Inside this Issue                                   PDF Version

• NRRA Member Activity & Environmental Impact Reports
• 2012 Conference Keynote Speaker
• Last Call for Workshop Proposals!
• Battery Recycling
• NRRA Pilot Consolidation Program in the North Country of NH
• Compost Bin & Rain Barrel Sale – New this Year – Compost Turners!
• New E-Cycles Operators’ Training Webinar

_________________________________________________

2011 NRRA Activity Reports & Environmental Impact Reports – NRRA Members – YOU ROCK!

The figures below represent the collective efforts of all NRRA members marketing their materials through NRRA programs in 2011.  The recyclable materials listed below were sent to market to be remanufactured into new products through your nonprofit recycling cooperative.  This is only a portion of all the commodities you recycled (the ones that can be easily converted to show the environmental impact).  In addition to these items, NRRA members recycled many tons of glass, electronics, batteries, bulbs, construction & demolition, freon, propane tanks, tires and veggie oil.  Although these are not represented in the report below, the impact of this collective effort is HUGE! Congratulations and keep up the great work – together we DO make a difference!!!

Individual environmental impact reports for all NRRA members who recycled fibers, plastics, aluminum, steel and scrap metal in 2011 have been completed and mailed or emailed.  Also, the annual activity reports for all members have also been sent.  If you did not receive these, please contact Kris at ext. 10 or your member services representative. We are happy to send you another copy!

Quote of the Day:

Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man. – Stewart Udall

____________________________________________

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR:

Since I have featured the Santa icon in the last two issues along with beaches, sun, and palm trees I guess it’s time to admit that it’s winter here be it ever so mild so far, (they can keep it in Alaska where it belongs). While not as much snow this winter, there have been the usual reminders of our climate, cold and ice, as you can see from this picture of a glassy driveway with birches taken Friday 1/27/2012. Once the initial ice coating is shaken off the birches they tend to return to their usual height. So with a little effort on our part, nature can return to its natural condition. Recycling comes to mind as another example of how we should reuse as much as possible thereby helping nature to maintain some semblance of balance by not depleting all of its resources unnecessarily.

Mark Lichtenstein to Address the 31rst Annual Conference:  

NRRA is honored to announce that the President of the National Recycling Coalition will kick off The 31rst Annual Northeast Recycling Conference and Expo on Monday June 4, 2012. Besides being the current President of NRC,  Mark is also the Director of the Syracuse University, and brings a lifetime of dedication to recycling and proper resource management to the podium. At this critical juncture in the recycling industry and commodity markets he will be addressing the greater challenge that lies ahead for all of us to be greener than we already are and get on the road to success.

Mark Lichtenstein is serving an unprecedented fourth term as the president of the National Recycling Coalition, Inc.; previously he was president during the 1990s. He is also the Executive Director of the SyracuseCoE Center for Sustainable Community Solutions (at Syracuse University). Lichtenstein also leads the Environmental Finance Center at Syracuse University, serving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 2. He is a faculty associate in the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration at Syracuse’s Maxwell School. Recently, the EPA Region 2 Administrator appointed him as facilitator of the newly formed Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership Council, and the U.S. Virgin Island Recycling Partnership Council. Lichtenstein is co-founder and the first chair for the State Recycling Organizations National Council, and was president of the NYS Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling. He has served as an expert witness to the congressionally-authorized Federal Environmental Finance Advisory Board (EFAB), and he is a credentialed green building professional (LEED-GA) Lichtenstein has a Master of Arts in Public Administration, a Graduate Certificate of Advanced Studies in Conflict Resolution, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration all from the Maxwell School. He also has graduate training in Environmental Science and holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, both from the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He has certified mediator training, is an experienced interest-based negotiator and process facilitator, and is a certified public participation specialist. Lichtenstein was a Walt Disney Character and built his own “green” home on the shores of Lake Ontario.

 

NRRA begins HHW Research Project

NRRA is excited to announce work beginning on a USDA grant. Starting in January NRRA has embarked on a in depth study of HHW Best Practices and we need your help.  Please send us any and all collection and cost data available for collection events, temporary or permanent facilities, by the gallon or the person with cost figures. The purpose of the grant is to research existing practices and costs, and make recommendations on how to improve Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection in New Hampshire. In addition to data and cost figures, if you know a program that works well please let us know so we can include it in the study portion. The HHW study will be providing current regulations and requirements along with grant applications on the NRRA web site so for all things HHW, just check in on the right side column as we move forward.

Specifically, NRRA will research current NHDES regulations related to HHW collection, evaluate the current collection systems in NH and neighboring states, and work towards the development of a new, cost-effective system to improve existing collection programs. The first steps will be to assess how HHW is managed currently. Jackie Albanese has been hired to work on the grant and is excited to speak with NRRA members about their HHW collection systems.  You can reach Jackie at 1-800-223-0150, ext. 25  or email jalbanese@nrra.net.  For more information about the NHDES Household Hazardous Waste Program, including current regulations and publications, visit http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/p2au/pps/hhwp/index.htm

 

 

NRRA Completes first six months of the VT E-Waste Contract.

Over 3,000,000 lbs of electronic material has been properly removed from the Vermont waste stream. The new program is on pace to exceed the first year target by 25%. Thanks to the excellent work of Goodpoint Recycling , this program may well become a model for other programs nationwide.

 

 

 _________________________________________________

NRRA NEWS:

Attendees, Exhibitors and Sponsors can now Register Online!

 

Workshop Proposals:

Last call for workshop proposals! Have a great presentation idea and want to attend our nationally recognized conference for free? Submit your proposal now! Click here

To PRESENT at a workshop please click here for more information or contact Adam Clark: aclark@nrra.net or (800) 223-0150, ext. 14.

To EXHIBIT, click here or please contact Marilyn Weir: info@nrra.net or (800) 223-0150, ext. 11.

To ATTEND click here and/or to BECOME A MEMBER please contact Paula Dow: pdow@nrra.net or (800) 223-0150, ext. 20.

To be a CONFERENCE SPONSOR click here or please contact: Michael Durfor, NRRA Executive Director: mdurfor@nrra.net or (800) 223-0150, ext. 16.

To DONATE to the SILENT AUCTION, please download donation sheet or please contact Kristine Stanley at kstanley@nrra.net or (800) 223-0150, ext. 10.

(Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to download several of the Forms. If you do not already have it, you may download it here for free.)

 

 

NRRA WORKSHOP – NH DES REPORTING & FORMS

***This workshop is already full but you can be put on a waiting list in case of cancellations***

This workshop also meets NH DES’ “Continuing Education” annual requirement.

WHEN:
Wednesday March 14th, 2012
10:30 – 1:00 ( after NRRA MOM Meeting starting @ 9 AM)

WHERE:
Northeast Resource Recovery Assn. – 2101 Dover Rd., Epsom, NH 03234

TOPIC:
NH DES REPORTING & FORMS – planned items to be covered:

• Operating Plan
• Closure Plan
• Annual Facility Report
• Inspection Report

COST:
$50 per person – Lunch will be provided.

SPACE LIMITATION:
Maximum 30 attendees (Workshop already full but there is a waiting list in case of cancellations)

TO BE PUT ON THE WAITING LIST:
Contact Paula Dow (email: pdow@nrra.net) Tel: 603-736-4401 Ext. 20

NRRA Gives Rebate Checks to Members for Electronics Recycling

As previously mentioned, through NRRA’s cooperative marketing program, we are able to return some electronics recycling money that was paid by our members in 2010.  An eligibility award from Samsung,  through NRRA’s vendor – Universal Recycling Technologies (URT), resulted in a rebate to those NRRA members who did not originally qualify for the rebate program in the 2010 calendar year.  NRRA is very pleased to be able to return these funds to its members as an extra dividend of their membership, and we very much appreciate all the cooperation that URT has afforded NRRA and its members over the last several years to make electronic waste recycling more cost effective. NRRA is pleased to be part of this opportunity, and again thanks Samsung for these rebates.

Check Presentation in Merrimack, NH

Town of Merrimack (left to right):  Steve Doumas, Ian Robinson, Bonnie Bethune (NRRA) and Paul Ford

 

_________________________________________________

BONNIE’S DESK:

 

On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, NRRA hosted a meeting to discuss NRRA’s PGA (Processed Glass Aggregate) Program.

Energetic discussion included, but was not limited to:

1. Historical and Current Program Review
2.  NRRA Host Sites – Benefits to Host Site, Review of Hours/Protocol of accepting material from NRRA Members
3. NRRA Members – Benefits to Members, Review of Protocol,  scale weights vs. average weights, etc.
4. DES Input re: Rules and Regulations for PGA collection, storage and end-use
5. Current and Future End Uses of Aggregate

NRRA has 7 PGA Host Sites where NRRA members can deliver their mixed glass (glass jars & bottles, as well as, ceramics, window glass, porcelain sinks and toilets, etc.) Current tipping fee is $23/ton.

Once 500+ tons of material is collected at these sites, NRRA vendor Ivar Martin mobilizes his equipment to the site and crushes the material to a 3/8 minus spec.

This material becomes PGA (Processed Glass Aggregate) and is then a CWDP (Certified Waste Derived Product).

Host Sites can collect, store and locally use this PGA/CWDP for public works projects such as sub-base material for roads, bedding material for pipes and fill around retaining walls. Host Sites DO NOT require a DES permit to store, collect and locally use this product.

However, it is suggested that this practice is included in the Host Sites’

DES operating plan and closure plan.

NRRA Members have recycled over 40,000 tons of this material between 2003 and 2011!

A main focus of discussion was end-uses for the PGA which included landscaping material, in asphalt, concrete, private resident drainage, foundation backfill or septage system base. Private and Commercial uses DO require an engineer’s or architect’s approved plan however.

Action Plan – to speak with DOT about future projects and the inclusion of PGA; continue discussions with DES; supply information regarding end-uses to sure Recycling Facility Operators, Host Sites, Public Works Departments and businesses interested in using this material.

Attendees included Melanie Doiron, Paul Gildersleeve and Judith Houston from NHDES, Richard Lee of New London, Jonathan Hixon and David Devito from ReEnergy/ERRCO, Michael Sargent from Northeast Landscaping, Ivar Martin, Mike Hartness of Keene, Stephen Clough of Hopkinton, Michael Durfor, Adam Clark, Marilyn Weir and Bonnie Bethune of NRRA.

If you have any questions or input regarding our PGA program or potential end uses please contact us here at NRRA.

 

A message from Call2Recycle

Call2Recycle is pleased to provide the latest detail collection report highlighting your battery and cell phone collection efforts. This report includes valuable information such as individual site pounds collected and broken down by chemistry; while the summary report rolls up the individual sites and summarizes growth rates and collection trends over time.

If you have questions about this report or would like more information about your participation, please contact the Customer Service team at customerservice@call2recycle.org or toll-free at 1-877-723-1297.

Thank you for helping us recharge the planet by recycling your batteries!

And a message from NRRA!

As you can see NRRA Members collectively kept 19,569 lbs. (or nearly 10 ton!) of rechargeable batteries and 696 cell phones out of the municipal waste stream in 2011!

Thank you for participating in this great program!  Contact Member Services for your Community’s individual report.

Recycled Batteries – Where do they go?

Modern electronics could not function without batteries, from sophisticated internal rechargeable cells to the single-use batteries in your emergency flashlight. Besides stored electrons, these batteries also contain complex compounds that can be harmful to the environment. Fortunately, many of these materials are also valuable enough to recover for use in remanufacturing.

Both rechargeable and single-use batteries may be dropped off at your local London Drugs through a program operated by Call2Recycle™ – a free battery and cell phone collection program funded by product manufacturers.

So what happens to old batteries once they leave our stores?

Lithium Ion batteries (one of the more common rechargeable types) are sent to Toxco, in Trail, BC. There, they are cooled to -325° F for safe remote-control processing. (Lithium is a very reactive element at normal temperatures, but much safer to handle when it’s almost as cold as outer space) The recovered lithium is converted to lithium carbonate for reuse. Metals recovered from other battery types at Toxco include nickel, iron, cadmium, lead, and cobalt. Plastic casings and other scrap are converted to energy.

Alkaline batteries are recycled at Inmetco, in Pennsylvania, USA, using a High Temperature Metals Recovery Process (HTMR) with other metal bearing materials, for an overall material recovery rate of 83%. Metals recovered include iron, nickel, manganese, copper, and zinc.

Ni-CAD, Ni-MH, Ni-Zn and single-use batteries are also sent to Inmetco. They are one of the only facilities in North America that recycles nickel-cadmium batteries.

Cadmium is recovered in a special furnace, where it is reduced, vaporized and condensed, producing a minimum 99.95% pure cadmium metal. This reclaimed cadmium can then be used in the production of new nickel-cadmium batteries, in the manufacture of corrosion-resistant coatings and to enhance pigmentation.

So don’t throw all that toxic, valuable material in the trash. Recycle your batteries at London Drugs. It’s well worth that little bit of extra energy.

For more information, call 1-888-224-9764 or visit www.call2recycle.ca

 

 _________________________________________________

MARILYN’S DESK:

 

NRRA Pilot Consolidation Program in the North Country of NH

NRRA is pleased to announce another NRRA Consolidation program is now available in northern NH. NRRA has been working with Mike Lynch and team from Lynch Recycling in N. Stratford, NH to be able to offer this new service to our members. This facility is located at 77 Ayer Road (Rt. 3) and is available to accept deliveries of baled or loose material. NRRA also arranges pickup and hauling of your material (if needed).

The objectives of this NRRA Pilot Consolidation program and facility are:

•  To consolidate materials (recyclables) from multiple facilities at one central location;
• To increase your revenue by shipping maximum (full) loads of consolidated product;
• To reduce transportation costs;
• To substantially reduce storage requirements at your facility by picking up (or delivering) materials on a regular basis;
• Create additional processing space to allow for your incoming material;
• To increase handling and processing efficiency;

To learn more about this program and how it could be beneficial for your Transfer Station and/or recycling program, please contact:  Marilyn Weir, NRRA Member Services at 1-800-223-0150 or 603-736-4401 Ext. 11 / email: mweir@nrra.net

 

****Please Note****

NEW DES ANNUAL FACILITY REPORT FORM

DES is preparing a new “Annual Facility Report form” that will be available shortly. Please keep this in mind when preparing your annual report due by March 31st. – complete the new form when it becomes available. Look for more information in a future issue of FOS.

 

FYI……..Bale sizes and loading goals:

BALE SIZES: There is a direct relationship between bale size and the amount of product that can be loaded in a trailer or shipping container. The diagram below shows one loading method needed to achieve the highest load weights. We believe it to be the preferred loading method by most mills. Suggested maximum dimensions are as follows: Length (L) 60″, Width (W) 45″, and Height (H) 32″. Each baler has two fixed dimensions and (usually) one variable dimension. For horizontal balers the variable dimension is (usually) Length per the diagram. For vertical balers the variable is shown on the diagram as Width. While your individual bale weights may be low, the amount of weight you can load in a trailer or container will increase. It should be noted that there are other loading schemes, and that with some balers, all three dimensions are fixed.

 

LOADING: see diagram below for loading most commodities:

Loading Goals:
Target Bale Quantity & Weights

• Target Load Weight: 44,000 lbs. +
• 48′ Trailer – 54 bales @ 825 lbs
• 52′ Trailer – 57/60 bales @ 775 lbs
• Standard Cube (export) Container- 28 bales @ 1,600 lbs
• Hi-Cube (export) Container- 42 bales @ 1,100 lbs

 

 

 

 

 

 

* When purchasing new loading equipment (forklift, etc) consider including 5′ forks to allow handling/loading your bales the “long way” (60″ length) in order to maximize your load weight, using the above diagram.

_________________________________________________

PAULA’S DESK:

 

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 fiscal year runs November 1-October 31.

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, and we can fax or mail a form to you. The next NHtB board meeting is April 19, 2012.  All applications must be submitted by April 5th to be considered at the April 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.

 _________________________________________________

KRIS’S DESK:

 

Compost Bin & Rain Barrel Sale – New this Year – Compost Turners!

See Flyer and Participation Packet!

Using the principal of cooperative purchasing to leverage lower prices, the NRRA is offering municipalities, community groups or service organizations (one lead group per community) Earth Machine™ Backyard Compost Bins , Systern™ Rain Barrels, Kitchen Scrap Pails, and Compost Turners for sale.

They can be sold to homeowners at low, “buying power” prices:  bins at $47 (retail value of $100), rain barrels at $62 (retail value of $120), pails at $8 each, and Compost Turners at $18. Or you may choose to use this sale as a fundraising opportunity and sell the bins and/or pails for $52, $67, $10, and $20 raising $5/$5/$2/$2 from each sale.

Upon request, a sample Earth Machine™ and Rain Barrel will be sent to you to assist your sales!  Sorry, free samples of Kitchen Pails and Compost Turners are not available. Only one sample per participant! Please note: if you ordered a sample last year you will not be able to receive another one unless you pay for it. Please hang on to your samples so you will have them to use year after year.

-How the Program Works-

1. CONTACT the NRRA at (800) 223-0150, go to www.nrra.net for forms or email kstanley@nrra.net for Participation Forms/Packet.
2. REGISTER with Kris to participate in the sale and receive free promo material.
3. PROMOTE the Sale (master posters and order forms are provided for easy copying) and accept orders until April 2^nd, 2012.
4. RETURN the Final Order Form and check(s) to the NRRA by April 5^th.  In order to have items shipped directly to you, they must be made in exact multiples as follows:  Bins multiples of 20 (i.e., 20, 40, 60, etc.) Rain Barrels multiples of 15 and Kitchen Pails in multiples of 26 for direct delivery. Compost Turners require no minimum if also ordering Compost Bins. Orders for less than required multiples are accepted, but you must pick up your order at the NRRA Office in Epsom, NH.
5. ACCEPT delivery of compost bins/pails during the week of April 16th, 2012.
6. DISTRIBUTE the bins/pails to your residents in time for Earth Day!

Questions? Contact Kris Stanley at
kstanley@nrra.net or 603.736.4401 ext 10

 

 _________________________________________________

SCHOOL NEWS YOU CAN USE:

 

Why is it easier to float on the ocean than on a lake? It’s because salty water is denser than fresh water. Wherever ocean water and fresh water meet, the saltier water sinks. Saltiness, or salinity, has a profound effect on ocean currents, too. Of course, so does heat, since warm water is less dense than cold water. These two simple facts, so important to understanding Earth’s climate, are demonstrated in a fun way with our new “Go with the Flow” game. Use your salt and heat “tools” to create currents that will carry you to the treasure.  Flow . . . er, go to http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/ocean-currents.

Check out our great sites for kids:
http://climate.nasa.gov/kids
http://scijinks.gov

http://spaceplace.nasa.gov

 Distributed by Laura K. Lincoln, on behalf of the NASA’s Climate Kids.

 

_________________________________________________

VERMONT NEWS:

 

Monthly Conference Call

Greetings E-Cycles Operators!

To date, we have together collected over 2.8 million pounds of electronics at no charge to Vermonters.

Thank You.

The next E-Cycles Operator Conference Call will be on Monday, February 13^th at 10:00 am.

Free Conference Call
Conference Dial-in Number: (641) 715-3200
Participant Access Code: 279190#

PLEASE forward this message to any staff, operators, managers, or colleagues who may wish to participate.

This month’s focus topics will include a discussion of programmatic changes for the 2012/13 program year, review of packing and lifting guidelines, review of reuse limits and reporting, and a review of the payment terms and sorting options offered by Good Point and our other partners.

As always, if there is something you would like to see on the agenda, a question, concern, or otherwise, please let us know at (800) 223-0150 ext. 19 or vtewaste@nrra.net.

Thank you all, again, for your work on electronics recycling.  We’ll look forward to talking to you all on the 13^th  if not before.

Sincerely,

NRRA E-Cycles Staff

 

New E-Cycles Operators’ Training Webinar

The Northeast Resource Recover Association, as part of its role as the contractor for the Vermont E-Cycle Program, is pleased to announce a new training program for all staff involved in the collection, transportation, and recycling of Vermont E-Cycles material.

The training will be offered as a web-based “webinar” and is free to all attendees.  We encourage Transfer Station Staff, Managers, Administrators, Recyclers, Drivers and anyone else involved in the E-Cycles program to participate.  The webinar will be offered multiple times over the remainder of the program year.

The first webinar will be held on Friday, February 17^th at 10:00 am.  It is expected to last approximately one hour.

Access information will be forthcoming.  The program is free but requires internet access to all who participate.

The program will also be adapted into an in-person training that NRRA staff will be offering across the state.

For more information on the webinar, or to schedule an in-person training at your location, please contact us at vtewaste@nnra.net or call NRRA at (800) 223-0150 ext. 19.

We will be soliciting input on content and format from all participants of this initial offering and welcome your feedback and suggestions.

What:  E-Cycles Operators’ Training Webinar

When: Friday, Feburary 17^th at 10:00am (approximately 1 hour)

Who:  All E-Cycles participant staff

Where:  Internet based Webinar (via GoToWebinar)

How:  Access information will be forthcoming

 

**********************************

Please Join us!

6th Annual
Vermont Organics Recycling Summit
Soil & Water: The Compost Connection
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Vermont Technical College
Randolph Center, Vermont
Registration opens February 15th 
http://www.regonline.com/VORS2012

The Composting Association of Vermont and Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation will host the sixth annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit (VORS) at Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center, Vermont on Thursday, March 29^th, 2012. The theme for this year’s Summit is “Soil & Water: The Compost Connection.”  The keynote speaker, Holly Wescott, is one of the founders of the Soils For Salmon initiative in Washington state. This model program has evolved over 10 years to develop practices that improve the function of soil as a way to conserve water, and to improve and protect water quality.

The Summit is a one day event and hosts six workshops, equipment demonstration and exhibitors. This year’s workshops will include: current research on compost recipe development; rural and urban case studies for source separated collection; technologies for thermal heat extraction from compost; a special site manager’s workshop on storm water management, and: a presentation and ‘how-to’ demonstration on making and using compost filter socks.

The Vermont Organics Recycling Summit provides educational and technical sessions designed specifically for the production and use of compost in New England’s climate and soils. Compost is one of the most effective ways we have to improve soil structure and protect water quality. At VORS 2012 we will explore how composting and the use of compost can help Vermont communities on issues such as erosion, stormwater, conservation,s climate change and farm viability.

If you are a compost facility manager, researcher, engineer, consultant, contractor, landscaper, community leader, regulator, recycling specialist, policy maker, or educator with an interest in organics diversion, water quality, and soil health issues, please join us for a day of networking and learning March 29^th at Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center.

Please go to www.regonline.com/VORS2012 after February 15 to register online.

Questions?
Contact:
Roni Coleman, Coordinator
802-277-3360 ext. 102
ronic@riverstoneresolutions.com

 

 _________________________________________________

MASSACHUSETTS NEWS:

SSRC Updates January 24, 2012

Board Meeting notes

• Bay State Textiles doubles rebate, hopes to double tonnage
• SSRC releases 2011 Annual Report
• SSRC to submit comments on E-Waste Bill
• Legislative Breakfast planning
• Whitman tightens rules, cuts trash by 14%
• Janine’s back as our MAC
• CRTRecycling paying for desktop “towers”
• Hull Sustainable Living Expo – Volunteer to staff SSRC exhibit
• Events

 

Bay State Textiles doubles rebate, hopes to double tonnage

Only about 15% percent of discarded textile products are recovered. MassDEP determined that in 2010, 5-7% of disposed tons in Mass., or about 70 lbs./person, were textiles, and is coordinating a statewide effort to increase recovery.

Local rag graders closed shop in 1990s, due in part to lack of supply. Many donation boxes advertise that they only want gently used clothing, so a lot of material with value goes in the trash. Most people don’t realize it’s ok to recycle clothing, shoes, belts, household linens, cushions, and stuffed animals in almost any condition, even with rips and stains, so long as they are dry and solvent-free. BST wants a mix of quality (“the good, the bad and the ugly” – but not smelly).

Paul Curry, principal of Bay State Textiles has been in the textile business 15 years. BST is a for-profit company that sells post-consumer textiles, and shares profits with host municipality, school or community groups. Nine SSRC towns currently host BST trailers (all but Cohasset, Kingston, Rockland, Whitman and Middleboro). The Duxbury Transfer Station reclaims the most, about 18lbs/resident last year, despite containers that generate some proceeds for charities also collecting there. ln 2012, Curry plans to focus on schools on the south shore and Cape Cod.

BST provides 12 and 20 foot trailers that are accessible through (lockable) doors or 2 side windows. BST swaps out whole trailers rather than unloading. The trailers are too big for many schools, so Curry bought 40 smaller boxes, which hold about 300 lbs. Schools can put logo on boxes, earn money from collection.

In response to some recent competition, BST doubled its rebate, to $100/ton, which he will pay to host municipalities, schools, or community groups. He asks that partners be proactive in outreach. BST is kicking off a program with schools in Weymouth for the month of May; if they collect 250,000 lbs, he will add $2,500 prize money for kids. BST is also working with an educational foundation in Hingham.

Duxbury’s bin demonstrated that tonnage spikes when adjacent sandwich boards show where the rebate goes, which creates a buzz. Sharing revenue with a local group helps spread the word.

BST keeps money local, offsets transfer station rates, taxes. Many “charities” hire high overhead, private companies to do the work, use charities’ names.

Textile collectors don’t wash textiles before shipping, as they usually come in clean. BST collects, bales, and ships material to graders in Mexico, Guatemala, which sort it into: saleable items, repairable items, wiping cloths, or fibers. A company in Millbury that buys the fiber grade to make into carpet pad is having trouble getting enough supply. A wiper company in Lynn needs absorbent cotton cloth, and is also having trouble with the supply side.

Some Boston area graduate students went to Africa, (Ross Lohr, Project Repat) to investigate their concern that the used clothing business hurts third world countries. In Kenya they learned that used clothing from the US is a benefit to third world economies. Curry plans to contact the now-graduates to give talks about their experience. African families need about $1000 to start a used clothing business, sell clothes in their town, feed their family.

BST is working with SSRC on 3’x8’ Banners, will fund. Reps from the following towns expressed interest: Abington, Cohasset, Hanover, Hingham, Plymouth, Rockland, Scituate, (King?), (Whit?)

Curry can be reached at 508-415-3855, Boston2674@aol.com

Scituate pulled the Planet Aid box out of Transfer Station after learning that its Danish CEO is wanted in many EU countries for using a “charity” as a front for personal profit. Red Cross boxes are owned by for-profit Winward Trading, which shares profits with RC. Winward offered to speak to the SSRC about how Red Cross uses his services.

SSRC releases 2011 Annual Report

The SSRC saved/earned its member towns $125,000 in Calendar Year 2011, a 198% Return on Investment overall. Kevin Cafferty, the Assistant DPW Director in Scituate and Vice Chairman of the SSRC, noted that Scituate had the highest total savings due to SSRC program participation. He recommended that other towns take advantage of the Executive Director’s expertise, she can save member towns money.

The Report can be downloaded from http://ssrcoop.info/images/annualreports/CY11report.pdf

SSRC to submit comments on E-Waste Bill

S2078, “An Act relative to information technology producer responsibility”, was reported out of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture unchanged. The SSRC had testified in favor of a completely different Ewaste Producer Responsibility bill last spring, and submitted comments to ENRA upon learning that a completely different bill submitted by Dell was the one being discussed by the Committee last October. In November, the Committee reported the bill out favorably and sent it to Senate ways and Means. None of the comments submitted by the SSRC or several other organizations were incorporated.

The Executive Director drafted and distributed to the Board a new set of comments for submission to the Senate Ways and Means Committee at last week’s meeting.

Sponsored by Senator Marc Pacheco, the current bill as written does little to relieve municipalities of this growing waste stream, and would not provide incentives to increase diversion from its current rate. The Executive Director has delivered the comments to Chairman Brewer, and is setting up a meeting with him to discuss our concerns. The SSRC’s comments will be posted on the website as soon as they are final.

Legislative Breakfast planning

The Plymouth County Highway Association invited SSRC to co-host its annual Legislative Breakfast, scheduled for Friday May 18 in Plymouth, for the second year. Ms. Snow noted that it was beneficial last year. The Board voted to accept the invitation, and to pay for the attendance of the EBoard plus one Board representative from each member town.

Whitman tightens rules, cuts trash by 14%

Selectman Dan Salvucci reported that in the first six months since the Town adopted a mandatory recycling requirement and a 3 (35 gallon) barrel/week limit, disposed tons dropped 14% from the previous year, and recycling tonnage rose by 23%. (Jul-Dec 2010: 2,413 tons disposed/437 tons recycled; Jul-Dec 2011: 2,117 tons disposed / 565 tons recycled.) At that rate, the Town will save about $47,000/year on disposal.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Janine’s back as our MAC

After 6 months as our region’s MassDEP Municipal Assistance Coordinator, Dan Balboni was offered and accepted a position at ABC Disposal in New Bedford, continuing our record of going through more MACs than the rest of the entire State in the shortest time. (That makes 7 in the 13 years I have been here!).

Just when I was beginning to wonder if I had something to do with this, I mentioned the vacancy to Janine Delaney, who has helped the SSRC out on a couple of projects since her layoff from MassDEP’s last staff cut. (If you recall, she had accepted a position at the Boston DEP office when our region included 51 municipalities including Boston, Cambridge, Brookline and Somerville). With the Region trimmed to a more manageable size of 37 municipalities, Janine inquired about returning to her old stomping ground. She starts on January 30. Welcome back, Janine!

CRTRecycling paying for computer “towers”

CRTRecycling principal Peter Kopcych contacted the SSRC to announce that the company will now pay $500/ton for separated desktop computer towers, which contain the central processing unit (CPU) of the computer. He will provide containers upon request, regardless of whether a municipality sends the rest of its electronic waste to CRTRecycling. According to Kopcych, the units are refurbished and re-sold.

Contact CRTRecycling at 508-427-7740 to set up CPU collection.

Kopcych is still waiting for a decision from US EPA and MassDEP on his Beneficial Use Determination request to use the outer non-leaded glass from CRTs in sound barriers. There are some jurisdictional issues that are holding up the process.

In a separate matter regarding TVs and monitors, the apparent disparity in unit counts between one of our member’s municipal transfer station’s log and CRTR’s driver’s account was raised at last week’s meeting. The Town had logged in 90 units, but the CRTR driver reported 138. It didn’t affect the town’s cost due to their pricing structure. When asked about it, Kopcych asserted that he keeps a video record of the offloading of collection trucks that municipal clients are welcome to view. If a town is concerned about the accuracy of quantities billed (for any material), it is recommended that they oversee the loading and counting of materials when they are picked up, and reconcile the amount with the driver at that time.

Hull Sustainable Living Expo – Volunteer to staff SSRC exhibit

The SSRC has been invited to exhibit at the Nantasket Home Show & Sustainable Living Expo. The Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with Sustainable Greener Hull, the folks who brought you the Sustainable Living Expo each April at the Mary Jeanette Murray Bath House. This year, we will all be under one great roof at the Nantasket Beach Resort featuring vendors in the sustainable and green businesses.

The event will take place on Saturday February 4, from 10-3pm at 45 Hull Shore Drive.

The SSRC has a beautiful exhibit board and materials to hand out, (thanks to a grant from MassDEP). I will deliver it to anyone who would bring it to the Show, set it up, and retrieve it at the end of the day. Let me know if you are interested, 781-329-8318 or ssrecyclingcoop@verizon.net.

Events

• Sustainable Living Expo, Sat., Feb. 4, 10-3, Nantasket Beach Hotel, 45 Hull Shore Dr.
• SSRC Board meetings Thurs., Feb. 16, 9 am, Whitman; Thurs., March 22, 9 am, Hingham
• Southeast Municipal Recycling Council, Wed., March 14, 9-12, Textile recycling, Wrentham Library
• MassRecycle Recycling and Organics Conference and Trade Show, Tues., March 27, Holiday Inn Boxborough

Submitted by:

Claire Sullivan, Executive Director
South Shore Recycling Cooperative
781.329.8318; ssrecyclingcoop@verizon.net
Chairman, Mass Recycles Paper

 

_________________________________________________

NATIONAL NEWS:

SWANA’s Managing Transfer Station Systems Certification Course is now available online—at a deep discount for SWANA members for a limited time! Participate in SWANA’s Transfer Station eSeries from the comfort of your home or office, or download recordings and supplemental materials for review at your leisure. A total of nine sessions covering the eleven lessons from the Managing Transfer Station Systems Certification Course will be offered via webinar on Thursdays starting February 2 , 2012.

Purchase the Managing Transfer Station eSeries Online Package Now!

Schedule of Sessions:

• February 2 | Introduction and Overview/Siting and Conceptual Design
• February 9 | Transfer Stations Design (Part One)
• February 16 | Transfer Stations Design( Part Two)
• February 23 | Operational Efficiency and Maintenance of Transfer Stations
• March 1 | Waste Screening
• March 8 | Equipment Operation and Management
• March 15 |Emergency and Contingency Plans
• March 22 | Regulatory and Permit Compliance/Protection of Human Health and Environment
• March 29| Recordkeeping/Effective Communication

 Register Now and SAVE! | More Information and Session Descriptions
Sale ends February 3, 2012.

 

 

Learn How to Save Energy & Decrease the Environmental Impact of Computer Equipment

Introduction to the State Electronics Challenge

Join us for a free Webinar next Thursday, February 16, 3 p.m. Eastern/Noon Western

Please join us to learn how state, tribal, regional, and local governments, schools, colleges and universities can save energy, reduce costs, and achieve sustainability goals. This Webinar is an opportunity to learn about the State Electronics Challenge and what the program offers. The Challenge is a free program that provides support and recognition to state, tribal, regional, local governments, schools, college and universities for lifecycle stewardship of their computer equipment: buying green, energy and paper conservation during use, proper reuse and recycling at the end-of-life.

Register for the Webinar: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/564719166

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Lynn Rubinstein, Program Manager
State Electronics Challenge
c/o Northeast Recycling Council (NERC)
139 Main St., Suite 401
Brattleboro, VT 05301
lynn@stateelectronicschallenge.net www.stateelectronicschallenge.net
Phone: 802-254-3636

 

Coca-Cola and Keep America Beautiful Expand 2012 Grant to Support Recycling

 

Call for entries now open, including new grants for colleges and universities

STAMFORD, Conn. (Jan. 30, 2012) — The Coca-Cola Company and Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (KAB) today announced a call for entries for the newly expanded 2012 Coca-Cola Recycling Bin Grant Program, a program designed to expand and support recycling in communities across America. The Coca-Cola Recycling Bin Grant Program is funded through grants from The Coca-Cola Foundation.

For 2012, Coca-Cola has significantly expanded its investment in the Bin Grant Program to include both a specific college and university focused grant and the traditional public space recycling bin grant.

“Through the Coca-Cola Bin Grant Program, we’ve provided more than 20,000 recycling bins to help communities across the United States increase recycling.  We hope that by expanding this program to include additional funding dedicated to colleges and universities, we can further improve recycling and have a positive impact on the next generation of leaders,” said Lori George Billingsley, Community Relations Vice President for Coca-Cola Refreshments.

“Providing recycling opportunities in public spaces is an important national initiative for our organization as we aim to increase our nation’s recycling rates,” said Matthew M. McKenna, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. “Through public-private partnerships such as this one with Coca-Cola, we can provide recycling infrastructure to local organizations that might not otherwise be able to afford it. We are truly grateful to The Coca-Cola Company for its continued support.”

All interested parties may visit http://bingrant.org and submit an online grant application through March 2, 2012.  Eligible grant recipients for the public space grant include government agencies, civic organizations, schools and non-profit groups. Colleges and universities will complete a different application for the newly established grant dedicated to them. Successful applicants will be notified by Keep America Beautiful on or before April 22 to offer guidance, confirm their needs and solidify bin selection. Suppliers will deliver bins directly to the recipients throughout the summer.

About Keep America Beautiful, Inc.

Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation’s largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. With a network of over 1,200 affiliate and participating organizations, Keep America Beautiful forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community’s environment. To learn more, visit www.kab.org.

About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world’s most valuable brand, our Company’s portfolio features 15 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.7 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world’s top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system employees. For more information, please visit www.thecoca-colacompany.com or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo.

 

 _________________________________________________

MEMBERS HELPING MEMBERS:

Recycle Toner and Ink Jet Cartridges and Cell Phones!

An NRRA members mentioned this outlet for recycling toner/inkjet cartridges and cell phones.

We look forward to feedback on this company if you use them or try them.

http://freerecycling.com/

_________________________________________________

NRRA CALENDAR:

• Feb. 8th: M.O.M. Meeting, NRRA Office

• Feb. 8th: NRRA Board Meeting, NRRA Office 11:00am – 1:00pm

• Feb. 8th-10th:  SWANA’s Annual Conference

• Feb. 20th: NRRA OFFICE CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY

• March 14th: M.O.M. Meeting (9:00-10:30) & Workshop (10:30-1:00pm), NRRA Office (details above)

• April 11th: M.O.M. Meeting, NRRA Office

• April 11th: NRRA Board Meeting, NRRA Office 11:00am – 1:00pm

• May 9th: M.O.M. Meeting, NRRA Office

• May 28th: NRRA OFFICE CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY

• June: No M.O.M Meeting due to Annual Conference

• June 4th & 5th: 31st Annual NRRA Recycling Conference & Expo (details above)

• June 5th: 3rd Annual School Recycling Conference & Expo