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The Opportunities of Solar Panel Recycling

This guest blog is courtesy of GreenMatch.

What Happens to PV Panels When Their Life Cycle Ends

The energy industry has been experiencing a radical change and the gradual shift towards renewable energy sourcing is more than evident. Nevertheless, not all that looks sustainable stays that way upon the end of its life cycle. At least that is the most common worry regarding photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. They are a sustainable source of energy, dependant only on solar radiation, and capable of delivering electricity to our homes. However, what happens to solar panels when they fail to perform efficiently? Explore their journey through the recycling process in the infographic below:

Solar panel recycling graphic

The Lifetime of Solar Panels

How long do solar panels last? A question that most people have in mind when considering…

It’s Time to Get Toxic Chemicals Out Of Dry Cleaning

Today’s Guest Blog is by Steve Whittaker and Ashley Pedersen with the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County, Washington. The article was originally posted in Environmental Health News on December 13, 2018.

Perchloroethylene, a probable human carcinogen, remains the most frequently-used solvent for dry cleaning. It's time to help the industry change—and our county is doing just that.

When perchloroethylene (PERC) was introduced to the dry cleaning industry in the 1930s, it must have seemed like a miracle solvent.

It cleans clothes well and – most importantly – it is nonflammable. This is in contrast to the previous solvents, like Stoddard solvent, gasoline, turpentine, and even benzene. Because the use of these flammable solvents resulted in catastrophic fires and explosions, government regulations forced dry cleaners to move out of highly populated areas. With the advent of PERC, dry cleaners could move back to population centers, where the customers were.

The dry cleaning industry provided a unique…

The Municipal Measurement Program has Launched

municipal measurement program logoWe're very excited to announce the official launch of the Municipal Measurement Program (MMP)! The goal of the MMP is to harmonize the measurement of material management programs and to provide municipalities with decision-making tools that can improve recycling program performance.

What is the MMP?

The Municipal Measurement Program is a free Program Assessment and Planning Tool that delivers insights and actionable recommendations to municipal waste management agencies. By completing the program assessment surveys, municipalities can generate a range of performance, benchmarking, and recommendation reports.

Why is the MMP so important?

Municipalities face a variety of challenges when it comes to reducing the amount of waste their communities produce. Program managers rarely have enough time or money to properly measure the progress they are making toward achieving…

Recycling PSA: Tangled Up!

A new silent film-style public service ad from Baltimore County, Maryland demonstrates why many jurisdictions do not accept items such as plastic bags and clothing for recycling.

Produced in-house by Bureau of Solid Waste Management employees, “Tangled Up!” shows how operations are halted daily at the County’s MRF because of residents putting “tanglers” in their recycling bins. The fun, 90-second video can be viewed online at Facebook, YouTube and the County’s website.

Tangled Up Video photo

What are Tanglers?

As most of you know, tanglers are materials such as plastic bags and textiles that get caught in the MRF equipment and must be cut out by hand, one by one, for operations to resume. At the end of each day, Baltimore County uses 10 temporary…

This Holiday Season: Be Battery Safety Smart

Batteries power our world and provide many everyday conveniences. The freedom to go unplugged comes with the responsibility to safely manage batteries once they reach their end-of-life. While recycling batteries is a year-round activity, it’s especially important during the holidays as many consumers are purchasing new battery powered products and may be left wondering what to do with their old batteries.

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