Waste

"The new rule builds on a landmark 2015 rule prohibiting coal ash from being permanently stored in places where it comes into contact with groundwater. This was meant to reform the widespread practice of creating so-called coal ash ponds where the toxin is stored in a wet slurry. While at that time the EPA only applied the rule to coal plants in active use, the new rule will require the cleanup of hundreds of “legacy” coal ash ponds."

"Excessive levels of PFAS have been detected at 80 percent of active and decommissioned military bases."

"Countries are for the first time considering restrictions on the global production of plastic – to reduce it by 40% in 15 years – in an attempt to protect human health and the environment."

"Coca-Cola and PepsiCo came in at the top of a global audit of plastic waste". "A new study published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances has pinpointed some of the major brands responsible for plastic pollution across six continents."

"Thousands of negotiators and observers representing most of the world’s nations are gathering in the Canadian city of Ottawa this week to craft a treaty to stop the rapidly escalating problem of plastic pollution."

"The illegal waste trade from Europe to Southeast Asia has emerged as a highly profitable, low-risk criminal enterprise with a major impact on the environment, economy, and human health."

"Farmers spread treated human waste on their crops. It's full of forever chemicals."

"Plans to build what would have been one of the largest chemical recycling plants in the country in Pennsylvania were canceled this week."

"The Biden administration is designating two “forever chemicals,” man-made compounds that are linked to serious health risks, as hazardous substances under the Superfund law, shifting responsibility for their cleanup to polluters from taxpayers."