Recycling

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Michigan may authorize new uses for toxic coal ash

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Michigan may authorize new uses for toxic coal ash by Great Lakes Echo

One of the bills that cleared the Michigan legislature this session was a provision that allows certain bio-waste materials to be re-used for beneficial purposes. These substances include things like cement kiln dust, wood pulp and coal ash. Coal ash is the leftover residue from coal burned by electric power plants. The bill permits coal ash to be used in road construction, but it may also be used in agriculture as a fertilizer supplement, causing some environmental advocates to become concerned. Current State’s Kevin Lavery speaks with Republican State Representative Wayne Schmidt, the bill’s main sponsor, who strongly states that coal ash is completely safe and does not pose any environmental threats. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Waste, Catch of the Day, Current State, podcast, pollution, Recycling

Public Service Announcement: Recyclers launch statewide campaign

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Image: Michigan Recycling Coalition

The Michigan Recycling Coalition, has launched a  state-wide recycling campaign, Recycle, MI, to increase recycling awareness and practices. The campaign is to help residents and businesses reduce waste, according to a press release. It encourages people to start recycling at their homes and work places, volunteer at recycling events or facilities and distribute  information about recycling in their town, the campaign’s website explains. Recycle, MI has been promoted on radio stations that began this spring mostly in southeast Michigan and will continue in different regions throughout the summer, said Kerrin O’Brien, executive director of the group. “We really saw a need to promote recycling across the state — to unite Michiganders under this logo and message,” she said. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Waste, Catch of the Day, Recycling

Michigan seeks to expand use of coal ash

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Environmental groups say they’re OK with using coal ash in cement, but have concerns about other, “unencapsulated” uses. (Photo by Brian Knox via Creative Commons)

For at least the past decade, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has sought comprehensive regulations on reusing industrial byproducts like coal ash, the material generated from burning coal for electricity, as an alternative to sending it to landfills.

The “beneficial use” bills, which recently passed the state House, would formally regulate the use of over a dozen forms of industrial byproducts across a variety of sectors, including construction fill and on agricultural land. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Waste, Catch of the Day, Recycling

Mr. Great Lakes: Recyclemania, “Healthy” Asian carp and the best carp barrier

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jeffkart

Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM.  
Feb. 7, 2014 – Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) – The Environment Report, Q 90.1 FM by jeffkart

This week, Kart discusses a collegiate recycling tournament, research on the consumption of Asian carp and an “almost foolproof” barrier for carp. Text at Mr. Great Lakes Continue Reading →

Filed under: Waste, Catch of the Day, Echo, Mr. Great Lakes, Podcasts, Recycling

Green Gridirons: Michigan State University

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Photo: Lauren Jasinski.

A football stadium may have green grass but does it have green habits? Each week, Great Lakes Echo highlights a Big Ten football stadium’s attempts to do the most to impact the environment the least. All schools have information on the stadium’s diversion rate – the amount of waste recycled instead of put in a landfill. Stadium: Spartan Stadium

School: Michigan State University

Built: 1923

Capacity: 75,005

2012 diversion rate: 56.3 percent

Scouting report: Michigan State University has 80 recycling containers inside Spartan Stadium during games. Staff handpicks recyclables from the grounds outside stadium gates and on Sunday mornings from tailgating lots. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Waste, Catch of the Day, Echo, Green Gridirons, Recycling

Michigan’s recycling rate is lowest in Great Lakes region

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Photo: Streetwise Cycle. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.

Michigan’s recycling rate is lowest in Great Lakes region by Great Lakes Echo

At 20 percent, Michigan’s recycling rate is 10 percent lower than the regional average.  Many people around the state are hoping to change that.  In 2012, Governor Rick Snyder identified increasing Michigan’s recycling rates as a priority for his administration.  Michigan Recycling Coalition executive director Kerrin O’Brien discusses what a comprehensive recycling plan might include. Also this past March, the Keep Michigan Wolves Protected coalition submitted some 255,000 signatures in a bid to overturn the law passed by the Michigan legislature that put wolves on the list of game species. The Senate

soon passed another law that essentially circumvented the petition.  Now, the group is trying again with a second referendum drive.  This time, the president of the Human Society of the United States was in Michigan earlier this week to lend his support.  We spoke with HSUS president Wayne Pacelle about the issue. This environmental segment of Current State is supported by Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism.  For more news of the Great Lakes environment, you can check out GreatLakesEcho.org

  Continue Reading →

Filed under: Echo, Current State, Echo, Recycling, wolves