News &
Updates

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

October 2011

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

New Sustaining Member

Trex

Renewing Sustaining Member

Sims Recycling Solutions

Renewing Supporting Members

NERC NEWS

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING COORDINATION CLEARINGHOUSE NEWS

Workshop Being Offered on Solutions for Harmonization of State E-Scrap Program Laws

STATE UPDATES

Connecticut

New York

ADVISORY MEMBER NEWS

Dairy Farmers Partner with Energy Firms for State’s First Biogas Facility

OF GENERAL INTEREST

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

State and Advisory Member Updates, as well articles of General Interest are provided as submissions to NERC and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

NERC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

MEMBERSHIP

We are delighted to welcome Trex as a new Sustaining member and Sims Recycling Solutions as a renewing Sustaining Member plus Basel Action Network and the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center as renewing Supporting Members.

A hallmark of NERC is the strength of multi-stakeholder involvement and problem solving. This is a direct result of the active participation and support of NERC’s Advisory Members. NERC has almost 50 Advisory Members. To see a complete listing and the benefits of membership, visit the NERC Advisory Membership web page.

The broad spectrum of interests represented by NERC’s Advisory Members and Board Members and their willingness to participate significantly contribute to the unique and important role that NERC plays in recycling in the region.

NERC NEWS

Electronics Recycling, Rigid Plastics, Market Development & Networking at the NERC Fall Conference – Be There!

NERC’s Fall Conference is shaping up to be an exciting and informative event. Taking place October 25 and 26 in Northampton, Massachusetts, national experts on electronics and rigid plastics will be speaking. You’ll also want to visit the exhibitors and participate in the networking and discussion opportunities.

This is the place to be if you’re interested in the evolving world of recycling markets. Our sponsors think so too. Thank you to our Platinum Sponsors — Unicor and the Local Search Association, to our Gold Sponsors — Casella Waste Systems, the Steel Recycling Institute, Pollution Equipment News, and Resource Recycling Magazine, and to the Local Search Association for also sponsoring the Board Meeting lunch.

For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein, NERC Executive Director.

Comparison of Solid Waste Master and Management Plans in the NERC States Updated

NERC has recently updated its Comparison of Solid Waste Master & Management Plans in the NERC States.

This unique resource provides an overview and comparison of the waste hierarchies, and goals and objectives of all the Solid Waste Master & Management Plans in the 10 NERC States, including hyperlinks to each Plan.

The resource also includes a table that details which states have identified product stewardship as a priority in their Plans and which have identified source reduction or recycling as a priority in their Climate Change Plans. Links are provided to each state’s Climate Change Plan.

For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein.

NERC Welcomes Senate Recycling Resolution

NERC is proud to join the voices of other national leaders in the recycling community to welcome and endorse Senate Resolution 251: Expressing Support for Improvement in the Collection, Processing and Consumption of Recyclable Materials throughout the United States, co-sponsored by Sens. Tom Carper and Olympia Snowe, the co-founders of the U.S. Senate Recycling Caucus.

Lynn Rubinstein, NERC Executive Director stated that “NERC has long worked to quantify and promote the direct benefit to the U.S. economy of the recycling industry. We are particularly pleased that this Resolution makes this critical connection.” She added that “in the move towards a green economy the key role that the recycling industry plays has not received adequate national attention. We look forward to Senate Resolution 251 changing that dynamic, and resulting in federal policies and legislation that put the goals of the Resolution into practice.”

“NERC is especially proud that the co-sponsors of this significant national resolution represent citizens of the Northeast states,” Sarah Kite, Rhode Island, President of the NERC Board commented. She added that “in addition to the primary co-sponsors, fully half of the bipartisan co-sponsors are from our region; including Senator Whitehouse from Rhode Island."

Changes in New York Board Members – Goodbye and Hello

With great sadness, NERC has had to say “goodbye” to long time Board member Brenda Grober, Empire State Development. Brenda served as the President of NERC’s Board of two terms, as well as serving as its Vice President. NERC is extremely grateful to Brenda for her contributions to the organization and to its success.

Brenda has stepped down from her position on the Board due to a new professional opportunity. Brenda has offered the following generous words of farewell:

In my life, change has always represented difficult transitions that lead to new and exciting alternatives. That’s how I’ve viewed my recent reassignment to Empire State Development’s Strategic Business Development Division, and subsequent resignation from NERC. Although I am sad to say good-bye to all the talented professionals I have worked with at NERC, I am also encouraged that I will apply things that I’ve learned through these relationships to attract new, sustainable businesses and help reinvigorate New York’s economy. It has been a great honor and a privilege to serve as a New York delegate to the NERC Board, and I will miss being part of such a valuable and dedicated group. Good luck and continued success! Brenda

While we wish Brenda every success and thank you for her wonderful work with NERC, we are delighted to welcome Ursula Basch, Empire State Development, as the newest NERC Board member and representative of that agency. Ursula is a chemical engineer and is a Small Business Environmental Ombudsman, assisting businesses with New York State’s clean air regulations. Prior to her employment with ESD, she worked for 17 years an Environmental Engineer with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. As a DEC engineer she worked in the Water, Solid Waste, and Air Divisions. Welcome Ursula.

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Listserv – EPPnet

Do you know about EPPnet? A unique listserv that links federal, state, and local environmental officials, and private procurement specialists charged with purchasing green products and services and developing policies for the procurement of these products.

EPPnet provides subscribers with quick access to information, such as: availability of product specifications, vendors of particular products, pricing information, and strategies to achieve recycled product procurement goals and federal procurement policies. Please note: Private vendors are precluded from joining the listserv.

EPPnet has been a NERC program for 13 years! Originally created with EPA support, NERC has been managing and maintaining this listserv for over a decade.

If you are interested in green procurement and want to participate in a national dialogue and information exchange, please sign up.

To sign up for the list, complete the simple application form available at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EPPnet/. Your application must be approved and activated by NERC staff before your membership is accepted. Once you are approved, you will receive a welcome message from Lyris with detailed instructions on how to use the listserv.

If you have any questions about the list or the application process, please contact Athena Lee Bradley.

Samsung, Panasonic, and Sims Recycling Solutions Step Forward to Renew Sponsorships of State Electronics Challenge

We are delighted to report that the Sponsors of the State Electronics Challenge are stepping up and renewing their support for this unique national environmental sustainability program. To date, Samsung — a Distinguished Sponsor — and Sustaining Sponsors Panasonic and Sims Recycling Solutions have renewed their commitments. This ongoing demonstration of support for the Challenge is a reflection of these companies’ support of responsible lifecycle management of electronic equipment.

It is through the support of its Sponsors that the Challenge is able to be a national program.

The State Electronics Challenge is a free and voluntary program that works with government entities to green the lifecycle of their computer equipment through green procurement, energy and paper conservation during use, and responsible management at end-of-life. For more information about the Challenge, visit its Website or join a free introductory Webinar. There are two Webinars currently scheduled. See the following Bulletin article for details.

For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein, Program Manager.

Free Webinars on Environmental Sustainability through Lifecycle Stewardship of Computer Equipment

Join us for a free Webinar on:

October 5, 3:00 p.m. Eastern, or
November 3, 3:00 p.m. Eastern

Learn about a free national program that works with government entities to decrease the environmental footprint of its computer equipment. The State Electronics Challenge encourages green procurement, energy and paper savings during use, and responsible end-of-life management. Learn how you can achieve proven environmental results — and even cost savings — by participating in this program. Feel free to spread the word!

For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein, Program Manager.

NERC Presenting at National E-Scrap Conference: Best Management Practices for Collection of Electronics

Third-party certification and standards exist for the recycling of computer equipment, but are generally silent on collection standards. Through a project with the Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse, NERC is helping to develop best management practices for collectors of e-scrap.

Lynn Rubinstein, NERC Executive Director, will be presenting at the national E-Scrap Conference in Orlando, Florida in early October on this topic. Her presentation, entitled “Picking Up on the Need for Best Management Practices: Collections,” will be part of a panel on Compelling Research Findings. She will be presenting alongside Henry Leineweber, E-Scrap News, and Jason Linnell, National Center for Electronics Recycling.

While at the E-Scrap Conference, Lynn will also facilitate a meeting of the Electronics Recycling Collaboration Network (ERCN). The ERCN seeks to foster and facilitate collaboration among organizations supporting the development of an effective and efficient infrastructure for the recycling and reuse of end-of-life electronic products.

For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein, NERC Executive Director.

Manure Management and Composting Technique Workshop

NERC’s Manure Management and Composting Technique Workshop was held in August at the New England Small Farm Institute, in Belchertown, Massachusetts. Despite being the day after Hurricane Irene hit New England, 21 people participated in the workshop. Participants included eleven farmers, nine USDA or Conservation District employees, and one Extension Agent, from four different states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York.

Workshop attendees received a free “Toolkit of Manure Management, Composting, and Compost Marketing Resources.” Three-hundred (300) CD copies of the Toolkit have been made and are being distributed to agricultural associations, including USDA, Community involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), and the New England Small Farm Institute. The CD contains hundreds of documents, including several developed by NERC staff.

The project is funded through a grant from the Lydia B. Stokes Foundation to promote agricultural environmental sustainability in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts.

For more information, contact Athena Lee Bradley, Projects Manager.

School Composting Happens!

Successful implementation of waste reduction and recycling in schools brings many rewards, including potential cost savings for tight school budgets. Removal of organics from the school waste stream can result in up to a 95% reduction in cafeteria wastes. Of course, organics diversion presents many hurtles, especially in small towns and rural communities. Many schools do not have access to an offsite compost facility, while on-campus composting can be difficult to sustain without dedicated support and diligent maintenance.

NERC’s second school Webinar, “School Composting Options,” held in September, provided examples and tips on successful implementation of school composting. It was viewed by 111 people from around the country.

Topics covered in the School Composting Options Webinar included:

Stakeholders, program set-up, what worked/what didn’t,
Benefits to school community: curriculum connection, student environmental ethic, school waste reduction,
Funding, labor, collection logistics, types of compost bins used, bin maintenance,
Tips for replication and success, and
School garden connections.

NERC’s school project is funded through a USDA grant. Presentations from both school Webinars, along with tips on school waste reduction, recycling, composting, and more can be found on NERC’s website.

For more information, contact Athena Lee Bradley, NERC Projects Manager.

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING COORDINATION CLEARINGHOUSE NEWS

Workshop Being Offered on Solutions for Harmonization of State E-Scrap Program Laws

On October 4th the Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse (ERCC), will present a workshop entitled “Solutions for Harmonization of State E-Scrap Program Laws.” It will take place from 1:00 to 4:00 as a pre-conference workshop at the E-Scrap 2011 Conference, taking place at the Omni Orlando.

Now is a critical time in the development and implementation of electronics recycling programs across the country. With several states now implementing and amending their electronics recycling laws, and several more in the beginning stages, it is time to step back and take a look at some of the lessons learned as well as areas for potential harmonization. The ERCC’s workshop will create a “harmonization work plan” to develop concrete actions for harmonization featuring input from several state program managers, manufacturers, retailers, recyclers and other stakeholders.

The workshop is open to everyone, and ERCC members attend FREE. The registration fee is $100 for non-members. If you are not already an ERCC member, and are interested, please view the Website for details on ERCC membership benefits and costs at: http://ecycleclearinghouse.org/content.aspx?pageid=3.

STATE UPDATES

Connecticut

Connecticut Recycling Outreach Efforts

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has recently broadened its outreach efforts to inform and educate municipalities, schools, businesses, haulers and residents about recent updates to the state’s recycling laws.

The key provisions of the law under Public Act 10-87 clarify and tighten existing recycling provisions concerning municipal and collector reporting requirements, zoning regulations and public venue recycling. It also requires DEEP to add additional items to the list of mandated recyclables. The new provisions will help Connecticut toward its resource management goal of a 58% diversion rate by FY2024.

Over the past six months, DEEP’s outreach efforts have included town-specific presentations explaining the new recycling laws and other cost-saving measures such as unit-based pricing systems. More recently, DEEP, in partnership with NSWMA’s Connecticut Chapter, hosted two hauler-oriented Webinars in September. Ongoing outreach efforts also include letters to public schools, haulers and businesses, updates to DEEP’s recycling Webpages and listserv announcements.

Putting Bulky Waste to Rest

Mattress and box spring disposal is difficult and increasingly expensive for municipalities and institutions. There is no easy way to dispose of mattresses because they are not only difficult to landfill, but they also pose challenges for some incinerators due to their inability to be easily compressed and crushed.

In Connecticut, a number of new efforts are changing this. Park City Green, a newly-permitted mattress recycling facility in Bridgeport, dismantles mattresses by hand, employs ex-offenders and veterans, and recovers about 85-90% of the materials for reuse or recycling.

Working with the Connecticut Council Against Bed Bugs (CCABB), the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) helped to develop guidelines for the reuse and recycling industries that work with mattresses, bed springs or upholstered furniture. Managers of transfer stations, landfills, mattress recycling facilities, and incinerators are encouraged to review Best Practices for Bed Bug Management of Mattresses, Bedding, and Upholstered Furniture (2011) to ensure staff takes precautions to prevent bringing bed bugs home. CCABB will be providing a free workshop for the reuse, recycling and solid waste businesses that handle mattresses or upholstered furniture on October 17 in New Haven, Connecticut.

Also, the Connecticut Product Stewardship Council (PSC) has added mattresses to their agenda. PSC is looking towards the 2012 legislative session to bring forward an extended producer responsibility bill for mattresses and box springs. The effort is to help reduce the financial burden that municipalities and institutions face with mattress disposal.

New York

New York State Storm Debris and Disposal Guidance

In the effort to assist communities perform efficient and timely cleanup of debris generated by Hurricane Irene and subsequent storms, the NYSDEC developed a Storm Debris & Disposal Guidelines Webpage. This Webpage contains a clearinghouse of information on how to properly manage various types of storm debris such as land clearing debris, utility poles, food spoilage, dead animals, household hazardous waste, infested wood debris (such as from the Asian long-horned beetle or emerald ash borer), white goods, and automobiles.

Additionally, there are links to many outside agencies to important information and fact sheets for individuals, businesses, and local government on how to handle various storm generated debris, including a link to NERC’s storm debris guidance. There is also a link to a list of Regional Materials Management contacts in each Region of New York state that can provide assistance or answer questions you may have concerning proper management of debris generated as a result of the storm.

New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling 22nd Annual Conference & Trade Show

The New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3) invites you to attend their 22nd Annual Conference and Trade Show, November 16–17, 2011 at the Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown, New York.

This event offers a great opportunity for participants to network with other recycling professionals, decision-makers, recycling coordinators, state and business representatives from across New York, as well as to hear the latest about recycling trends, markets and policies.

NYSAR3 and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will partner to present an agenda and exhibition not only for New York State but also neighboring states.

Highlights of the Conference include:

A timely conference agenda

Tips and Tools for Managing Organics: A Forum
Funding Structure
Extended Producer Responsibility
Technology Advancements
Market Development
Green Marketing/Green Washing
Social Media
College Issues and Impacts

Vendor Show highlighting new technologies and services
A Cocktail Reception in the Vendor Show
Near the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum & Brewery Ommegang
NYSAR 3 Annual Meeting and Announcement Of New Board Members
Recycler of the Year Awards presentation
NY Recycles Poster Contest Winners Awards
World Class Resort Setting and a Dessert Bar that is out of this world!

Where else can you get all of this for a low conference registration fee of $100! For more information about the Conference and Trade Show or to register, visit www.nysar3.com.

ADVISORY MEMBER NEWS

Dairy Farmers Partner with Energy Firms for State’s First Biogas Facility

With open farmland and a herd of dairy cows providing the backdrop, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has ushered in a new form of renewable energy for the State, one that will help keep small and medium-size dairy farms economically viable, produce electricity for hundreds of homes, and reduce the amount of waste now being sent to municipal landfills.

The anaerobic digester at the Jordan Dairy Farm in Rutland combines the natural process of biological decay with advanced “anaerobic digestion” technology to turn farm manure and food scraps into biogas. The biogas generates electricity and heat for the farm, which will then sell excess electricity to the grid. What’s leftover in the process is organic fertilizer that will be used by the farms to help reduce their use of chemicals.

During a ribbon-cutting ceremony in September, Governor Patrick said, “This plant represents real innovation and will serve as a successful model for others. The facility will create and preserve jobs, lower our greenhouse gas emissions, and produce renewable electricity for hundreds of homes.”

It’s estimated that one cow will produce enough energy to power an average home for a year, and there are 300 cows at the Jordan Dairy Farm. Four more digesters are planned at dairy farms throughout the state.

A consortium of five local dairy farms called AGreen Energy partnered with Ohio-based quasar energy group to design and build the project. New England Organics, a division of Casella Waste Systems, will manage the facility and deliver the food scraps and food processing byproducts from offsite that will be combined with farm manure to produce the electrical power.

Four food companies, HP Hood & Sons, Cabot Creamery, Kayem Foods and Cains Foods, have signed contracts to supply food scraps to the plant and buy renewable power from the facility.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) provided a total of $360,000 in grants for a feasibility study, and for the design and construction of the 300 kW combined-heat-and-power anaerobic digestion system.

“[This] is the culmination of a 10-year dream by local dairy farmers,” said Bill Jorgenson, managing partner of AGreen Energy. “We’ve created a unique business model, the first of its kind in the nation, which will make on-farm energy production economically viable. And thanks to Governor Patrick, all the necessary agencies of state government came together and really saw the impact this project would have on creating jobs and addressing our energy needs.”

John Casella, CEO of Casella Resource Solutions, said the project furthers his company’s commitment to finding environmentally sound solutions for dealing with solid waste.

“It’s truly a great day when you can create jobs, create energy and reuse a portion of the waste stream that historically has not been utilized,” he said.

Numerous other state and federal agencies provided assistance to the farmers to pave the way for the project, including the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, the US Department of Agriculture Rural Development and the Resource Conservation Service, and Farm Credit East which provided the loans for the $3 million investment.

For more information, contact Dennis Bailey, Savvy, Inc., 1-888-957-4777.

OF GENERAL INTEREST

The Building Reuse Summit

October 4, 2011, Toronto

Join us during GreenBuild for a how-to summit on increasing recovery and reuse of construction waste.

Each year in the U.S. alone, over 300,000 buildings are demolished, with the majority of the material ending up in the landfill (US EPA 2003). This results in a significant amount of valuable materials including concrete, asphalt roofing, bricks, metals and lumber being unnecessarily disposed of.

Recovering and reusing construction materials results in the retention of capital resources and supports local jobs. Come learn from industry and government leaders how they are facilitating the recovery and reuse of valuable materials from construction waste with positive economic results.

Topics include:

The role of regulators and policy makers in developing markets for construction waste recovery and reuse.

Tools for designers and contractors to facilitate recovery and reuse of construction materials today

Who should attend?

Regulators: Government officials and regulators responsible for waste policy, licensing of deconstruction and demolition contractors, development, and specific building policies
Demolition and Waste Sector: Demolition contractors, landfill operators, transfer station operators, and C&D recyclers
Industry Professionals: Architects, structural engineers, building contractors, specification writers, building owners and portfolio managers

When:
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, 8:30–4:30

Where:
Fermenting Cellar, 55 Mill Street, Toronto, ON

Fees:

Full day: $225
Half-day: $145

Keynote Speakers:

Sadhu Johnston, Deputy City Manager, Vancouver
Nadav Malin, President, BuildingGreen

Columbia University Information Sessions: M.P.A. in Environmental Science and Policy

You are cordially invited to attend an information session for the Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy program on Tuesday, October 18, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Columbia University. This twelve-month master’s program combines Columbia University's hands-on approach to teaching public policy and administration with the Earth Institute's pioneering thinking about the environment, educating today's environmental leaders for a sustainable tomorrow.

What: Information Session for M.P.A. in Environmental Science and Policy
When: Tuesday, October 18, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Columbia University's Faculty House at 64 Morningside Drive (between 116th and 118th Streets) in New York City

Join UNTHA for a Wicked Good Time!

UNTHA is holding an open house at its new and larger U.S. headquarters at 5 Merrill Industrial Drive, Hampton NH, 03842 on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 from 10:00 to 2:00.

All are invited and welcome. Lunch and refreshments will be served.

UNTHA will be showcasing two of its latest stationary machines and present the brand new, state-of-the-art truck for mobile data and media shredding. You will be able to meet UNTHA staff and watch a presentation by the head of Application Engineering flown in from UNTHA world headquarters in Austria.