Inside this Issue:
Adam’s Market Update
From the Director’s Chair – On the Road!
MOM Meetings
Keep America Beautiful Webinar
From Paula’s Desk: NHtB Grants
Veggie Oil: Did you Know?
Mass News
Classifieds
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Adam’s Market Update!
Hello Friends! Long time no see! Hope you’ve been well! You look great!
Summer is almost over so hopefully now we are able to get back into the swing of things here with the bi-weekly market updates.
First off FIBERS. It has been a relatively stable and healthy market over the course of the past few months. Generation has been strong and mill demand is taking all we can give them. It has really been the perfect market because of that tension I always refer to between the export and domestic markets. Right now all is in sync.
Both pricing and demand are on par between the two. So much so, that one load of material in the AM can go to a domestic mill for the best price, and then in the afternoon, essentially the same load could move export. It really has been just boiling down to the transportation costs to either, A. get it to the mill, or, B. get it to the port in Boston. This is the kind of market we should always be so lucky to have. Generally speaking too the Yellow Sheet is pretty accurate (if a hair low) right now so those numbers follow for baled loads.
OCC = $155 – $165/ton
#8 = $130 – $140/ton
Mixed Paper = $120 – $130/ton
For the loose Empire programs that many of you have, the mixed paper price is and has been $115/ton going back a month or so.
One interesting thing to consider right here (again) is the #8 news generation issue. There is just SOOO little of it to be had. In the past few months, I know of at least 2 towns that have made the shift from doing separate Mixed Paper and #8/9 Newspaper grades to one Mixed Paper grade that includes the newspaper content. Marilyn also told me the other day that she has a facility considering that change as well. So, what does that mean?
Well generally, it will get you a slightly lower price. Currently the difference is approximately $20/ton less for a mixed paper load than a newspaper load but it has been a considerably bigger difference in the past. See graph below. Then why would a town consider that? Probably labor is the number 1 reason. By scraping (HA!) a stream of paper, there is less for operators to manage, quality check, shuffle around baling, etc. Another issue is storage and movement. If you find yourself working around and seemingly waiting FOREVER for a news load, you may just want it out of there if it is in your way. Combining the two will keep the material off your floor and moving out the door.
With regard to storage, perhaps this move could even free up a storage trailer for you; space which could then be used otherwise. Another factor is your residents. Would they find it easier to combine? In any case, it is obviously an individual facility’s choice. It’s a similar thought process really to the separated plastics vs. #1-#7 plastics question many are dealing with. Though in that case the $$ difference is indeed significantly more. So as always if you are considering this and if you want to talk this out with anyone give a call and we can bounce ideas around with you.
On the PLASTICS front the big news lately has been a significant DROP in HDPE Mixed
Color pricing we saw this summer. While it has been climbing back over the past few weeks, there was a glut in the market in late June that caused prices to drop approximately $.10/lb.
Interestingly, HDPE Natural prices remained relatively unaffected by the drop to a surprising extent. And luckily as well, what has been the golden child of plastics in 2011, PETE, remained very much in demand. I surely thought that PETE would have cooled off by now but straight loads are still very close to $.30/lb. Let me give what I call baseline prices for MIXED COMMODITY (meaning bales of the different plastics on one truckload) loads in a weight range of 30,000 to 35,000 lbs.
HDPE Natural = $.34/lb.
HDPE Mixed Color = $.21/lb.
PETE = $.235/lb.
As always, more $$ for heavier or straight loads of PETE or HDPE and slightly less for lighter weight loads.
The good news for SCRAP METAL has been its stability in pricing too. Delivered/containerized lt. iron loads REMAIN (for probably 8 weeks running) at $245/gross ton. Picked up grapple pricing is as follows.
Zone 1 = $205/gt
Zone 2 = $195/gt.
Zone 3 = $180/gt
Call to see what zone you’re living in! (Insert Twilight Zone joke here.) =)
Another reminder too that all Schnitzer container rental charges have been WAIVED through the NRRA so if you are toying with the idea of a conversion to a containerized scrap program, holler to discuss this as well
Last but not least that leads me to ALUMINUM and STEEL CANS. Very different markets have been showing themselves for these commodities as of late. Steel cans have been mirroring the stability seen in the scrap markets with baled 40,000 lb. loads STILL fetching around $325-$330 per gross ton while aluminum cans (the most volatile market we deal in) have seen prices DROP in response to the larger economic worries over the past few weeks. This week though, we’re seeing prices RISE $.05/lb. Pinning down when to sell in this market takes serious work.
Now below, I always like to give NRRA/Schnitzer delivered prices because it is interesting to see the trends here. Note though, that we can quite often do significantly better than these prices with just a slight detour on your delivery route. Do not hesitate to discuss.
Loose Steel Cans Delivered = $195/gt
Baled Steel Cans Delivered = $200/gt
Loose Aluminum Cans Delivered = $.67lb
Baled Aluminum Cans Delivered = $.71/lb
As a last word of advice, let me remind everyone working on budgets to be extra conservative. This business is like any other and as I am certainly seeing in my personal budget, so we see here, prices do go up from time to time and some of these relatively high commodity prices may (will) fall. So be careful. I don’t know anything specific, but in this economy, it is just a sense I am getting. Be well and take care … Adam
From the Director’s Chair — On the Road!
It is always interesting to see how other locations handle their waste streams. In the land of lochs and rivers, they, too, are trying to improve every year. I did notice a great deal of public placement of containers in Scotland. One above in a ferry terminal and the one below for a resort property. It appeared as though they placed containers and left them for general public use, and we did observe them all being used.
As with any system, if it helps remove the material from the waste stream it’s a step forward towards helping to protect some beautiful countryside.
Recycling rates rise again in Scotland!
Scotland’s recycling and composting rate continues to make steady progress. Figures released in February 2010, by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), show that Scotland’s annual recycling and composting rose to 35.9% for the year October 2008 to September 2009. The Scottish Government’s target of 30% for 2008 has been met. The next target is 40% by the end of 2010.
The recycling and composting rate for the second quarter of 2009/10 (July to September 2009) increased to 39.0%, an improvement on 36.3% for the same quarter of 2008/09.
The amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) sent to landfill in Scotland is also continuing to fall, with a total of 1.20 million tons of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) sent to landfill in the year October 2008 to September 2009. This is below the 1.32 million tons limit set for Scotland for 2009/10 by the European Commission under the Landfill Allowance Scheme.
Progress continues to be made on stabilising the growth of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) produced in Scotland. Approximately 3.25 million tonnes of MSW were produced in Scotland in the year October 2008 to September 2009 a decrease from the 3.38 million tons produced in the year October 2007 to September 2008.
Kenny Boag, SEPA’s National Waste Policy Unit Manager, said: “It is very encouraging to see Scotland’s municipal waste recycling rate continue to rise and the signs are good for continued improvement.”
Mark Your Calendar!
September 14th: Member/Operations Marketing Committee Meeting, 9:30 am to 11:00 am at NRRA, 2101 Dover Road, Epsom, NH
October 12th: Member/Operations Marketing Committee Meeting and Vendor Tour, 9:00 am to 12:00 am, starting at NRRA, 2101 Dover Road, Epsom, NH
Keep America Presents … Rural Recycling Case Studies Webinar
Thursday, Sept. 15, 3:00 – 4:00 pm (EST)
Virtually every state struggles with the challenges of extending access to recycling services to its less densely populated areas. The economics of volume and distance are daunting for both collection and materials marketing. With the rising post-recession demand for commodities, combined with new and creative ways to address the logistics of recovery systems, the timing is right to examine the opportunities and future for rural recycling. This session will feature expert presentation and discussion of on-the-ground programs that are pushing the envelope.
Moderator and Presenters:
1. Kelley Dennings, Director, Recycling Programs and Services, Keep America Beautiful;
2. English Bird with the New Mexico Recycling Coalition;
3. Rachel Perry with the Cooperative Teamwork and Recycling Assistance Organization; and
4. Alan Hale with Logan County, OH Solid Waste.
Click here – https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/151695137 – to register!
Veggie Oil: Did you Know?
In 2010, NRRA Members recycled 56,000 of Vegetable Oil, therefore …
- Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from burning equivalent fossil fuels by 895,104 lbs. (or 448 tons)!
- Replacing 50,400 gallons of foreign oil!
- Planting 112 acres of mature carbon sequestering forest!
- Powering a vehicle with carbon neutral fuel for 56 years!
- Providing all the carbon neutral electrical power to 56 houses for an entire year!
Also, in 2010, NRRA members received $2,885 in revenue for recycling their vegetable oil!!
Reminder…
When shipping your bulbs, please complete and send along with your BOL a “Bulb Inventory” form. Please call your Member Services representative at 603-736-4401 for more information. Thank you!
Signs
New Hampshire Municipalities are all eligible to apply for signs (60 points each fiscal year or until funds run out).
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 736-4402. Please NOTE!!! You can only order signs that are on the list. Words can be removed but nothing can be added.
RecycleMobile
To reserve a RecycleMobile for your event, Contact Paula Dow at 1-800-223-0150 or download the form.
The RecycleMobile was developed to help make recycling at special events low-cost, highly visible and efficient. It is a simple to use, eye-catching recycling unit consisting of a fiberglass box with six collection holes (3 per side) that is attached to a 4′ by 6′ trailer and houses six – 32 gallon barrels. You will need a 2″ ball to tow the RecycleMobile.
Sponsored by the NRRA and New Hampshire the Beautiful, Inc., and with generous funding from the American Plastics Council, Shop ‘n Save and Hannaford Supermarkets, New Hampshire Soft Drink Association, and the National Soft Drink Association.
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 800-223-0150, and we can fax or mail a form to you.
The next meeting of the NH the Beautiful Board will be Thursday, October 20, 2011. If you have a grant application that you’d like to submit, please get it to us no later than October 3rd in order to be considered at the next meeting.
Mass News
Contributed by Claire Sullivan, Executive Director, South Shore Recycling Cooperative
781.329.8318, ssrecyclingcoop@verizon.net
What waste streams would you most like to give back to their producers?
The Product Stewardship Institute and the MassDEP are conducting a short of Mass municipalities to learn more about which material streams or products pose the greatest challenge to your solid waste and recycling programs. The survey should take no more than 15 minutes and the first 25 respondents that complete the entire survey will receive a $5 gift card to Dunkin’ Donuts. The survey can be found: here.
The survey results will help assess which products could be more appropriately managed under an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program.
All of the questions can be answered quickly and there is no need to do any research or calculations. Simply use your best estimate to answer each of the questions based on an average year in your solid waste/recycling program. If you have any questions please contact Kate Hagemann at PSI (kate@productstewardship.us or 617-236-4771).
MassRecycle hires new Executive Director
After an exhaustive search by the MassRecycle Board of Directors, Edward Hsieh (“Shay”) took the reins as Executive Director on July 25. He had served for five years as Executive Director of the Brookline Green Space Alliance, a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the enhancement of open space by supporting citizens in caring for the green spaces. Prior to his time at BGSA Edward earned his BA in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Harvard and worked for the U.S. EPA and the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Environmental Management. You can reach Edward at edward.hsieh@massrecycle.org or 617-338-0244.
Classifieds
Job Opportunity
The University of Kansas has reposted a position opening in the Environmental Stewardship Program, which oversees recycling, surplus property, and waste reduction efforts. Details are listed below.
Candidates should apply at https://jobs.ku.edu/ (Unclassified Professional Staff position #01117001) by September 7.
