News &
Updates

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

September 2008

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

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI)

Renewing Sustaining Members

Renewing Supporting Member

Maine Resource Recovery Association

NERC NEWS

STATE UPDATES

CONNECTICUT

MAINE

MASSACHUSETTS

NEW YORK

RHODE ISLAND

RI Adopts E-Waste Law - Includes EPEAT™ Purchasing Requirement

ADVISORY MEMBER NEWS

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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 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.

TOPICS

MEMBERSHIP

We are delighted to welcome as a new Sustaining Member, and the American Chemistry Council, PSEG, and WeRecycle! As renewing Sustaining Members. In addition, the Maine Resource Recovery Association has renewed as a Supporting Member. Thank you!

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.

To see a listing of Advisory Members 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

Don’t Miss Out on NERC’s Fall Conference – Register Now!
October 28 & 29 - Northampton, Massachusetts

Fall is just around the corner and so is NERC’s Fall Conference. The agenda is jam-packed with leading recycling topics and top-notch speakers. Following is a peak at the agenda:

Recycling Economic Information Study Update - Get updated on the current economics of the Northeast’s recycling and reuse industries ~ Ted Siegler and Natalie Starr, DSM Environmental Services, Inc.
Industrial Sectors and Progress in Materials Diversion - Find out how the recyclable materials being generated from industry are being used and the latest information on construction and demolition debris markets ~ Elizabeth Olenbush, Industrial Resources Council and Construction Materials Recycling Association
Greening the Supply Chain – Learn what private industry is doing to reduce the environmental impact of their core operations ~ Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (invited) and Raymour Flanigan (invited)
Recycling News Roundtable - An opportunity for business, government, and non-profits to share information on current recycling projects and initiatives
Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) Recycling Programs - Learn about best management practices for recycling CFLs, markets for the recovered mercury, and state-sponsored collection programs at hardware stores ~ Terri Goldberg, NEWMOA and Karen Knaebel, VT Department of Environmental Conservation
CRT Markets, Issues Affecting Them, and Future Prospects ~ Bob Tonetti, U.S. EPA (invited) and Joe Nardone, Eco International (invited)
Perspectives on Plastic Bags and Recycling Initiatives – Hear industry and landfill management perspectives on the issues of discarded plastic bags and strategies for dealing with them ~ Sarah Kite, Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation and Patty Moore, Moore Associates (invited)

Lodging: Rooms are available at the Hotel Northampton by calling (800) 547-3529. The discounted rates of $120 for a single and $130 for a double (plus all applicable taxes) are available on a first-come, first-served basis and will only be held until September 22. When making your reservation, refer to NERC to ensure that you receive the discounted rates. Please note that reservations cannot be made online. Room reservations must be cancelled by noon one week prior to your arrival to avoid charges.

For more information about the Conference agenda or speakers, contact Mary Ann Remolador, NERC’s Conference Organizer, and Assistant Director.

Spaces Still Available for Exhibitors at NERC’s Fall Conference

Register now to exhibit your company to recycling professionals from the Northeast Region at NERC’s Fall Conference on October 28 - 29 at the Hotel Northampton in Northampton, Massachusetts. No other event gives you the opportunity to display your information in the same room as the conference sessions and gives you the chance to introduce your company with a five-minute presentation.

Free Plastics Recycling Workshop on October 27

The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) is offering a free plastics recycling workshop on Monday, October 27, in conjunction with NERC’s Fall 2008 Conference. Come a day early and learn how to boost your recycling program by attending a free, action-oriented workshop tailored to meet the plastics recycling needs of your region.

APR is the voice of North American plastics recycling. The companies that make up the APR are the markets that purchase 90 percent of postconsumer plastics collected for recycling in North America. The domestic recycling marketplace that APR represents is vital to a sustainable plastics recycling infrastructure for the long term. Recent APR workshops have been held in Atlanta, GA; Nashville, TN; Wilmington, DE and Virginia Beach, VA. Feedback from these workshops has been very positive.

This workshop, which includes a free lunch for attendees, will be held at the Hotel Northampton on Monday, October 27, from 10:30 to 4 and includes the following topics:

The Resinator: Latest recycling rate information for plastic and how to apply that info to your program.
Mythbusters: Plastics markets seem intimidating? Learn the facts, leave empowered.
Dollar Factor: The economic impact of plastics recycling in your region
Participation: Social Marketing based outreach ideas for boosting participation rates
Moving Beyond 1 & 2's: Ideas on how to make the most of "all bottles" collection and markets
Meet Your Markets: Get the inside scoop during a panel discussion with plastics recyclers.

As a follow-up to the workshop, the APR is offering a series of webinars that continue the discussion and education initiated at the workshops. All workshop attendees will be invited to participate in three follow-on webinars. The APR is hoping that the webinars will continue the momentum and enthusiasm for plastics recycling among attendees and participants.

Explaining the Connection Between Climate Change & Recycling – for the Layperson
NERC has produced a short, easy to understand PowerPoint presentation that explains the relationship between climate change and recycling. The intended audience for the presentation is the general public, decision makers, and others that may be interested in the issue, but who are not recycling professionals. The PowerPoint includes speaking point notes. We invite you to use it as frequently as you’d like. For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein.

New Publication - Debris Management for Households & Small Businesses

“After the Disaster: A Guide for Residents and Small Businesses About Managing Debris Waste” is now posted on NERC’s Web site for download. The guide was developed under a contract from EPA.

Severe storms have impacted much of the Northeast this summer, generating large amounts of solid waste debris. Impacted communities, residents, and business owners face difficult clean-up and recovery decisions. Government offices have been inundated with calls from residents and business owners with questions about debris removal and disposal. The resource guide is designed as a tool to assist town officials, residents, and small business owners to assist in recovery efforts. It provides specific information for recovery after flooding, storm, and fire disasters, including water damage and mold removal.

The resource guide provides information on “pre-disaster” preparedness, restoration, recycling, and proper disposal. Information is presented in an easy-to-use format, providing a general overview of clean-up and recovery, as well as specific information on restoration and recycling or disposal of building components and personal belongings. Web resources and contacts for additional information are also included.

NERC was awarded a 1-year extension of its contract with EPA to conduct expanded outreach for the project. A copy of the resource guide (in Word on a CD) will be sent to administrators in the 234 incorporated municipalities in New Hampshire, along with an introductory letter with recommendations on how the resource guide can be used, distributed, and customized. Municipal administrators can add specific local emergency contact information to the resource guide for posting and distribution. Additionally, NERC will seek opportunities to present the resource guide at two conferences or workshops. To promote the resource guide for regional and national use, electronic copies of the document, along with a cover letter, will be sent to state municipal associations, state solid waste and recycling organizations, as well as several national associations including the National League of Cities.

Manure Management Workshops in Vermont

Six manure management workshops will be provided in Vermont this fall. NERC will present at two workshops at the 2008 Northeast Animal-Power Field Days in Tunbridge on Saturday, September 27. One workshop will discuss manure handling systems and the other will provide an overview of composting and application of farm-based nutrients.

Another workshop will be held in conjunction with the Green Mountain Horse Association’s Fall Foliage Ride on Friday, October 3, in South Woodstock. Additional workshops will be held in October at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock; Evergreen Equine of Vermont in West Windsor, and the Windham Solid Waste Management District.

NERC will also speak on manure management at the 20th Annual Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival on September 6 and 7 at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction, Vermont. Some 2,000 people attend this event featuring more than 80 booths. NERC will have a booth and distribute the Manure Management Toolkit on CD.

The Manure Management Project is an educational effort to assist small and hobby farmers and livestock owners in understanding and adopting best management practices for handling and utilizing manure. It is funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Solid Waste Management Grant.

Extending Life of Computers – SEC Partner-Only Teleconference

The next SEC partners-only teleconference will be Monday, October 6, at 1 p.m. The topic is extending the life of computers. The presentation will outline steps that any organization can take to extend the life of computer equipment without sacrificing performance. Partners will learn about strategies that can save money and reduce the environmental footprint of your organization.

The speaker will be Cate Berard of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Ms. Berard assists federal agencies in meeting Executive Order 13423 that requires federal agencies to extend the life of electronics to four years.

For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein, Executive Director.

NERC FY09 Operating Plan Available

NERC’s FY09 Operating Plan has been finalized and is now available. For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein.

STATE UPDATES

CONNECTICUT

Decluttering the CT DEP

Decluttering isn’t just necessary in our homes — we need it in our offices, too. And it’s not any easier to get it done at work — unless you happen to be retiring or moving to a new job. Unfortunately, it’s just as likely that you will leave your boxes of files and old supplies for the next worker, so the stuff keeps piling up. You get bogged down in it and just ignore it, unless your boss declares “Spring Cleaning Day.”

After 15 years at 79 Elm Street building, CT DEP employees were ready to clean out their file drawers and office cubicles. Commissioner McCarthy proclaimed three dates in May as DEP Spring Cleaning Days. She encouraged the approximately 800 employees to “Remember — we are the Environmental Agency, so recycle and reuse supplies where possible.” Enhancing efficiency and productivity were the main reasons for the clean-out, but it turned out to be an opportunity to recycle tons of paper, as well as share extra staplers, rubber bands, and paper clips that people had accumulated. Guidance was provided to employees on the agency’s record retention plans to insure that important records and other information were retained.

For the cleanout, each floor put together a Floor Recycle Station with boxes labeled for the various items — mixed paper and cardboard as well as techno-trash like CDs, videotapes , diskettes, and computer accessories, as well as transparencies, printer cartridges and batteries. A separate space was set up for the Floor Reuse Station and boxes were labeled for items like paper clips, rubber bands and binders as well as “extra office supplies” for anything from staplers and computer stands to coffee cups. Spray bottles filled with an environmentally preferable cleaner were available for employees who wanted to wipe down their desk areas.

CT DEP headquarters is located in a downtown-Hartford building with limited loading dock space, so it was hard to manage the fifty extra 98 gallon wheeled containers, twice as much cardboard, and the usual traffic on the dock. Also, many of the documents that CT DEP receives come in 3-ring binders, supplied by companies and consultants. That’s a lot of paper and a lot of binders!

Binders and folders of all types were the largest category of “re-usables” saved from the trash. A very large percentage of the manila folders and almost all the hanging file folders were in excellent shape and they were recovered for re-use in supply cabinets throughout the agency. About 2,000 binders and 10 large boxes of folders are being re-used at DEP or by schools and non-profits. Gallons of paper clips and binder clips were distributed to various supply cabinets. Extra pens, paper clips, and staplers now supply the copier rooms and printer areas.

CT DEP recycled more than 13 tons of mixed paper during May, about 20% of the previous year’s total! 160 pounds of corrugated cardboard, 1,000 lbs of techno-trash and computer-related items, seven large boxes of scrap metal and a ten gallon container of batteries were all recycled during the May clean-outs.

So, what else did the CT find when they decluttered? Besides the cardboard boxes of files and old calendars, people found things like their rolodex from a previous job, maps from their trip to Italy ten years ago, a magnet of a doll with a porcelain face in a purple genie’s outfit…and the Commissioner picked up some really nice coasters from the swap table!

Composting Has A-Peel

CT DEP has composting information available on its website, including a new brochure and downloadable videos. Topics include how to build your own bin, what items you should and shouldn’t compost, ways to troubleshoot problems, and more.

MAINE

Recycling Newsletter Gets a Face Lift

The Waste Management & Recycling Program’s newsletter, formerly called “Recycle This!” has gone electronic and had a name change. The beauty of “Waste Bytes,” the new electronic version of the newsletter, is that it doesn’t need to be recycled — there is no waste to dispose of in the first place, despite the ubiquitous recycling bins on computer desktops. The newsletter is now emailed to over 600 town offices, libraries, local solid waste and recycling officials, citizen committee members, and other interested parties. This edition of the newsletter looks at the dramatic increase in recycling rates in southern Maine and recycling the old Cony high school in Augusta, and provides a primer on recycling construction and demolition debris.

Tracking of Community Recycling & Waste Management Programs Continues

Of the over 300 municipal and regional recycling reports that are expected for the year 2007, over 260 have been received, reviewed, and data entered by the State Planning Office (SPO) Waste Management & Recycling program staff. These reports represent 83% of the state’s population. While a full analysis has not been completed, many of the reports are similar to what was reported by the communities for 2006. The data collected through the reports permit the SPO to identify and determine trends or opportunities in solid waste management and recycling across the state. A large part of the task is to verify the data, calculate a recycling rate for the community or region, and then relay that information back to the community for their own use. Communities are typically very interested in knowing how they did in recycling. Thanks to Rhonda Cartlidge and Sam Morris for willingly accepting this additional duty and ensuring the timely review of submitted reports and returning the data analysis and recycling rate information to communities.

Town of Woolwich Promotes Recycling
Woolwich Day, observed on August 2, is a popular event with local residents and a great place to show off the Maine Recycles educational materials. This year’s event featured a recycling table (left) assisted by the event’s youngest (and arguably cutest) recycling advocate. Working to promote recycling, volunteers shared information about how to recycle in Woolwich (population 2,800) and distributed free Maine Recycles posters, postcards, and magnets.

MASSACHUSETTS

FY08 Mandatory Enforcement Recycling Coordinators Grants

In November 2007, MassDEP awarded its first grants for Municipal Mandatory Recycling Enforcement Coordinators to five communities. The grants assist municipalities with a population of 25,000 or more in hiring a dedicated Enforcement Coordinator to enforce mandatory recycling in curbside recycling programs. MassDEP pays for the Coordinator’s salary in the first year. In the second year, the community and MassDEP split the cost of the Coordinator’s salary. FY08 grantees included the City of Springfield, the City of Lynn, and a three-town collaborative with the towns of Billerica, Chelmsford, and Tewksbury.

Along with developing and distributing outreach materials to residents and monitoring resident compliance, the Enforcement Coordinators collect baseline recycling participation data on designated routes and will monitor changes in participation rates throughout the two-year grant. This information will be useful to analyze how recycling rates have been affected due to the Enforcement Coordinator’s activities.

MassDEP FY09 Municipal Sustainability Grants

MassDEP is now accepting municipal grant applications for Fiscal Year 2009. The Municipal Sustainability Grant Program provides municipalities, schools, and certain regional government entities with equipment, outreach materials, technical assistance, and funding in support of waste reduction, water conservation, household hazardous waste and mercury diversion, and air quality initiatives at the local level.

MassDEP: Zeroing Food Scraps Out of the Waste Stream

Morgan Harriman and Sumner Martinson of MassDEP recently participated in an exciting and ful-FILLING project with Hallsmith Sysco, the largest foodservice distributor in New England. To give you an idea of their size, Sysco’s regional warehouse in Norton, MA carries nearly 13,000 in-stock products for restaurant and institutional foodservice customers.

Historically, Sysco hosts an annual food show that is open to all of its customers and attracts over 10,000 people. This event is an opportunity for buyers to sample foods and purchase products for the upcoming year. After participating in their 2007 show as an educational vendor, MassDEP agreed to partner with Sysco on "greening" its 2008 show. MassDEP saw this as an opportunity to capture large volumes of food waste being generated during the show. At the request of its customers, Sysco decided to expand its one show to a series of smaller events across the region in 2008. Sysco held four shows in Massachusetts between March and May 2008. Each show had approximately 150 exhibitors and was held in a different type of venue (hotel, resort, trade center, field house). MassDEP worked with each location to assess the quantity of trash receptacles, composting bins and more importantly, identify the availability of area compost facilities and haulers.

Exhibitors were instructed to place food waste (prep materials, old samples and leftovers) into compostable bags, which were donated by Heritage Bag (distributed by Sysco). At the end of each show, food waste was collected in 65-gallon carts. Some vendors even assisted in the de-packaging of meats, cheeses, and fish in order to capture the maximum amount of food. Efforts were made to contact area food pantries to redistribute eligible food. On average 1,500 pounds of food were donated to food banks for reuse, and approximately the same quantity was composted!

NERC, with a grant from EPA, assisted with this project at the Boston Seaport Hotel location and as a result will be developing a food waste management plan for Sysco about how to host a food waste event at a venue. Sysco will be able to share this document with its peers nationally and it will be available on the MassDEP and NERC websites. MassDEP will follow-up with the four event locations and provide additional technical assistance on long term recycling/food waste organics diversion programs, as a part of its efforts to work more closely with the hospitality sector in Massachusetts.

A Regional Approach to Municipal Solid Waste Contracting Pays Off

The Towns of Burlington, Billerica, Tewksbury, and Tyngsboro worked together on a MassDEP Technical Assistance grant to solicit competitive bids for their trash and recycling collection. As a result, the four towns chose to contract with Allied Waste (AW) who will provide conventional collection in the first year of the five-year contract. As of the second year, FY10, AW will provide 64-gallon wheeled carts for trash to all residents and will begin automated trash collection. AW will buy, assemble, deliver, and maintain the carts but the towns will own them at the end of the contract. This option was competitive with the other conventional collection bids and is also expected to save the towns on their tipping fee charges due to the restriction on the amount of trash allowed. Most of the towns are allowing residents to have a second barrel upon request but they are planning to charge $200 or so per year to those who want a second barrel.

Massachusetts WasteWise Update

On June 10, 2008, the MassDEP hosted its Spring WasteWise Forum at The Westin Copley Place in Boston. The event, titled "Food Waste Recycling: Ripe for the Picking," attracted a record audience of 70. Speakers included Matt Moore of the Seaport Hotel, Adam Mitchell of Save That Stuff, Brian Balukonis of Raytheon, and Dennis O'Connor of Waste Management, Inc, all of which are WasteWise members.

Mr. Mitchell described the fundamentals of setting up a food waste composting program including employee engagement, in-house containers and materials to target for collection (food prep, leftovers and plate scrapings). Mr. Moore gave an impressive account of all the environmental attributes at the Seaport, including guest room temperature sensors, in-room recycling, food waste recycling, and even a green weddings package! Mr. Balukonis spoke about Raytheon's on-going food diversion/recycling program and incorporating zero waste principles into corporate events. New member, Hallsmith Sysco, introduced its "green" product line including compostable cups, carry out containers and bowls, and Mr. O’Connor announced that Waste Management is now offering single stream recycling to its customers.

The next WasteWise Forum is scheduled for mid-November and will focus on energy.

Banner Year for MassDEP's Green Team School Environmental Club!

MassDEP's school Green Team program had a banner year in 2007-2008, with a fantastic variety of waste reduction, recycling, climate change, and composting activities undertaken in schools across the state. Over 825 teachers from all grade levels at 409 Massachusetts schools signed up nearly 141,000 students for The Green Team. One hundred and thirteen schools received recycling and composting equipment from The Green Team to initiate or expand school recycling and composting programs, and seven schools obtained "Idle-Free Zone" signs and materials to use to reduce vehicle idling at their schools.

MassDEP awarded Certificates of Recognition and student prizes to 98 classes, which were then entered into a grand prize drawing. Eighty-eight (88) grand prizes were awarded to classes from 76 schools for the outstanding environmental projects they completed during the school year. Grand prizes included 17 performances by environmental "edu-tainers" Peter O'Malley, Jack Golden and the musical group "Earthtunes." Other grand prizes included mini-recycling bin planters, coloring books, wristbands, and information wheels for each student.

A summary of the 2007-2008 Green Team prize winners and their projects will be posted on the Green Team Web site, under "Green Team News." A list of all the participating classes can be viewed at the website under "View Participating Schools." Thanks to everyone who encouraged teachers in their communities to join The Green Team, and we look forward to another fantastic year in September! Teachers may join The Green Team online from the Green Team website by clicking on "Register Now."

Healthy Lawns & Landscapes Continue to Spread Across Massachusetts

Nearly 150 residents attended MassDEP's Healthy Lawns and Landscapes workshops recently held in Groton, Lexington, Ludlow, Needham, Sutton, and Weston. Sponsoring organizations included the Nashua River Watershed Association, Manchaug Pond Association, Charles River Watershed Association, and Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Several of the programs were taped for cable casting and also resulted in local news articles highlighting healthy landscaping strategies. In addition, 120 "Happy to Be Pesticide-Free" lawn signs were provided to attendees to help promote pesticide awareness in their neighborhoods.

Marshfield Fair Adopts Recycling

The Marshfield Fair, a family/agricultural fair that attracts several hundred thousand visitors during its annual 10 day run every August, has officially adopted recycling as part of its waste management practices.

A pilot recycling program was initiated at the Fair through a technical assistance grant from MassDEP to the South Shore Recycling Cooperative in 2004 that provided recycling bins and wheeled carts for the Fair to use, along with staff time to help organize the effort. Volunteers helped educate fairgoers and prepare the recyclables for collection, and the Marshfield Fair Grounds Crew collected the cardboard, bottles and cans each day, as part of the daily waste collection. Integrated Paper Recyclers of Woburn donated the use and hauling of two 30 yard roll-off containers throughout the ten-day Fair. In 2006, composting was added to the diversion effort, using three compost bins donated by the Town of Marshfield.

The amount recycled and composted went from 5 tons in 2004, to 6 tons in 2005, to nearly 10 tons in 2006 and 2007. The recycling and composting effort diverted 17% of the Fair's waste last year. Based on the success of the recycling and composting efforts over time, Marshfield Fair offers recycling at the other events held at the Fairgrounds throughout the year, shares the recycling equipment with other organizations, and plans to continue the recycling and composting effort for this year's Fair. If you want to observe recycling at a public event attended by approximately 200,000 people, visit Marshfield Fair!

NEW YORK

New York Recycles! Announces 2008 Poster Contest Winners!

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) invited all New York State public and private school children and youth organizations to showcase their artistic talent and their commitment to the environment by participating in our annual New York Recycles! Poster Contest. The contest was sponsored by NYSDEC and the New York Recycles! Steering Committee and helps to achieve greater recognition of waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, and buying recycled products and packaging, by students and teachers.

Picking the winners was not easy with over 800 poster entries; however, this is one of those jobs that everyone enjoys. There is never a shortage of people volunteering to judge!

Each winner receives a framed certificate (made from recycled plastic) signed by NYSDEC Commissioner, Peter Grannis, a framed copy of their winning poster and recycled content “goodies.” All the winners’ posters will be used in the 2009, New York Recycles! Calendar.

The winners are also invited to attend the 19th Annual Recycling Conference sponsored by the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse & Recycling in Syracuse, NY on October 16, 2008 to participate in an Awards ceremony.

The 2008 New York Recycles! Poster Contest Winners are:

Brayden Stramezzi
1st Place 3rd Grade
Dutch Lane School
Hicksville, NY

Jeff Fukushima
2nd Place 3rd Grade
Paideia School 15
Yonkers, NY

Samantha DeTurns
3rd Place 1st Grade
Fork Lane School
Hicksville, NY

Giovanna Gambardella
Runner Up 3rd Grade
Paideia School 15
Yonkers, NY

Adam Frosolona
Runner Up 3rd Grade
St. Steven School
2080 Baseline Road
Grand Island, NY

Maya Gouw
1st Place 6th Grade
W.S. Mount Elementary
Stony Brook, NY

Baylee Albitz
2nd Place 5th Grade
Maplewood Intermediate School
19 School Lane
Huntington Station, NY

Yu-Lin Margono & Lia Andras
3rd Place Grade 6
Green Meadow Waldorf School
Chestnut Ridge, NY

Taylor DiCuozzo
Runner Up 4th Grade
Fork Lane School
Hicksville, NY

Susan Talbot
1st Place 8th Grade
Our Lady of Mercy
Rochester, NY

Abby Crawford
2nd Place 8th Grade
Our Lady of Mercy
Rochester, NY

Tessa Bolz
3rd Place 8th Grade
Our Lady of Mercy
Rochester, NY

Alexa Raffaniello
Runner Up 7th Grade
Oceanside Middle
Oceanside, NY

Zachary Mostel
1st Place 10th Grade
HAFTR
Cedarhurst, NY

Alexa Lempel
2nd Place 10th Grade
HAFTR
Cedarhurst, NY

Ashley Ebright
3rd Place 12th
Sherman Central School
Sherman, NY

Rosalind Thomson
Runner Up 11th Grade
Albany High School
Albany, NY

New York State Food Scraps Forum

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is in the process of coordinating regional food scraps forums. These informal informational meetings are designed to facilitate better communication and create partnerships among institutional generators of food scraps and others involved in its management. They are also designed to help develop solutions for reduction and diversion of food scrap from disposal.

The forums began in March, 2008 and will continue through this October. A total of six, one day, forums have been held in, or are planned for, the following regions of the State: Capital District, Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley, New York City, Long Island, and Buffalo. Invited participants include; farmers, college officials, food service vendors, community recycling coordinators, compost facility operators, State agency representatives and others.

Participants are encouraged to share their successes and challenges for managing their food waste. The first focus of the forums is on opportunities and examples of reduction and donation of food scraps. Collection logistics, off-site/on-site management, composting, anaerobic digestion, are also discussed. In the forums that have been held, we've generated a great deal of dialogue and we’ve fostered many new relationships.

We are hopeful that these relationships will continue, that they will help to reduce and manage this portion of the waste stream and help to foster regional solutions.

NYSDEC Crumb Rubber Study

Crumb rubber, also referred to as ground rubber, is finely ground rubber derived from recycled tires or scrap tires. Over 20 million scrap tires are generated annually in New York State. Ground rubber and ground rubber products derived from scrap tires have a wide range of customers, such as molded product producers, schools, sports stadiums, landscape firms, road construction firms and new tire manufacturers. Growth in ground rubber production is largely centered on the mulch products, playground materials, and sports fields markets. Crumb rubber with a size typically less than 1/16 inch is used as an infill material on synthetic turf fields to cushion the playing surface. Stated benefits over natural grass fields include reduced water needs and maintenance, avoided need for pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer, reduced injuries, and an “all-weather” playing surface.

Under NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) solid waste regulations (6 NYCRR Part 360) and Environmental Conservation Law, § 27-1901 (ECL), crumb rubber is not considered a solid waste and therefore its use is not regulated under the NYSDEC regulations or the ECL. Recently, however, there have been a number of potential human health and environmental concerns that have been raised in relation to the use of crumb rubber as a component of synthetic turf. To help address these concerns, NYSDEC has initiated a study to assess the potential environmental impacts from the use of crumb rubber as an infill material in synthetic turf fields and to collect data that may be used for a public health assessment. A research plan has been finalized for this effort in a report titled “A Study to Assess Potential Environmental Impacts from the Use of Crumb Rubber as Infill Material in Synthetic Turf Fields”.

As outlined in this plan, the study has both a laboratory and field component. The laboratory study involved studying crumb rubber samples collected at several scrap tire processing facilities in New York State for leaching and off-gassing potential. The field component involves monitoring selected representative turf fields to determine air quality and water runoff quality. The leaching data will be evaluated to determine if there is a potential risk to surface or groundwater quality by runoff discharged from the turf fields using crumb rubber. The off-gassing data will also be used for an assessment of potential public health impacts. The study will collect surface temperatures and measures of heat stress at the turf fields. The NYSDEC is currently working with the NYS Department of Health and aiming to complete the study by the end of this year. The results of the study will help determine what further actions are needed. For additional information concerning the study, please contact Dr. Ly Lim of NYSDEC Division of Solid & Hazardous Materials, at 518-402-8678.

RHODE ISLAND

RI Adopts E-Waste Law - Includes EPEAT™ Purchasing Requirement

Rhode Island has officially joined the ranks of nearly 20 other states in adopting a comprehensive electronic waste law. Called the “Electronic Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling Act”, the new law (S-2631Baa & H-7880 A) places financial responsibility on manufacturers of covered electronic products (TVs, computers, monitors & similar video display devices with screens greater than 9 inches) to pay for the cost of collection, transportation and recycling of their products when discarded by households and schools (elementary and secondary).

Per a separate law adopted by the Rhode Island General Assembly this year (S-2455aa), a ban on disposal of electronic waste at the Central Landfill will take effect on January 31, 2009. The RI Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) and the RI Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) have been charged with administering RI’s new program.

The law requires manufacturers to register with the state and pay a $5,000 annual registration fee, and allows manufacturers to either participate in a state collection program run by the RIRRC (existing quasi-public entity that currently runs the state’s Central Landfill), or run their own program per a state-approved plan. It requires all products to be clearly labeled with each manufacturer’s brand, prohibits retailers of covered electronic products from selling products that are not clearly brand-labeled, and requires retailers to provide information to customers at the time of sale about how to properly dispose of electronic waste.

In addition, the law mirrors the current federal EPEAT™ purchasing requirement by mandating that RI state agencies meet 95% of annual purchasing requirements with EPEAT™ registered products. It does not specify a preference for a certain performance tier, although this was considered during the legislative debates.

The entire law can be found on the RI General Assembly Web site.

ADVISORY MEMBER NEWS

Eighth Annual BioCycle Conference Focuses on Renewable Energy, Anaerobic Digestion, & Biomass

A comprehensive three-day Conference in Madison, Wisconsin will be held on October 6, 7, 8 — “Renewable Energy From Organics Recycling” — is being organized by the editors of BioCycle, the magazine for Advancing Composting, Organics Recycling and Renewable Energy. This Conference will bring together project managers, policy makers, investors, utilities, consultants, farmers and researchers. Agenda topics focus on latest developments in advanced systems, operations at innovative projects, economic and energy performance, and public policies that are helping to facilitate and fund development.
Conference highlights include: Emerging Technologies To Produce Bioenergy, Biofuels; Anaerobic Digestion Systems For Source Separated Organics; Meet The Players – Developers and Funders Who Make Projects Happen; Connecting Biopower to Grids, Pipelines and Fuel Pumps; Regulatory, Permitting Perspectives and Trends; Composting Connections In a Renewable Energy Framework; Farm Digester Developments in Wisconsin; Woody Biomass to Fuels, Energy.

PA Recycling Markets Center Coordinates Launch of New Enterprise that Will Revolutionize Recycled Glass Use

At ceremonies held on May 15, 2008, and as the successful result of 21 months of effort by the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center (RMC), the RMC is proud to announce it has coordinated the launch of a new women-owned enterprise that will revolutionize recycled glass use in Pennsylvania and nationally. At full production, this 6 million dollar project will create approximately 25 jobs while using 30,000 tons of recycled glass per year. Additionally, the advanced processing technology uses 75% less energy than conventional glass processing equipment.

LCL Industries, Inc., (LCL), located in Schuylkill County - approximately 80 miles northwest of Philadelphia, will primarily use triple mix container glass, the color mixed fraction of clear, brown, and green glass that is a consequence of many recycling programs, to manufacture grit abrasives and potable water filtration media. The RMC facilitated negotiations between LCL Industries, Inc. and Krysteline Group Ltd., resulting in LCL being recognized as Krysteline’s sole North American user of the Krysteline technology. Critical to the foundation of this project was financial support furnished by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Recycling Markets Infrastructure Development Grant, awarded in the amount of $500,000 to LCL Industries, Inc.

“Pennsylvania recognizes that there are innovative companies out there that are working hard to find new, novel ways to preserve our natural resources by recycling existing materials and creating other products,” said DEP Deputy Secretary Thomas Fidler. “With this project, just as with other exciting recycling projects across the commonwealth, we’re investing our resources to help build demand on the part of manufacturers for recovered glass, metal, plastic, paper and other recyclable materials. That leads to a stronger recycling market in Pennsylvania, a stronger economy, and a cleaner environment.”

To produce the grit abrasives and water filtration media, LCL will be the first company in the western hemisphere to utilize Krysteline’s advanced glass processing Implosion equipment. Krysteline has patented a technology which implodes glass to size reduce the material rather than traditional processes that pulverize, mill, or grind the glass. Because of the unique and innovative process, mechanical wear and operating cost of the equipment is significantly reduced. Typically, the resulting glass products are more geometrically uniform than recycled glass products produced from other traditional equipment.

LCL’s keystone product will be expendable blast abrasives. Although many benefits exist in using recycled, sharp-free glass as a blasting abrasive, the primary benefits include 25% - 30% reduction in pneumatic blasting pressure when applying the abrasive material, which significantly reduces energy consumption during use; recycled glass abrasive does not cause silicosis as a breathing hazard unlike natural sands; recycled glass abrasive does not typically contain heavy metals similar to many mineral slags which are used domestically as blast abrasives.

The Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center provided support though all phases of the economic development project including but not limited to business planning, grants coordination, facilitation of opportunities with the Department of Community and Economic Development, introduction to the Governor’s Action Team and Schuylkill County Economic Development Corporation, technology and process validation, product testing and prototyping, and loan negotiation assistance. “The RMC is proud to be associated with this success. The RMC is striving to return our Commonwealth investment to Pennsylvania, while creating green collar jobs at a time when resource securities are critical,” said Robert J. Bylone, Executive Director, RMC.

Organized as a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center is a leader in developing and expanding recycling markets in Pennsylvania. In a competitive global marketplace, the RMC is the keystone clearinghouse of environmental, economic development, and manufacturing resources for end use support of recycled commodities and products. The RMC is supported in part by grant funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

For more information, contact Bob Bylone, RMC Executive Director.