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May 17, 2015

Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region: May 18, 2015

Featured

  1. Texas Passes On New Park Benches Equipped With Air Analyzers (Dave Fehling – Houston Public Media, 5/13/2015)
    “In a growing number of cities across the country, the federal government is installing what look like park benches in public places. But they’re not just a place to sit. They actually have a scientific purpose… That’s right. [They are] air pollution monitoring station[s] disguised as a park bench[es]. It’s the brainchild of some scientists at the federal Environmental Protection Agency.”
    www.houstonpublicmedia.org
  2. Some enviro-friendly items hurt recyclers’ bottom line (Sarah Scully – Houston Chronicle, 5/8/2015)
    “As low commodity prices have left recyclers short on cash to invest in technological upgrades, product manufacturers are coming out with new types of packaging that make business even tougher. These products include lighter-weight plastic bottles, resealable pouch containers and other items that are popular with consumers and often better for the environment because they require less energy to produce and transport. Water bottles are made with less plastic now, for example, and thin plastic film is replacing heavier packaging. But poor consumer education means that items like trash, grocery and dry cleaning bags end up in recyclers’ sorting facilities where they don’t belong and can jam machines.”
    www.houstonchronicle.com
  3. Houston-Harris County Partnership Targets Illegal Dumping (Florian Martin – Houston Public Media, 5/13/2015)
    “The city has long fought illegal dumping in Houston. In its newest action on the issue, the City Council approved an agreement with Harris County to install at least 25 cameras in council districts with the highest number of reported incidents. Mayor Annise Parker said offenders are prosecuted aggressively… But it’s difficult to catch someone who dumps trash somewhere on the side of the road. The cameras are one tool to address the issue. As part of the agreement with the county, the city will pay $250,000 for the equipment, but Harris County Constable for Precinct 1 Alan Rosen’s office will review the footage.”
    www.houstonpublicmedia.org

EcoNotes

  • 17 May
  • 15 May
    • U.S. green groups sue in challenge to oil train safety rules (Ayesha Rascoe – Planet Ark News)
      http://planetark.org
  • 14 May
    • UH Researchers: Climate Change Helped to Reduce Ozone Levels (Guidry News)
      www.guidrynews.com
    • End of the Road for Tesla, Ride-for-Hire Bills (Jim Malewitz and Ryan McCrimmon – The Texas Tribune)
      www.texastribune.org
    • Bring It On Houston! Bikes Welcome at All Hours on METRORail (METRO News)
      http://content.govdelivery.com
    • Climate change helped to reduce ozone levels, study says (Phys.org)
      http://phys.org
    • End of the Road for Tesla, Ride-for-Hire Bills (Jim Malewitz and Ryan McCrimmon – The Texas Tribune)
      www.texastribune.org
    • Texas Nuclear Science Center Evacuated After Chemical Spill (KBTX News)
      www.kbtx.com
  • 13 May
  • 12 May
    • A Sign of the Times as Metro Launches a New Bus Network (Mass Transit)
      www.masstransitmag.com
    • TPWD Temporarily Closes Alligator Gar Fishing in Trinity River Downstream of Dallas (Texas Parks & Wildlife)
      http://tpwd.texas.gov
    • Amid Local Control Fight, a GOP Proposal Cities Like (Jim Malewitz – The Texas Tribune)
      www.texastribune.org
    • Officials call on Texas to go big on solar – Environment Texas to distribute 46,000 flyers on solar energy (Environment Texas)
      www.environmenttexas.org
    • ALA Report: air quality mixed in Texas, throughout USA (Elena Craft – EDF)
      http://blogs.edf.org
  • 11 May
    • As EPA Pushes For Cleaner Air, Refineries Push Back (Dave Fehling – Houston Public Media)
      www.houstonpublicmedia.org
    • Abbott declares State Of Disaster in Texas counties (Deer Park Broadcaster)
      www.yourhoustonnews.com
    • What Tesla’s Powerwall Home Energy Storage Battery Means for Texas (Marita Mirzatuny – EDF)
      http://blogs.edf.org
    • Gulf Coast ports and Texas freight facilities…here’s an opportunity for you! (Christina Wolfe – EDF)
      http://blogs.edf.org
    • As poaching heats up, conservationists advocate sending South Africa rhinos to Texas (Amy Westervelt – The Guardian)
      www.theguardian.com
    • Auction Results for the Earth Day Art Contest (Sara Heald – Earth Day Houston)
      www.earthdayhouston.org
    • Winners announced for Texas State Fish Art contest (Lone Star Outdoor News)
      www.lsonews.com
  • 8 May
    • Some enviro-friendly items hurt recyclers’ bottom line (Sarah Scully – Houston Chronicle)
      www.houstonchronicle.com
    • The story behind those endangered-species signs and stickers (Matthew Schneider-Mayerson – Houston Chronicle)
      www.houstonchronicle.com
    • Candidates, public see different routes to solve gridlock (Rebecca Elliott – Houston Chronicle)
      www.houstonchronicle.com
    • Water Flowing From Toilet to Tap May Be Hard to Swallow (John Schwartz – The New York Times)
      www.nytimes.com
  • 7 May
    • Collaboration key to new water technologies (Monique Ching – San Angelo Times)
      www.gosanangelo.com
  • 6 May
    • Houston farmers market named tops in Texas and one of 50 best in the USA (Elizabeth Rhodes – CultureMap Houston)
      http://houston.culturemap.com
    • Data App: Track Texas Reservoir Levels (Ryan Murphy and Kate Galbraith – The Texas Tribune)
      www.texastribune.org
  • 5 May
    • In recycling, economics trump good intentions (Sarah Scully – Houston Chronicle)
      www.houstonchronicle.com
    • Water districts challenged to increase conservation (Robin Foster – Houston Chronicle)
      www.chron.com
  • 4 May
    • Tear down the Pierce Elevated. Make it Pierce Promenade. (John S. Jacob – Houston Chronicle)
      www.houstonchronicle.com
  • 29 April
    • Recycling woes, less trash send Waste Management to a loss (Sarah Scully – Houston Chronicle)
      www.houstonchronicle.com

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