Intechra collects more e-waste in Mississippi

JACKSON — On April 12, Intechra collected nearly 45,000 pounds of used electronics during free recycling events at five of its facilities across the country. That was an increase of 12.5% compared to its Earth Day collections in 2007.

The electronics recycling company will process the used computers, laptops, monitors, printers, cell phones, TVs and stereos at facilities in Columbus, Ohio, Dallas, Hartford, Conn., and Merrimack, N.H. Intechra also accepted donations at its Jackson headquarters.

Also on April 12, Intechra partnered with Dell at its Nashville, Tenn., campus. Roughly 200,000 pounds of computer and electronics were collected from the Nashville community to be recycled by Intechra.

"These events were a great opportunity to serve our communities by providing them secure, responsible recycling for old computers and electronics," says Intechra CEO Chip Slack. "More than 120 tons of e-waste could have ended up in landfills if people hadn't had a place to recycle them."

From The Mississippi Business Journal April 28, 2008

Coal's big year

Looking back on 2007, Grist has posted this collection of stories that show a nationwide movement away from coal power by default. Stories from down south include:

Seminole Electric Power Cooperative's Seminole 3 Generating Station (Florida) - proposed 750 MW plant rejected by Florida Department of Environmental Protection on the grounds that the plant would not minimize environmental and public health impacts, and would not serve the public interest. August 2007.

Peabody Coal Company's Thoroughbred Generating Station (Kentucky) - air permit for 1500 MW plant reversed by Franklin Circuit Court due to inadequate air pollution control analysis. August 2007.

Florida Municipal Power Agency's Taylor Energy Center (Florida) - proposed 800 MW plant withdrawn by applicant shortly after Florida PSC denied application for Glades Power Plant. July 2007.

In other news, President Bush has nominated the former chief operating officer of mining company Massey Energy, Stanley Suboleski, to be the Department of Energy's assistant secretary of fossil energy.

In a fascinating new report, America's Wild Legacy, the Sierra Club highlights 52 special places across the country and its efforts to protect them. Among the places in the South:

Alabama: Upper Cahaba River
Arkansas: Fourche Creek
Florida: Western Everglades
Georgia: Coastal wetlands
Kentucky: Mammoth Cave National Park
Louisiana: Coastal cypress forests
Mississippi: Gulf Islands National Seashore
North Carolina: Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
South Carolina: Savannah River
Tennessee: Royal Blue Wildlife Management Area
Virginia: Mattaponi River

• Read the full report