Nike "Just Does It" Again
Did
you know that since 1993 Nike has recycled more than 15 million pairs
of athletic shoes into surfaces such as tracks, basketball courts, and
playgrounds? Last year, Connecticut contributed over 7,000 pairs of
shoes to their efforts. According to Nike estimates, that means we recycled
enough shoes to make almost five basketball courts! Connecticut Recyclers
Coalition (CRC) is again coordinating efforts of the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe
collection in Connecticut. CRC's goal is to collect at least 5,500 pairs
of sneakers between April 1 and June 30, 2004 at events and drop-off
locations throughout the state. (Nike will post all events and drop-off
locations on their website.) Any brand of sneakers regardless of
condition will be accepted, but they can't have any metal (e.g. cleats,
eyelets or spikes). Shoes must be kept dry. Willimantic Waste in
Willimantic will be the central collection point for the all the shoes.
- CRC has limited funds to help organizations with costs associated
with publicizing their events, signage or containers, if necessary.
They also have a CD that contains posters that can be printed from
a PC. To be part of this worthwhile project, you can:
- Have a collection event. Schools, municipalities, organizations,
scouts, etc. may host an event. For example, make it part of your
Earth Day celebration, town festival or running event. Organizers
must register the event with CRC and are responsible for transporting
shoes to a regional collection area or to Willimantic Waste.
- Be a regional collection site. Sporting good stores,
malls, town halls, gyms, schools, etc. can participate by volunteering
to be a drop-off site. The shoes must be kept dry and transported
to Willimantic Waste before June 30, 2004. The site must be registered
with CRC.
- Be a sponsor. CRC is looking for a few good sponsors.
If you can't have an event or be a drop-off site, you can still
help out. Monetary, in-kind or any other sponsorships to support
these events are greatly appreciated.
Please contact Evelyn Golden,
CRC coordinator, at Signature Marketing for more information or to register
an event.
Read more about Nike's
program
Overview of Statewide FY2002 Municipal Solid Waste Statistics
Connecticut municipalities have already received reports for FY
2002 from the DEP on waste generated and materials recycled in their
towns and how these numbers compare to their rates in previous years.
But it is also interesting to look at the big picture - how much trash
was generated and how much was recycled state-wide. Since pictures often
speak louder than words, an overview of Connecticut's FY2002 municipal
solid waste (MSW) management is presented in the following graphs, charts,
and tables:
|
CT MSW FY2002
25% Reported Recycled;
26.4%
Reported Recycled/Source Reduced
|
 |
CT MSW Burned At CT Resource Recovery Facilities in FY 2002 (Calculated)
The following graph shows the amount of trash burned at each of
the Resource Recovery Facilities (RRFs). Note: OOS indicates "Out
of State".
| Wallingford
RRF 144,294 tons CT MSW burned |
|
Preston RRF 223,498 tons CT MSW burned;
19,025 tons received from OOS
|
Mid CT RRF 695,439 tons CT MSW calculated burned
|
Lisbon
RRF 138,171 tons CT MSW burned;
40,521 received from OOS |
Bristol
RRF 192,371 tons CT MSW burned;
1,919 tons received from OOS |
Bridgeport RRF 717,828 tons CT MSW burned;
1,696 tons received from out-of-state (OOS)
|
According to reports submitted to the CT DEP by CT disposal facilities
and transfer stations, CT residents and businesses disposed of 2,597,843
tons of MSW in FY2002 - which translates to a disposal rate of approximately
4.2 lbs of MSW per person per day (at home and at work).
CT's FY2002 MSW Recycling Statistics
Based on reports submitted to the CT DEP by municipalities and CT recycling
facilities, CT recycled 867,333 tons of MSW in FY 2002 which translates
to 1.4 pounds per person per day and a recycling rate of approximately
25% ("recycling/source-reduction" rate is approximately 26.4%.)
This may seem like an increase from last year's rate of 24.6%, but
the difference is more likely due to the different methodology used
for calculating the rate. Although not as under-reported as in previous
years, the "reported" recycling/source reduction rate still
underestimates the actual recycling rate. There is more recycling going
on than is evidenced by the reported numbers. For example, we are not
getting reports on material recycled through the bottle bill, commercially
recycled scrap metal and waste oil, storage batteries, commercial material
recycled directly to mills or through central warehouses and distribution
centers, etc. So our actual recycling/source reduction rate is probably
closer to 29%.
Connecticut has come a long way in realizing a successful recycling
program - but we can, and need, to do better, so KEEP ON RETHINKING,
REDUCING, REUSING, AND RECYCLING!
Environmental
Benefits of CT's Recycling Efforts
The following are estimates of the environmental impacts of CT recycling
efforts using reported CT FY2001 data. These estimates were calculated
using the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC)'s Environmental Benefits
Calculator. Estimates for FY 2002 would be comparable because
the data is similar.
- Recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Connecticut recycling efforts reduced greenhouse gas emissions
by about 340,000 metric tons of carbon equivalent per year,
equal to approximately 19.1% of all industrial carbon dioxide
emissions from fossil fuel combustion in the state and 3.0%
of greenhouse gas emissions. By reducing the amount of energy
used by industry, recycling also reduces greenhouse gas emissions
and helps stem the dangers of global climate change. This reduction
is because much of the energy used in industrial processes and
in transportation involves burning fossil fuels like gasoline,
diesel and coal -- the most important sources of carbon and other
greenhouse gas emissions into the environment.
- Recycling saves energy.
Connecticut's recycling efforts saved a total of 6.9 trillion
BTUs of energy, equal to nearly 3.5% of all energy used
by industry in the state, which has a value of $35 million
dollars. This energy savings is also an amount equal to 1.2
million barrels of oil saved or 104,661 cars off the
road. This energy savings is enough power for nearly 66,000
homes for one year. Energy savings may be the most important
environmental benefit of recycling, because using energy requires
the consumption of fossil fuels and involves emissions of numerous
air and water pollutants. The steps in supplying recycled materials
to industry (including collection, processing and transportation)
typically use less energy than the steps in supplying virgin materials
to industry (including extraction, refinement, transportation
and processing). But most energy savings associated with recycling
accrue in the manufacturing process itself, since recycled materials
have already been processed at least once. For more details regarding
CT's FY2002 MSW statistics, contact Judy
Belaval.
You can use the calculator to determine the environmental benefits
resulting from the recycling efforts of your town, school, or business
by accessing the calculator from the NERC
website.
We
are delighted to welcome the 
In
May, NERC will be presenting its