Website released aimed at getting used clothing out of landfills, into recycling stream

For the first time ever clothing brands, retailers, consumers, municipalities, charitable organizations, academics and recyclers are joining forces to promote the recycling of clothing and textiles. The Council for Textile Recycling (CTR) recently released its new website aimed at educating the public on the importance of recycling all clothing and textiles, not just those that are “gently worn.”

The Council’s news website: http://www.weardonaterecycle.org mirrors the organization’s slogan – Wear. Donate. Recycle.

“Our goal is to have zero post-consumer textile waste going into landfills by 2037,” says Eric Stubin, CTR Chairman of the Board. “In the United States the average person discards 70 pounds of their old clothing, shoes and household textiles in their local landfill each year. We’re educating people that clothing and textiles are among the most recyclable items in their home.”

Fiscal Year 2012 Omnibus Bill Cuts CDC's Lead Poisoning Prevention Program by 94%

Ending the federal budgeting process last week, Congress dealt a devastating blow to the fight against childhood lead poisoning. The Omnibus Appropriations Bill cut funding for the CDC's Healthy Homes Lead Poisoning Prevention Program to $2 million—a 94% reduction from FY11.

U.S. residents can now shop for the best electricity rates and options online.

Power Target, LLC, a Baltimore, Maryland firm, dedicated to providing information and resources on electricity choice has launched a nationwide web-based electricity shopping platform to assists U.S. residents in finding competitive options for electricity.

A team of scientists have used the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on NASA's Aura satellite to confirm major reductions in the levels of a key air pollutant generated by coal power plants in the eastern United States. The pollutant, sulfur dioxide, contributes to the formation of acid rain and can cause serious health problems.

FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) announced that its FirstEnergy Solutions subsidiary has signed a long-term agreement to purchase the output from the Maryland Solar Farm, a green energy facility planned for Hagerstown, Md. When the development is completed by Maryland Solar LLC, the facility will be the largest solar facility in Maryland and among the largest on the East Coast.

Global performance improvement solutions provider General Physics Corporation (GP), the operating subsidiary of GP Strategies Corporation (NYSE: GPX), announced that it has won six Brandon Hall Awards for Excellence in Learning: Gold and Silver awards for Best Custom Content, a Silver award for Best Results of a Learning Program, and one Gold and two Bronze awards for Best Learning Team. The winners are listed at www.brandon-hall.com. 

Researchers to construct a wireless network of animal-borne embedded devices to help track wildlife

Endangered species regulations are aimed at protecting animals at risk, but how can we be sure about what is happening to them when humans aren't around?

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) project at two U.S. Department of State facilities in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. The project, awarded by the State Department to Honeywell, will implement energy efficiency and water conservation measures at the Harry S. Truman Building in Washington, D.C., which serves as the agency’s headquarters, and at the Beltsville Information Management Center in Beltsville, Maryland. Saving energy through ESPCs is a key component of the Obama Administration’s recent directive to reduce energy costs in agency facilities, while creating jobs and cutting carbon emissions.

Expedition Chesapeake is making waves on the web. Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts today unveiled a new website at www.expeditionchesapeake.org for the Center's $10 million initiative to entertain, educate and engage the 17 million residents of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The website adds to the project's Facebook and Twitter presence and includes a host of features designed to bring the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the project to life. A promo video which highlights Emmy winner Jeff Corwin is featured, as well as information about the watershed and the bay itself and updates on the key elements of the project.