Materials and Waste

Garbage Bags

|

The other day I was thinking what a silly thing those garbage bags people buy to keep trash cans clean and the garbage together until it gets smashed in the back of garbage truck or lit in the burning barrel. Few things can you say you are directly paying for to buy then as part of it’s use paying for it get rid of it.

Now I get the advantage of garbage bags — they keep the trash can relatively clean and the trash together when you throw it in the dumpster. Trash trucks find loading trash cans and dumpsters with bagged garbage easier. If you burn your own, then it helps keep you from accidentally melting your trash can dumping the trash in burn barrel. But it still seems kind of silly to be spending money on something you buy to throw away.

Years ago, people didn’t use trash bags nearly as much. Maybe because the plastics were more expensive, maybe because it was more of a new thing. People might bag their kitchen garbage, but it was rare for regular waste baskets around the house or office to have trash bags. Maybe before recycling was big, the paper would line the cans and keep them neater. But I still can’t believe people spend money to throw it away.

Honestly, when I think I own my own land, I’ll just use the plastic or paper bags I get from the store and use them to line my wastebaskets or feed bags for the kitchen garbage. I don’t produce that much trash, and honestly if I am going to burn the burnable trash, the smaller bags are easier and quicker to chuck in the fire I have out back and burn. With a serious commitment to reduce waste and compost, honestly I think using the small bags you get for free really is a better way to go.

Smolders

Hazardous Waste Generators

|

A map of facilities that generate hazardous wastes in New York State. Copy and paste the EPA ID into Google to pull up the industrial facilities' annual hazardous waste disclosure and disposal report.

Been trying use less plastic at camp ⛺ 🗑 🔥

|

While for a long time now I’ve been buying in bulk sizes whenever possible, my calorie reduction program has me buying less food which means less packaging. Even when camping I’m trying to use less plastic. For years I’ve used styrofoam dishes and plastic forks. It’s easy, doesn’t waste water, burns well. And it was a way to give the middle finger 🖕 to the greenies and their burn ban.

But I got reading how potent the blowing agents for styrofoam are when it comes to global warming and how unnecessarily toxic they are to burn. Plus it stinks if you don’t have a hot fire from the styrene gas. Inflation raised the prices and fewer places stocked foam for eco reasons. At the time I didn’t think much about the waste from production, I wasn’t making trash by burning them.

So I mostly just use paper now at camp. Still used plastic forks but stopped after their price kept going up and I discovered how cheap basic metal silverware is at Walmart. Forks and knives are relatively easy to clean even after a messy camp meal. I discovered this originally when I bought cheap metal forks for use at work after getting tired or broken plastic forks and spoons I had been reusing at work.

Maybe inflation is turning me into a greenie or maybe I’m just starting to have a more holistic view of waste and pollution. Burning it may be fun but it doesn’t mane it disappear, especially not the materials consumed in production. Plus it’s not like I’m already cleaning out pots and pans and spatulas after cooking.

NPR

|

7 key points about the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment : NPR

he derailment of a train carrying hazardous materials near a town in Ohio earlier this month has prompted environmental concerns and chemical fears for residents — even as state officials work to reassure them.

"From the very start of this, we have taken every step possible to assure that people's safety was first and foremost," Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, the director of the Ohio Department of Health, said at a Tuesday press conference.

And as authorities work to assess the damage and investigate the derailment, more information has emerged this week about the chemicals in the rail cars, a variety of contaminants and carcinogens. Some of the chemicals — five rail cars' worth of vinyl chloride — was intentionally burned off in a "controlled explosion" last week, which prompted a temporary evacuation of the area.

Here's what to know about the derailment and chemicals involved.

Air Force Research Laboratory Verona Research Facility | Lu Engineers

|

Air Force Research Laboratory Verona Research Facility | Lu Engineers

The United States Air Force conducted radar and related research and development at the Verona Research Facility for a 35-year period following World War II. The property includes over 500 acres of land developed with 27 buildings varying in size from small power houses to multi-story office and lab buildings up to 20,000 square feet. Operations on the property ceased by 1998 and the Site has been unoccupied since that time.

Lu Engineers, under direct contract with the USAF, has been investigating and remediating various portions of the NYSDEC listed Verona in active Hazardous Waste Site since 2000. During that time, we have remediated several soil and groundwater plumes including chlorinated solvents, PCBs, pesticides and motor fuel. We have remediated all occurrences of PCBs in electrical equipment and elsewhere and completed surveys, plans and specifications for asbestos abatement and demolition of the dilapidated structures on the property. We have also prepared bid documents and cost estimates to facilitate abatement and demolition. We are currently finishing the process of de-listing the Site with the NYSDEC and remediating the last of the hazardous building materials remaining. This work will facilitate transfer of the property by the USAF to the federal General Services Administration.