Spotted lanternfly season is back in Pennsylvania. The polka-dotted, gray-and-red-winged adult insects make their appearance each July and tend to hang around until December. It’s an unwelcome summer ritual that started in 2014 when the invasive pests were first detected in the U.S. The Conversation U.S. talked to Flor Acevedo, an assistant professor of entomology at Penn State...
Author: E+E Leader
Microbes Tested to Cut Methane at California Landfill
A new field trial at Republic Services’ Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Sylmar, California, is putting microbes to work in a bid to curb methane emissions and control odors. Developed by Windfall Bio, this approach uses naturally occurring soil microorganisms — referred to as “mems” — that consume methane while also breaking down hydrogen sulfide and other odor-causing...
AI and Tech Aid as 2025 Wildfires Surge Ahead
Wildfire activity across the U.S. has pushed the nation to Preparedness Level 4, with 37,878 fires already recorded as of July 15—nearly double last year’s count by the same date. Over 1 million acres are actively burning, and suppression resources are being stretched as weather, drought, and dry fuels create ideal conditions for ignition and...
Duke Energy Florida Strengthens Grid Resilience with Smart Technologies
As the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season begins, Duke Energy Florida is accelerating its investment in grid resilience and storm preparedness. Through advanced grid-hardening strategies, undergrounding projects, and the deployment of self-healing technology, the utility aims to reduce outages and speed restoration for its more than 2 million customers across the state Read the piece in E+E Leader...
DHL and Fortum Partner to Power Circular Economy with EV Battery Recycling
DHL Supply Chain has signed a long-term contract with Fortum Battery Recycling, a division of Nordic energy company Fortum, to manage logistics services that support the collection, transport, and recycling of EV batteries. The partnership marks a significant step forward for Europe’s circular economy, positioning both companies as key players in sustainable e-mobility infrastructure. Fortum Battery Recycling...
Virginia Tech Leads Watershed PFAS Mitigation Project
A major research initiative from Virginia Tech is setting a new precedent for how water utilities can confront PFAS contamination—a persistent, complex issue affecting drinking water systems across the U.S. The project is centered on Northern Virginia’s Occoquan Reservoir, a vital source of drinking water for nearly one million residents in the Washington, D.C. metro area....
Turning Crop Waste Into Textiles: A Cleaner Cellulose Source
A new approach developed at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden could reshape how cellulose textiles are produced. Instead of relying on resource-intensive cotton or chemically processed wood pulp, researchers have demonstrated that common agricultural residues—like wheat straw and oat husks—can serve as effective raw materials for dissolving pulp, the base for cellulose fibers. The...
States Challenge Federal Rollback of California’s Vehicle Emissions Waivers
In a federal lawsuit filed June 12, 2025, California and ten other states are challenging the legality of three Congressional resolutions signed by President Trump that disapprove key EPA waivers. The waivers, granted between 2023 and early 2025, allow California to implement its Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, and Omnibus Low NOx regulations—rules...
Rhode Island Passes Textile Waste Recycling and Education Bill
The Rhode Island Senate has officially passed legislation to enhance textile waste recyclingand public education efforts, reinforcing the state’s commitment to sustainable waste management. With landfill capacity dwindling and textiles accounting for a substantial portion of waste, this initiative aims to increase awareness, improve recycling infrastructure, and enforce reporting requirements among industry stakeholders. Key Provisions Expanding Public...
Wine Packaging Rethink Aims to Fix Recycling Bottlenecks
South Australian wine producer Nepenthe Wines has rolled out a packaging overhaul aimed at addressing a long-standing recycling issue in the industry. The initiative—timed with World Environment Day 2025—focuses on fully removable aluminum capsules, developed in collaboration with packaging manufacturer Interpack. The move seeks to resolve the bottleneck in recycling processes caused by traditional wine sleeves, which...








