Monthly Archive for May, 2011

Biodegradable Products May Be Bad for the Environment

Published on May 31, 2011 in News and Newsletter. 0 Comments

Image courtsey of Keattikorn

From ScienceDaily

Research from North Carolina State University shows that so-called biodegradable products are likely doing more harm than good in landfills, because they are releasing a powerful greenhouse gas as they break down.

“Biodegradable materials, such as disposable cups and utensils, are broken down in landfills by microorganisms that then produce methane,” says Dr. Morton Barlaz, co-author of a paper describing the research and professor and head of NC State’s Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering. “Methane can be a valuable energy source when captured, but is a potent greenhouse gas when released into the atmosphere.”

And the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that only about 35 percent of municipal solid waste goes to landfills that capture methane for energy use. EPA estimates that another 34 percent of landfills capture methane and burn it off on-site, while 31 percent allow the methane to escape.

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BP Agrees to $25M Penalty for 2006 Alaska Spills

Published on May 17, 2011 in News and Newsletter. 0 Comments

By the Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — BP’s subsidiary in Alaska will pay a $25 million civil penalty under a settlement announced Tuesday that comes five years after more than 200,000 gallons of crude oil spilled from company pipelines on the North Slope.

The penalty is the largest per barrel civil penalty assessed, exceeding the statutory maximum because the settlement, resolves claims other than the spill, according to the EPA. The settlement also calls for BP Exploration Alaska Inc. to install a system-wide pipeline integrity management program.

“This penalty should serve as a wake-up call to all pipeline operators that they will be held accountable for the safety of their operations and their compliance with the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and the pipeline safety laws,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Ignacia S. Moreno said in a conference call with reporters.

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Sustainability Journal to be included in Scopus

Published on May 14, 2011 in Journal and Newsletter. 0 Comments Tags: .

The International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability was evaluated by independent reviewers of the Content Selection & Advisory Board and has been accepted for inclusion in Scopus.

Scopus, launched in November 2004, is the largest abstract and citation database containing both peer-reviewed research literature and quality web sources. With over 18,000 titles from more than 5,000 publishers, Scopus offers researchers a quick, easy and comprehensive resource to support their research needs in the scientific, technical, medical and social sciences fields and, more recently, also in the arts and humanities. (from Scopus Overview)

It’s Not Easy Flying Green

Published on May 11, 2011 in News and Newsletter. 0 Comments

Graphic: Patrick Gillooly

From Jennifer Chu, MIT News Office:

A new analysis emphasizes the large variability in greenhouse gas emissions from alternative fuels.

There’s a race afoot to give biofuel wings in the aviation industry, part of an effort to combat soaring fuel prices and cut greenhouse gas emissions. In 2008, Virgin Atlantic became the first commercial airline to fly a plane on a blend of biofuel and petroleum. Since then, Air New Zealand, Qatar Airways and Continental Airlines, among others, have flown biofuel test flights, and Lufthansa is racing to be the first carrier to run daily flights on a biofuel blend.

As we see increasingly, the “green” label is not always to be trusted. Air transport – of luxury goods and of their consumers – continues to have significant environmental impact.

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