A research team based at the University of Maryland says it has developed a form of treated, densified wood that “has a specific strength higher than that of most structural metals and alloys, making it a low-cost, high-performance, lightweight alternative.”

In a research paper available through the website of the scientific journal Nature, the co-authors say they have developed “a simple and effective strategy to transform bulk natural wood directly into a high-performance structural material with a more than tenfold increase in strength, toughness and ballistic resistance and with greater dimensional stability.”

Existing wood treatment techniques have already “led to the enhanced mechanical performance of natural wood,” write the scientists. They add, “However, the existing methods result in incomplete densification and lack dimensional stability, particularly in response to humid environments, and wood treated in these ways can expand and weaken.”

A key to the new process, according to a summary of the research posted by Nature, involves “partially removing lignin and hemicellulose from the wood, [which] makes it around three-times denser, with an 80 percent reduction in thickness.”

Orlando, Florida-based Sunshine Recycling Inc. has been contracted to provide long-term waste management for the Clubside at Sabal Point Condominiums in Longwood, Florida. The contract covers long-term dumpster rental and waste hauling services, according to a news release issued by Sunshine Recycling.

“This is a three-story condo community comprising 150 units along with a clubhouse, fitness center, swimming pool and tennis court,” says Chuck Herb, owner of Sunshine Recycling. “It’s a good-sized residential complex, so there will likely be a fair amount of waste that is generated each week.”

Sunshine indicates it is installing a 34-yard self-contained compactor at the complex for solid waste that will be picked up and hauled away weekly.

“We’re happy to get the new contract, and we’re always eager to talk with people who are looking for dumpster rentals or waste hauling services,” says Herb. He says the firm’s customers include contractors, manufacturers, property managers, retail business owners who regularly generate materials, as well as home owners involved in a renovation project that need a container on a short-term basis.

Sunshine Recycling Inc. indicates it offers recyclable, waste and construction debris collection and hauling services and trash compactors. The firm is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) AP certified. 

Little Rock, Arkansas-based Delta Plastics has acquired California-based plastics firm Command Packaging, along with its Encore Recycling subsidiary. Command Packaging, based in Los Angeles, makes plastic carryout bags for the food service, grocery and retail markets. Encore Recycling, located in Salinas, California, describes itself as California’s “only manufacturer of high-quality postconsumer recycled polyethylene film-grade resin.”

Delta Plastics makes agricultural plastic polytube and recycled-content trash bags.

“As leading consumer brand initiatives and government regulations such as California’s SB270 bag law, requiring postconsumer resin, continues to grow, demand for high-quality sustainable plastic packaging is increasing,” says Pete Grande, CEO of Command Packaging and Encore Recycling. “It became obvious we needed a growth partner to accelerate our expansion and meet the growing demands of the markets we serve. The ability to manufacture Command’s product line in Delta’s Arkansas and Texas facilities will also be a great benefit to our customers in the Midwest and East. Merging the two companies together creates impressive synergies for both companies.”

Comments Sean Whiteley, CEO of Delta Plastics, “Expansion west has been a significant part of our strategic growth plans. California has an abundance of plastic scrap that can and should be recycled. The opportunity to immediately manufacture Delta products in California is a tremendous opportunity for us to accelerate the implementation of our plan. With Delta’s extensive collection capabilities, within weeks we can begin recycling millions more pounds of plastic otherwise destined for landfills. We will also be positioned to support California’s goal of 75 percent recycling, composting or source reduction of solid waste by 2020.”

Command Packaging will continue to operate as an independent business unit, while Encore Recycling will be integrated into Delta Plastics’ recycling business unit, according to the two companies.

Dhu Thompson, Delta Plastics owner and chairman, remarks, “Combining Delta’s 24 years of recycling expertise with California’s only recycler of agricultural plastic film creates North America’s largest supplier of high-quality, film-grade, postconsumer recycled resin. Considering the direction our customers and markets are moving, we have an unrivaled advantage today, and we will continue to build upon this foundation for years to come.”

In addition to its Little Rock plant, where the company makes its Revolution Bag line of recycled-content plastic blown film and trash bags, the company operates an agricultural plastics recycling operation in Stuttgart, Arkansas. The company also had previously expanded into California with the formation of Revolution Plastics, collecting more than 10,000 tons per year of used agricultural plastic in the state. Delta Plastics is also the parent company of Rodeo Plastics, which it acquired in 2017. That firm produces a range of industrial plastic films and bags.

California’s Bay Area Air Quality Management District has announced that two notices of violation have been issued to Sims Metal Management for a fire at its Richmond, Calif., scrap yard Jan. 30, 2018.

The notices of violation include one public nuisance violation and one illegal open burning violation.

“The Air District is continuing to investigate this incident for all potential air quality violations in collaboration with Contra Costa County Health Services and other agencies,” says Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District. “Together with our partner agencies, we will fully investigate the cause to prevent fires like these from occurring in the future.”

Smoke from the fire resulted in air quality complaints from local residents plus road closures, limited evacuations and “shelter-in-place” instructions for areas near the fire. Air District staff collected air samples that indicated elevated air pollution levels in the area closest to the fire. Fines and penalties are under review and will be levied on a future date.

Following the fire, Sims Metal Management released a statement declaring in part, “We want to assure members of the public that we will continue to be a valuable member of the community and that we will maintain our rigorous standards. We will be able to have a better understanding of what happened and how best to mitigate the risks once we have completed our evaluation of how the fire began and its root cause.

“We expect to be transparent in that process," the statement continues. "We will look at any improvements to reduce the risk of fires at this facility, including a focus on stockpile size, improving fire breaks and use of technology to monitor stockpiles.”

Sims’ statement continues, “In any fire event, our facility is designed to contain stormwater and our systems operated as designed.

"We will continue to work with those authorities regulating our business and seek to implement additional corrective measures if and when recommended. Toward that end, we expect to be meeting with the regulatory and local community to listen and, as needed, to act. We apologize for any inconvenience caused to the community by this incident and will continue to be committed to being a good corporate neighbor.”

Jill Rodby, a spokeswoman for Sims Metal Management’s West Region, also commented, “We will need to review the notices and will work cooperatively with the agency to address its concerns.”