DEP Issues Amendment to West Old Town Landfill License
On April 9, DEP approved the amendment that will allow the state of Maine to operate the landfill previously owned and operated by Georgia Pacific. In a three-way agreement completed this past February, the paper mill sold the landfill to the state; the state, in turn, signed an operating services agreement with Casella Waste Systems, Inc. to operate the landfill (Casella had been selected through a proposal process conducted by the state); and Casella made a cash payment, for the operating agreement, through the state to Georgia Pacific, which GP will use to purchase and install a biomass boiler that will generate electricity and help lower the mill's energy costs.
The State Planning Office, the landfill owner on behalf of the state, applied for the license amendment (with Casella's assistance) to increase the disposal capacity of the permitted landfill and to allow for the disposal of additional waste streams, thus providing needed disposal capacity for Maine residents and businesses, as well as helping the Old Town mill become more financially competitive.
Maine Recycles Week 2003 Awards
As it has for several years, the Chewonki Foundation has graciously offered three presentations by their outreach program as awards as part of the 2003 Maine Recycles Week. SPO's Waste Management and Recycling Program has been notified by Chewonki that all three award winners have been scheduled through the months of March, April, and May. The presentations, entitled Pathways to a Sustainable Future, are presented as a class, club function, or at times as a school assembly. The programs will be presented at three schools: Dresden Elementary School on April 12; Woodstock Elementary School in Bryant Pond on May 10; and the D.H. Lunt School in Falmouth on June 2. While this is happening, the Maine Recycles Week steering committee begins planning for Maine Recycles Week 2004.
2004 Governor's Waste Reduction Awards Presented
The Northern Maine Solid Waste Management Committee, Seltzer & Rydholm, Inc., and Coca Cola Bottling of NE received this year's Governor's Waste Reduction Awards presented at the Maine Resource Recovery Association's Solid Waste and Recycling in Rockport on April 6, 2004. The Northern Maine Solid Waste Management Committee is this year's public sector recipient. An organization of municipal and regional solid waste managers from Aroostook and Northern Penobscot counties, the committee implements regional solutions to reduce toxics in municipal solid waste. This group has a long history of working together and sharing information and ideas, for the benefit of all their members. This year, two companies share the private sector award. The Auburn-based Seltzer & Rydholm and Coca Cola Bottling of NE, based in South Portland have worked diligently for many years to reduce their packaging. But as important as that is, the two firms recently signed an agreement that goes beyond the typical concept of waste reduction. They established an arrangement whereby Maine beverage container redemption centers can co-mingle the two companies' product containers, a practice not permitted in the past. This will facilitate recycling and reduce the number of vehicles used to collect and remove containers from redemption centers. Instead of each company sending its own truck for their own products, it will become a 'shared' responsibility, halving the number of trucks necessary to collect empty containers. In addition, the State Planning Office presented the Finance Authority of Maine with a plaque, recognizing them for their long-standing support of business recycling through their administration of the state's waste reduction and recycling loan fund. Last year, the loan fund fell victim to the state's effort to balance the budget but, in the 13 years that the program was in existence, FAME made over $700,000 available to a dozen Maine businesses to reduce waste toxicity and generation and expand recycling efforts.
George Macdonald Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
At the 11th Annual Solid Waste and Recycling Conference, hosted by the Maine Resource Recovery Association held earlier this week, the Association presented their first Lifetime Achievement Award to George MacDonald, Manager of the Waste Management & Recycling Program at SPO. Fergus Lea, P.E., Planning Division Director of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, also received the award. The award recognizes their dedication to advancing the professionalism of the solid waste industry. Both individuals have been associated with MRRA, in varying capacities, for nearly 20 years; having served as the Association's president, vice-president, and as directors, as well as providing program development and guidance over the years.
We are delighted to welcome the ElectroniCycle as NERC's newest Sustaining Member. We are delighted to recognize several renewing members as well:
In May, NERC will be presenting its 
Did you know that since 1993 Nike has recycled more than 15 million pairs of athletic shoes into surfaces such as tracks, basketball courts, and playgrounds? Last year, Connecticut contributed over 7,000 pairs of shoes to their efforts. According to Nike estimates, that means we recycled enough shoes to make almost five basketball courts! Connecticut Recyclers Coalition (CRC) is again coordinating efforts of the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe collection in Connecticut. CRC's goal is to collect at least 5,500 pairs of sneakers between April 1 and June 30, 2004 at events and drop-off locations throughout the state. (Nike will post all events and drop-off locations on their website.) Any brand of sneakers regardless of condition will be accepted, but they can't have any metal (e.g. cleats, eyelets or spikes). Shoes must be kept dry. Willimantic Waste in Willimantic will be the central collection point for the all the shoes.
Environmental Benefits of CT's Recycling Efforts