March 2005

REVISED AGENDA POSTED

Sponsored by

Tuesday, March 22, 2005
8:30	Registration & Continental Breakfast
9:00	Welcoming Remarks: John Trevor, RI RRC; President, NERC Board of Directors
9:30	Changing Role of Recycling Trade Associations & Their Affect on Recycled Material Markets ~ Keynote Speaker ~ Bill Heenan, President, Steel Recycling Institute Come hear this well-known recycling Trade Association leader speak on: How and why the role of Trade Associations has changed over the past ten years, Why some Associations have folded and others flourished over the past two years, Where Trade Associations are headed, and How they affect recycled material markets.
10:30	Panel Discussion - Come hear the perspectives of recycling professionals with decades of experience address the following issues: Trade Associations' Relationships with State & Municipal Governments, Their Biggest Successes & Challenges in Working with State & Municipal Governments, Their Biggest Successes & Challenges in Addressing Recycling Markets, and Their Biggest Successes & Challenges in Addressing Commercial Collection Issues.    Panelists: Fran McPoland, Principal ,Colling Murphy ~ representing the Paper Recycling Coalition, Alan Ratner, President, Metal Management Northeast; and ISRI member ~ active participant in recycling associations, and Steve Navedo, Vice Chair of the Association of Post-consumer Plastics Recyclers (APR), and Sales Manager, Pure Tech Plastics.
12:45	LUNCH - Provided
1:45	Facilitated Discussion on the Strategies Trade Associations are Using to Get More Material from Business, State & Municipal Recycling Programs Session Facilitator ~ John Trevor, RI RRC; President, NERC Board of Directors Join us in a facilitated dialogue with Trade Associations to discuss: Strategies Trade Associations are using to increase the supply of recycled materials Available resources for supporting municipal and regional recycling programs (research, toolkits, technical assistance, databases, etc.) How can we create strategic partnerships between Trade Associations and the people who actually collect the materials: government, businesses, property managers, haulers, etc.?
4:30	Tour of Northampton Brewery ~ For several years the Brewery has been the site of the very popular Social Hour. Now you can learn about the Brewery's composting and recycling programs, while learning how they make their brew. Please let us know if you are interested in joining the tour.
5:30-7:30	Social Hour at the Northampton Brewery, sponsored by

For more information contact Mary Ann Remolador. 

Northeast Newspaper Publishers Agreement - Alive & Growing!
In the fall of 2004 the Northeast Newspaper Publisher's Agreement (Agreement) reached a watershed moment: three complete years of data on the use of recycled newsprint by the newspaper publishers of the region had been collected and analyzed. The Agreement - a voluntary partnership between NERC, the Newspaper Association of America (NAA), and 15 newspaper publishers representing more than 86% of the newsprint usage in the Northeast - called for an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Agreement after three years.

In late fall 2004 the NERC Board, NAA management and member newspapers in the Northeast considered the question of the Agreement, whether it had been effective, and how best to move forward. All parties strongly felt that the Agreement had been a noteworthy achievement and a true success. This multi-stakeholder voluntary collaboration addressing recycling market development sets an example and demonstrates industry-wide leadership even in the face of challenging and changing market conditions.

Over the course of the past three years, NERC has been responsible for collecting the data from the publishers and reporting on the results. The success of this process has motivated NAA not only to assume this annual data collection component of the Agreement, but to make its scope national.

Beginning in 2005, the NAA will collect and report on regional and national recycled content usage statistics to NERC. This will be accomplished through a modification of its annual industry survey which went out to newspapers in February 05. As such, the NAA expects to be able to report the 2004 usage figures in early summer 2005. This will result in an expanded and timelier reporting of data than the data collection process originally implemented.

The newspapers that are signatories to the Agreement are:

• A.H. Belo,
• Bangor Daily News,
• Dow Jones,
• Gannett Company,
• Journal Register,
• Massachusetts Newspapers,
• Media News Group,
• New York Times,
• Providence Journal Company,
• The Post-Standard/
• Syracuse Herald-Journal
• Syracuse Herald American
• The Record (Bergen County, NJ),
• The Star Ledger, and
• Times Mirror

For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein, NERC, or Lori Hodo, Newspaper Association of America.

In-Store Unwanted Medication Collection CVS Mill Creek, South Portland, Maine
This was an amazing and exciting event. Fifty-two people brought in 119 pounds of unwanted medications - more than 55,000 pills, inhalers, ointments, and liquids. The project was funded through an EPA Innovative Solid Waste Grant and with the generous support of CVS, the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District, and the South Portland, Maine Police Department. A detailed report (356KB)is available. For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein.

Documents Now Available for Regional Electronics Legislation Effort
NERC has launched a joint project with the Council of State Governments/Eastern Regional Conference that will seek to develop a unified approach to electronics management in the region. A detailed description of the project can be found on the NERC website.

As part of this effort we are providing the CSG/ERC Energy & Environment Committee with several fact sheets. Each of these is now available on the NERC website:
	1)	Electronics Recycling Glossary of Terms(Updated 3/9/05)
	2)	Legislative Overviewpresents features of proposed and adopted legislation in spreadsheet format. STATE LEGISLATION (Updated 4/29/05) Maine - adopted California - adopted Massachusetts - filed New Jersey - filed Oregon - filed Rhode Island - filed Vermont - filed FEDERAL LEGISLATION (Updated 4/8/05) Filed by Rep. Mike Thompson (CA); Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY) Filed by Sen. Ron Wyden (OR); Sen. Jim Talent (MO) Filed by Rep. Randy (Duke) Cunningham (CA) MODELS (Updated 3/9/05) Product Stewardship Institute Model "A" Environmental Manufacturers Coalition Electronics Recycling Act 2005
	3)	Maine Shared Responsibility/Minnesota ARF(Updated 3/9/05)
	4)	Industry Perspective: (Updated 3/9/05) ARF (presented by the Environmental Manufacturers Coalition) vs. Cost internalization (presented by Hewlett Packard)
	5)	Retail Perspective (Updated 3/9/05) (presented by the Consumer Electronics Retailers Coalition)
	6)	The Equipment Leasing Association (Updated 3/9/05)
	7)	Producer Take Back as a Waste Prevention Strategy for Managing Computers and Electronics (Added 3/15/05) An Equitable System to Distribute the True Costs of Electronic Waste
	8)	Draft Proposal for Reuse Inclusion in Electronics Recycling Legislation (Added 3/15/05)
	9)	National Solid Wastes Magagement Association (NSWMA) letter (Added 3/24/05)
	10	Summary of Northeast Environmental Agencies' Perspective on Regional Electronics EOL Legislation (Added 3/31/05)

There is now a drop-down menu on the left had bar of the NERC home page entitled "Regional Electronics Project". As additional documents are added or updated, they will be posted in that location.

For more information about this project, and to participate in the stakeholder discussions, please contact Lynn Rubinstein.

NERC Engages in EPP Peer-to-Peer Project
NERC, with the assistance of the project Advisory Committee, is in the process of identifying businesses in VT, NH and ME that are interested in initiating or further developing their Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Program, as well as companies interested in mentoring them. We have identified Green Mountain Coffee Roasters of Vermont as one of the businesses to receive mentoring and have spoken with several potential Vermont mentoring businesses. The Advisory Committee for this USDA-funded project includes: Tom Miragliuolo, MESPO; Peter Cooke, MEDEP; Sanna McKim, ME Businesses for Social Responsibility (BSR); Carolyn Grodinsky, VTANR; Peter Crawford, VT Small Business Development Center; Spencer Putnam, VTBSR; James Robb, NH Division of Economic Development; and Boyd Smith, NHBSR. For more information, contact Mary Ann Remolador , NERC's Assistant Director.

Events Selected for Special Events Project
As part of its USDA-funded Special Events project, NERC will assist six events, two events in each of ME, VT, and NH with initiating or further developing their recycling program plans. The selected events are:

Event Dates	Event	Location
April 1 - 3	HCS Flower Show	Cheshire Fair Grounds, NH
July 1- 5	Bath Heritage Days	Bath, ME
Sept. 8 - 11	Clinton Lions Club Fair	Clinton, ME
Sept. 9 - 11	Hillsborough County Fair	NH
Sept. 15 -18	Tunbridge Fair	VT
Oct. 7 - 9	Stowe Craft Fair	VT

The project Advisory Committee includes: Bruce White, ME SPO; Leslie Trundy & Paula Adam, Old Home Days, Bath, ME; Sharon Yergeau, NH DES; Bob Silk, Cheshire Fair Grounds & NH Fair Association; Bill Matheson, Hillsborough County Fair, NH; Tim Parsons, NH Local Government Center; Carolyn Grodinsky, VT ANR; Tim Cianceola, Craft Producers, VT; and Rebecca Beguin, Tunbridge Fair, VT. For more information, contact Mary Ann Remolador, NERC's Assistant Director.

NERC Staff to Serve on Board for PA Recycling Market Development Center
Mary Ann Remolador, Assistant Director of NERC, has been invited to participate as a non-voting member of the Board of Directors for the PA Recycling Market Development Center, which will begin meeting this month. The mission of the Center is to expand and develop more secure and robust markets for recovered secondary materials in PA by helping to overcome market barriers and inefficiencies. For more information, contact Mary Ann Remolador, NERC's Assistant Director.

Materials Exchanges In The Northeast ~ Updated
As you know, Materials Exchanges are excellent opportunities to find a useful life for materials rather than creating solid waste. We are fortunate that there are several Materials Exchanges in the Northeast. Some are non-profit, and others are for-profit. NERC has developed this list as an informational service to make it easy to identify and access these organizations. Promoting the environmental and economic benefits of source reduction is part of NERC's mission, and Materials Exchanges provide an important source reduction service. This is the most up-to-date comprehensive listing of Materials Exchanges in the Northeast. We intend to keep it current and to expand it as appropriate. Materials Exchanges provide an important public service. We hope that you'll take advantage of them!

Residential Swap Shops at Recycling Centers and Transfer Stations are not included in this listing. Please contact your communities' recycling coordinator to see if a swap shop exists in your community. For more information, contact Jessica Wozniak.

State Environmental Benefit Fact Sheets Available!
The Environmental Benefit Fact Sheets from all ten states are now posted on the NERC website. As mentioned in the December Email Bulletin, NERC updated the Environmental Benefits Calculator by adding Source Reduction and Reuse features, revising data from U.S. EPA's WARM tool and updated state's non-material statistics. In addition to these changes, the updated Fact Sheets have a new look.

Facts presented in the Fact Sheets are derived directly from the Environmental Benefits Calculator and are intended to be used as references by waste prevention officials and advocates in preparing outreach materials such as press releases, presentation slides, educational curricula, and articles.

The Fact Sheets discuss greenhouse gases, energy savings, water and air emissions and natural resources. Here is an excerpt from the State of Connecticut:

Connecticut's recycling efforts saved a total of 8.9 trillion BTUs of energy, equal to nearly 4.4% of all energy used by industry in Connecticut. This is equivalent to 71,747,771 gallons of gasoline. It represents the amount of energy that would be required to power 86,934 homes for one year in Connecticut.

A blank Fact Sheet is available as well. Since the Calculator can be used by state governments, municipalities and businesses, each studied area can fill out the Fact Sheet after running the Calculator with their specific information. Directions for developing a tailored Fact Sheet are available in "About this Model" Worksheet within in the Calculator Excel spreadsheet. 

STATE UPDATES

CONNECTICUT

Connecticut Bans the Sale of Certain Lab Chemicals Containing Mercury
As part of Connecticut's ongoing initiative to reduce the use of products containing mercury, Connecticut has banned the sale of certain chemicals used for water quality testing. These chemicals are commonly referred to as reagents. Labs which test water, whether it is discharged from treatment plants, used for drinking, or for many other commercial and industrial purposes, will no longer be allowed to use some reagents containing mercury. Connecticut has banned the sale of these reagents in accordance with mercury product laws effective July 1, 2004. The reagents that were banned had feasible non-mercury alternatives.

Nessler's Reagent has been used to test for the presence of ammonia in water, for example in koi ponds. However, Nessler's Reagent contains greater than 250 parts per million of mercury which is above the threshold for the Connecticut sales ban. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection determined that there are non-mercury alternative testing methods widely available therefore, Nessler's Reagent may no longer be sold in Connecticut. The law prohibits the sale, not the use of these reagents.

Other reagents that have been phased out in Connecticut include mercuric thiocyanate, which has been used to detect chlorides, and mercuric sulfate used for Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) determination. Connecticut granted an exemption request from a manufacturer for mercuric sulfate when used for Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and mercuric nitrate when used for calibration purposes only. For more information contact Tom Metzner, CT DEP.

MAINE

The First Lady Welcomed Winners of the Maine Recycles Week 2004 Poster Contest
Recycling was again welcomed at the Blaine House this past week by Mrs. Baldacci, as she greeted the winning students of the Maine Recycles Week 2004 poster contest at tea/reception on February 1st. Along with the children who were accompanied by family and teachers, the First Lady announced that she would be sending her personal message to support recycling along with a children's book that was to be distributed to all the elementary school libraries in the state. The book, The Box Lady, is the creation of Mrs. Anne Woodbury about a neighbor and friend in Brunswick. The book is about children who are introduced to recycling at a tea given by a neighbor. The story was a natural lesson for Mrs. Baldacci to identify with and to champion. The Maine Recycles Week Steering Committee would like to thank Mrs. Baldacci for her continued support. 

Lincoln Academy in Newcastle Welcomed SPO Staff & Celebrated Recognition in Maine Recycles Week 2004 School Competition
As one of the three outstanding schools in this year's Maine Recycles Week school competition, Lincoln Academy was awarded a check for $500 for their program supporting recycling in the school and in the community. (Awards are made by the Maine Recycles Week Steering Committee from sponsors' money remaining after the costs of promotion have been accounted for and all activities have been completed.) More specifically, the ball was carried by a small class of dedicated students who had revamped the old recycling program in their school and actually worked with the administration and custodians to establish a space for recycling, as well managing the collection activities themselves. Before the assembled school body, the students accepted their check and announced that the proceeds would be spent for: aprons to be worn while sorting the trash and bottles; $100 for a new science class; and a large donation to the new science wing. 

Backyard Compost Bins On Sale
Once again this year, municipalities, community groups, and service organizations can purchase backyard compost bins taking advantage of bulk purchasing prices. This year, the Maine Resource Recovery Association (MRRA) is spearheading the project. Because SPO has been the one to host this project for the last two years, we have already received several requests for information. Any interested parties have until May 7 to order compost bins and delivery is expected in late June. Compost bins can only be ordered in increments of 20. Residents are encouraged to first contact their local town officials or recycling coordinators to express interest in the program. For more information about the benefits of backyard composting which helps alleviate the food waste in the waste stream by thousands of tons a year, please visit our website. 

MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts DEP to Sponsor WasteWise Meeting
The Massachusetts DEP will sponsor the first statewide/MA WasteWise Meeting for current and prospective partners. This event is also being co-sponsored by US EPA, Raytheon, Consigli Construction and the Newark Group. The meeting will take place on March 2nd at the Raytheon Woburn Facility from 10:00 - 2:00. Agenda includes: presentation by Raytheon on their waste reduction program, sessions on increasing paper recovery in existing programs in light of increasing market prices for recovered paper; how to report on goals to WasteWise; WasteWise 101; and a select number of open discussion topics including waste reduction technical assistance needs in Massachusetts. For more information, contact Julia Wolfe.

Fifth Massachusetts Organics Recycling Summit, 2005
"Getting to Yes: Strategies for Organics Recycling Success" will be held on Wednesday, March 30, 2005, at the Holiday Inn in Boxborough, Massachusetts. The Summit will focus on the challenges and successes of growing the capacity of food waste recycling programs. Expanding these programs will take a combination of operational excellence, savvy business relationships, and cooperation across the spectrum of stakeholders.

The target audience includes state agency and municipal recycling, public health and agricultural officials with an interest in large-scale composting of organic materials (food residuals and leaf and yard waste), including those that compost their own organic materials, use a composting service provider, or have compost facilities on public land.

• Find out how organics generators, haulers and commercial composters have achieved operational excellence and built support with external stakeholders.
• Learn dispute resolution and community and public relation techniques used by state and local regulators and organics recycling stakeholders for fostering smooth relationships with customers and communities.
• Hear updates from food and composting trade associations and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). DEP presenters include: Commissioner Golledge, Lee Dillard Adams and Greg Cooper.
• Visit dozens of equipment and product vendors. Terrific networking opportunity with over 200 participants in the field.

DEP to Provide Idling Reduction Tool Kits to Municipalities
DEP's Recycling Unit is branching out… This year, a new grant was offered to communities through the FY05 Municipal Recycling Grant application: An Idling Reduction Toolkit. Fourteen communities applied for the Toolkit, which is designed to assist municipalities in developing school, municipal and community wide idling reduction campaigns. The toolkit was developed by Recycling Program staff in conjunction with DEP's Transportation Unit. The launch of the toolkit grant coincided with DEP's school bus inspections that were conducted last fall. Massachusetts General Law prohibits unnecessary engine idling in excess of five minutes.

The Toolkit includes a "Ten Step Guide to Establishing an Idling Reduction Campaign", sample press releases, a model municipal policy on idling reduction, fact sheets, a public service announcement for television, windshield stickers, and artwork for idling reduction hand cards and bumper stickers, among other items. The grant also includes metal street signs in three formats, featuring an idling reduction message, for posting at schools, public transit depots and other high idling locations. For more information, contact Lori Segall.

Springfield MRF to Officially Welcome New Municipal Contract Holders
The Massachusetts DEP has entered into a new contract with Recycle America, LLC, a subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc. for the operation of the Springfield Materials Recycling Facility (MRF). The contract is for a ten year period starting April 1, 2005. Operations will remain essentially the same for new payment terms. Participating communities will receive a flat payment of $15.67 for each ton of recyclables delivered to the MRF. Additionally, communities will receive a revenue share of 50% of any average $/ton revenue over $40.00.

For more information on the new MRF contract, contact Brooke Nash.

Two School Chemical Management Workshops Completed
DEP held two, free School Chemical Management Training sessions on February 9^th and 14^th. The first was held in Longmeadow and the second was in Marlborough. The training covered how to assess the chemical management conditions and systems in your school and prepare for a chemical cleanout. It also covered the components needed to set up a chemical management system that works for your school. Lynn Rose and John Alphin, two professionals with extensive experience working with municipal school departments on chemical management issues, lead the workshop. These workshops were held as part of DEP's school chemical management grant program. For more information, contact Lori Segall.

NEW YORK

Tire Forums
Interested parties from all over the State and region have been invited to participate in an upcoming Scrap Tire Recycling Market Development Forum Series, sponsored by the New York State Department of Economic Development (DED). It is anticipated that the expertise and perspectives of those in attendance will provide a valuable contribution toward setting the course for tire recycling market development initiatives in New York.

The Forums are part of a scrap tire recycling market development project being conducted by consultants from R.W. Beck on behalf of DED as required by the "Waste Tire Management and Recycling Act of 2003." The project has two parts: In Phase I, R.W. Beck prepared an analysis of New York State scrap tire supply, demand and market trends. In Phase II, R.W. Beck will prepare a strategic plan for scrap tire recycling market development, including recommendations for activities to expand New York State scrap tires markets.

Three Forums will be held:

• Buffalo, Monday, February 28, 2005
• Albany, Wednesday March 2, 2005
• White Plains, Friday, March 4, 2005

Participants will be asked to provide input on the following key topics:

• What are the most important barriers or threats associated with the marketing and marketability of scrap tires generated in New York?
• What are the current and potential future opportunities for expanding or enhancing the marketability of and markets for scrap tires and tire derived products?
• What are the most effective strategies for realizing these opportunities, and who are the most important entities that the state needs to partner with in implementing these strategies?

DED and R.W. Beck will use the information obtained in the development of a comprehensive plan for scrap tire recycling market development for New York spanning the next five years. For more information about the Forums, contact Jim Gilbert of the DED.

Environmental Excellence Awards
At a ceremony in Albany on January 25^th, New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) named seven winners of the first annual New York State Environmental Excellence Awards for outstanding efforts in environmental innovation, sustainability and partnerships. DEC established the awards program in 2004 to recognize emerging technologies, superior management practices and creative partnerships that achieve exceptional environmental, social and economic benefits for New York State. The following winners were selected by an advisory committee of stakeholders from business, government and citizen organizations from nearly 100 applications from across the State:

Albany Molecular Research, Inc.
Albany Molecular Research, Inc. was honored for installing an innovative alternative system to handle the cooling needs of a 128,000-square-foot building housing its organic chemistry laboratory. The closed-loop, non-contact geothermal cooling system is the first of its kind using groundwater as condensing water in a centrifugal chiller. The project demonstrated that groundwater can be a resource for conserving energy and also that non-conventional, groundwater source cooling systems are a sustainable solution that can be used in lieu of conventional systems that are less energy efficient and less environmentally friendly. Groundwater cooling saves approximately 352,000 kWh/year compared to conventional systems.

Battery Park City Authority
The Battery Park City (BPC) Authority in New York City received an award for developing and implementing Environmental Residential Guidelines that focus on improving overall building energy performance, indoor air quality, stormwater management, sustainable and recyclable materials use while also achieving reduced operating costs. The green city has produced a model process for developers around the world to replicate, easing the risks associated with using new technologies in the development of green buildings.

The guidelines also paved the way for the design and construction of the first truly green residential building in the country, known as the Solaire. Other green buildings are currently also being developed in Battery Park City that follow the same guidelines. In addition, the Authority commissioned the design, development and maintenance of Teardrop Park, which used native or indigenous plant material, recycled and local building materials, and recycled construction waste.

Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council
The Canandaigua Lake Watershed Management Plan was named an award-winner for its creation and implementation of a plan to manage the quality and quantity of a water resource that serves as a source of drinking water for about 60,000 people and generates nearly $100 million from tourism and recreation. Several major themes were addressed in the management plan: a watershed approach to resource protection, pollution prevention, a consensus-based collaborative approach, and a partnership approach. Fourteen municipalities signed an agreement to adopt the plan and provided major funding for its implementation.

Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies at Rochester Institute of Technology
The Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies (CIMS) at the Rochester Institute of Technology received an award for its innovative process for recovering parts used in copiers around the world. By investigating the reusability of two components that are typically replaced in the toner cartridge re-manufacturing process, CIMS developed a patent-pending device called the Wiper Blade Edge Analyzer that inspects the working edge of the urethane wiper blade for minute defects that are invisible to the naked eye and enables the reuse of this part. In the past, toner cartridge re-manufacturers would routinely discard this part, since no cost-effective method to assess the component quality was available. As of July, 2004 the Wiper Blade Analyzer has enabled more than 600,000 wiper blades and toner cartridges to be diverted from landfills.

Their work has been part of a comprehensive research, development and demonstration program of pollution prevention and sustainable design projects at CIMS being conducted by academia in partnership with multi-national manufacturing companies, the U.S. military and other entities. Empire State Development's Environmental Investment Program provided support toward the development of the technology.

Clean Air Communities
Clean Air Communities (CAC), an initiative of the Northeast States Center for a Clean Air Future (NESCCAF) and the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM), is a non-profit entity committed to implementing community-based air pollution reduction and energy efficiency projects, particularly in low-income, minority neighborhoods that are disproportionately affected by air pollution and other environmental burdens. CAC lends expert technical assistance, environmental engineering and legal and educational services to work in partnership with a wide range of public and private sector stakeholders who participate in CAC projects. CAC was honored for the following activities:

• Advanced Truck Stop Electrification at Hunts Point Co-op Market (Bronx, NY)
• Grid-Integrated Commercial Photovoltaic Power System, Greenpoint Mfg and Design Center, (Brooklyn, NY)- employing a photovoltaic roof system
• Diesel Emissions Reduction Demonstration, Seven WTC (Lower Manhattan, NY)
• Central Steam Conversion, Seward Park Coop Housing Corp (Manhattan, NY).

Corning Incorporated Erwin Manufacturing Complex
Corning Incorporated Erwin Manufacturing Complex received an award for the development and implementation of many innovative environmental projects that have resulted in waste reduction, and energy and water conservation, including:

• a stainless steel die that eliminated a die plating process and resulted in the reduction of hazardous waste.
• a beneficial partnership for the reuse of reject-fired ware, saving landfill space.
• ways to reuse off-specification, green ware, resulting in the reuse of millions of pounds of material that would have otherwise gone to a landfill.
• re-engineered the size of the logs in which Corning Erwin's ceramic material is used, resulting in the reduction of thousands of pounds of waste.
• Corning Erwin proactively pursued environmental improvement projects to reduce energy and water consumption, saving approximately 105 million cubic feet of natural gas; more than half a million gallons of water per day; and an estimated annual electrical savings of 4.28 million kW.

Waste Management & Recycling Products
Waste Management & Recycling Products (WMRP) was honored for helping hundreds of organizations establish recycling programs for electronic waste. WMRP recovers and recycles surplus computers and electronics through a comprehensive process of evaluating, sorting, de-manufacturing, testing, refurbishing, reselling and recycling. In 2004, WMRP estimates it recycled 1,500 tons of electronic equipment. Since its inception, WMRP has recycled over 5,000 tons of electronic waste. WMRP serves state agencies, local school districts, universities, hospitals, industrial, manufacturing and retail, and individual consumers. It has also developed strategic partnerships with other electronics recyclers and continues to work to address policy issues on a national basis.

For further details on the Environmental Excellence Awards program and to learn more about our awards winners, visit DEC's website at http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/ppu/eea/index.html.

DEC is also developing an ongoing environmental leadership program. New York Environmental Leaders will focus on recognizing and providing incentives to organizations that demonstrate long-term commitments to superior environmental management and performance.

PENNSYLVANIA

Elk County Electronics Collection
In June 2004, Elk County opened a permanent collection center for discarded electronics at the Stackpole Complex in St. Mary. The discarded electronics are collected and sent for recycling to Envirocycle, Inc. in Hallstead PA. The center is open the third Saturday of each month. Since the start of the collection, enough electronics have been collected to fill three tractor-trailers. Over 350 people have brought more than 50,000 pounds of electronics.

Bekki Titchner, the Elk County Recycling Coordinator, attributes the success of the permanent collection center to "volunteers from our PA Cleanways office, our solid waste authority and the City of St. Mary's Recycling Task Force and local industry assisting with equipment such as fork lifts to help move the material."

If you or your organization is interested in establishing a permanent electronics collection event please contact Tom Hyatt , PA DEP.

DEP Hands Out Nearly $100,000 in Grant Money: Study Will Help Emerging Companies Grow, Enhance Environmental Protections
On behalf of Governor Edward G. Rendell, Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty announced a $99,466 market development grant to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance in Philadelphia for a one-year study to assess supply and demand issues and examine market barriers and related opportunities for reusing recovered residential building materials in southeastern Pennsylvania.

The study will serve as a resource for the city of Philadelphia and other urban areas interested in exploring ways to recover wood and bricks; architectural salvage such as light fixtures, kitchen cabinets, doors and moldings; window frames, door frames and flooring; and other building materials. Expanding the markets for these products will support emerging deconstruction and reuse companies in the region.

"Many older homes contain quality building materials and valuable and attractive architectural artifacts that can be reused," Secretary McGinty said at RESTORE, a business that recycles residential building materials and offers architectural salvage, deconstruction and design services. "Finding creative ways to reuse building materials from older homes will reduce pressure on landfills, provide attractive options for new homebuyers and help revitalize our urban environment. Replacing our aging housing stock in older cities and towns is a vital part of attracting families and investments in home ownership to create stable neighborhoods."

Finding markets for this recovered residential building material will help Pennsylvania's environment by keeping such material out of landfills, and create jobs in firms that recover and sell this material for re-use. At the same time, demolishing homes can create environmental problems relating to the disposal of this material, and safety hazards if the material is not removed quickly from the site. Neighborhood safety will be enhanced if there is an economic incentive to remove material from abandoned homes quickly so it can be sold for re-use.

In a pilot project last year, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance , or ILSR, came up with a strategy for deconstructing two homes and conducted a demonstration "architectural salvage" of a third house. The nonprofit organization identified a wide range of salvageable materials, researched existing markets for them and estimated the recovered material retail value at $8,000.

ILSR and Penn State's Hamer Center for Community Design Assistance will disseminate the findings of this study throughout the state to inform others about opportunities for similar material recovery efforts in their regions.

"When entrepreneurs, local officials and families are able to make use of the information produced by this study, Pennsylvania will establish itself as a national leader in this new area of urban revitalization," Secretary McGinty said.

Pennsylvania's recycling industry comprises more than 3,247 recycling and reuse businesses and organizations that generate more than $18.4 billion in gross annual sales, pay $305 million in taxes and provide jobs for more than 81,322 employees at an annual payroll of approximately $2.9 billion.

For more information on recycling in Pennsylvania, visit DEP's Web site at http://www.dep.state.pa.us, Keyword: "DEP Recycling."

DEP Awards Nearly $4 Million In Municipal Recycling Performance Grants: Grants Reward 237 Municipalities Statewide for Recycling Efforts
On behalf of Governor Edward G. Rendell, Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty announced nearly $4 million in recycling performance grants to 237 Pennsylvania communities for their recycling efforts in 2003.

"These grants reward communities for contributing to a Pennsylvania success story," Secretary McGinty said. "Recycling has become one of the engines that drives our economy. I encourage local officials to use this funding to support even stronger municipal recycling programs that play an important role in cleaning up the environment and making our communities even stronger."

Pennsylvania's recycling and reuse industry leads the nation in employment, payroll and sales numbers. More than 3,247 recycling and reuse businesses and organizations made more than $18.4 billion in gross annual sales, paid $305 million in taxes and provided jobs for more than 81,322 employees at an annual payroll of approximately $2.9 billion.

These 237 grants represent the initial group approved from nearly 800 applications that DEP received by the Sept. 30, 2004, filing deadline. Additional awards will be made as the remaining applications are processed.

For more information on recycling grants, visit DEP's Web site at http://www.dep.state.pa.us, Keyword: "DEP Recycling."

RHODE ISLAND

Tipping Fee Increase Proposed for Communities with Low Recycling Rates
Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri has proposed raising the tipping fees at the Central Landfill for those municipalities that do not recycle at least 20 percent of their trash. The municipal tip fee has remained at the same rate since 1992. Presently, only 12 communities exceed the 20 percent. The rest would see an increase of close to 30 percent in their trash disposal fees at the state's primary landfill. One of the financial benefits for the municipalities that recycle at the 20 percent rate or better will be a rate lock on their tipping fees. The change would not take effect until January 1, 2006, halfway through the fiscal year, and is estimated to raise $1.8 million. The increased revenue would be given to the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, presumably for increased statewide recycling education and other supporting programs. The municipalities are not the only ones facing a fee hike. In the proposed budget for FY06, commercial haulers would be required to pay an additional $1 per ton disposed. That increase is expected to generate an additional $600,000, which has been earmarked for the R.I. Department of Environmental Management's Environmental Response Fund.