The EPA administrator pointed to staffing, office space and grants as areas to cut agency spending. | John Hanson Pye/Shutterstock
Details are scarce on U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s plans to cut his agency’s spending by 65% or more, but some of its 15,000 full-time-equivalent positions and grants to recycling programs across the country could be on the chopping block. Continue Reading
Containers of retired assets at the FBI were being stored in an unsecured area for weeks at a time, including unlabeled hard drives. | Photos courtesy U.S. Department of Justice
A recent criminal case involving device theft during federal government asset disposition jobs is shining new light on 2024 audits highlighting IT asset management weaknesses at the FBI and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Continue Reading
Lee Zeldin, a former congressman from New York, is the new administrator of the U.S. EPA. | Courtesy of C-Span
There are few indications how incoming U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin might shift the agency’s solid waste and recycling work, but he won the support of the Recycled Materials Association and other stakeholders who say he likely brings an understanding of local solid waste management challenges. Continue Reading
State regulators described permit and documentation issues related to an alkaline battery processing line. | Kinek00/Shutterstock
Washington state regulators this month announced an enforcement action against longtime processor Total Reclaim, stemming from battery processing violations observed during a 2023 inspection. Continue Reading
The 38 members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development were required to report by Jan. 15 on how they’ll interpret the most recent Basel Convention amendment. | Sebastien Coell / ShutterStock
Countries within the OECD have announced how they’ll each enforce new Basel Convention rules. As was foreshadowed by their previous failure to agree on uniform enforcement among all members, there is a fair amount of variance by nation.
A site investigation found mercury vapor from lamp recycling throughout an Ohio facility, including administrative offices. | BOONJAEM/Shutterstock
A recent report from a U.S. occupational safety unit found significant levels of mercury vapor throughout an Ohio e-scrap and lamp recycling facility, leading the team to provide recommendations for protecting worker health. Continue Reading
After allegations of illegal e-scrap imports, Malaysia’s Department of Environment announced it would improve standard operating procedures and oversight. | Mayday6510/Shutterstock
On the heels of high-profile illegal e-scrap import claims and updates to the Basel Convention, Malaysian officials said they would be tightening operating procedures. Continue Reading
E-scrap processor URT will pay $129,000 in fines for failing to protect workers from lead and cadmium exposures during cathode ray tube device processing, OSHA announced. | Boonchuay1970/Shutterstock
E-scrap processor URT will pay reduced but still hefty fines totaling $129,000 for failing to protect workers from lead and cadmium exposures during cathode ray tube device processing at the company’s facility in Janesville, Wisconsin. Continue Reading
The state of California and Walmart reached a multimillion-dollar settlement over the alleged improper disposal of e-scrap and hazardous material into municipal landfills. | Sundry Photography/Shutterstock
Several years after the State of California first sued Walmart over the alleged unlawful disposal of e-scrap, hazardous and medical waste to municipal landfills, a multimillion-dollar settlement is before the judge. Continue Reading
Rob Lawson-Shanks, CEO and co-founder of Molg spoke about battery legislation at the 2024 E-Scrap Conference, joined by Leo Raudys, president and CEO of Call2Recycle; Jeff Farano, manager of compliance and governmental relations for SA Recycling; and Jeff Gloyd, founder of Gloyd Recycling Solutions. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling
Legislative action on batteries is speeding up, but some of those laws are missing their marks and creating a regulatory environment that is difficult to recycle in, panelists said at the recent E-Scrap Conference in Orlando. Continue Reading