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January 2006

NERC’s Advisory Members

Distinguished Benefactors

Consumer Technology Association (CTA)

Benefactors

Coca-Cola

Samsung

Waste Management

Sustaining Members

  • Advanced Drainage Systems

  • American Beverage Association

  • Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR)

  • Blount Fine Foods

  • BlueTriton Brands

  • Bulk Handling Systems

  • Casella Resource Solutions

  • CLYNK

  • Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Inc.

  • Council of State Governments/Eastern Regional Conference

  • Eco-Products

  • Fire Rover, LLC

  • GDB International

  • Glass Packaging Institute

  • Henkel

  • Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI)

  • International Bottled Water Association

  • Keep America Beautiful

  • Keurig Dr. Pepper

  • MRM

  • Nestle USA

  • NEWMOA

  • PaintCare

  • Plastics Industry Association

  • Re-TRAC

  • Recycling Partnership

  • Republic Services

  • Reverse Logistics Group

  • Revolution

  • Serlin Haley

  • Sims Municipal Recycling

  • Sonoco

  • Strategic Materials

  • Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC)

  • TOMRA

  • US Composting Council (USCC)

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

TOPICS
NERC NEWS NEW NERC PUBLICATIONS TOXICS IN PACKAGING CLEARINGHOUSE UPDATE STATE UPDATES
  • CONNECTICUT
    • DEP Nears End of Solid Waste Management Planning Process
    • Energetically Protecting Connecticut's Environment
    • Everything...including the Kitchen Sink: An Update
    • A Bright Idea
    • Fact Sheets Available on Automobiles and Wood Stoves
  • MAINE
    • Solid waste Policy Task Force Concludes its Discussions
    • Host Community Benefit Agreement for State-Owned Landfill is Signed
    • Maine Recycles Week 2005 School Competitions' Winners Announced
  • MASSACHUSETTS
    • New Statewide Contract For Surplus Clean-outs and Reuse
    • America Recycles Day Wrap Up
    • New Staff at Massachusetts DEP Recycling Programs
  • NEW JERSEY
    • Solid Waste Management Plan Update to be Adopted
    • New Jersey "Reinvigorating Recycling"
  • NEW YORK
    • New York Recycles!!!!
  • PENNSYLVANIA
    • Waste Composition Video Now Available Online
    • Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center Announces the Appointment of Recycling Program Manager
  • RHODE ISLAND
    • Rhode Island Resource Recovery Awards Multiple Grants
OF GENERAL INTEREST

NERC's new mission is to advance an environmentally sustainable economy by promoting source and toxicity reduction, recycling, and the purchasing of environmentally preferable products and services.


TOPICS
MEMBERSHIP

It is through the active participation & 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

Mark your New Calendars! NERC's Spring Conference, March 21-23, 2006, Philadelphia
Get ready to be part of a groundbreaking event this coming year! NERC's Spring Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will be a first-time joint meeting with two other regional recycling organizations - MACRO and MACREDO. The perspectives of 26 states and one district will be represented at this conference. Plan to be part of the discussions on recycling issues affecting the three regions.

  • Tuesday, March 21st
    Morning - separate Board meetings for each organization
    Afternoon - Conference begins with tours of Blue Mountain Recycling & Woodhue Composting
    Evening - Social Hour sponsored by PSEG
  • Wednesday, March 22nd
    Substantive sessions on recycling market development and concerns of regional interest.
  • Thursday, March 23rd
    Morning - sessions on electronics

Any questions regarding the Conference may be forwarded to Mary Ann Remolador, NERC's Assistant Director & Conference Organizer.

George MacDonald, Maine State Planning Office, Honored by NERC
George MacDonaldGeorge MacDonald, the State of Maine's representative to the Northeast Recycling Council, was recognized at NERC's fall conference for the time and energy he has devoted to the organization over the years.

George represented Maine, through his position as chair of the State's Recycling Advisory Council, at the founding meetings of the Northeast Recycling Council in 1987. At that time, NERC was part of the Council of State Governments, Eastern Regional Conference. In those early years, NERC was active in encouraging adoption of recycling market development strategies throughout its states, as well as building support for programs to capture recyclables to sustain those manufacturing opportunities. George became the Director of Maine's Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling in 1988 but left in late 1989 to join a waste hauling firm that wanted to develop a recycling division and gave him that challenge.

After nearly eight years with the company, George returned to the State and became the Program Manager of the Waste Management and Recycling Program at the State Planning Office. In that position, he returned to the NERC Board as Maine's representative. In addition to supporting NERC with project ideas and activities, he has served as Treasurer for five years. When asked why he continues to be part of NERC, his response was "having states cooperate in sharing solid waste and recycling opportunities and needs, and having the ability to minimize inter-state conflicts due to potential differing standards, is critical to the mutual success of all states. Maine clearly benefits, as do the other states, from being active participants in a regional organization such as NERC. NERC's conferences provide me, and my state, with exposure to concepts and possibilities not readily available in Maine, as well as being an excellent format for networking and sharing of 'war stories'."

And to George from NERC's Board and staff, THANK YOU.
Photo: George MacDonald, left, receives award from John Trevor, President of the Board.

Developing New York State's Recycling Markets Database - New Project
With the first of the year comes a major new project for NERC. Empire State Development has hired NERC to develop and maintain the states recycling markets database. The goal of the project will be to research and compile data for Empire State's secondary materials markets database to enhance the delivery of legislatively mandated services and assist Environmental Services Unit (ESU) personnel in promoting economic development associated with recycling and reuse in New York State. The database will be housed at ESU, but the research will be conducted by NERC. The five-year project includes updating components of the Recycling Economic Information Study for New York, such as the electronics recycling sector data. For more information, contact Mary Ann Remolador.

NERC Awarded Grant by Community Pharmacy Foundation
Word has been received of a generous grant from the Community Pharmacy Foundation. Through the project NERC will:
  1. Develop and implement retail (community) pharmacy unwanted medication collection and disposal programs by expanding upon the successful pilot collection implemented by NERC in partnership with CVS Pharmacy in South Portland, Maine.
  2. Write and promote a guidance manual for community pharmacies on how to conduct an unwanted medications collection program.
  3. Work in partnership with volunteer pharmacies, to develop and implement a community pharmacy based consumer education program about the proper (and improper) way to dispose of the medications.
  4. Promote guidance for the community pharmacy community to provide consumer education and leadership about unwanted medication disposal.

A start date for the project has not yet been determined. For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein .

NEW NERC PUBLICATIONS

Minutes from the October 2005 Board Meeting
The minutes from the NERC Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors are now available.

Best Management Practices for Plastic Medication Containers from Consumers
In 2004, NERC was awarded an Innovative Solid Waste grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in order to develop environmentally sound and legal strategies for managing unwanted medication, as well as to develop best management practices (BMP) for the disposal of plastic medication containers. A report on the best management practice recommendations for plastic medication containers has now been published.

The disposition of over-the-counter and prescription medication containers from consumers, and indeed the availability of containers, is highly dependent on the fate of the medication itself. One of the significant products of the NERC research project was the development of best management practices for the disposal of unwanted medications in order to keep potentially toxic pharmaceutical products from entering the environment through uncontrolled disposition. In addition, the Advisory Committee for the project endorsed a recommendation that unused medications remain in their original container for disposal.

The new report summarizes each of the outputs of this research project, including:
  1. Medication container profile: The project developed a profile of the quantity, composition, and type of medication containers through published reports and articles, trade associations, and personal communications.
  2. Characterization of containers at a pilot collection event for unwanted medications: The containers delivered with unwanted medications to a CVS-sponsored pilot collection in South Portland, Maine were characterized to assess first-hand the composition and variability of this waste stream.
  3. Analysis of environmental benefits of disposition scenarios: Using assumptions on the quantity and composition of medication containers in MSW, NERC's environmental benefits calculator was used to compare the environmental benefits of alternative management options for medication containers, including incineration, landfilling, and recycling.
  4. Best management practices for medication containers: The report presents recommendations for the best management practices for medication containers based on the above research and analysis.

The report was co-authored by Patricia Dillon, Dillon Environmental Associates, and Lynn Rubinstein. For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein.

TOXICS IN PACKAGING CLEARINGHOUSE UPDATE

TPCH Welcomes California
In December, the State of California joined the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH), expanding its geographic coverage from coast to coast. Nine states are members of the Clearinghouse, including six (6) Northeast states (CT, ME, NH, NJ, NY, and RI), two (2) Midwest states (IA, MN), and now one (1) Western state. A total of nineteen states have adopted the Model Toxics in Packaging legislation. In 2006, TPCH is planning a recruitment drive to bring additional states on board.

California adopted the Model Toxics in Packaging legislation in 2004, and its restrictions on the use of the four regulated metals - cadmium, lead, mercury and hexavalent chromium - in packaging are effective as of January 1, 2006. Like other TPCH member states, California's passage of its Toxics in Packaging Prevention Act was prompted by the significant contribution of packaging to solid waste, and the potential for packaging containing toxic substances to release toxins into the environment after disposal. California's Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is charged with enforcing the new toxics in packaging requirements. A fact sheet on California's new law is available.

STATE UPDATES

CONNECTICUT

DEP Nears End of Solid Waste Management Planning Process
In concert with stakeholders and consulting firm R.W. Beck, the CT DEP is finishing drafts of its solid waste management plan. The DEP has posted information on the planning process and draft sections on the DEP website. The public can submit informal comments on the preliminary draft plan prior to January 11th. Formal comments may be made on the proposed plan following public notice. Public hearings will also be held. The final plan is expected to be released in March 2006.

In early November, DEP released a draft document of certain sections of the proposed State Solid Waste Management Plan. It contained the Vision Statement; Guiding Principles; Goals; and Objectives and Strategies. Among the most significant proposals being made include (1) have reliable, stable sources of funding in place to support programs at the state, regional and municipal levels; (2) aggressively reduce the amount of waste disposed through increased recycling and composting programs; and (3) monitor available disposal capacity to ensure the State's interests are being met and assign high priority to any applications for new capacity when it is determined to be needed.

The draft document was discussed at the DEP External Stakeholders Committee meeting in November. The DEP expects to have a complete draft Plan in mid-January.

Energetically Protecting Connecticut's Environment
Clean energy is not something we just talk about at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). On November 2, DEP become the first and only Connecticut state agency to take advantage of the new clean energy option and is now all of the agency's electrical power comes from renewable energy. The energy will come from wind, landfill gases, and small hydroelectric plants. DEP's mission is to protect all facets of the environment of the state: we maintain our beautiful state parks, protect our land, water and air, and provide education to the public. You may recall from previous newsletter articles that DEP employees recycle and compost at its headquarters. And the recent switch to purchasing of clean energy is another example of DEP's effort to practice what it preaches.

The first step was to invest in energy conservation and efficiency. For example, DEP made improvements in windows, installed more efficient fluorescent fixtures, occupancy sensor lighting controls, and an energy management system. In June 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honored DEP and the CT Department of Public Works for making these significant improvements in its 75-year old building with an Energy Star Label for superior energy efficiency.

DEP's recent move to purchase "clean" power is helping the State move towards a goal of obtaining 20% of its power from renewable sources by 2010. Although the clean energy option is currently more expensive, as more Connecticut businesses and residents sign up, we may see a decrease in that cost over time, but we will reap the environmental benefits of less polluted air right away. For example, DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy remarked that by switching to clean power, the DEP will reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 3,716 tons per year or the equivalent of taking 730 cars off the road. In addition, we are taking one more step to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel.

DEP employees are also taking their commitment to environment out of the office -- 70 employees so far have signed up to buy clean power for their homes. This represents a savings per household of 11 barrels of oil each year. Customers of Connecticut Light & Power or United Illuminating can choose to purchase clean energy for their homes or businesses. To date, about 5,500 customers have chosen this option. Throughout Connecticut, there are now 16 towns that are also committed to buying clean energy and are encouraging their local residents, businesses, and institutions to do so.

Everything...Including the Kitchen Sink: An Update
ReCONNstruction CenterOn October 15, The ReCONNstruction Center, a non-profit building materials re-use store, celebrated its grand opening at 230 South Street in New Britain. The day was a sweet reward for the volunteer members who have been working hard for the past three years to make their vision a reality. Despite the rain, a steady stream of customers purchased everything from windows and doors to hardware and molding. The most commonly heard phrase of the day was "This is such a great idea…I'll be back with my friends".

The ReCONNstruction Center functions similarly to a Salvation Army thrift shop, except that instead of accepting clothing and household goods, the Center accepts donations of unwanted, but perfectly usable building materials. These materials are inventoried, priced, and displayed at the store. Each donor receives a receipt with a description of the donated materials that can be used to claim a tax deduction. You too can show your support for the environment by purchasing, donating, or volunteering. Regular store hours are Tuesday and Wednesday 7 a.m. - noon; Thursday & Friday 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Visit the website for more information.

A Bright Idea
A Bright IdeaOpen a newspaper or turn on the TV, and there's bound to be a news story on the cost of fuel and electricity. One simple thing that all of us can do to conserve energy is to switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). By replacing one incandescent light bulb in every U.S. home with an Energy Star compact fluorescent lamp can save the nation $600 million in energy costs. That is enough energy to light 7 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 1 million cars.

Pauline Blackstock of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) wanted to make it even easier for her co-workers to switch to CFLs so she helped organize an Energy Star Lighting Sale at the DEP headquarters earlier this year. Several styles of Energy Star CFLs were sold, many for only $1.00. Torchiere floor lamps and Tiffany and Euro style desks lamps were also sold at prices ranging from $5.00 - $20.00. Participation was phenomenal, with employees purchasing a total of 4,191 CFLs, 201 desk lamps and 477 torchieres for use at home. Savings on energy bills from the use of these items for the first year is $119,000, and over $1 million during operational lifetime. Another benefit of replacing their lighting is that air pollution will be reduced - resulting in the equivalent of removing 1,425 cars off the road for a year.

The lighting sale is a program of the CT Energy Efficiency Fund and is funded by the Conservation Charge on customer electricity bills. The State Office Building in Hartford and the Department of Social Services also held similar Energy Star Lighting Sales. 

Fact Sheets Available on Automobiles and Wood Stoves
Driving a car has a significant impact on the environment, from the resources used to manufacture of the vehicle, how we drive and how much, to the final disposal of the vehicle. DEP's new fact sheet Reducing your Environmental Footprint: Information on Purchasing a Vehicle, Driving, and Maintenance Tips provides ideas on how you can reduce these impacts.

Using wood stoves can significantly contribute to air pollution. The new fact sheet Wood Stoves provides tips if you are considering burning wood, including are ways to reduce this pollution, such as using a certified stove and burning cleaner and more efficiently. 

MAINE

Solid Waste Policy Task Force Concludes its Discussions
The 34-member task force established by the State Planning Office (SPO) to review state solid waste policy held its third meeting and completed a day-long discussion of whether state policies related to host and local communities, construction and demolition debris management, recycling, material bans, public education, and regional approaches to waste management need to be changed. SPO established the task force in accordance with statute that requires a review of state solid waste policy every five years. The task force, which represents diverse waste management interests, was not asked to come to consensus on any of the issues rather to provide input from each of their perspectives to help SPO understand all sides of the issues and, in particular, where differences of opinion exist. In previous meetings, the task force tackled policies such as the state solid waste hierarchy that stresses a preference for managing that state's waste through reduction and recycling and the ban on the development of new commercial waste disposal facilities.

SPO will take all of the input provided by the members of the task force and the public and develop its findings and recommendations for the Legislature's Natural Resources Committee. SPO anticipates convening the task force one more time to review draft recommendations.

Host Community Benefit Agreement for State-Owned Landfill is Signed
After months of negotiation, the Old Town City Council has approved its Host Community Benefits Agreement, which is tied to the State-owned landfill located in Old Town. The agreement, which is between the City of Old Town, the Maine State Planning Office, and Casella Waste Systems, (the company selected by the State to operate the former Fort James sludge landfill located in Old Town), is a 30 year agreement that matches the State's Operating Services Agreement with Casella for the operation of the landfill.

The Host Community Benefit Agreement defines and establishes financial benefits for the City under statute and includes: a flat 'impact fee' amount that increases by 10% every five years; free disposal for up to 3000 tons a year of construction demolition debris generated by City activities; a Payment in Lieu of Taxes for the assessed value of the landfill; access to the landfill and records by City employees; a 'per ton' fee payable on solid waste streams disposed of at the landfill; and other benefits. The City Council held a public hearing Thursday evening on the proposed agreement and heard from both the negotiating committee members and members of the public. After nearly two hours of presentations and comments, the Council voted 7-0 to ratify the agreement, which took effect immediately.

Maine Recycles Week 2005 School Competitions' Winners Announced
Each year a high point of the Maine Recycles Week and its associated activities is the announcement of the winners of both the poster and school competitions. A last minute surge of packages arrived at the State Planning Office and raised the number of posters entered into the contest to over 1,000 in total. Members of the Maine Recycles Week steering committee judged the entries and selected 13 outstanding posters from those submitted.

The top poster selected turned out to be one of last year's winning poster students from South Bristol. The city of Bangor once again dominated the competition with five schools having seven students recognized: St. George, Readfield, and Enfield round out the field. The 13 winning posters have been incorporated into the 2006 Maine Recycles calendar. The calendar will be printed and mailed out to schools and municipalities by the first of the year. To recognize their efforts, the winning students will receive awards on February 1, 2006, from First Lady Baldacci at a tea at the Blaine House. 

Also, five schools were recognized for their celebration of recycling during Maine Recycles Week and throughout the year. Fort Fairfield Elementary School in Fort Fairfield, Zippel Elementary School in Presque Isle, St. George School in Tenants Harbor, and West Bath and Bowdoinham schools were recognized by the MRW Steering Committee for their efforts. 

MASSACHUSETTS

New Statewide Contract For Surplus Clean-outs and Reuse
There is a new statewide contract (FAC42) that allows agencies, municipalities and school systems to easily procure clean-outs of unwanted surplus property and maximize the amount of equipment that gets reused rather than disposed. For the first time, public entities have an easy way to procure surplus property clean-out services. (State agencies need to officially list unwanted surplus with the State Surplus Property Office before this contract is used to remove any unclaimed state property). Agencies who use the contract can claim credit for the materials they reuse/recycle on their annual State Sustainability Program tracking forms.

The new contract is on line. The full name of the contract is "Moving Services/ Surplus Furniture Removal and On-Site Document Destruction". The contract was reissued this October. Institution Recycling Network (IRN) qualified during the bidding process to provide surplus removal services. There are seven other companies on the contract that provide strictly moving services or on-site document destruction.

With this new contract cities and towns have a way to clean out surplus equipment while promoting reuse. These are the types of surplus equipment that this contract allows municipalities to handle in almost any quantity:
  • Office and classroom furniture;
  • Reception and lounge furniture;
  • Dormitory and room furniture, including beds and mattresses;
  • Health care and lab equipment;
  • Expendable medical supplies and medical furniture.

IRN has developed several markets overseas that allow them to remove and ship large containers of surplus to non-profit and relief organizations that have ongoing demand for these items. A complete list of vendors and services can be viewed on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts procurement web site. Use the search feature to look up "FAC42" to see complete contract information. For questions about the new contract, please contact Joseph Lydick at the Operational Services Division (OSD).

If a municipality, public or charter school wants assistance to OBTAIN quality used surplus (rather than get rid of surplus property) from the Massachusetts State Surplus Property Office, they should contact John Crisley for assistance to find what they need.

America Recycles Day Wrap Up
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) congratulates more than 20 municipalities, schools, and organizations that gave recycling a boost in public awareness by sponsoring America Recycles Day exhibits and events in 2005. MassDEP is the state coordinator for America Recycles Day.

America Recycles Day, a national campaign to raise recycling awareness, asks people to pledge to increase their recycling efforts and buy more recycled-content products. Pledges are entered into a national drawing for a new Ford Escape Hybrid SUV or Trek 24-speed bicycles. The drawing will be held in mid-December.

This year, 1,588 pledges were submitted by Massachusetts residents, nearly double the amount submitted last year. Nearly 400 pledges were made on-line at http://www.americarecyclesday.org, compared to 300 last year. The remaining 1,200 paper pledges were submitted by event sponsors and individuals.

The Town of Marshfield submitted the highest number of pledges - 539 pledges from nearly every student at the Eames Way and Governor Winslow schools were collected and submitted by Marshfield recycling coordinator Debbie Sullivan. Way to go, Debbie!

Other successful events and pledge drives were hosted by the St. Augustine School in Andover; Clarksburg Elementary School; Berkshire Trail Elementary School in Cummington; Granby Jr./Sr. High School; Hull High School; the Hoover School in Melrose; Maurice Tobin School in Roxbury; Tantasqua Regional Jr. High School in Sturbridge; Springfield High School of Science and Technology; West Springfield High School; and Westfield Vocational Technical High School. These schools are also members of DEP's school recycling Green Team and used America Recycles Day to promote their school recycling efforts. Students pledged to recycle at school, share recycling information with others, reuse instead of throwing things away, pick up trash and recycle it and help with beach and community cleanups.

Universities and other institutions that participated in America Recycles Day included Clark University in Worcester, Boston University, Tufts-New England Medical Center, MassPort's Environmental Management Office at Logan Airport, and MassDEP.

Municipalities that sponsored events or exhibits include Arlington, Boston, Framingham, Hull, Newton and Seekonk. Residents pledged to join their local recycling committees, set up recycling at events, urge business associations to pay attention and give items to charity.

Thanks to the efforts of concerned individuals in these communities, schools and organizations, aided by America Recycles Day tools such as posters, pencils and pledges, more people have become aware of the importance of recycling and promised to reduce, reuse and recycle all year long!

New Staff at MassDEP Recycling Programs
Amy Roth
is the new Municipal Grant Manager in the Municipal Waste Reduction Branch. This position was formerly held by Peggy Harlow. Amy comes from DEP's Waste Planning Branch where she managed recycling and solid waste data and reporting.

Morgan Harriman has joined the Commercial Waste Reduction Branch as a regional planner. She joins MassDEP from the Town of Franklin where she was the recycling coordinator for the past three years. Morgan will be working on a variety of commercial waste reduction programs including helping municipalities establish business recycling programs.

Regan Clover also joins the Recycling staff. Regan is a recent graduate from the University of Maine with a Master's in Ecology & Environmental Science. She spent over three years working with Audubon - New York on coordinating its environmental education program. Regan will be working on grant administration, budgeting, and coordinating consumer recycling education efforts.

NEW JERSEY

Solid Waste Management Plan Update to be Adopted
In March 2005, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell announced a new Statewide Solid Waste Management Plan that focuses on boosting recycling rates across New Jersey. This will be the first update to the state's solid waste management plan since 1993.

The DEP hosted a meeting in each of the 21 counties in New Jersey to brief county solid waste and recycling officials and the general public on the details of the plan and to answer questions and gather direct input.

After months of presentations, public hearings, comments and revisions, the DEP expects the Plan to be published in the New Jersey Register and formally adopted in January 2006.

Due to court-related changes in waste disposal and decreased compliance with municipal recycling, the Plan proposes specific measures to manage the state's 20 million tons of waste generated each year that prioritizes waste reduction and recycling.

"Recycling is not optional in New Jersey--it's the law," said Commissioner Campbell. "The new plan documents a troubling decline in New Jersey's recycling rates, planning and enforcement issues and inadequate funding that all require serious attention."

In order to meet the state's goal of recycling 50 percent of the municipal solid waste stream, an additional 1.7 million tons of material must be recycled based on current statewide rates. The new plan quantifies this estimate not only on a statewide basis, but also by what is required from each county. The plan also includes an estimate of the statewide increase needed in terms of tonnage by material, such as newspaper, corrugated cardboard and food waste.

The "Clean Communities and Recycling Grant Act" currently provides up to $4 million a year for municipal and county recycling programs. However, the plan notes that local entities require additional long-term and stable funding to meet the remainder of their recycling programs needs.

All 21 counties will be required to update their solid waste management plans to reflect the new initiatives in the state plan. Each county will have to adopt a new plan within 270 days of formal adoption of the statewide solid waste management plan. The county plans will have to identify local strategies to achieve the recycling tonnage target identified for each county. Also, the county plans will need to include methods for public promotion of new opportunities and methods for enforcing local recycling mandates.

New Jersey "Reinvigorating Recycling"
Beginning in June 2005, stakeholders throughout New Jersey gathered in Trenton at the NJ DEP to discuss issues related to recycling in the state. Due to the enthusiasm and interest of the participants, four workgroups were formed and tasked with determining and prioritizing barriers to recycling. The workgroups focused on Local Governments, State Government, Education, and Business and Industry.

After just three months of hard work, the groups met again in December to discuss their findings as written in the "Reinvigorating Recycling Action Plan." The Action Plan outlines 19 tasks, with the first six designated as short-term action items. These include the development of a consistent statewide recycling message, or "branding," clarification of DEP rules and regulations, enhanced data collection and sharing, increased hauler involvement, increased enforcement and compliance assistance, expanded local government involvement and support.

NEW YORK

New York Recycles!!!!
The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) celebrated New York Recycles! Day on Tuesday, November 29. It celebrated by recycling old sneakers and old clothes (that couldn't be donated for reuse). It also collected items for reuse including coats and books. The coats were donated to various local organizations and the books are still available for trading for new (ok, reused) reading materials.

Here is the count of materials collected for donation.....
  • Sneakers 83 pairs
  • Old Clothes 129 pounds
  • Coats 64 coats

Steve Hammond, Division of Solid & Hazardous Materials Director, also read the Governor's Proclamation, which proclaimed November 15 as New York Recycles Day.

Staff entered a contest for various goodies by taking a quiz. Here are the answers to the New York Recycles! Quiz!
  • If you recycle one ton of paper, how many trees do you save? 17 trees
  • If you recycle one ton of aluminum, instead of using bauxite ore) what percent of air pollution is reduced ? 95%
  • Recycling saves energy, time, money, landfill space, natural resources and makes less pollution.
  • If you recycle one aluminum can, you save enough energy to run your television for 3 hours.
  • What is number one on the solid waste management hierarchy? Reduction

Bonus Question: Name one thing that you don't recycle now, that you wish you could recycle? The number one answer was plastics.

PENNSYLVANIA

Waste Composition Video Now Available Online
A video detailing the 2003 comprehensive waste composition study completed by Pennsylvania DEP is now available for viewing. The video is intended to inform viewers about the objectives and methodology for conducting such studies, and shows the statewide results. 

Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center Announces the Appointment of Recycling Program Manager
Robert J. Bylone, Jr. has been named to this new position. He will be responsible to design, develop, implement and manage programs that will enhance existing markets and create new markets for recyclable materials in Pennsylvania. These needed programs will further the knowledge and skills of those individuals whose business, profession or job supports the collection, processing, purchase or use of recycled materials or the sale or procurement of recycled content products in Pennsylvania. A primary goal of this position is to increase the use of recycled materials in Pennsylvania products. In his new capacity, Bob will spend most of his time, at least initially, working with Pennsylvania manufacturers.

A resident of Schuylkill County, Bob first joined the Penn State Harrisburg staff in 2003 as a Project Assistant in the Environmental Engineering Department, specifically, the Environmental Training Center. In this role, he provided project support for water and wastewater operations training development, instruction, and research. Prior to joining Penn State, Bob was the Recycling Coordinator for Schuylkill County Government, and as an Environmental, Health, and Safety Engineer, worked for an explosives and pharmaceutical manufacturing firm, Copperhead Chemical Company, Inc. Bob was also employed at an industrial environmental consulting firm, Junkins Engineering, Inc., where he completed projects in 18 different states and in 15 types of industry.

Bob is a graduate of Penn State Harrisburg with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering Technology, a U.S. Green Building Council LEED Accredited Professional and Certified Recycling Professional. Simultaneous to full-time employment, Bob is completing his Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering. Recently he presented his first publication, "Turning Pollution Prevention into Cash Retention - A Case Study in Greener Manufacturing, Improving an Industrial Spray Coating Process" at the 98th Annual International Air & Waste Management Association Conference.

Bringing his consulting, industrial, government, and academic experiences to the RMC we welcome Bob; he can be contacted at rjb128@psu.edu.

RHODE ISLAND

R.I. Resource Recovery Awards Multiple Grants
Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) recently handed out $226,000 in grants to two local nonprofit organizations and the City of Warwick to help them further their recycling/reuse programming. The following nonprofit organizations recently received grants from RIRRC to further programs which encourage recycling:
  • Recycling for Rhode Island Education (RRIE) - $30,000 to fund the operation of their "Recycle Center"
For twelve years, this program has provided a valuable resource of useful materials that would otherwise be landfilled. They provide these clean, non-toxic, manufacturer surplus, obsolete finished products and fall-off to teachers, child-care providers, senior programs, religious education and other nonprofits. The items supplied by RRIE are used for meeting academic goals and fulfilling hands-on needs and organizational functioning. As a result of the funding provided by RIRRC, this program has grown their operations and the people they serve. The organization now has over 2,030 members and was visited by 7,307 teachers and educators. RRIE also works with the RIRRC Materials Exchange and has benefited from large donations of unwanted products.
  • The Arthritis Foundation, Southern New England Chapter -- $16,000 for the continuation of the "E-Z Recycler" program
This program facilitates recycling for individuals with arthritis. Many are unable to carry their bins to the curb for recycling and this grant funds the installation of 1,000 wheel kits (500 blue and 500 green) on RIRRC' s recycling bins. Initiated in 2005, the program was a tremendous success and current demand for the wheeled bins actually exceeds the available supply. The Arthritis Foundation currently has a waiting list of 200 individuals interested in receiving the bins.
  • City of Warwick, RI - continued funding for automated collection carts

The grant will support the ongoing efforts of the City of Warwick's automated collection program, which has realized a 40% increase in recycling recovery. The final phase of the rollout will begin in April 2006 and has been accelerated in order to lock in a price for the carts, given their price increase and cost of plastic resin. All green carts are stamped with the RIRRC logo and text reading "Provided through a grant from the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation."

OF GENERAL INTEREST

RecycleBank and ReCONNstruction Headline CRC Annual Meeting
The Connecticut Recyclers Coalition played host to two excellent speakers at its 2005 annual meeting in November. Scott Kaufman of RecycleBank led off with an introduction to his company's innovative way of improving participation in curbside recycling. Already successful in several neighborhoods of Philadelphia, RecycleBank will be extending its area of operation into New England. RecycleBank provides coupons to households in direct relationship to the measured weight of recyclables collected curbside. John Powers of the ReCONNstruction Center followed with a review of Connecticut's first building supply re-use center. Opened earlier this fall, this New Britain-based non-profit center has already had great success in attracting customers with its selection of used but usable building materials.

PROP's Fourth Annual Manufactured Soils Conference
The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania continue their commitment to all things environmental by offering a fourth conference on soils. The two-day event will cover topics such as policy and regulation, marketing and economics, manufactured soils for water quality improvement and water management. Exhibitors will be on hand, including equipment companies, consulting engineers, composters and publishers.

WHERE: Ramada Conference Center, State College, Pennsylvania
WHEN: February 22-23, 2006