Inside this issue:                         Printable Version

Conference Workshop Proposals
Market Updates
News from NH DES
Resource Recycling Holiday Buying Guide
NRRA Calendar

Happy Holidays from the entire NRRA staff!!!

 

 

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FROM THE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR:

From where he sits I am sure that Santa isn’t worried about market pricing, material movement, facility regulations, or anything that comes close to the word sustainability. On the one hand we have him to thank for a lot of the packaging frenzy that surrounds the holidays. On the other, my neighbor at the transfer station told me last week that his recycling and MSW are both down this time of year because he purposely cuts back on excessive purchases and uses a lot of the box packaging to start fires in his woodstove. Whether you are going to spend  a little time on the beach this winter or snuggle up next to the woodstove with a good book, I encourage you all to remember those less fortunate who can do neither. Especially in these hard economic times, it is most important to help out as much as possible. The NRRA team has decided to donate hours of volunteer time as a group to a needy project this season as a small way of helping those in need. For all that you do throughout the year and during this special season we thank you and wish you all health and happiness for 2012.

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NRRA NEWS:

 

New President for NRRA!

Following in the footsteps of Rick Cooper, David Krisch and Marc Morgan, NRRA Board of Trustees is pleased to confirm the election of Duncan Watson at its annual meeting in November as President for the coming year. Duncan is the Assistant Public Works Director/Solid Waste Manager for the City of Keene, N.H., is a past President, and a recent inductee in to the NRRA Hall of Fame. NRRA is extremely fortunate to have such a wealth of knowledge and expertise available to it on its Board of Trustees and to have it on an ongoing basis to provide much appreciated guidance and wisdom.

Thank you to Duncan and the rest of the Officers who continue to dedicate their time and vision to NRRA:  James Tessier –VP, Roger Rice -Treasurer, and Charles Kelley –Secretary.

 

Please note the office will be closed on the following days:

• 12:00 pm until close this Thursday, Dec. 15th (the staff will be spending the afternoon volunteering for a local charity)

• Monday, December 26th for the Christmas Holiday

• Monday, January 2nd for New Years

 

 

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FROM PAULA’S DESK:

 

NH the Beautiful, Inc. Awards Grant to the Town of Littleton

The Town of Littleton was awarded $ 5,500 towards the purchase of the purchase of a Bobcat Skid Steer. The award was presented to Jacqueline King, Solid Waste Manager, by John Dumais of NH the Beautiful. Also present were Selectman Marghie Seymour, Ed Parker from Public Works, and Marilyn Weir from Northeast Resource Recovery Association.  “This skid steer will replace an old one that has reached the end of its useful life.  The new skid steer will allow us to continue our operations efficiently”, said Jackie.   NH the Beautiful applauds the Town of Littleton for continuing to improve the efficiency of its recycling program.

Pictured (left to right): Marghie Seymour, Jackie King, John Dumais, Ed
Parker, and Marilyn Weir

NH the Beautiful, Inc. Awards Grant to the Town of Whitefield

The Town of Whitefield was awarded $ 1,000 towards the purchase of the purchase of a 40’ Storage Container. The award was presented to James Gooden, Transfer Station Manager by John Dumais of NH the Beautiful. Also present were Joyce McGee, Office Assistant, Mark Lufkin, Selectman, Shawn White, Director of Public Works, and Marilyn Weir from Northeast Resource Recovery Association.  “We continue to improve our recycling efforts by focusing on full loads of recycling as opposed to mixed loads when selling our commodities,” said Shawn.  The storage container will allow the Town to collect more material prior to shipping and obtain better pricing as a result.   NH the Beautiful applauds the Town of Whitefield for continuing to improve the efficiency of its recycling program.

Pictured (Left to Right): Joyce McGee, James Gooden, Mark Lufkin, John Dumais, Marilyn Weir, and Shawn White.

New Hampshire the Beautiful Signs:

New Hampshire Municipalities are all eligible to apply for signs (60 points each fiscal year or until funds run out).  The new fiscal year started on November 1st, and each town/city once again has 60 points.

For a complete list of signs available or to apply for signs, please visit www.nhthebeautiful.org. Just print the forms you need and fax them to Paula at  (603) 736-4402. Please NOTE!!! You can only order signs that are on the list. Words can be removed, but nothing can be added.

Grants

New Hampshire municipalities are all eligible to apply for grants toward the purchase price of recycling equipment. To apply for a grant, go to the NHtB website www.nhthebeautiful.org, print & fill out the form and fax it to Paula at 736-4402. If you do not have access to the internet, please give us a call at 800-223-0150, and we can fax or mail a form to you. The next NHtB board meeting is January 19, 2012.  All applications must be submitted January 5th to be considered at the January meeting.

NH the Beautiful, Inc. (www.nhthebeautiful.org) is a private non-profit charitable trust founded in 1983 and supported by the soft drink, malt beverage, and grocery industries of New Hampshire. By offering municipal recycling grants (over $2.75 million) and signs, anti-litter programs, and technical assistance to recycling programs, NHtB is a unique organization that represents a voluntarily-funded alternative to expensive legislation intended to achieve the same end results.  New Hampshire the Beautiful, Inc. is now supporting the NRRA School Education Program (the Club).  The Northeast Resource Recovery Association (www.nrra.net) administers the New Hampshire the Beautiful programs.

 

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FROM ADAM’S DESK:

Workshop Proposals:

Greetings! It is indeed that time again where we start putting together our NRRA Annual Conference and Expo and we need your help.  Please see the presentation proposal form here and pass it around your offices and among your contacts if you would be so kind.   I look forward to seeing your ideas.   As always, if you have any questions, feel free to give me a holler.

Market Update:

Well let me start with Tin Cans as they are the only positive news I have at the moment.  Full, straight loads are up $40/GT to a price hovering around $330/GT.  That being said, lighter and two-stop loads are going to be over $300/GT I reckon. So if you are still sitting on cans right now, I would suggest giving a call and see how we can move ‘em.  Tin can’s cousin, Aluminum can’s pricing hasn’t shown the same umph this month and full, straight, 40k loads of those are still bouncing around $.75/lb.  Call for specific load quotes.

Fibers

As you have heard if we’ve spoken on the phone, the fiber markets remain lackluster and tentative to say the least.  Each load is requiring a little more digging than normal and though the Yellow Sheet did correct itself a little this month, some loads are still falling short.  For your enjoyment, the YS numbers follow, including (in parenthesis) what the correction was from last month.

Mixed Paper = $55-60/ton (-$30/ton)

#8 Newspaper = $75-80/ton (-$20/ton)

OCC = $115-125/ton (-$5/ton)

Scrap

As I write this, I’m waiting for next week’s price to come out…hopefully it is here shortly…

Plastics

…are down. Yep.  No big surprise there I suppose but for the record, mixed commodity load prices are below but do please bear in mind, loads can go higher than this depending on the specifics.

HD Natural = $.28/lb

HD Mixed Color = $.20/lb

PETE = $.155/lb

 

So that about sums it up.  Have a good day…Adam

 

FROM BONNIE’S DESK:

***My new hours at the NRRA Office will be Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.***

SCRAP METAL CONTAINERS – Reminder to Keep Material Level

Please keep Scrap Metal ‘water level’ or even to the top of your container.

This makes the container safe to transport as well as easy to tarp.

If material is not level, and an Operator is not readily available to push material down, this could result in container not being swapped on that day and a haul fee being charged.

Thank You!

Christmas Wrapping Paper – To Recycle or Not to Recycle?

Christmas Paper CAN be recycled IF all of the foiled paper and ribbons are removed.

Foil actually leaves holes in the newly manufactured paper!!!

 

Some Transfer Stations have a “NO Christmas Paper “ Policy to deal with this material during an already busy season.

 

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FROM MARILYN’S DESK:

Were you a good recycler this year?
Get into the holiday spirit!

Featured (Left to right): Ed Reagan, Brian Bartram, and Charlie Kelley from Salisbury, CT.

Recycle those Christmas lights!!

 

If the lights are removed they are graded  #2 Cu Insulated Wire which is currently paying  $1.27lb.

If you not remove the lights, they are graded as “Computer Wire” which is currently paying $0.62lb.

 

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NEWS FROM NH DES:

DES Redesigns “Basic Training” for New Solid Waste Operators

In November, DES rolled out its recently updated “basic training” program for new solid waste facility operators seeking certification, as required by state law, to work at landfills, transfer stations, waste-to-energy plants, and other solid waste management facilities.  More than 150 new solid waste operators attended the one-day training, along with a number of renewing operators who attended to satisfy their annual continuing education requirements.  Two sessions were held in Concord; a third took place in Lincoln.

DES will continue to provide basic training for new operators in 2012, but encourages operators to seek continuing education credits from outside providers.  This is due in part to cuts in the program that reduce the number of continuing education workshops DES is able to provide, but also allows operators to find more accessible and varied training.  In 2012, DES will offer a limited number of continuing education workshops in rural communities using a grant secured through the US Department of Agriculture.  Those workshops will focus on best management practices at transfer stations and rural recycling strategies.

Direct any questions regarding the solid waste operator certification requirements and the applicability of alternative continuing education programs to solidwasteinfo@des.nh.gov.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: December 6, 2011
CONTACT:           David Murphy, Coastal Program Grants Coordinator,
(603) 559-0021
des.nh.gov
twitter.com/NHDES

Coastal Program Accepting Grant Applications

Portsmouth, N.H. – The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Coastal Program is currently accepting applications for its 2012 competitive grant round. Through federal funding, the Coastal Program enables projects that protect clean water, restore coastal habitats, and help make communities more resilient to flooding and other natural hazards. Grants are offered on a competitive basis to eligible applicants, and at least a one to one match is required. No more than $40,000 will be awarded to any construction or land acquisition project, and no more than $30,000 will be awarded for any planning or management project.

The funds are available to the Coastal Program through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM), pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. This round’s total available funds are pending federal funding to OCRM.

Grant Application Information:

Application Submission Deadline – Two printed copies of the completed application and all associated documentation (including letters of support) are due at the Coastal Program office (address below) no later than February 6, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. An electronic copy of the application is also required and must be emailed to david.murphy@des.nh.gov or submitted on electronic media by the due date. Please limit file size to 10 MB. The application form with instructions is available on our website at www.des.nh.gov. Once on the NHDES homepage, click on the A-Z list on the upper right hand corner of the screen and scroll down to “Coastal Program,” to get to the Coastal Program’s homepage.

Eligible Applicants – Any of New Hampshire’s 17 coastal zone communities (Dover, Durham, Exeter, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Madbury, New Castle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Rollinsford, Rye, Seabrook and Stratham), Rockingham and Strafford County governments, the Rockingham Planning Commission, Strafford Regional Planning Commission, state agencies, departments within the University of New Hampshire and other institutions of higher education, coastal community public school districts, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply.

Eligible Projects/Activities – Grants are offered for two types of projects:

1) Planning/Management                2) Construction/Acquisition

Projects should be independent of other work. Some examples of projects include creating water quality and stormwater ordinances; controlling invasive plant species; conserving land; constructing public access sites; and developing and implementing plans to protect infrastructure and resources from coastal hazards. For an inclusive list of eligible projects and detailed project selection criteria, please visit the New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules Chapter Env-Wq 2000 (Grant Rules).

Geographic Requirement – Projects must take place within the boundaries of the coastal zone (the 17 cities and towns listed above as “eligible applicants”) and/or have a direct impact on this geographic area. Planning and management projects may extend beyond the boundary if it can be shown that the project will benefit the area covered in the coastal zone.

Matching Requirements – Grants are awarded on a 50/50 matching basis. Applicants may provide more than 50 percent of a project’s costs, however; in no case may the applicant provide less. Match may be in the form of either cash or in-kind services (e.g., donated municipal staff time, volunteer time, donated materials, donated mileage, etc.).

Maximum Grant Amount – Given reduced federal funding for this program, no more than $40,000 will be awarded to any construction or land acquisition project and no more than $30,000 will be awarded for any planning or management project.

Project Schedule – Projects may not begin prior to July 1, 2012, and must be completed by December 31, 2013. Extensions of the completion date beyond December 31, 2013 will be considered for projects demonstrating a special need, and will be subject to approval by NOAA and OCRM.

Public Hearing Requirement – Municipalities and regional planning commissions are required to hold public hearings prior to submitting an application.

Additional requirements for specific types of projects are described in the grant application, which is available on the Coastal Program website.

Submit Applications to:
New Hampshire Coastal Program
Dept. of Environmental Services
222 International Drive, Suite 175
Portsmouth, NH 03801

An electronic copy of your application should also be sent to david.murphy@des.nh.gov or submitted on electronic media. Please limit file size to 10 MB.

For Further Assistance – Contact Coastal Program Grants Coordinator Dave Murphy at (603) 559-0021 or e-mail: david.murphy@des.nh.gov.

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Coastal Program provides funding and staff assistance to towns and cities, and other local and regional groups who protect clean water, restore coastal habitats, and help make communities more resilient to flooding and other natural hazards. The program’s efforts are focused on N.H.’s coastal watershed, an area that encompasses 820 square miles and 42 municipalities. The Coastal Program supports the region’s economy by helping to preserve the environmental health of the coast and Great Bay and Hampton-Seabrook estuaries for fishing and shellfishing, and assisting with the maintenance of our ports, harbors and tidal rivers for commercial and recreational uses.

 

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NATIONAL NEWS:

Northern New England Chapter-SWANA-Scholarship

Dear Friend,                                                                                        Click here for application

The Northern New England Chapter of SWANA (NNE) is announcing the availability of a scholarship for undergraduates or graduate students committed to a degree in Solid Waste Management, Environmental Science, Engineering, or a related field of study.  The scholarship is limited to students from Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

The scholarship is for $1,000.00 for the current academic year.  A copy of our notice regarding the scholarship and the application are enclosed for your use.

Completed applications must be returned no later than January 6, 2012.  Questions regarding the application may be directed to Kevin H. Roche, ecomaine, 64 Blueberry Road, Portland, Maine 04102 or e-mail at trufant@ecomaine.org

Please help us get the word out about this opportunity by forwarding it to anyone you feel might be interested.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,

Kevin H. Roche
Scholarship Committee

 

December eSession Series Combo -

Landfill Expansions and Wetlands: What Landfill Managers Need to Know
Wednesday, December 14 | 1:45 PM ET

What are the merits of avoiding a wetland or mitigating a wetland impact when a landfill expands? Listeners of this eSession will come away with a fundamental understanding of their options and how to proceed with what can be a political, regulatory, and public relations quagmire.

Landfill Heat Recovery
Monday, December 19 | 1:45 PM ET

This web seminar will review this first-of-its-kind application of geothermal heating system technology for the collection of thermal energy generated by degrading landfilled waste.

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Holiday Special – FREE to SWANA members!

Managing Wastes Produced by Natural Disasters
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 | 1:45 PM ET

MOLO eSeries

Course Review
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 | 1:45 PM ET

This eSession will cover the components of landfill costs versus the actual unit costs and describe the fundamentals of sensitivity analysis for key cost factors.

 

Resource Recycling‘s recycled products holiday buyers’ guide

Every month, Resource Recycling features a column on the most interesting recycled products on the market and, just in time for your holiday buying, we put together a list of consumer products containing recycled content. Click here or on the banner below to see the column.

And, if you know of a product out there — consumer or industrial — that contains recycled content, please send that tip along to editorial@resource-recycling.com and we might feature it in a future column.

 

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NRRA CALENDAR: