News &
Updates

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February 2004

NERC’s Advisory Members

Distinguished Benefactors

Benefactors

Sustaining Members

A list of all the logos of our Sustaining Members can be found under Advisory Members

ADVISORY MEMBERS
Renewing Advisory Members:
Sustaining Member

Eastern Regional Conference

Supporting Members

Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania
Association of New Jersey Recyclers
Connecticut Newspaper Association

NERC NEWS

STATE UPDATES

MAINE
- Municipal Solid Waste Data Collection Begins
- Municipal Recycling Directory Updated
- 2004 'Maine Recycles Week' Calendars Available
- Food Waste to Resource Symposium: Changing perceptions & building partnerships
MASSACHUSETTS
- The Fourth Massachusetts Organics Recycling Summit: "Links in the Food
- Massachusetts Issues 2001 Progress Report
NEW HAMPSHIRE
- Important Changes at DES
NEW YORK
- ARD Poster Contest
VERMONT
- Agency of Natural Resources Offers Grants for Food Composting Programs

OF GENERAL INTEREST

Report from The Gambia: Yes, it's relevant!

To join the EMail Bulletin list…
Send an email to Lynn Rubinstein making the request. Please be sure to include your full name and organization.

NERC's mission is to minimize the amount of materials requiring disposal by promoting the environmental and economic benefits of recycling and source reduction in the Northeast. Recycling and source reduction includes re-use, re-manufacture, composting, and any other activity that decreases the amount and toxicity of material in the solid waste stream requiring disposal.

ADVISORY MEMBERS

We are delighted to welcome several renewing Advisory Members. Renewing as a Sustaining Member is the Eastern Regional Conference of the Council of State Governments.
Renewing as Supporting Members are:

Connecticut Newspaper Association

Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania

Association of New Jersey Recyclers

It is through the active participation and support of Advisory Members that NERC is able to provide the strength of multi-stakeholder involvement and problem solving. To see a complete listing of Advisory Members, visit the NERC website.

NERC encourages organizations and individuals concerned with recycling market development to join NERC as an Advisory Member. As an Advisory Member you enjoy discounted registration fees for NERC Conferences and you are invited to participate in workgroups and subcommittees. NERC is committed to a multi-stakeholder dialogue and Advisory Members are a critical component of our success. For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein , or visit the NERC Advisory Membership web page.

NERC NEWS

Recycling Markets & the Changing Face of Recycling - NERC's Spring Conference - Register by March 15^th!
It's time to register for the NERC Spring Conference & Board Meeting: March 30 - April 1, 2004 at the Hotel Northampton, in Northampton, Massachusetts. The Conference will emphasize the impact of overseas recycling markets on domestic recycling interests and the changing face of recycling in the United States as well as the power of public/private partnerships. We have some exciting speakers lined up and the conversation - as always - will be great. And, of course, the "famous" Social Hour at the Northampton Brewery!

SPRING CONFERENCE & BOARD MEETING
PRELIMINARY AGENDA
March 30 - April 1, 2004

Hotel Northampton,
Northampton, Massachusetts

Day One - March 30th

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: U.S. Recycling Markets and the Impact of Overseas Recycling Markets - David Dougherty, Dougherty Group

Paper Markets

Overview of how export markets are affecting US paper recycling industry - Catherine Foley, AF& PA (Invited)

Effect of single stream collections on paper markets - Reed Bates, Weyerhaeuser (Invited)

Electronics Export Markets

Update on overseas electronics markets

How to write vendor contracts so that they include proper end-of-life management criteria - Robin Ingenthron, American Retroworks Inc.

Reality check on exporting electronics - James Slater, SpaceFitters Inc. (Invited)

Social Hour ~ Northampton Brewery

Day Two - March 31^st

Reframing the Recycling Message

Preston Reid, National Soft Drink Association (Invited)

Wendy Neu, Hugo Neu Corporation (Invited)

Public/Private Partnerships

Overview of Public/Private Partnerships - Richard Normant, National Council for Public-Private Partnerships (Invited)

Examples of Partnerships - Kelly Palmiotto, Maryland Department of the Environment (Invited)

Day Three - April 1^st

NERC Board of Directors Meeting

Contact Mary Ann Remolador for additional information.

DISPLAY TABLES AVAILABLE FOR 1^ST TIME AT NERC CONFERENCE
NERC is offering a friendly competition to five vendors interested in displaying their company's information at NERC's upcoming Spring Conference on March 30 and 31, at the Hotel Northampton, in Northampton, Massachusetts. (NERC Advisory Members are encouraged to apply.) SUBMISSION DEADLINE: March 15.

To submit your application, please email Mary Ann Remolador with your complete contact information and a brief description of your interest in displaying at NERC's conference.

Display Space Details

Space Size - 6' long table or a 6' x 3' floor space

Electricity - available upon request

Fee - $500/day (includes one-day registration fee for one person)

Set Up - Vendor must be willing and responsible for setting up their display space by 7:30 a.m. the day of the Conference, and breaking down the display space by 5 p.m. that same day.

NORTHEAST NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS' AGREEMENT - PROGRESS REPORT
The second year of monitoring for the Northeast Newspaper Publishers' Agreement has just been completed. Publishers reported on the total amount of newsprint paper consumed and the total amount of recycled newsprint fiber contained in that newsprint paper for calendar 2002.

The 2002 figures can be compared to those for 2001 and to those in the benchmark year, 1997 (as described in the Newspaper Publishers Agreement Task Force Report). At that time newspaper publishers in the region were using newsprint containing an average of 27% recycled newsprint fiber content. In 2001, they were using newsprint containing an average of 28.8% recycled newsprint fiber. In 2002, they were using an average of 28.4%. Therefore we are pleased to report that even though the average percent recycled newsprint fiber dropped ever so slightly, the Northeast Newspaper Publishers not only met their commitment of 27% recycled newsprint fiber usage, once again they actually slightly exceeded it.

Northeast Newspaper Publishers Report - Calendar 2002

Total Metric Tons Newsprint Purchased Tons Recycled Newsprint Fiber Percent Recycled Fiber of Total Newsprint

1997- Baseline 2,375,000 (Jaakko Poyry estimates for total newsprint shipped to NE) 644,000 (Jaakko Poyry estimates for DIP/RCP in total newsprint shipped to NE) 27%

2001 1,529,783 440,790 28.8%

2002 1,339,465 380,110 28.4%

Many changes have occurred in the newspaper industry over the past several years, and these changes are reflected in the figures; most notably, a significant decrease in the metric tons of newsprint purchased. (There was a decrease in tons of newsprint used of 46% between 2000 and 2002, and a 10% decrease 2001 - 2002.) This can be attributable to a several factors including the economy, decreased advertising, and the light-weighting of newsprint (smaller pages, smaller print, smaller margins, lighter weight paper, etc.)

According to the terms of the Agreement, NERC will collect data for one more year (calendar 2003) and then the Agreement will be re-evaluated by the signatories to determine if it has been successful in achieving its goals, and if not, how it should be adjusted.

The Publishers who have committed to the recycled content goal and annual reporting are:

Bangor Daily News,

Dow Jones,

Gannett,

Journal Register,

Knight Ridder,

Massachusetts Newspapers,

Media News,

New York Times,

New Jersey Media Group

Providence Journal,

The Star Ledger,

Syracuse Papers, and

Tribune Publishing.

For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein at NERC, or Lori Hodo at the Newspaper Association of America. Thank you for Judy Belaval of CT DEP for helping with this article.

UPDATE ON SELECTED NERC PROJECTS
New England Strategic Outreach & Education Plan for Reuse & Waste Prevention: Developing Linkages between Materials Exchanges, Schools & Municipal Governments - EPA Environmental Education Grant, USDA-RUS Solid Waste Grant
Progress: Finalizing surveys for and scheduling presentations to Association of School Business Officials and Government Financing Officers events throughout New England. Contact Mary Ann Remolador, Assistant Director.

Pollution Prevention Protocol for Technical Assistance Reciprocity Partnership (TARP) - ECOS Project
Progress: Completed interviews and summarized P² priorities and interests in TARP states. Consultant Patty Dillon of Dillon Environmental Associates is assisting with this project. Contact Mary Ann Remolador, Assistant Director.

NERC PRESENTS ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS CALCULATOR ON NEWMOA'S E-WASTE TELEPHONE CONFERENCE
Mary Ann Remolador was one of four presenters on NEWMOA's E-waste Telephone Conference on January 22nd. Ms. Remolador demonstrated how NERC's Environmental Benefits Calculator [no longer available] can be used to calculate the benefits of electronics reuse and recycling.

STATE UPDATES

MAINE

Municipal Solid Waste Data Collection Begins.
Forms requesting 2003 year data from Maine municipalities and regions that manage municipal solid waste and recycling programs have been sent out to the responsible parties. This annual mailing request was again combined with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection's annual reports request, to reduce costs and improve efficiencies. The municipalities have been asked to submit their 2003 program data to the State Planning Office by the end of March, so that an analysis of the solid waste programs may be conducted and an assessment of disposal capacity needs and recycling activities may be accomplished.

Municipally submitted data for the year 2002 has been organized and is available. Also available are a series of state maps that indicate recycling and solid waste management systems.

Municipal Recycling Directory Updated!
An alphabetical listing of recycling programs including contact information, materials recycled, disposal facilities, and volume to weight conversions has been updated and posted to the recycling web page.

2004 'Maine Recycles Week' Calendars Available.
As part of Maine Recycles Week, students in grades K-12, in public, private, and home schools are invited to participate in a poster contest. Students creatively express their understanding of the importance of recycling and buying recycled and how their actions can encourage the wise use of renewable and nonrenewable resources. The winning entries are used to design the annual calendar. This year's winning entry, Reach for Recycling, is by Jennifer, Grade 4, Weatherbee School, Hampden, and appears on the calendar cover.

Food Waste to Resource Symposium: Changing perceptions and building partnerships
On Thursday, March 18th, 2004, the Maine State Planning Office and the Maine DEP, Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management, in cooperation with the Maine Department of Agriculture, will host a one day symposium at Bowdoin College in Brunswick. The event will mark the first time the state has dedicated staff and resources to encourage large scale food waste producers to consider composting as a management tool. It is intended to bring together large scale food waste producers, composters, farm owners, and technical and marketing experts from Maine and around the northeast region. The symposium will kick start a year long state effort that will include regional workshops and the development and distribution of an interactive resource guide.

The State Planning Office estimates that as much as 180,000 tons of food waste, approximately 10% of the state's 1.8 million tons of MSW, is currently being landfilled or incinerated. Food waste represents that last untapped waste territory in Maine's drive to achieve 50% recycling goal.

Keynote Address: T. Fleisher, Director of Horticulture, Battery Park/City Parks, NYC

Speakers:
Barry Mills, President of Bowdoin College
John Majercak, Center for Ecological Tech, Northampton, MA
Adam Sherman, Intervale Compost Products, Burlington, VT
Wayne Ricker, Ricker Farms, Lisbon, ME
Christine Schwartz, Director of Dining Services, Bates College
Will Brinton, Woods End Research Labs, Mt. Vernon, ME
Bob St. 'Onge, Winterwood Farms, Lyman, ME
Sumner Martinson, Massachusetts DEP
Ted Brown, Hannaford Supermarkets, Scarborough, ME
Bob Kelly, Seacoast Farms Compost Products, Exeter, NH
Wesley Moody, Green Mountain Tech, Whitingham, VT
Carlos Quijano, Coast of Maine Organic Products, ME
Mark King, Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Bill Seekins, Maine Department of Agriculture
Sam Morris, Maine State Planning Office

MASSACHUSETTS

The Fourth Massachusetts Organics Recycling Summit: "Links in the Food Chain"
Massachusetts DEP will hold its fourth annual organics summit on Thursday, April 22, 2004 at the Boxborough, MA Holiday Inn. The summit will be from 8:30 AM to 3:30 P.M.

Join 200 of your colleagues in a day-long summit focused on the food waste management and composting infrastructure in Massachusetts. Presentations will address current methods and practices of savvy commercial institutions that divert food waste, pioneering collection companies, and successful processing facilities. Visit dozens of equipment and product vendors. This is a terrific networking opportunity.

Massachusetts Issues 2001 Progress Report
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently released its 2001 Solid Waste Progress Report on the Beyond 2000 Solid Waste Master Plan. This report includes calendar year 2001 solid waste and waste reduction data, updated disposal capacity projections, and FY2003 program accomplishments.

In 2001, Massachusetts achieved an overall waste reduction rate of 57%, preventing the need for 18 new 1,500 ton per day disposal facilities. The waste reduction rate is flat compared with 2000, but is up significantly from 51% in 1999. Overall waste generation in 2001 was down 1 % from 2000, the first such decrease since 1997. The overall amount of waste disposed decreased 2 %, dropping for the second straight year.

In addition to reduced need for disposal capacity, recycling and waste reduction achieved several other important benefits in 2001, including:

Supported businesses that employ 19,000 people in Massachusetts, maintain a payroll of nearly $600 million, and bring in annual revenues of $3.6 billion;

Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 1.1 metric tons of carbon equivalent; and

Saved 13 trillion BTUs of energy, the equivalent of 2.2 million barrels of oil.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Important Changes at DES
There have been staff changes in the area of recycling at the NH Department of Environmental Services. In January, Marc Morgan, the State Recycling Coordinator was laid off. Marc will be missed at the Department as he contributed to the state's composting efforts, agency recycling efforts, and public outreach to communities. He was also aggressive in attracting recycling related businesses to the State. Christopher Way's position as Supervisor of the Solid Waste Technical Assistance Section has also been eliminated. Chris will be transferred to the Department's program for self-certification of small quantity hazardous waste generators. Pierce Rigrod and Don Maurer will remain to conduct technical assistance and solid waste operator training. Chris will serve out his term as President of the NERC Executive Board, after which a new representative to NERC will be appointed.

NEW YORK

ARD Poster Contest
The New York State/America Recycles Day (NYS/ARD) committee conducted the second annual NYS/ARD Poster Contest and we are pleased to present the winning posters in our 2004 NYS/ARD calendar. The goal for the poster contest was to promote recycling along with other aspects of waste reduction in a way that would involve students in public and private schools.

The poster contest was a success, and choosing winners was a very difficult process. Each winner is highlighted the 2004 calendar and through out each month are waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting and buy recycled words of wisdom.

The calendar is distributed to schools, recycling coordinators, Environmental Management Councils, Cooperative Extension offices, environmental groups, and others. While supplies last, if you would like a copy of the Calendar, email us.

The New York State/America Recycles Day Poster Contest will again be conducted in 2004 for the 2005 calendar. New York State students can pick one of the following five topics:

Close the Loop - Buy Recycled Content Products Like...

Composting - Planting the Seeds for a Better World!

Bottle Bill - Bring Your Deposit Bottles and Cans Back!

Let's Put Litter in its Place!

Every Day Should be America Recycles Day!

VERMONT

Agency of Natural Resources Offers Grants for Food Composting Programs
The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is offering about $50,000 in composting grants to increase composting of food waste and other source-separated organic waste in Vermont.

Public and private agencies, municipalities, institutions, organizations and businesses operating in Vermont are eligible for grants. Grants are expected to range from $2,000 to $10,000, but larger amounts may be applied for.

Complete applications and supporting materials are due by 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 3, 2004.

Grants are intended to support the start-up of compost facilities that accept large quantities of food waste, including larger onsite projects. Education projects, particularly those that cover large areas or produce products that are usable statewide also may be eligible. Farm-based projects that accept significant quantities of food waste are encouraged. Projects that focus primarily on manure composting are not eligible.

Compostable waste comprises between 30 percent and 60 percent of materials disposed of in landfills. Such disposal removes valuable nutrients from the food web, and organics rotting in landfills contribute to greenhouse gases.

OF GENERAL INTEREST

RECYCLING REPORT FROM THE GAMBIA
Lynn Rubinstein, NERC Executive Director, recently returned from a trip to The Gambia in West Africa. Naturally, recycling was on her mind. Two very interesting points arose. First, she found that at least some of the electronics in The Gambia are "processed" in much the same way as is shown in the Basel Action Network video "Without Harm."

Figure 1: Electronics "Processing" in The Gambia © Lynn Rubinstein January 2004

On a more positive note, she noticed that all of the electrical poles in the country are steel! They must have attended the NERC Fall 2003 Conference!

Figure 2: Steel Poles in The Gambia © Lynn Rubinstein January 2004