OCC.

AF&PA states, “Extended producer responsibility programs would disrupt the most effective recycling streams in the interest of improving the least effective while imposing large new costs on producers who are already being responsible by investing capital to innovate and use a highly renewable and recyclable material—paper.”

The Washington-based Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), in a policy briefing posted to its website, says recyclers have been known to support EPR programs for difficult to recycle or potentially hazardous materials, such as mercury switches in automobiles.

In that same policy statement, ISRI comments, “EPR can carry risks for recyclers depending on how a program is structured, most notably in who has control over the flow of recyclable materials. If manufacturers are put in charge of the process, their easiest path to compliance is to choose as few ‘winning’ recyclers as possible to handle their entire stream. Putting control in the hands of a government agency can preserve the existing recycling infrastructure but will inevitably lead to increased oversight and licensing requirements.”

Best Trash provides trash and recycling collection services to over 200,000 residential customers in the greater Houston area.

FOCUS Investment Banking (FOCUS), a national middle market investment banking firm based in Washington, D.C., announced Aug. 6 that it advised Houston-based Best Trash during its recapitalization by Amberjack Capital Partners (Amberjack). Amberjack is a specialized private equity investor based in Houston.

Best Trash provides trash and recycling collection services to over 200,000 residential customers through its 175 contracts with various municipal utility districts and homeowners associations in the greater Houston metro region.

Following the recapitalization, Richard and Matthew May will remain owners of Best Trash and will continue to manage and operate the business.

According to the company, Amberjack’s objective is to join with management teams to build high-performing and innovative companies that create enduring value. In a release, the company says it believes Best Trash is “poised for sustainable growth and looks forward to supporting the Mays and the Best Trash team in executing a transformative growth strategy.”

“Our new investment partner will help us accelerate our growth and provide opportunity for our employees while continuing our tradition of first-class service to our customers,” Matthew May says. “We were fortunate and are very pleased with the result and our new Houston-based partner, Amberjack Capital Partners.”

Richard May adds, “FOCUS has been a great advisor to Best Trash throughout this process, and we greatly appreciated their guidance and their knowledge in helping us identify the best partner for our company. We are very excited, and we look forward to continuing our journey with Amberjack.”

“Using FOCUS’ proprietary database and knowledge of the waste/environmental services sector, Best Trash attracted keen investor interest from across the U.S. and internationally,” Curt Karges, managing director and industrials team leader at FOCUS, says. “Ultimately, a local firm, Amberjack Capital, was selected as the Mays’ new partner. Congratulations to them both!”

“It was a pleasure to be involved in a transaction between two outstanding companies that share a commitment to superior service,” adds Jonathan Wilfong, managing director at FOCUS.