February 2008
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
MEMBERSHIP
Renewing Supporting Member
NERC NEWS
- Register Now to Celebrate Recycling With NERC
- Exhibitor Space Available at NERC Spring Conference
- And Two New State Electronics Challenge Partners Makes Six!
- Recycling Makes Sen$e Web Page Launched
- Updated State Information on NERC Web Site
- TPCH Testing More Packaging for Heavy Metals
- TPCH Posts New Outreach Documents
- Minutes Posted for Fall Board of Directors Meeting
STATE UPDATES
MASSACHUSETTS
RHODE ISLAND
ADVISORY MEMBER NEWS
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NERC's mission is to advance an environmentally sustainable economy by promoting source and toxicity reduction, recycling, and the purchasing of environmentally preferable products and services. |
State and Advisory Member Updates are provided as submissions to NERC and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.
MEMBERSHIP
We are delighted to welcome the Association of New Jersey Recyclers
as a renewing Supporting Member of NERC.
Thank you!
It is through the active participation and support of its Advisory Members that NERC is able to provide the strength of multi-stakeholder involvement and problem solving.
To see a listing of Advisory Members and the benefits of membership, visit the NERC Advisory Membership Web page.
It is the broad spectrum of interests represented by NERC’s Advisory Members and Board Members and their willingness to participate that significantly contributes to the unique and important role that NERC plays in recycling in the region.
NERC NEWS
Register Now to Celebrate Recycling With NERC
On March 18 and 19, industry professionals and advocates will celebrate the progress of recycling over the past 20 years. NERC’s 20th Anniversary and Spring Conference will be held at the Hotel Northampton in Northampton, Massachusetts. Join us in discussing some of today’s most engaging topics in recycling and the industry’s evolution. Also, celebrate NERC's anniversary with us on the evening of March 18th.
Rooms are available at the Hotel Northampton (telephone: (800) 547-3529). The discounted rates of $120 for a single and $130 for a double (plus all applicable taxes) are available on a first-come, first-served basis until February 17th. When making your reservation, refer to NERC to ensure that you receive the discounted rates. Please note that reservations cannot be done online. Room reservations must be cancelled by noon one week prior to your arrival to avoid charges.
For more information about the conference agenda or speakers, contact Mary Ann Remolador , NERC Conference Organizer and Assistant Director.
Exhibitor Space Available at NERC Spring Conference
If you are looking for an opportunity to make your business known to the Northeast’s recycling industry, plan to exhibit at NERC’s Spring Conference on March 18 and 19 at the Hotel Northampton in Northampton, Massachusetts. The advantages of exhibiting at this event include:
- Meeting state recycling officials from the ten Northeast states, municipal recycling coordinators, recycling trade association representatives, businesses, and non-profit organizations
- Exhibiting in the conference room. All exhibit tables and displays are placed directly in front of conference attendees, enabling you to participate in the conference and its discussions.
- Each exhibitor will be given five minutes to introduce its business to the conference audience.
- Ample networking opportunities at the breaks and at NERC’s 20th anniversary celebration.
. . . And Two New State Electronics Challenge Partners Makes Six!
The family of State Electronics Challenge Partners has grown with the addition of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Northeast Kingdom (Vermont) Waste Management District . For a complete list of all Partners, visit the State Electronics Challenge Web site . As of late January, representatives of five of the New England states have signed-up to participate in the challenge.
The State Electronics Challenge is a voluntary program that encourages and helps state, regional, and local governments, including schools, colleges, universities, and other public entities, to:
- Purchase greener computers.
- Reduce power consumption of computers during use.
- Manage obsolete computer products in an environmentally safe way.
Government agencies and organizations participate as "partners" in the program. The SEC provides partners with resources and technical assistance for improving electronics management practices, and offers annual recognition to partners that have achieved specific goals.
It’s free to join, and the benefits are ample. For more information, visit the State Electronics Challenge Web site, or contact Lynn Rubinstein, NERC Executive Director.
Recycling Makes Sen$e Web Page Launched
As part of NERC’s USDA-funded project to raise recycling awareness of businesses, schools, and municipal offices, NERC has launched the Recycling Makes Sen$e Web page This site includes:
- The Recycling Makes Sen$e PowerPoint presentation being given at workshops in nine of the Northeast states, and
- The Recycling Makes Sen$e Guide which provides a step-by-step approach to starting or expanding a workplace recycling program, recycling resources provided by the participant towns and states.
For more information about this project, contact Mary Ann Remolador, NERC Assistant Director.
Updated State Information on NERC Web Site
The NERC Member States information has been updated. The state information enables you to find contacts and information on ways to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost in your state. Contact information for NERC representatives and member agencies is listed, along with contacts for waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, and hazardous materials handling for each state. Web links to recent state press releases, composting information, recycling data, recycling organizations, resources exchanges, and more are also available.
For more information contact Athena Lee Bradley, NERC Projects Manager.
TPCH Testing More Packaging for Heavy Metals
In January, the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH) began its second project to screen packaging for the presence of four heavy metals – lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium – restricted by state toxics in packaging laws.
This project follows the release of a TPCH report in June 2007 that found a significant amount of retail packaging potentially in violation of state laws that prohibit the intentional use of these heavy metals in packaging and packaging components.
The current screening project, funded by U.S. EPA New England, uses an x-ray fluorescence analyzer (XRF) manufactured by Innov-X Systems to determine the concentration of the four restricted metals. Similar to the first screening project, companies selling or distributing potentially non-compliant packages will be notified and asked to submit a Certificate of Compliance demonstrating compliance with state requirements or submit an action plan to address non-compliant packages.
The packaging screening results will assist the TPCH in evaluating the effectiveness of outreach efforts begun after the first screening project to remove heavy metals from the solid waste stream; and will help the TPCH identify where further outreach efforts are needed.
For more information on the packaging screening project, please contact Patty Dillon, TPCH Program Manager.
TPCH Posts New Outreach Documents
The Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse posted two new outreach documents on its Web site in January – the Home Furnishings Industry Toxics in Packaging Fact Sheet and the Quality Assurance Considerations for Toxics in Packaging Fact Sheet.
The Home Furnishings Industry Toxics in Packaging Fact Sheet is the first in a series of fact sheets tailored to specific industry sectors. These fact sheets highlight where heavy metals might be found in packaging commonly used by the industry sector, provide a summary of toxics in packaging requirements, and include responses to frequently asked questions. Other fact sheets are planned for the shopping bag and toy industries as well as for retailers.
The Quality Assurance Considerations for Toxics in Packaging document outlines steps that companies in the packaging supply chain can take to ensure the quality of raw materials and packaging supplies.
For more information, contact Patty Dillon, TPCH Program Manager.
Minutes Posted for Fall Board of Directors Meeting
Minutes for the NERC Fall Board of Directors Meeting, which took place on October 18, 2007, are now available. For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein, NERC Executive Director.
STATE UPDATES
MASSACHUSETTS
Resource Conservation (RC) Planning: A New Option for TURA Filers
Under the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA), facilities are required to report their toxics use on an annual basis and conduct toxics use reduction (TUR) planning every two years. Under regulation revisions promulgated in December 2007, facilities covered under TURA have a new planning option available to them called Resource Conservation (RC) Planning. RC planning gives companies the opportunity to benefit the environment and save money by identifying ways to reduce energy, water, solid waste, or non-TURA regulated chemicals. Facilities may also choose to implement an environmental management system that incorporates toxics use reduction in place of TUR planning.
What is RC Planning?
RC planning uses the traditional TUR planning process to identify source reduction opportunities for one or more "natural assets." Assets that can be included in an RC plan include:
- Energy (including shifting to renewable energy sources)
- Water
- Materials and products that contribute to solid waste
- Toxics used below TURA reporting thresholds
- Chemical substances exempt from TURA reporting (either non-listed substances or substances specifically exempted from TURA).
Why would companies be interested in RC planning?
If a facility has already gained experience in reducing toxics use, RC planning provides an opportunity to focus on other important areas of the facility’s operations where further environmental improvement and cost savings can be achieved, such as reducing the use of energy, water, or materials. RC planning also is ideal for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change, since reducing the use of energy, water, and/or materials can achieve significant GHG reductions. For example, increasing energy efficiency means less fuel is consumed on-site or by power plants, thereby reducing GHG and other pollutant emissions.
When can companies begin?
A facility can start with the 2008 planning year (plans due by July 1, 2008), provided it has completed a TUR plan and two plan updates. RC planning is available every other planning year, so if a facility completes an RC plan for 2008, it must update its toxics use reduction plan in 2010. In 2012, it could return to RC planning for the same asset or a different asset than in the 2008 RC plan.
For more information on RC planning under TURA, please visit the MassDEP Web page at http://www.mass.gov/dep/toxics/tura/rcplan.htm.
New Faces at MassDEP
New Municipal Waste Reduction Planner
Stefan Malner has joined MassDEP's Municipal Waste Reduction Branch as a Regional Planner. His work will focus on Household Hazardous Waste program coordination and municipal grant program assistance, with an emphasis on data management.
New Recycling Market Development Planner
Alissa Bilfield has joined the Commercial Waste branch at DEP. Alissa comes to the program from DEP’s Bureau of Waste Prevention Planning and Evaluation branch. In addition to working on overall market development issues, Alissa will be working on programs such as the Recycling Loan Fund and the Recycling Industry Reimbursement Credit grants.
RHODE ISLAND
Plastic Bag Law Amended
Rhode Island amended its plastic bags recycling statute so that all businesses with sales in excess of $8 million in the aggregate must collect plastic bags for recycling. The deadline for compliance was January 1, 2008, and RIRRC fielded numerous requests from businesses seeking to comply by joining the ReStore program. In addition to Rhode Island retailers, many national chains have added collection barrels and signage. New to the ReStore program are Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS, Sears, Macy’s, Kohl’s, JC Penney, Ann & Hope, Douglas Lumber, Bed, Bath & Beyond, The Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Ocean State Job Lot. Prior to the new law, the ReStore bins were available only at grocery stores throughout the Ocean State.
Paper Processing Facilities Updated
Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation recently completed a $3.4 million retrofit of its paper processing facilities at its MRF in Johnston, R.I. The installation was completed on time and on budget, and will not eliminate any staffing positions. With the new equipment, the MRF will be able to process growing quantities of material, as projected by increased recycling among Rhode Island businesses and municipalities. The new system will process 40 tons per hour (minimum) as compared to the 26 tons per hour capacity of the former system. The MRF will sort inbound material generating higher yields of #11 OCC and #8 ONP, which are premium priced materials. Van Dyk Baler Corporation designed and installed the new system that features a drum feeder type 12500, a triple deck OCC Starscreen 660, a Bollegraaf HBC-140F baler, and a pair of ONP Separators Extra Wide.
ADVISORY MEMBER NEWS
WeRecycle!, Inc. Announces ISO 14001:2004 Certification
WeRecycle!, Inc. is now ISO 14001:2004 Certified. The certification addresses WeRecycle!’s Environmental Management System and assures that it complies with the rigorous performance standards set forth by the International Standards Organization (ISO), a group that sets quality and environmental management standards for businesses.
WeRecycle! completed Stage I of the ISO 14001:2004 Audit in November 2007 and Stage II in December 2007. Being ISO 14001:2004 Certified verifies that WeRecycle! is minimizing its harmful effects on the environment and is continually working to improve its environmental performance.
“Achieving ISO 14001:2004 certification is a huge stamp of quality for our organization, one that we worked very hard to achieve,” said Yvonne Wojcicki, Environmental Health & Safety Manager. “Our customers and key stakeholders can trust that we have become a recycling industry leader effecting positive change in preserving our environment. The WeRecycle! staff stands proud of achieving this important certification and is committed to demonstrating excellence every single day.”
To view the full document on WeRecycle!’s Web site, click here.