Daniela Failla

03Nov2018

Eco Waste wins Halton Employer of Choice 2018!

November 3, 2018 Daniela Failla 259

Burlington's Eco Waste Solutions wins Employer of Choice 2018

We’re excited to announce that we have achieved the 2018 Halton Employer of Choice Award!

The Halton EoC Awards are given to companies who excel in a number of categories:

Compensation and Benefits
Rewards and Recognition
Management/Employee Relations
Training and Development
Career Advancement
Employee Engagement
Environment and Facilities
Leadership
Reputation
Personal Enjoyment

While head office submits a comprehensive application for the award, much of the scoring is based on how employees respond to a confidential survey. What makes this award particularly gratifying to us is that our employees confirmed that Eco Waste is in fact a great place to work.

The award ceremony isn’t until the new year, but in the meantime we wanted to share the news. 2018 has been a big one for us, and we’re looking forward to continued growth in 2019!

12Apr2018

Eco Waste at World W2E Summit in London

April 12, 2018 Daniela Failla 211

We’re excited to announce that Eco Waste Solutions is a Silver Partner of the World Waste to Energy and Resources Summit in London in May 2018. This event brings together leaders in WTE, EFW and circular economy to connect and discuss the technology, challenges and developments in waste to energy on a global scale.

We’re also pleased to announce that Eco Waste Solutions President, Jean Lucas, will be a panelist in the “Understanding the Benefits of Choosing Advanced Conversion Technologies” session.

This is going to be a great event – check out the agenda here.

03Apr2018

Eco Waste Solutions part of the Ontario Environment Mission to China

April 3, 2018 Daniela Failla 192

Looking forward to Shanghai and Wuxi City

This week, we’ll be in Shanghai at the IE Expo China Environmental Technology Conference as part of the Ontario government’s mission to China. The Ontario Ministry of International Trade, Export Services Branch, assists international buyers in establishing partnerships with Ontario companies. China’s ongoing focus on finding cutting-edge environmental technologies made us a natural partner for this mission.

During our trip – at the conference in Shanghai and Wuxi and then in Beijing – we’re looking forward to meeting with business leaders about waste management technology, and how we can work with strategic partners in China to develop energy-from-waste projects.

Eco Waste: By the numbers, in English and Mandarin

18Mar2018

China’s new rules for recyclables: The opportunities

March 18, 2018 Daniela Failla 277

It could be a great moment for WTE

by Jean Lucas, President, Eco Waste Solutions

Even if you’re not one of those people who keep waste management top of mind, you’ve probably heard about China’s recent ban on 24 categories of solid waste, including lots of the materials that many North Americans diligently sort into their recycling bins every week.

China has long been the recipient of waste from other countries, and was, until recently, the world’s biggest importer of recyclables. In fact, 80% of the recyclables collected by some municipalities in North America were sent to China.

Last year, however, China announced that it would no longer accept many of these recyclables, largely because of contamination. In this context, ‘contamination’ means non-recyclable material that’s mixed in with recyclable material – think of food left in otherwise recyclable containers, regular garbage mixed in with scrap paper, or dangerous items like propane tanks that get tossed into the metals. In some cases, this contamination can account for as much as 16% of overall waste volume.

Historically, China would accept recyclables with as much as 3% contaminants. The gap was bridged by local processors in North America, who would remove a large amount of contaminants before shipping the recyclables to China.

As of January 1, China will only accept waste with 0.5% contaminants, leaving many North American municipalities with tonnes of waste that have no place to go. Most of them will, unfortunately, end up in landfills.

Recycling is less effective than most people think

The widespread implementation of recycling programs across North America in the past 20 years has been a good move forward for waste management – today’s 20-somethings have grown up knowing the value of reducing and sorting their waste, and composting is no longer the purview of just those hippies down the block.

However, the mainstreaming of recycling has given many of us the false idea that we’ve ‘solved’ the problem of solid waste. Sure, recycling has diverted some waste out of landfills, but the problem of contamination means that landfill disposal continues to grow. And the need for fossil fuel-based energy to process recyclables means that recycling isn’t really the magic solution that many of us think it is.

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t continue recycling. It means that we should also be thinking of complementary waste management solutions.

Waste-to-energy could be the solution (or at least part of it)

Everyone has been focused on the immediate consequences of China’s new rules: The stockpiled waste, the increase in landfill requirements, the loss of revenue for recyclers, etc. But maybe this is a great time to rethink waste management, especially in North America.

While the EU has begun to focus on the Circular Economy and is taking action on several fronts, North America has been slow to address it on a large scale. Broadly speaking, a circular economy seeks to reduce waste (and its consequences) by reducing waste at the source, encouraging businesses and consumers to be more mindful of waste, and finding ways to convert waste into usable commodities. This is where waste-to-energy (WTE), also known as energy-from-waste (EFW) comes in.

Waste-to-energy (WTE) is an important part of a larger waste management strategy that decreases both waste generation and the dependence on landfills, combined with a commitment to reducing pollution.

Essentially, WTE technology is designed to incinerate waste in a way that reduces waste volume and toxicity, while releasing exponentially less toxins and pollution into the environment than landfills or even traditional recycling processes.

It’s already working in Europe

While large-scale waste-to-energy facilities have been up, running and successful in Europe for decades, they continue to be largely unknown or unwanted in North America. Sweden, for example, has begun to import waste in order to fuel its very successful waste-to-energy plants.

North American municipalities, on the other hand, have continued to face resistance to both waste-to-energy and to aggressive consumption reduction efforts. In a climate where economic growth is expected, encouraging people to reduce consumption can be problematic politically. And in the era of ‘fake news’, North Americans hear words like ‘incineration’ and ’emissions’ and aren’t sure what to believe.

However, it’s interesting to note that waste-to-energy initiatives have been operational in North America for 110 years. We’re in a good position to be world leaders in this area – if only we were able to get people a little more excited about the possibilities.

So what are the next steps?

Historically, those of us working in waste management have been hesitant to criticize recycling – even though we’ve long known that it has serious limitations and isn’t nearly the perfect solution that it’s often believed to be. But China’s new regulations have highlighted the limitations of recycling, and now more non-waste-management professionals are talking about alternatives.

Maybe it’s time for those of us who’ve been working to improve the technology involved in waste-to-energy, and have seen just how effective – and safe – it can be, to start talking, especially in North America. To think in terms of the technology, rather than in terms of ‘garbage’.

Because we all deserve better waste management solutions.

03Mar2018

Young Women in Leadership Program

March 3, 2018 Daniela Failla 219

We’re very pleased to announce that Eco Waste Solutions President, Jean Lucas, is now a mentor with the Young Women in Leadership Program.

Organized by Pam Darnoff, the MP for Oakville-North Burlington, this is the second annual leadership program designed to offer young women in Halton the opportunity to job-shadow in local businesses, agencies and other organizations, including government.

Jean will also be a panelist at a reception to bring all the program’s mentors and mentees together. The reception is on April 9, 2018, from 6-8pm at St Luke’s Community Centre in Oakville, and the panel discussion is open to the public.

To learn more about the program, and how you can get involved as a mentor or mentee, click here. We look forward to seeing you!

16Feb2018

ESTCP announces 2018 New Start Project Selections, including Eco Waste Solutions

February 16, 2018 Daniela Failla 228

US Department of Defense Environmental Technology Demonstration & Validation Program (ESTCP) announces Eco Waste Solutions project

BURLINGTON, ONTARIO, February 9, 2018: The US Department of Defense’s Environmental Research Programs has announced that Eco Waste Solutions has been approved to move forward with its Deployable Waste-to-Energy Convertor for Expeditionary Bases (DWECX) with Thermal Energy to Electrical Power System (TEEPS); a project in collaboration with Ethosgen and their teammate Rockwell Collins. Ethosgen will provide project management and system engineering while Rockwell Collins will provide detailed design and hardware for the integrated TEEPS.

“We’ve known for a long time that one of the major environmental challenges facing the Department of Defense is dealing with solid waste on expeditionary bases,” says Jean Lucas, President of Eco Waste. “Military installations often use open burn pits, which pose significant risks to the health of military troops, local populace, and the environment. Our containerized waste systems can solve this problem, as they are easily deployable, operate in extreme climates, and don’t create airborne health hazards. The ESTCP project gives us an opportunity to take this further and demonstrate a practical approach to small-scale power generation from waste.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the US military to position itself on the cutting edge of waste-to-energy technology,” says James Abrams, founder and President of EthosGen. “Successful small-scale waste-to-energy simply hasn’t been done like this before, and it could transform the way all expeditionary forces deal with waste.”

The ESTCP’s goal is to identify and demonstrate the most promising innovative and cost-effective technologies and methods that address the DoD’s high-priority environmental requirements. To ensure that demonstrated technologies have real impact, ESTCP collaborates with end-users and regulators throughout the process of development and execution. Demonstration results are subject to rigorous technical reviews to ensure that conclusions are well-supported by data.

The DOD has committed to addressing burn pit issues and meeting its operational energy objectives, but solutions need to meet requirements for mobility, simplicity and efficiency. Eco Waste’s partnership with EthosGen solves these challenges.

“Our containerized waste systems have been used on military bases around the world for more than 10 years,” notes Lucas, recognized for her work on small-scale waste-to-energy. “However, the challenge has been finding an appropriate energy recovery technology to integrate with them. Our Deployable Waste-to-Energy Converter for Expeditionary Bases (DWECX) with Thermal Energy to Electrical Power System (TEEPS) can do both – while still maintaining a footprint no larger than the 20-foot ISO container required by expeditionary forces.”

About Eco Waste Solutions

Eco Waste Solutions (EWS) is a world leader in delivering modular thermal waste conversion solutions for military, industry and communities. EWS delivers proven, bankable, waste management and energy-from-waste technologies. With clients as varied as Canadian Department of National Defence, the Swedish Armed Forces, and mining companies with projects all over the world, EWS continues to set the standard for waste management technology in North America and worldwide. www.ecosolutions.com

About EthosGen

EthosGen has established itself as an emerging global leader in deploying modular utility-grade systems to meet onsite electrical power and heating/cooling needs. EthosGen offers scalable, flexible, packaged mechanical systems that convert heat from otherwise wasted sources such as waste streams, industrial processes, or geothermal heat to produce valuable energy at double-digit efficiencies. EthosGen contributes to our clean energy future through its packaged solutions that are within reach of nearly anyone, anywhere. www.ethosgen.com

About Rockwell Collins

Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL) is a leader in aviation and high-integrity solutions for commercial and military customers around the world. Every day we help pilots safely and reliably navigate to the far corners of the earth; keep warfighters aware and informed in battle; deliver millions of messages for airlines and airports; and help passengers stay connected and comfortable throughout their journey. As experts in flight deck avionics, cabin electronics, cabin interiors, information management, mission communications, and simulation and training, we offer a comprehensive portfolio of products and services that can transform our customers’ futures. www.rockwellcollins.com

Media requiring more information and technical specifications for more detailed background, please contact:

Sarah Welstead

416.809.7829

sarah@stayawake.tv

03Nov2017

The Eco Waste CN Tower Climb is this weekend!

November 3, 2017 Daniela Failla 237

Will we make it to the top of the CN Tower?

Here at Eco Waste, we’re spending the next couple of days carbo-loading, as we prepare for our climb to the top of the CN Tower to help raise money for the United Way.

Six brave souls from our office here in Burlington are getting up early on Sunday morning to climb all 1776 steps. Wikipedia says that’s the equivalent of 147 floors, but we’re trying not to think too hard about that right now.

Of course we’re always happy to do what we can to help the United Way, which supports so many organizations in the community.

If you’d like to support us, please visit our team page – or maybe just send some Voltaren gel to the office.

Good luck to the team!

31Oct2017

Fairy Tales & Nursery Rhymes: Hallowe’en, not Waste-to-Energy

October 31, 2017 Daniela Failla 192

Not going to lie – we always have a great time celebrating Hallowe’en here at Eco Waste. And this year we even had a baby in a costume!

Our theme was ‘Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales’. Not entirely sure there’s an emoji fairy tale yet, but who cares – we had a lot of fun. Because we’re that kind of crowd.

17Oct2017

Eco Waste at the AUSA 2017 Conference

October 17, 2017 Daniela Failla 205

Earlier this month, we attended the 2017 AUSA Annual Meeting & Expo in Washington, DC. It’s always a great opportunity to learn about some of the most cutting edge equipment and technology from around the world.

This year, we were especially pleased to be sharing expo space with Brazonics/Rockwell Collins, which specializes in the manufacture of aluminum brazed assemblies including enclosures, chassis, coldplates and heat exchangers for defense, aerospace and commercial industrial markets, and with EthosGen, which turns waste heat into electrical power and cooling capacity. Our businesses aren’t the same, but we’re all trying to achieve the same thing, which is to transform what’s usually called ‘waste’ into useful energy.

It was good to reconnect with some familiar faces at the conference, as well as to meet some new colleagues – we look forward to seeing you again next year!

15Oct2017

Media release: Eco Waste Solutions executive leadership changes

October 15, 2017 Daniela Failla 218

BURLINGTON, ON, Aug. 25, 2017 /CNW/ Eco Waste Solutions announces changes to its organization that position the company for continued success over the next decade.

After more than 10 years with Eco Waste Solutions, President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Meldrum has left the Company to pursue other opportunities.

Executive Vice President, Jean Lucas, will replace Mr. Meldrum as President and Chief Executive Officer.

“Jean has consistently delivered results by breaking into new markets, executing on disciplined strategies, mentoring her colleagues, and influencing the direction of our product development. Jean has what the company needs to lead it into its next stage of growth in Energy from Waste and providing best in class mobile military waste solutions”, said Aaron Slater, Eco Waste Solutions’ Executive Director.

“I’m honoured to take the helm at Eco Waste – a business I have helped to grow from a start-up to a global contender. The prospect of structuring our company so that we can expand our reach in this critical segment of the environmental sector is very exciting,” said Ms. Lucas.

About Jean Lucas

One of the founding members of the Eco Waste Solutions team, Jean has been instrumental in transforming the business from its original clean-tech start-up status to its current position as a global leader in environmental technology. Her focus on finding better ways to manage waste, and helping clients achieve strong environmental performance, has driven the development of innovative new products and technological improvements for EWS.

In the global waste management industry, Jean is known as a strategic innovator.

She has a BSc in Environmental Science and Biology and is a member of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), CADSI (Canadian Association of Defense and Security Industries) and is a Founder/Past President of Women in Mining Canada.

About Eco Waste Solutions (EWS)

EWS is one of the world’s leading suppliers of modular waste conversion technology. Operating in the US and Canada, EWS delivers proven and practical waste management solutions for military and natural resource companies and remote communities, as well as bankable waste-to-energy solutions. EWS continues to set the standard for waste management technology in North America and worldwide.

Daniela Failla

Categories

Archived

Daniela Failla

Looking forward to Shanghai and Wuxi City

Eco Waste: By the numbers, in English and Mandarin

It could be a great moment for WTE

Recycling is less effective than most people think

Waste-to-energy could be the solution (or at least part of it)

It’s already working in Europe

So what are the next steps?

US Department of Defense Environmental Technology Demonstration & Validation Program (ESTCP) announces Eco Waste Solutions project

About Eco Waste Solutions

About EthosGen

About Rockwell Collins

Will we make it to the top of the CN Tower?

About Jean Lucas

About Eco Waste Solutions (EWS)

Categories

Archived

Tags