Good environmental news for martini drinkers

Martini drinkers, weep not for the olive
that sacrificed its stone to render your
perfect drink.

Researchers at the Universities of Jaén
and Granada in Spain have discovered
that olive stones—byproducts of
processing olive oil and table olives—can be turned into bioethanol.

(Is this a case of basic science research at its best or what?)

Don’t scoff. The stone, which constitutes quarter of the total fruit,
is rich in polysaccharides (celluloes and hemicellulose) that can
be broken down into sugar and then fermented to produce ethanol.
The olive processing industry currently discards 4 million tons of
stones annually.

Why not use it to power-up vehicles instead?

The research team pre-treated olive stones using high-pressure
hot water (essentially a pressure cooker) then added enzymes
that degrade plant matter and generate sugars. The hydrolysate
obtained from this process was then fermented with yeasts to
produce ethanol. Yields of 5.7kg of ethanol per 100kg of olive
stones have been reached.

Researchers noted that the quantities of stones produced are
relatively small in comparison with other agricultural and forestry
wastes. However, if similar principles were employed across all
agricultural industries, energy gains would be significant.

Hey, I’ll drink to that.

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TV, computer makers gear up for recycling in NJ

Under a law passed earlier this year, manufacturers of televisions and computers sold in New Jersey must develop plans for the recycling of those electronic products when they reach the end of their useful lives.

Until now, owners of worn-out TVs and computers have stored the clunkers in their basements and garages, put them out with other trash at the curb, or participated in special recycling days held by some towns and counties.
The new law puts the responsibility on manufacturers to implement a statewide system for the collection and recycling of their products, either as individual companies or in partnerships.

Bowing, however, to complaints that the law does not provide adequate lead time, the state Senate is preparing to vote on S-2144, an amendatory bill giving manufactures additional time to comply.

Under the bill, television-makers would have until Jan. 1, 2011 to commence their recycling programs, while computer manufacturers would have until Feb. 15, 2012.

Getting a jump on those deadlines, a group of major electronics manufacturers yesterday announced they’re joining to provide consumer recycling in New Jersey and other states.

The Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Co. (MRM) announced it will commence its program on Nov. 1 with 160 drop-off locations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and seven other states. The company, which was created by Panasonic Corp. of North America, Sharp Electronics Corp. and Toshiba America Consumer Products LLC., says it plans to expand its services eventually to cover all 50 states.

“MRM is focused on enhancing the sustainability of individual company brands and product offerings through convenient, environmentally sound and efficient recycling,” says its President David Thompson. “This type of collaborative effort is essential to providing consumers with convenient recycling opportunities and to achieving practical, long-term solutions.”

Mr. Thompson is no stranger to recycling in New Jersey. He was instrumental in developing, for the rechargeable battery industry, a recycling plan required by state law a decade ago.

Another manufacturer, New Jersey-based Samsung Electronics America, Inc., announced on Oct 1 that it had launched SAMSUNG RECYCLING DIRECT SM, a take-back and recycling program for consumer electronics across all of its product lines. Consumers can bring their Samsung-branded consumer electronics sold in the United States to 174 fixed drop-off locations across all 50 states for no fee. Drop-off locations can be found at: www.samsung.com/recyclingdirect

Hopes and concerns
New Jersey’s fledgling e-scrap recycling law–and the current bill to refine it — have raised both hopes and concerns. Environmentalists have praised the effort, but a representative of a small company providing e-scrap recycling services in Middlesex County said, at a recent Senate committee hearing, that national manufacturer plans could leave businesses like his out in the cold.
County and municipal recycling coordinators said they fear the law will raise an expectation among consumers that local governments would be forced to shoulder should the manufacturers be permitted to fold their recycling operations in the future.

Senate sponsor Bob Smith said the law leaves many operational details to the state Department of Environmental Protection which will be drafting regulations to implement and enforce it.

“It’s not going to be a perfect program at the start, but we can revisit it later, ” he said. ” The important thing for the environment is that we get an e-waste program up and operating in New Jersey.”

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Jersey enviros look to topple power line proposal

Like fellow-activists in New York state (Catskill Mountainkeeper rallying opposition to NYRI power line), New Jersey environmental organizations have come out swinging against a proposed high-power line through a section of the state’s northern tier.

The state’s largest power utility, PSE&G, is expected to asked the state Board of Public Utilities to approve the 45-mile, 500-kilovolt power line that the company wants to build at a cost of $650 million. It would run from the town of Hardwick in Warren County, through Sussex and Morris counties to Roseland in Essex County.

PSE&G says the line is necessary to prevent overloads and blackouts on the power grid.

“No one disputes that North Jersey’s electricity highways are congested and need relief to avoid price spikes and blackouts in the future. But New Jersey’s energy future should not be tied to dirty coal plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania, when home grown renewable energy and energy efficiency can provide the solution,” said Dena Mottola Jaborska, the executive director of Environment New Jersey, at a media event held with regional municipal leaders yesterday in Montville, Morris County.

“We cannot support or oppose this project without answers to our concerns,” stated Byram Township councilman Scott Olson, speaking on behalf of six municipalities who have formed a coalition to address this proposal.

“We do not feel that PSE&G has shown a proven need for this expansion, or that all other options have been exhausted and this is the only viable alternative to address their needs. And they have yet to prove the potential for health effects are lessened or that the economic impact to our municipalities and our residents will be addressed,” Olson said.

Feel free to add your opinion by clicking on the “comments” line below.

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Catskill Mountainkeeper rallying opposition to NYRI power line

The Catskill Mountainkeeper is urging its members and friends to attend scheduled public hearing and speak out against the New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI), a proposed 190-mile, high voltage, direct current transmission line. It would run through seven New York counties and 38 municipalities.

The Mountainkeeper claims the project:

* Does not result from a regional or statewide planning process;

* Is not required to address electric system reliability concerns, and

* Fails to consider new programs designed to reduce energy demands through conservation.

The environmental organization has posted a list of talking points for opponents to use in arguing against the project and a schedule of public hearings that are under way and will end on Nov. 6.

Have an opinion on the NYRI? To share it with fellow readers of this blog, just click on the “comments” line below and have at it!

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Energy bills light up New Jersey Legislature today

Today, at its final voting session before Election Day, the New Jersey Assembly will consider the following four environmental bills encouraging alternative energy development and energy conservation:

A-843 Chivukula, U.J. (D-17)
Provides for equal opportunity for businesses to apply for certain energy-related incentives and funding.

A-849 Chivukula, U.J. (D-17) and Voss, J.M. (D-38)
Directs the BPU to establish certain energy-conservation programs.

A-1558 Greenstein, L.R. (D-14) and Watson Coleman, B. (D-15)
Requires developers to offer solar energy systems in certain new home construction.

A-2550 Lampitt, P.R. (D-6); Chivukula, U.J. (D-17); Wagner, C. (D-38)
Permits location of certain wind and solar facilities in industrial zones.

Last Thursday, the Senate Economic Growth Committee amended and released one of two energy bills on its meeting agenda.

That measure, S-1066, Smith, B. (D-17), permits developers to qualify for low-interest loans from the NJ Economic Development Authority when building a high performance green building.

It was amended by removing a requirement that the building have at least a 15,000-square-feet in total floor area and by adding alternative rating systems to establish standards for environmental sustainability.

A second energy bill, S-1065, Smith, B. (D-17), which would permit electric public utilities, electric power suppliers and basic generation service providers to enter into certain agreements with building owners for use of solar energy systems for such buildings, was held at the sponsor’s request.

Following today’s session, the Legislature will be in recess until November 13 when both houses return to a full day of committee meetings.

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Two NJ bills would help green-minded builders

Dozens of bills have been introduced in the New Jersey Legislature this session designed to encourage builders and developers to incorporate environmentally friendly construction standards, materials–and even alternative energy systems–in all new buildings.

On Thursday, Oct 23, the Senate Economic Growth Committee will consider two such bills.

S-1065 Permits electric public utilities to enter into agreements with building owners under which the utility would install or provide for the installation of solar systems to generate some or all of the building’s energy needs, including heating and cooling systems.

S-1066 Permits a developer to qualify for low-interest state loans when building a high performance green building. What’s a high-performance green building? The legislation defines it as “a building having at least 15,000 square feet in total floor area that is designed and constructed in a manner that achieves at least a silver rating according to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System as adopted by the United States Green Building Council.

[Editor’s note: Click here to learn more about LEED rating systems]

The sponsor of both bills is Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex County, who is chairman of the Senate Environment Committee.

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