Many progressive municipalities, like Waterbury, Conn., are giving renewed life to previously industrial brownfields, turning them into brightfields or cleaned up spaces that residents want to visit. These often toxic barren grounds all over the nation are home to decaying, … Continue reading →
When disaster hits a community and an SOS call goes out, generally the problem is not a lack of response but rather an overwhelming response of volunteers and donations. For mayors and other city officials trying to put their communities … Continue reading →
Though the time for “spring” cleaning is long past, there are still debris-littered hedgerows and various items of refuse and trash in municipalities that periodically will need to be cleaned up. Two cities featured here have taken the lead and … Continue reading →
David Biderman, SWANA’s CEO and executive director, said the East Coast is, in particular, grappling with such an issue. In the Boston area, for example, decision makers have significant concerns about whether there is sufficient landfill capacity going forward and … Continue reading →
When it comes to funding municipal solid waste services, two types of accounts appear to be the most common throughout most of the United States: an enterprise fund account or general fund account. Whichever account a city or county … Continue reading →
As one of the world’s largest processors of recyclables, China placing new restrictions on what recyclables it will allow to be imported has forced cities throughout the U.S. to make changes to their recycling programs. Deltona, Fla. The city … Continue reading →
Since the enactment of China’s tougher solid waste imports policy, there has been a lot of soul-searching in regards to how the U.S. manages its solid waste. It is a common theme seen in this issue of The Municipal, and … Continue reading →
With China no longer importing plastic from the U.S. and environmental awareness spreading, states are experimenting with ideas to cut down on the garbage piling up. Last year the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned the rest of … Continue reading →
Landfills across the United States are growing larger and larger thanks to the reported 4.4 pounds of trash the average American throws away per day — much of it coming from food. In the United States, food waste is the … Continue reading →
The world is getting smaller every day, which means one singular decision made abroad has the power to affect municipalities domestically and disrupt their day-to-day waste management operations. Look no further than China’s January 2018 decision to implement an import … Continue reading →
As open space continues to be developed and metropolitan areas creep ever outward from big cities, there is a lot of talk about “smart growth.” Land management is a key component of this “smart growth” process; planning where development should … Continue reading →
