Study Links Alzheimer’s Disease Risk to Long-Term Exposure to Particulate Air Pollution

   

      A study published in PLOS Medicine links Alzheimer's disease with long-term exposure to particulate pollution. The study is large, involving 27.8 million Americans. Alzheimer’s affects 57 million people globally, including 7.2 million in the U.S. over age 65. There is no known cure for it. Thus, prevention is emphasized. The study suggests that improving air quality, especially fine particulate pollution, can aid in that prevention. Environmental health researcher Yanling Deng of Emory University, Georgia, and her colleagues, examined data on more than 27.8 million U.S. Medicare recipients aged 65 years and older from 2000 to 2018.

“The data is clear enough to suggest that we need to treat air quality as a brain‑health issue, not just a lung‑health issue,” said professor Bryce Vissel of the University of New South Wales (UNSW), who was not involved in the present study, in a statement.

     The study suggests that direct effects on the brain are the main mechanism rather than common chronic conditions such as hypertension, stroke, or depression, which have also been linked to Alzheimer’s and are thought to be indirect causes compared to fine particulate pollution (PM 2.5), which is now thought to be a direct cause.    

“Dementia risk is not just about personal choices. It is also about the air we breathe and the environments we live in over decades,” added epidemiologist professor Susanne Röhr, also of UNSW, who was also not involved in the present study.

     According to Masashi Kitazawa, professor of Environmental & Occupational Health at UC Irvine:

"Remarkably, results from this study predict a possibly direct toxic mechanism of (particulate matter) to (Alzheimer's disease)," said Kitazawa, who was not involved in the study.

     Other scientists and medical professionals cautioned that correlation does not imply causation.

      The study suggested that those who have had a stroke are more likely to be affected.

"Our findings suggest that individuals with a history of stroke may be particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution on brain health, highlighting an important intersection between environmental and vascular risk factors," the authors added.

     It is not yet clear why this is the case.

"It could be related to a previously damaged brain − from stroke − being weaker in fighting off toxins," suggested Ahmad, who is also an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

     The bottom line is that fine particulate pollution contributes to Alzheimer’s both indirectly and directly, although there are certainly other factors as well.

     The researchers suggest that the direct link between Alzheimer’s disease and particulate matter likely involves the mechanisms of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular injury.

 

 

References:

 

Study of 27.8M Americans may have revealed direct Alzheimer's cause. Maria Azzurra Volpe. Newsweek. February 17, 2026. Study of 27.8M Americans may have revealed direct Alzheimer's cause

The role of comorbidities in the associations between air pollution and Alzheimer’s disease: A national cohort study in the American Medicare population. Yanling Deng , Yang Liu, Hua Hao, Ke Xu, Qiao Zhu, Haomin Li, Tszshan Ma, and Kyle Steenland. PLOS Medicine. February 17, 2026. The role of comorbidities in the associations between air pollution and Alzheimer’s disease: A national cohort study in the American Medicare population | PLOS Medicine

Air pollution may directly increase Alzheimer's risk, study finds. Sara Moniuszko, USA TODAY. February 18, 2026. Air pollution may directly increase Alzheimer's risk, study finds

Air pollution may directly contribute to Alzheimer’s disease: Cohort study finds people with stroke may be extra susceptible to air pollution’s impact on the brain. Eureka Alert. Press Release. February 17, 2026. Air pollution may directly contribute to Alzheimer’s disease | EurekAlert!

 

EIA: Some Planned Coal and Gas Plant Retirements May Be Delayed in 2026 as They Were in 2025

     The Energy Information Administration (EIA) notes that in 2025, there were planned retirements of 12.3 GW of coal and gas power-generating capacity, but only 4.6 GW was actually retired. This was a result of the DOE ordering plants to remain operational, presumably to preserve baseload power in case it is needed. The moves have been controversial, with some utilities saying it is costing them and their ratepayers money to keep those plants available. The 4.6 GW retired in 2025 was the lowest annual level of such retirements since 2008.

     In 2026, there are plans to retire 10.9 GW of power: 6.3 GW of coal (58%) and 4.6 GW of natural gas (42%). 3.5 GW of the 10.9 GW of planned retirements, or about one-third, includes plants that delayed retirement in 2025. The planned coal retirements in 2026 represent about 4% of total current coal capacity.

     The 4.6 GW of planned natural gas plant retirements in 2026 represent about 1% of the total gas operating capacity. EIA notes:

“Most of the retiring natural gas capacity (76%) is at older steam turbine units, which are less efficient than the newer combined-cycle units.”

     As the graph shows, nearly half, just under 5 GW, of the planned 2026 retirements are slated for December.

     It should also be noted that 7.7 GW of the planned 10.9 GW of planned 2026 retirements, or 71%, are delayed from the 2025 planned retirements. That means only 3.2 GW of new retirements are in the works for 2026.

     It should be pointed out that much of the coal and gas capacity slated for retirement is old, inefficient, costly to run, and currently has low or very low utilization rates.

     They note that two aging California gas plants with a combined capacity of nearly 1.4 GW are scheduled to retire after being delayed in 2020 and then in 2023 to support increasing power demand. More efficient combined-cycle units are being added at those sites. Gas plants scheduled for 2025 retirement in Illinois and Texas were delayed by the DOE.

     

 

 

References:

 

Retirement delays of U.S. electric generating capacity may continue in 2026. Energy Information Administration. Today in Energy. February 23, 2026. Retirement delays of U.S. electric generating capacity may continue in 2026 - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

Guyana is Diversifying Its Economy to Avoid Becoming Overly Dependent on Oil Revenue

      The future is looking bright for the South American country of Guyana, where its 1 million residents have just achieved the highest global oil production per capita from its offshore fields. In order to avoid the resource curse of other oil-rich economies like Venezuela, Angola, and Nigeria, where corruption and inflation were results, the country is busy diversifying its economy. According to the President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, they want to become like “Norway on steroids.”

     ExxonMobil discovered oil offshore Guyana in 2015, and since then, it has become a major source of Western Hemisphere oil. Oil sales began in 2019. The adjacent country of Suriname is also likely to have a similar trajectory, as oil is developed offshore there in fields with similar geology.

“For 25 years Norway used all of its resources to build out the systems, the infrastructure, and the investment in human capital and technology to be where they are,” Ali said during an interview at the Guyana Energy Conference in Georgetown on Wednesday. “If you look at where we are today and the type of investment we have made in terms of education, technology, I think we are Norway on steroids.”    

     Ali is focused especially on developing the agriculture and mining sectors. He also wants to transport natural gas from the offshore fields to fuel onshore power plants and manufacturing. As the wealth rolls in, the country has been building infrastructure like bridges as well as hotels and retail outlets. The construction boom has brought in lots of Cuban workers. The transformation will take time since the country is among the poorest in the region and has had high food and housing costs. Electricity costs are also high, but new natural gas power plants powered with domestic gas should help to keep them in check in the future. Oil production now accounts for about 75% of the economy. Ali plans to fund airports and roads in order to develop more ecotourism in the country. However, it has not been easy going. A 300MW natural gas power plant project is two years behind schedule, with costs ballooning to $2 billion.

“We have gone in the opposite direction,” he said. “I will say, in a humble way, that Guyana has demonstrated to the world that we have created a model of utilization of oil revenue to propel growth, advance wealth, and develop human capital.”

     It seems like a smart move for the country, and I wish them luck!

  

References:

 

Guyana plans 'Norway on steroids' to avoid oil curse. Kevin Crowley. Bloomberg. February 19, 2026. Guyana plans 'Norway on steroids' to avoid oil curse

 

Optimizing Wetlands Water Table Depth for GHG Emissions Reduction: Water Level Just Below the Surface with Space for an Oxygen-Rich Zone Above, Limits Methane Emissions and Favors CO2 Emissions, Which Have a Lower Global Warming Potential (GWP)

     New research points to a sweet spot for optimizing greenhouse gas emissions reduction by finding the optimum water table level in wetlands that inhibits methane release. Since methane has a much higher short-term global warming potential than CO2, reducing those emissions is more impactful. Wetlands need not be flooded. Many are seasonally flooded, but there are also wetlands that are not flooded but do have very shallow water tables. The conditions for delineating a wetland include the presence of wetland soils, wetland plants, and connection to local hydrology, either surface water and/or shallow groundwater.   

     It was generally thought that flooding wetlands leads to less greenhouse gas emission since the carbon in the soil below is sequestered and doesn’t reach the atmosphere. However, new research suggests that the release of methane from flooded wetlands makes total greenhouse gas emissions from those flooded wetlands exceed those of less flooded wetlands. This is especially true in shorter time frames since methane has a higher global warming potential (than CO2) in shorter time frames. Thus, comparing effects depends on the time frames analyzed.

     New research from the University of Copenhagen on wetlands in Denmark was recently published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment that quantifies the emissions effects of wetland flooding and suggests an optimized water table depth for the lowest emissions. The Science X staff at Phys.org explains CO2 sequestration in wetlands:

“Wetlands make up only about 6% of the land area but contain about 30% of the terrestrial organic carbon pool. Therefore, CO2 emissions from wetlands are central to the global climate balance. In Denmark, the plan is to flood 140,000 hectares of low-lying land such as bogs and meadows as part of the Green Tripartite Agreement. Flooding such areas will slow down the decomposition of organic material in the soil and keep the CO2 in the soil rather than allowing it to be released to the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect. At least, that has been the rationale until now.”

     The implications of the study suggest that large-scale flooding is not a good idea:

"Most people currently expect that converted Danish low-lying soils will be flooded on a large scale. But our research shows that this is not a good idea. By keeping the water level slightly below ground level, methane produced can be partly converted to the less harmful greenhouse gas CO2 before it is released, thereby limiting methane emissions," says Professor Bo Elberling from the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, who led the study.

     This makes sense to me as someone who has evaluated and designed household sewage treatment systems. For them to function properly, they need to be built above the water table, including any seasonal water tables. When we evaluated soil, we looked for indications of submerged conditions, such as the typical grey color of submerged soils and redoximorphic soil features such as mottling, and what are known as redox concentrations and redox depletions, zones where mainly iron has been leached out and accumulated, respectively. Keeping the septic system leach field above the water table, even by a few inches, means that oxygen will be available to supply the aerobic bacteria that decompose the sewage effluent, effectively treating it.

     Soils below a water table will develop redoximorphic features, and eventually, the submerged organic matter will produce methane through anaerobic bacterial decomposition. That methane will then be released into the atmosphere.

     The new study explains that the presence of an oxygenated zone above the wetland water table contains microbes that can oxidize much of the methane arising from the submerged soils below. Those microbes are known as aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) or methanotrophs. These MOBs counteract the release of methane into the atmosphere.  

“Here, Elberling and his colleagues have measured CO2 and methane emissions from the soil continuously for several years and have now modeled a 16-year period from 2007 to 2023. The researchers also monitored the water level, plant life and soil and air temperatures. This large database was then used in a model to simulate observations and to investigate the most optimal water level in relation to the emission of both CO2 and methane.”

"Based on our data from 2007 to 2023, we can see that the most climate-friendly water level in Maglemosen is around 10 centimeters below ground level. This is the level that overall provides the best balance between methane and CO2 emissions," says Elberling.

“The researchers emphasize that the precise recommendation of the depth of the water level will vary from wetland to wetland and will probably be somewhere between 5 and 20 centimeters below ground level. But the main point is clear: "A stable water level below ground level will almost always provide the greatest climate benefit," says Elberling.    

    

 

     While ensuring an optimal water table level in Denmark will be an engineering challenge, the professor notes that the Netherlands has done it quite well. In fact, parts of the country would be underwater if they did not manage the water table. Solar-powered pumps will likely be utilized to manage the water table.

     Other variables were identified in the study. Plant communities matter. Some plants, like canary grass, are very good at taking up soil gases like oxygen and methane through their roots and releasing them into the atmosphere. It is estimated that about 80% of the methane is released by plants. Another variable is nitrous oxide, another potent greenhouse gas. If the water table is allowed to fluctuate, there will be more nitrous oxide released into the atmosphere.  

     Similar studies of greenhouse gas releases from wetlands show that partially flooding previously drained wetlands can lower CO2 emissions more than it will increase methane and nitrous oxides. Thus, each area is slightly different depending on water table depths, past actions, and effects of changes. One study of the methane emissions of wetlands noted that while water level was the main factor affecting emissions, other factors affected seasonal emissions. These include fluctuations in temperature, dissolved oxygen levels, and gross primary production.

  

 

References:

 

Wetlands do not need to be flooded to provide the greatest climate benefit, shows study. Science X staff. Phys.org. January 29, 2026. Wetlands do not need to be flooded to provide the greatest climate benefit, shows study

Optimized wetland rewetting strategies can control methane, carbon dioxide, and oxygen responses to water table fluctuations. Bingqian Zhao, Wenxin Zhang, Peiyan Wang, Adrian Gustafson, Christian J. Jørgensen & Bo Elberling. Communications Earth & Environment volume 7, Article number: 109 (2026). Optimized wetland rewetting strategies can control methane, carbon dioxide, and oxygen responses to water table fluctuations | Communications Earth & Environment

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands, just add (fresh) water. Laura Oleniacz, North Carolina State University. Phys.org. November 9, 2022. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands, just add (fresh) water

Measuring and modeling methane emissions in wetlands. Aaron Sidder, American Geophysical Union. Phys.org. March 1, 2024. Measuring and modeling methane emissions in wetlands

Bacteria in lakes fight climate change: The role of methanotrophs as biological methane filter. Max Planck Society. Phys.org. August 12, 2024. Bacteria in lakes fight climate change: The role of methanotrophs as biological methane filter

Offshore Wind Farms Can Weaken Ocean Currents, According to New North Sea Simulations

     I have often noted that wind farms are a form of inadvertent geoengineering in that they change local wind patterns by reducing local wind speeds. New research shows that offshore wind farms also affect ocean currents and near-surface temperatures.

     New research published in Communications Earth & Environment shows that large-scale wind farms in the North Sea reduce wind velocities by up to 20% if offshore wind deployment there increases up to 10-fold by 2050, as projected. They also have hydrodynamic impacts, slowing ocean currents and heating up surface water layers.

      Phys.org explains:

“Offshore wind turbines change the air and ocean currents. The rotors extract wind energy and influence surface currents, while the turbine pillars underwater act as obstacles and slow down tidal currents. These wake structures, known as wake effects, interact with each other and determine the complex physical impacts of offshore wind farms.”

     Dr. Nils Christiansen from the Hereon Institute for Coastal Systems—Analysis and Modeling, a geophysicist and the lead researcher, notes:

"Our simulations paint a new, finely structured flow pattern that is not only evident within the wind farms but can also spread across the North Sea—with surface speeds slowing by up to 20% in an expansion scenario for 2050," says Christiansen. This can lead to large-scale changes in sediment transport or the mixing of seawater. These factors also shape the marine ecosystem.

     These potential changes in ocean currents may have other impacts, including on shipping, disaster management, environmental protection, and fisheries.

     The researchers modeled the issue with simulations and found that the distance between turbines, the location of wind farms, and local tidal conditions are decisive factors in determining the extent to which currents, temperatures, and water mixing change. In particular, spacing individual turbines further apart can reduce the turbulence caused by tidal wakes.

     While the quantification of the effects of variables is complex and mathematical, the paper explains some of the basic effects below:

“Drag from offshore wind turbine installations—both in the atmosphere and the ocean—has been shown to influence ocean dynamics at local to regional scales, leaving an impact on the marine environment. Designated to harvest energy from the wind field over the sea, wind turbines reduce the kinetic wind energy at hub height and create a downstream momentum deficit. This deficit is characterized by high turbulence from horizontal wind shear and wind speeds up to 40% lower than the ambient wind field. These atmospheric wake structures propagate both laterally and vertically behind offshore wind farms (OWFs), reaching the sea surface at distances of approximately ten rotor diameters8. Observations in the North Sea have shown that near-surface wakes can extend up to 100km downstream of large turbine clusters, depending on wind farm properties and atmospheric stability.”

 

 

References:

 

Offshore wind farms change ocean current patterns, simulations show. Torsten Fischer. Phys.org. February 16, 2026. Offshore wind farms change ocean current patterns, simulations show

Cumulative hydrodynamic impacts of offshore wind farms on North Sea currents and surface temperatures. Nils Christiansen, Ute Daewel & Corinna Schrum. Communications Earth & Environment. volume 7, Article number: 164 (January 13, 2026). Cumulative hydrodynamic impacts of offshore wind farms on North Sea currents and surface temperatures | Communications Earth & Environment

Farmers in New South Wales, Australia, Use Scrap Wool on Fields to Reduce Evaporation, Increase Soil Moisture, and Provide Slow-Release Nutrients

     According to a Daily Galaxy article, farmers in New South Wales, Australia, are using wool waste, the part of the wool that is unusable for fiber, as a farm field additive. This waste wool has been costly to dispose of and has, in the past, been considered a nuisance. Now, it is being applied to fields considered marginally suitable for crops in order to fertilize the fields and retain moisture in the soil. The wool contains carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen, and its structure is suitable for retaining moisture. The wool is able to absorb and retain moisture. The wool can be used in its raw form, as wool hydrolysate, or as pellets, mats, or it can be composted and used. Using the wool as mulch offers moisture retention and weed control. The nitrogen is released slowly, which is ideal for increasing soil fertility.

     

     Wool fibers consist of approximately 16 to 17% nitrogen, 3 to 4% sulfur, and 50% carbon. These are bound in keratin, which resists decomposition. It also contains lanolin, which is a mixture of wax and sweat. The wool fibers have hygroscopic properties. This means they absorb and retain moisture better than other materials. They also release that moisture when it becomes dry. They also help to aerate the soil and prevent compaction. Wool is also considered to be a fire-retardant material.

“Fibers can absorb between 1.5 and 2 times their own weight in water, holding it near the root zone where plants can access it. When mixed into soil, the fibers create micro air pockets, addressing the compaction that often accompanies degradation. The combination of moisture retention and aeration is unusual. Most soil amendments provide one or the other.”

     The raw wool can clump and block water movement. Thus, it is being processed into other forms like pellets/granules and composite mats that may also contain other organic matter. The wool has been found to increase moisture retention time by 25-40%.

     Field trials were conducted from 2022 to 2025. The Australian sheep industry produces about 200,000 tons of waste wool annually. Thus, reusing it beneficially would be a great boon to developing a waste wool circular economy.

“In Victoria during 2024, more than 40 wool recycling startups began operations, creating approximately 2,500 jobs in rural areas.”

     The results of field trials were published in papers in the journal Agronomy and in the journal Animal Science and Genetics. It can get very hot in Australia, and the country is susceptible to droughts that can deplete soil moisture. Below is the abstract and conclusions in the Agronomy paper.

     It can get very hot in Australia, and the country is susceptible to droughts that can deplete soil moisture. According to the paper in Animal Science and Genetics:

“The term soil flash drought (SFD) is used to describe a rapid decline in soil moisture. This phenomenon has been a major challenge for agriculture in recent decades. More than 74% of land is already experiencing drought, and more land areas are predicted to experience it due to the transition to a warmer climate (Ma, Yuan, 2025).”

     A ton of waste wool can produce nearly 900 kilograms of pellets. Those pellets have a market value roughly three times that of raw wool. Waste wool-based mulches and soil amendments are also being tested in several European countries.

 

 

References:

 

A country is covering its barren fields with sheep’s wool, and the results are turning heads. Arezki Amiri. Daily Galaxy. February 17, 2026. A country is covering its barren fields with sheep’s wool, and the results are turning heads

Turning Waste Wool into a Circular Resource: A Review of Eco-Innovative Applications in Agriculture. Francesca Camilli, Marco Focacci, Aldo Dal Prà, Sara Bortolu, Francesca Ugolini, Enrico Vagnoni, and Pierpaolo Duce. Agronomy. 2025, 15 (2), 446. Turning Waste Wool into a Circular Resource: A Review of Eco-Innovative Applications in Agriculture | MDPI

Using the natural properties of sheep wool in the design of drought-reducing composites. Julita Szczecina, Marcin Niemiec,Piotr Szatkowski, Ewa Szczepanik, Ishenbek Zhakypbekovich Alykeev, and Edyta Molik. ANIMAL SCIENCE AND GENETICS. Volume: 21, No.: 2, 2025. Published: 29-06-2025. Using the natural properties of sheep wool in the design of drought-reducing composites

 

Sewer Overflow Wastewater Spill into the Potomac River Near Washington D.C. May Be Largest in U.S. History

   A huge sewage and wastewater spill, possibly the largest in U.S. history, spilled toxic sewage into the Potomac River. DC Water reported that on January 19, there was a collapse in a section of the Potomac Interceptor located along the Clara Barton Parkway at the 495 interchange and C & O Canal National Historical Park.

     According to DC Water:

“Based on flow monitoring data collected before and after interim bypass pumping was activated, DC Water estimates that approximately 243 million gallons of wastewater has overflowed from the collapse site. The vast majority of this volume, approximately 194 million gallons, occurred within the first five days, prior to the overflows being significantly reduced through bypass pumping operations.”

“Efforts to reach the collapse site and finalize the repair strategy remain challenging due to the discovery of a rock dam inside the interceptor, which is significantly restricting internal access. DC Water is implementing a revised construction and repair approach that is expected to take 4-6 weeks and includes:

·        Construction of a new bypass pump location to enable the safe removal of rock at the collapse site.

·        Creation of a new upstream access point to facilitate repairs and enhance worker safety.

·        Development of a new downstream connection to the Potomac Interceptor to improve wastewater conveyance and reduce future risk.

·        Installation of an upstream bulkhead to restrict wastewater flow to the damaged section as much as possible.”

“In the interim, the existing bypass system remains operational and is successfully diverting wastewater around the damaged pipe section and back into the Potomac Interceptor. Some limited overflows have occurred, primarily due to increased wastewater flow associated with snowmelt and brief pump maintenance and operational issues. For example, during overnight pump maintenance, up to 300 gallons of wastewater escaped but was contained and did not reach the Potomac River.”

“Until full functionality is restored to the Potomac Interceptor, there remains a residual risk of additional limited overflows.  However, both the likelihood and volume of any future releases are expected to remain minimal.”

     Early water testing showed extremely high levels of E. Coli. 

     They report that there have been no significant overflows since the connector was successfully bypassed. Water testing is occurring daily. They reached the collapsed sewer line section on February 19, a month after the spill. It is a slow process. First, the wastewater had to be blocked off and rerouted through the bypass. Then, a way to access the damaged section had to be devised.

     Water testing by the University of Maryland School of Public Health found E. coli at very high levels and Staphylococcus aureus, including its resistant version known as MRSA, in the river. They also note:

“Up to 75,000 sewage overflows happen every year in the United States, according to UMD’s Water Emergency Team (WET), exposing residents to raw sewage, waterborne pathogens and possibly antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The effects are serious, including illnesses such as bacterial infections that can cause serious illness and death.”

     DC Water reported that they reached the damaged section after installing a steel bulkhead gate.

“Crews were able to reach the damaged pipe section, after the successful installation of a steel bulkhead gate that is now blocking all flow in the pipe. At the same time, the enhanced bypass pumping system is fully operational and diverting wastewater around the collapse site and back into the Potomac Interceptor further downstream. This critical step has enabled workers to access the site safely and begin assessing the pipe for repairs. The manual nature of this work underscores the complexity of the situation and the debris at the collapse site must be removed to fully expose the pipe for engineers to evaluate the damage inside.”

     Trump recently weighed in on the broken infrastructure, blaming it on Maryland Governor Wes Moore. However, Moore pointed out that DC Water, who owns and operates the infrastructure, is under federal jurisdiction. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser visited the site on February 19.

“Repairs are expected to be completed by mid-March, restoring full flow and function to the Potomac Interceptor. At that point the bypass pumping system utilizing the C & O Canal will no longer be needed.  Once the collapse site is cleared, work will begin to remove a 30-foot rock dam blocking the pipe. Crews will need to proceed carefully not to trigger another collapse, due to the uncertain integrity of the remaining pipe.”

     The Potomac Interceptor was built in 1960 and is now 66 years old. The spill is perhaps an important indicator that we need to pay more attention to aging infrastructure, although underground pipes of any sort are difficult to monitor.

     DC Water CEO David L. Gadis summarized what happened in a February 11 post:

“On the evening of Monday, January 19, 2026, security cameras detected unusual activity near one of our odor control facilities along the Clara Barton Parkway. That alert led our teams to discover a collapse in a section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line, which resulted in an uncontrolled overflow of wastewater into the Potomac River. From that moment forward, DC Water crews and contractors mobilized around the clock - through sub-freezing temperatures and severe winter weather - to contain the overflow, protect public safety, and begin repairs to the 72-inch pipe. By January 24, an emergency bypass was activated to reroute flows and stop the discharge.”

   

 

 

References:

 

Potomac wastewater spill appears to be largest in US history. Tara Suter. The Hill. February 12, 2026. Potomac wastewater spill appears to be largest in US history

DC Water’s Potomac Interceptor. Potomac Interceptor Project | DC Water

DC Water Releases Key Findings on Extent of Sewer Overflow and Potomac River Impact. DC Water. February 6, 2026. DC Water Releases Key Findings on Extent of Sewer Overflow and Potomac River Impact | DC Water

An open letter from DC Water CEO David L. Gadis about the Potomac Interceptor, DC Water. February 11, 2026. An open letter from DC Water CEO David L. Gadis about the Potomac Interceptor | DC Water

UMD team finds E. coli, MRSA in Potomac River after sewage spill: Researchers find extremely high levels of disease-causing bacteria including an antibiotic-resistant strain, raising public health concerns. University of Maryland. School of Public Health. February 5, 2026. UMD team finds E. coli, MRSA in Potomac River after sewage spill | University of Maryland | School of Public Health

DC Water Reaches Collapsed Pipe Section; Damage Assessment Underway. DC Water. February 19, 2026.

UPDATE: Potomac Interceptor Collapse, February 18. DC Water. February 18, 2026. UPDATE: Potomac Interceptor Collapse, February 18 | DC Water

Food Waste Management is a Key to Better Solid Waste Management: Diverting It from Landfills Requires Funding, Personnel, and Storage Capacity

    Studies in 2020-2021 in Wisconsin identified food waste as composing 20% of solid waste, amounting to 854,000 tons, or 294 pounds per person per year. The study also concluded that three-quarters of that food waste could have been consumed. A new study indicates that food waste in the state has increased since then to 900,000 tons per year, and 47% of food waste was derived from residents.

     Other studies indicate that 40% of food ends up as food waste at a cost of as much as $3000 per household. I can confidently say that is not the case with me since I use my food efficiently and waste very little of it. In September 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the EPA announced the U.S. 2030 Food Loss and Waste Reduction goal of reducing food waste by half by 2030. Below are some data from the EPA’s 2019 Wasted Food Report, which was published in 2023. In attempting to discern whether EPA was meeting its goal, they noted in that report:

“In 2021, EPA updated the baseline and goal for the food waste part of the national goal to align with the food waste scope for Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3 (United Nations, 2019), which aims to cut in half the amount of food from the food retail, food service, and residential sectors that has been removed from the human food supply chain (i.e., food waste that is being sent to: anaerobic digestion; composting; land application; controlled combustion; landfill; sewer/wastewater; and litter, discards and refuse).”

     The UN estimates that food loss and waste account for 8-10% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of $1 trillion.

“In 2022, according to UNEP, 19% of food available to consumers was wasted at the retail, food service, and household level, in addition to the 13% of the world's food lost in the supply chain, as estimated by FAO. This level of waste is not only a missed opportunity to feed those in need but also a significant environmental burden.”

     According to the UN, the world is behind the trajectory of meeting the declared Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for reducing food loss and waste. For that goal to be achieved, an acceleration of reducing that waste will be required. Frankly, it seems unlikely that the U.S. or the UN will meet their food waste reduction goals, although we should be able to stabilize the issue and show some meaningful reduction. Significant challenges remain.

     The new Wisconsin study quantifies food waste, how much is diverted from landfills, and how it is diverted.  Food donation outlets are one method of diversion. Only 2% of statewide food waste in 2023 in Wisconsin, according to data. Another method of diversion is composting. The state has 286 licensed composting facilities, but only 30 accept food waste. Composting can reduce methane emissions from food as it decomposes.

     The report recommends increasing food rescue programs and promoting or incentivizing donations, including for use as animal feed. This is in line with EPA recommendations. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources notes that prevention has the most impact on food waste. Since residential food waste is the biggest source of landfilled food waste, focusing on residential food waste reduction can be impactful. Recommendations include better food storage and a better understanding of food dates. Other diversion methods include home composting and feeding animals. I used to do both, but I don’t compost much anymore. For me, even a small amount of composting generated too many fruit gnats. However, the local deer, raccoons, possums, and mice can often find (appropriate) food treats in the yard.

     Better food waste management means less food waste going to landfills, and this means less solid waste overall and less methane emissions, since food waste is readily converted to methane in landfills.

References:

 

New study finds surprising source of more than 20% of state's landfills: 'We're looking to ... increase public awareness'. Susan Elizabeth Turek. The Cool Down. February 13, 2026.  New study finds surprising source of more than 20% of state's landfills: 'We're looking to ... increase public awareness'

More than 900K tons of food waste ends up in Wisconsin landfills, report finds: Food waste made up 20 percent of the 4.5M tons of trash at Wisconsin landfills in 2024. Danielle Kaeding. Wisconsin Public Radio. February 5, 2026. More than 900K tons of food waste ends up in Wisconsin landfills, report finds - WPR

REDUCING FOOD WASTE AT HOME. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Reducing Food Waste at Home | | Wisconsin DNR

United States 2030 Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal. U.S. EPA. United States 2030 Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal | US EPA

2019 Wasted Food Report: Estimates of generation and management of wasted food in the United States in 2019. U.S. EPA. April 2023. 2019 Wasted Food Report

Food loss and waste account for 8-10% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions; cost USD 1 trillion annually. UN Climate Change. 30 September 2024. Food loss and waste account for 8-10% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions; cost USD 1 trillion annually | UNFCCC