News &
Updates

To view our archived Bulletins, click on a date below.

June 2006

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 Members Move Up to Sustaining Level: Sharp Electronics, Steel Recycling Institute, and WeRecycle!

NERC NEWS

TPCH News

TPCH Launches Outreach Campaign

STATE UPDATES

MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts DEP Provides Hospitals Resource Management Workshop
Massachusetts WasteWise Forum Scheduled For June 19
Four Massachusetts Towns Receive PAYT Grants
Spring Update on Carpet Stewardship
Technical Assistance and Tools Available for Supermarket Recycling Programs
Dunkin Brands Joins WasteWise

PENNSYLVANIA

Luzerne County to Hold Two eCycling Events
Governor Rendell Announces $20 Million in Recycling Grants

RHODE ISLAND

R.I. Resource Recovery Providing Grants to Support State’s First PAYT Programs

OF GENERAL INTEREST

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 advance an environmentally sustainable economy by promoting source and toxicity reduction, recycling, and the purchasing of environmentally preferable products and services.

TOPICS

MEMBERSHIP

We are thrilled to announce that Sharp Electronics, the Steel Recycling Institute, and WeRecycle!
have all generously increased their membership to the Sustaining Member level!

Thank you one and all!

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

Purchasing Green Computers – A Teleconference Opportunity
Please join the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc. for a free teleconference about how to purchase "green" computers: Tuesday, June 20, 10 – 12 noon.

In July, a new, easy-to-use rating system will be available to help purchasers identify and select environmentally preferable – “green” - computer products: EPEAT. The information provided on the teleconference will enable you to use this new tool to purchase green computers. Find out how.

This teleconference will introduce participants to:

The new Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT);
The environmental performance standards required for EPEAT-registered products;
The EPEAT products database;
Product availability and cost expectations; and,
Strategies for incorporating EPEAT requirements into purchasing specifications and contract language.

Confirmed speakers include:

Scot Case, EPEAT Program Customer Services Manager for the Green Electronics Council, the organization that manages EPEAT.
Mark Schaffer, Dell Computer, green purchasing initiatives.
Dmitriy Nikolayev, Environmentally Preferable Product Procurement Program of Massachusetts Operational Services Division, the central purchasing organization for the state.

Who should participate:

State, county, and municipal purchasers
University, corporate, and health care purchasers
Chief information and technology officers
Environmental champions and professionals.

This teleconference is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through a grant to the Northeast Recycling Council. EPEAT was developed by a multi-stakeholder group, made up of government, industry, non-profit organizations, academics, and other experts with the support of the U.S. EPA. For more information on EPEAT, visit www.epeat.net.

For more information on the teleconference, please contact: Lynn Rubinstein.

NERC Fall Conference – Preliminary Agenda Now Posted
Join us at the Hotel Northampton, October 24 – 25 to be part of the discussions on:

Competition for Composting Materials - Composting, Anaerobic Digestion and Bio-Reactors
Shaking Each Tree Branch Part III – Increasing Recovery from Grammar, Middle, and High Schools
Rethinking Metrics – A new method for measuring recycling

The NERC Board of Directors meeting will take place on October 26th, and the Advisory Members Only Luncheon will take place on Tuesday October 24.

The primary conference sponsor is Public Service Enterprise Group.

For additional questions, contact Mary Ann Remolador, Conference Organizer & Assistant Director, NERC.

Collecting Unwanted Medications in a Mall? You Bet!
The state of Vermont held its first unwanted medication collection on May 20th, in conjunction with an American Red Cross Blood Drive, and with the sponsorship of the Diamond Run Mall, the Rutland County Solid Waste Management District, the Rutland area Solid Waste Alliance Communities, and the County Sheriff’s Department. This unique event collected 33 gallons of unwanted medication from 28 people: or almost 1.25 gallons per person.

People came from ten communities to safely dispose of unwanted prescription medications, over-the-counter remedies, vitamins, and veterinary medications. The medications will be destroyed as hazardous waste or as controlled substances with the oversight of the County Sheriff’s Department.

Flushing or tossing unwanted medications is dangerous!
If flushed down the toilet or drain, unwanted medications can contaminate water supplies and harm wildlife. Unwanted medicine disposed in the trash can be stolen and used, potentially resulting in death or illness. Having unwanted medications around the home presents a danger to children, guests and pets who could accidentally ingest the drugs.

The collection event was funded in part with a grant from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, and from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Agricultural Rural Utilities Service to the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

Volunteers assisting at the event included a Rutland area pharmacist, a representative of the state of Connecticut Commission of Pharmacy, the Franklin County (Massachusetts) Solid Waste Management District, and NERC’s summer intern, Amanda Merrow. For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein.

New Officers Elected for NERC Board
Come July 1st, NERC will welcome a new President of the Board, Vice President, and Treasurer. Jeff Bednar, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, will become President of the Board. He has served as Vice President for the past two years. Brenda Grober, Empire State (New York) Development, will preside as Vice President, and Don Maurer, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services will serve as Treasurer.

Retiring from the role of Officers to the Board are John Trevor, Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, who has served as the esteemed President of the Board for the past two years, and George MacDonald, Maine State Planning Office, who has served nobly as the Treasurer for the past five years.

Thank you to John, Jeff, and George for the outstanding leadership they have demonstrated.

NERC Implements EPEAT for Procurement
Following its own advice NERC has committed to purchasing only EPEAT-registered computer equipment effective July 1, 2006 – or as soon as the opportunity presents itself!

Minutes from NERC Spring Board Meeting
Minutes from the March 2006 Board of Directors meeting held in Philadelphia are now available.

Resolution of the National Board of Pharmacies
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy has adopted a resolution that the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc. (NERC) drafted and submitted. The adoption of the resolution is seen as an important first step in clearing the way on a national level for pharmacists to participate in unwanted medication collections without risk of losing their licenses.

RESOLUTION NUMBER: 102-2-06 TITLE: Safe and Environmentally Friendly Medication Destruction Programs
Whereas, patients often need guidance on the proper disposal of unwanted, unused, or expired medication; and
Whereas, the inappropriate disposal of unused or expired medication may pose a significant risk to the public and the environment; and
Whereas, there is an increased incidence of theft of prescription medications from homes and residential trash, resulting in the diversion and abuse of such medications; and
Whereas, patients with excess or unused medication often share their medication with other individuals in the absence of any pharmacist or medical supervision;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NABP and the boards of pharmacy work with the pharmacy community, environmental community, and regulatory agencies to develop programs whereby patients can safely and properly dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medications; and
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NABP develop guidance for the boards of pharmacy and the pharmacy community addressing the environmentally safe and legal collection and destruction of unwanted, unused, or expired medications from patients.

Model Regional Electronics Legislation – PowerPoint Now Available
An overview of the recently released Model Regional Electronics Legislation was presented at the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Advisory Committee, and in New York at the Federation of New York Solid Waste Associations Solid Waste/Recycling Conference & Trade Show, in May. A PowerPoint presentation is now available which summarizes the model legislation and the process that lead to its creation. For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein.

Versions of the model bill have been filed by Assembly William Colton and Senator Carl Marcellino of New York. Pennsylvania Representative Chris Ross plans to file shortly. It is also likely to be filed in New Hampshire, Delaware, Vermont, and the Virgin Islands.

NERC Interviewed as Part of Congressional Assessment Regarding Prospects for Reaching Agreement on Key E-Waste Issues
In March, members of the Congressional E-Waste Working Group requested the assistance of the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution in assessing whether mediated negotiations among stakeholders on approaches to managing electronic waste (e-waste) might be productive and help Congress develop national e-waste policy. In response, the Institute interviewed 16 representatives of key stakeholder groups – including NERC, and conducted an assessment of the prospects for negotiations on e-waste issues. That assessment is now available.

Their conclusion was that they “heard universal desire expressed for a national-level program to address e-waste issues”. “Most of those interviewed believe that changes in the regulatory landscape over the last several months have been sufficient to motivate stakeholders to engage in a new round of negotiations and to raise the prospects for success. They noted considerable time and attention is required to lobby the various states currently considering e-waste legislation (23), and that complying with regulations in the four states with active programs creates a substantial administrative burden.” The report offers recommendations, including restarting negotiations quickly in response to the narrow window of opportunity, and narrowing the scope to financing schemes for recycling and for computers and TVs only.

The U.S. Institute is an independent federal agency whose mission is to help stakeholders resolve disputes over public lands, natural resources and the environment where a federal agency or interest is involved.

TPCH NEWS

TPCH Launches Outreach Campaign

The Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse launched its new outreach campaign designed to re-educate the packaging supply chain about state toxics in packaging requirements. One of the key messages is that restricted heavy metals, particularly lead, cadmium, and mercury, are still found in packaging nearly 15 years following adoption of the Model Legislation by states. This finding is based on preliminary results from the TPCH compliance-screening project, which was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Final test results will be available in a report to be released this summer.

Patty Dillon, TPCH Program Manager, gave presentations at the 2006 Packaging Summit, sponsored by the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) in Chicago, Illinois on May 17; the packaging Expert Committee meeting of US Pharmacopeia in Rockville, MD on May 1; and the Northeast Environmental Enforcement Project (NEEP) in Burlington, VT on April 27.

STATE UPDATES

MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts DEP Provides Hospitals Resource Management Workshop

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), along with representatives from Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) held a resource management workshop at Lemuel Shattuck State Hospital in Boston on Friday, April 28th. This workshop, for healthcare facilities managers and all administrative decision makers, provided participants the opportunity to learn about how Shattuck Hospital conducted and implemented their Resource Management (RM) contract and the benefits they are experiencing as a result. Also, this how-to workshop aided healthcare facilities to learn how they can conduct an RM contract and allowed them to tour the Shattuck Hospital campus.

For more information, please contact Nicholas Oliver, MassDEP's Healthcare Waste Reduction Initiative Administrator. Information is on the MassDEP website about RM contracting and the Shattuck Hospital case study.

Massachusetts WasteWise Forum Scheduled For June 19

MassDEP is coordinating a WasteWise Forum for Monday, June 19th at the office of Genzyme Corporation in Cambridge. Genzyme is a LEED Platinum rated facility. This free half-day workshop - to be presented at the LEED Platinum rated Genzyme facility, and recent recipient of the 2004 EPA WasteWise award - will get you better acquainted with green building design and recycling of surplus items. This is also an opportunity to learn about MassDEP waste reduction programs and initiatives that could affect your programs.

Featured presenters include: Rob Gogan, Harvard University will discuss Surplus Programs; Mark Lennon, Institution Recycling Network will outline their role in managing institutional surplus; Kevin Settlemyre, The Green Roundtable will give a presentation called Incorporating Waste Reduction into Green Building Design; and Rick Mattila of Genzyme will discuss LEED Platinum Certification. A 45-minute tour of the Genzyme facility will follow the discussion.

Dunkin Brands Joins WasteWise

Dunkin Brands, Inc, which includes Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins and Togo's signed on as a WasteWise Partner. Morgan Harriman is working to enroll more Massachusetts’ companies in the WasteWise program.

Technical Assistance and Tools Available for Supermarket Recycling Programs

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), through a grant from US EPA New England, has available technical assistance for supermarkets located in Massachusetts to help set up organics diversion programs.

In addition, MassDEP has made available on its website a number of tools and reports applicable for supermarkets recycling program development. Specifically, you are now able to download the Supermarket Composting Handbook, a step-by-step manual for supermarket operators to set up an organics recycling program. Visit the MassDEP Supermarket Recycling Webpage.

For more information contact Julia Wolfe.

Four Massachusetts Towns Receive PAYT Grants

MassDEP has awarded four municipalities grants to implement a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) program to manage their residential solid waste. MassDEP has made it a priority to work with communities seeking to adopt PAYT for more than 10 years. These grants reimburse the city or town for the start-up costs of their PAYT program. The communities were awarded the following amounts from the Municipal Recycling Grant Program: Ashland (pop. 14,240) $23,000; Longmeadow (pop. 15,032) $21,600; Sutton (pop. 8,100) $4,000; and Winchendon (pop. 9, 654) $7,200. For more information, contact Amy Roth.

Spring Update on Carpet Stewardship

As part of the follow up to the Memorandum of Understanding for Carpet Stewardship, to which NERC is a signatory, Steve Long of MassDEP attended the fourth annual conference of Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) in Pine Mountain, Georgia. The three-day conference attracted over 100 attendees representing the carpet industry, states, recyclers, recycling equipment vendors, and manufacturers of products made from post-consumer carpet. Presentations included state and carpet industry efforts to meet their obligations under the National Agreement, technology and manufacturer updates and CARE is the non-profit group established by the carpet industry to facilitate market-based efforts to use discarded carpet. CARE’s annual report is available online. The report, released at the event, provides details on the progress being made in carpet recycling across the country. Carpet comprises over two percent of MSW.

PENNSYLVANIA

Luzerne County to Hold Two eCycling Events

Luzerne County will provide opportunity for its residents to recycle unwanted electronic equipment at two sites in June.

On June 3rd at the Butler Township Fire Hall, residents can recycle electronics from 9 - 3.
On June 17th, residents can recycle at Hanover area Junior-Senior High School.

For information on either event contact Ed Latinski or Beth DeNardi.

Governor Rendell Announces $20 Million in Recycling Grants - Funding Supports Communities with Mandated Recycling Programs, Encourages Innovative and Multi-Municipal Projects

Governor Edward G. Rendell today said Pennsylvania will continue supporting municipal recycling programs with 116 new grants totaling $20 million. The projects will contribute significantly to the state’s economic growth and provide access to recycling services for some 10 million commonwealth residents.

“Recycling is a growth industry with many kinds of business opportunities, from waste management to manufacturing to inventing new technologies,” Governor Rendell said. “These grants give residents greater access to waste reduction and recycling opportunities, helping to ensure a healthy environment and strong economy.”

The state grants reimburse local governments for the cost of municipal recycling and composting programs. Pennsylvania’s recycling program, created under Act 101 of 1988, mandates recycling in the state’s larger municipalities and requires counties to develop municipal waste management plans.

“This money provides much-needed funding for communities that have mandated recycling programs,” Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. “These grants also ensure that recycling continues to be a strong contributor to Pennsylvania’s economy.”

Pennsylvania’s recycling industry is a leader in employment, payroll and sales numbers. More than 3,247 recycling and reuse businesses and organizations generate more than $18.4 billion in gross annual sales and provide jobs for more than 81,322 employees at an annual payroll of approximately $2.9 billion. These businesses add more than $305 million in taxes to the state treasury.

In 2004, nearly 4.8 million tons of municipal waste was recovered in Pennsylvania. The economic value of remaking that waste into new and useful products exceeded $113 million. Communities avoided more than $259 million in disposal costs based on the estimated statewide average disposal cost of $54 per ton.

Pennsylvania’s recycling efforts also save energy, reduce air and water pollution, and limit the need for virgin materials in manufacturing. For example, by recycling more than 1 million tons of steel cans, appliances and similar materials, Pennsylvania industries saved almost 1.3 million tons of iron ore, 718,460 tons of coal and 61,582 tons of limestone. Through recycling newspapers as well as office and mixed paper, the state saved the equivalent of 8.2 million trees. On average, a live tree removes 60 pounds per year of air pollution from the environment.

The state’s recycling programs are supported by a $2 tipping fee on each ton of waste deposited in Pennsylvania landfills. However, that fee runs only through 2008. Governor Rendell is working with the Legislature to extend that deadline so the commonwealth continues to enjoy the economic and environmental benefits of recycling.

Governor Rendell also announced the availability of the 2006 round of Recycling Development and Implementation Grants. Municipalities are eligible for 90 percent funding of approved recycling program costs. Grants of up to $500,000 are available. Applications must be received or postmarked by Oct. 20, 2006.

For more information on recycling grants, visit DEP’s Website, Keyword: “Recycling.”

RHODE ISLAND

R.I. Resource Recovery Providing Grants to Support State’s First PAYT Programs

Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation is providing a $95,000 grant to the City of Central Falls to assist them in becoming the first Rhode Island municipality to implement a curbside pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) program. Central Falls has improved their recycling rate from 7% to more than 14% in the past year. As a result of that achievement, they were awarded a Resource Recovery grant as “Most Improved MRF Recycling Rate” in FY 2005.

Implementing a PAYT program is the logical next step in improving the city’s solid waste and recycling programs. Resource Recovery has been working with Central Falls for the past year to implement this program, which is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2006.

Resource Recovery is also providing funding in the amount of $52,000 for a consultant to evaluate and implement a PAYT program in Narragansett and South Kingstown. The project will analyze potential program options including PAYT and automated collection. The scope of services also includes the development of a plan to facilitate public education and participation in the program once it commences. Target date for implementation is July 1, 2007.

OF GENERAL INTEREST

Reuse-A-Shoe in Connecticut

Connecticut remains on the cutting edge as it continues its state-wide recycling program for sneakers into the fourth year. The Connecticut Recyclers Coalition (CRC), in partnership with the National Recycling Coalition and Nike, is sponsoring Nike Reuse-A-Shoe collections at various locations statewide. This is the only statewide collection program in the nation.   Connecticut's program runs through June 30th.

UConn led the charge this year. Expanding their efforts from last year Rich Miller and his students estimate that during their Earth Day celebration they collected 2,000 lbs of sneakers....roughly 5,000 pairs!

Connecticut's Reuse A Shoe efforts are part of a national recycling program aimed at collecting old, worn out athletic shoes of all brands and recycling them into new playground and athletic surfaces. Last year more than 10,000 pairs of sneakers were recycled in Connecticut alone.

Residents are strongly encouraged to set up a sneaker collection box in their hometown.   Sneakers can be brought to one of the locations listed on the website before June 30th 2006, or saved until next year. While there are no year-round collection points at this time, there should be a 5th annual collection in the spring of 2007, so keep saving those sneakers! Please visit the Connecticut Recyclers Coalition online to learn more.

Preparing to Break the Glass Barrier in Concrete – Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center

Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center (PA RMC) student intern Jeff Cucura and Bob Bylone, PA RMC Recycling Program Manager, have forged a successful partnership with the PENNDOT Laboratory in downtown Harrisburg. Jeff Cucura will be working in the PENNDOT Laboratory 50% of his week to complete the experimental phase of a Glass Cullet Concrete Program, initiated by the PA Recycling Markets Center.

This is a significant program milestone since the quantity of laboratories in the Country that have capabilities to perform alkali-silica testing for concrete blends is limited and PENNDOT is capable of this type of analysis. PENNDOT has agreed to assume the cost of materials in conjunction with the businesses involved, hiring Jeff Cucura to work at PENNDOT as a summer intern, while Jeff exclusively conducts work for the glass cullet concrete program. The average cost of the alkali-silica test is $800 per test, and it is estimated that Jeff Cucura will complete 12-17 tests, an immediate saved cost of $13,600. At present, this is leveraged at no cost to the businesses involved with the program and at no cost to the PA RMC.

Since the first meeting with representatives of the PENNDOT Laboratory, two additional students have been hired, one of which will provide 15-20% of his time to assist Jeff Cucura in the laboratory. Further information on the glass cullet concrete program can be obtained by contacting Bob Bylone, Recycling Program Manager, PA RMC.