OneStep system is designed to combine recycling and compounding processes into a single step.
Olde Atlanta Recycling hit with 23 safety and health violations.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Olde Atlanta Recycling LLC, based in Cumming, Ga., with 23 safety and health violations for exposing workers to a variety of hazards at the company's Cumming facility. An inspection was initiated in November based on a complaint. Proposed penalties total $69,200. Fifteen serious safety violations with penalties of $55,800 involve failing to provide an energy control program for workers who maintain and service equipment to keep machines from accidentally starting up, require workers who operate powered industrial trucks to wear seat belts, properly use PVC piping to transport compressed air, provide signage to mark exits, formally train powered industrial truck operators, install a chip guard on the end of an air nozzle, guard a conveyor belt, correct electrical deficiencies and ensure that the ceiling height of an exit route was a minimum of 84 inches. Four serious health violations with penalties of $10,800 include failing to develop and implement a noise monitoring program, implement a training program for workers exposed to noise, perform a hazard assessment for workers exposed to laceration hazards to determine necessary personal protective equipment and identify a baler that workers entered to remove jams as a permit-required confined space. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. Two other-than-serious health violations include failing to provide workers using respirators with information on the related OSHA standard, and to develop and implement a written hazard communication program. Two other-than-serious safety violations have been cited for failing to maintain the OSHA 300, 301 and 300-A logs as required, and to provide an emergency action plan for employee accountability in the event of an emergency. These four violations carry combined penalties of $2,600. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm. "This inspection has identified several safety and health deficiencies that need to be addressed by Olde Atlanta Recycling in order to protect its workers," says Bill Fulcher, director of OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office. "It is the employer's responsibility to provide a safe and healthful workplace." Olde Atlanta Recycling has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
The British Columbia facility will process lithium and lithium ion batteries.
The consumer battery recycling program Call2Recycle, with Canadian headquarters in Toronto, has signed a new agreement that will result in Toxco-Canada processing the lithium and lithium ion batteries Cal2Recycle collects for recycling in Canada. The new contract builds on the partnership that Toxco-Canada already has with Call2Recycle. "We are excited to deepen our relationship with Toxco-Canada as part of our commitment to a greener environment and sound practices with regards to battery recycling," says Joe Zenobio, executive director of Call2Recycle Canada. "We are also very pleased to continue supporting local business and the local economy by expanding this thriving partnership. Our new agreement with Toxco-Canada advances our goals for environmental stewardship and supporting our local communities." According to Call2Recycle, Toxco's facility in Trail, British Columbia, is the only facility in the world that offers both primary and secondary lithium battery recycling. Call2Recycle says its processing agreement ensures that Toxco-Canada will use its hydrometallurgical technology to produce lithium and cobalt raw materials.
"We are pleased to work with the Call2Recycle program and are committed to environmental excellence in the recycling of batteries in North America," says Kathy Bruce, vice president of Toxco-Canada. In the past year, Call2Recycle has collected more than 800,000 kilograms (1.8 million pounds) of batteries in Canada. The ongoing and highly productive partnership between Call2Recycle and Toxco-Canada positions both companies for continued service growth and environmental success.
Agreement allows oil company to purchase Horsehead’s Monaca, Pa., facility.
Horsehead Corp., a producer of specialty zinc and zinc-based products, has entered into an agreement granting Shell Chemical LP an option to purchase the site of its current zinc production operations near Monaca, Pa. Shell is expected to evaluate the property as a potential petrochemical complex. “We believe this option provides the best value proposition for Horsehead among the several alternatives we are considering for this site,” says Jim Hensler, Horsehead’s president and CEO. “We are moving our zinc production operations to our new plant, which is under construction in North Carolina and expected to startup during the third quarter of 2013,” Hensler adds. “We believe this option provides the best value proposition for Horsehead among the several alternatives we are considering for this site.” The option, if exercised, would require Horsehead to vacate its Monaca site by April 30, 2014.
Delaware’s DNREC issues its first solid waste resource recovery permit to a privately owned MRF.
Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) has issued a solid waste resource recovery permit for the first private materials recovery facility (MRF) in the state. The MRF, operated by Blue River Resources LLC, will sort, separate and market recyclables. The DNREC permit enables Blue River Resources to operate a materials recovery facility to separate and aggregate single-stream recyclables collected from New Castle County and the surrounding area. Blue River Resources has outfitted a former tire recycling center for sorting, separating and baling recyclables. The permit, issued by DNREC, allows the company to take recyclables deliveries from as far as 50 miles away — potentially a four-state area including Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. The facility is permitted to accept up to 4,500 tons per week of single-stream recyclables, including paper, cardboard, plastic, metal and glass. According to a release from the Delaware’s DNREC, Delaware’s Recycling Public Advisory Council has long advocated for a MRF in the state to sort and separate the recyclables collected into their various streams for both profit and in helping gather momentum for recycling in the state. “I applaud Blue River’s leadership in being the first to act and take advantage of new materials markets created in Delaware because we implemented universal recycling,” says Delaware Governor Jack Markell. “Blue River will create local jobs and strengthen our economy while giving second life to materials we throw away, sparing valuable landfill space. We congratulate Blue River on recognizing a significant market opportunity that benefits the public and also provides the potential for great business success.” “Blue River Resources’ new facility attests that the economics of recycling can be profitable and that these investments make sense, both environmentally and economically,” says DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara. ”This is recycling at work on both sides of the street—Blue River Resources diverts these materials from the public that once would’ve gone into our oversubscribed landfills then directs them to a market where recyclables such as paper and plastic command a good price for reuse. Meanwhile, Delaware’s universal recycling law ensures that Blue River will have sustainable volumes that get their processing efforts to market.” “Since the majority of the state’s population and businesses are in New Castle County, and because the county is closer to the end markets for the recyclables, then logically it’s also the best location for a materials recovery facility in Delaware,” O’Mara adds. “Blue River Resources choosing to locate on a former Brownfield site for operating a ‘clean’ material recovery facility is another benefit for the state and an example for future green businesses.” Herb Northrop, Blue River’s president, says, “Blue River Resources is proud to be the first full-service permitted material recovery facility in the state of Delaware. We are excited about the opportunity to help support the universal recycling law by utilizing our years of experience and advanced technology to provide cost-effective and environmentally responsible alternatives to landfills for Delaware’s homes, businesses, schools and institutions.”