NERC EMAIL BULLETIN November 2004

Sustaining Members Eastern Regional Conference of The Council of State Governments,   Newspaper Association of America (NAA)   Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG)     ElectroniCycle

TOPICS

ADVISORY MEMBERS

New Supporting Members:

• Recycle America Enterprises, LLC

Renewing Supporting Members:

• Bristol Resource Recovery Facility Operating Committee

NERC NEWS

• DSWA Rejoins NERC!
• Presentations at Annual Benzodiazepine Conference & National Association of Environmental Managers
• Work Begins on Federal Grants
• Save the Dates: NERC Spring & Fall Conferences & Board Meetings 2005
• NERC Provides Comments to Department of Commerce on National Electronics Recycling

NERC PUBLICATION

• Mercury Switch in Vehicles Final Report
• Annual Report Fiscal Year 2004
• Operating Plan Fiscal Year 2005

STATE UPDATES

• MAINE
  • Maine Recycles Week 2004 Posters Now Available
  • Maine Recycles Week 2004 Goes to Annual Conference of Maine Science Teachers Association
  • Northern Maine Water Festival a Great Opportunity to Reach Teachers & Students About Maine Recycles Week
  • Board of Environmental Protection to Hear Appeals of West Old Town Landfill License Amendment Decision
  • Computer Reuse Opportunity Flourishes!
• MASSACHUSETTS
  • Recycling Industries Reimbursement Credit (RIRC) Program RFP
  • Six Supermarket Chains Honored With 'WasteWise Awards'
  • 3^rd Annual Solid Waste Master Progress Report Issued
• NEW JERSEY
  • Bergen County Utilities Authority Awarded National Grant from Dell
  • Association of New Jersey Recyclers Holds 20th Annual Symposium & Awards Luncheon
• NEW YORK
  • NYC Makes Long-Term Commitment to Recycling
  • A New Leader for Environmental Services
  • NYS Waste Tire Cleanup Program to Begin
• PENNSYLVANIA
  • Compost Markets
    • Database
    • Infrastructure Development Grants
    • PENNDOT Compost Efforts
    • Backyard Recycling Bins
    • Manufactured Soils Conference
    • Deer Composting
  • Dauphin County Electronics Recycling Event Scheduled
• RHODE ISLAND
  • Grants Awarded for Effecting Change
• VERMONT
  • New Materials Exchange Management

OF GENERAL INTEREST

• WeRecycle! Becomes First Electronics Recycling Facility Permitted Under New Connecticut Program
• Electronics Recycling Exporters Form Reform Association

---

To join the EMail Bulletin list…
Send an email to Lynn Rubinstein making the request. Please be sure to include your full name and organization.

To leave this list…
You may remove your name from this list at any time by sending a blank email to this address: unsubscribe-bulletin@lilith.webrover.com. This message must be sent from the email address you are unsubscribing.

NERC's mission is to leverage the strengths & resources of its member states to advance an environmentally sustainable economy in the Northeast by promoting source reduction, recycling, & the purchasing of environmentally preferable products & services.

---

DSWA Rejoins NERC Board!
We are pleased to announce that after a hiatus of several years the Delaware Solid Waste Authority has rejoined NERC as a full member. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control remains an active member of NERC.

According to the NERC Bylaws, state members may include as many agencies as contribute dues to NERC. Currently, in addition to Delaware, New York has two agencies participating.

For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein.

Presentations at Annual Benzodiazepine Conference & National Association of Environmental Managers
NERC recently made presentations at two national conferences:
2^nd Annual Benzodiazepine Conference, held in Bangor, ME, and the National Association of Environmental Managers 12^th Annual EHS Management Forum, held in Orlando, FL.

The topics addressed in the second presentation were: Toxics in Packaging, Unwanted Prescription Drugs, and Electronics.

The presentations are available in the Members Only section of the NERC website. For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein.

Work Begins on Federal Grants
Work has begun on all of NERC's new federal grants:

EPA Grant Reuse: Expansion of work with the New England Materials Exchanges begun through an EPA Environmental Education Grant and a USDA Rural Utilities Service Grant. One of the key tasks will be to assist the Exchanges with developing a plan for outreach to schools and municipalities that expands upon the results of the survey and workshop discussed above. If you are interested in participating in this project, please contact Mary Ann Remolador.

EPA Innovative Waste Management Grant Managing Unwanted Prescription Drugs: We will develop and implement pilot collection programs for unwanted prescription drugs and bulk compounding chemicals. Pilot activities will include writing a guidance document detailing collection methods for these hazardous wastes and developing best management practices (BMPs) for plastic medication associated containers.

After developing a strategy for addressing the relevant federal laws governing prescription medication handling and patient confidentiality, the pilots will be designed around three models: retail-based, senior center, and HHW programs. Implementation will include arranging for safe handling and disposal of HPW, publicizing and managing the pilots, and data collection. The pilots will be evaluated for solid waste diversion data, participant demographics, costs, lessons learned, and recommendations for change or replication. For bulk compounding chemicals, the strategy will be to partner HHW programs with pharmacies. Between three and five pilot will be developed. Finally, NERC will gather and examine data relating to plastic medication-associated containers and regional recycling markets, and develop BMPs for recycling or disposing of these containers in an environmentally friendly manner

The first Advisory Committee call has been scheduled for November 4^th. If you are interested in participating in this project, please contact Lynn Rubinstein.

USDA - RUS Multi-Part Grant
	1. Managing Unwanted Prescription Drugs
This project will focus on many of the same issues identified in the EPA grant described above, but will focus solely on the challenges in rural communities in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, as well as Franklin County, Massachusetts. If you are interested in participating in this project, please contact Lynn Rubinstein.

2. Rural Special Event Source Reduction & Recycling

Special events have a noticeable impact on rural communities and their solid waste. This project will address the solid waste impacts and provide recommendations for reducing waste and increasing recycling and composting at rural special events. Currently, there are no resources or tools available to rural communities and event hosts that can assist in planning for solid waste management for such events. This represents a significant gap in the solid waste planning infrastructure in rural communities. Many public and non-profit organizations commit significant resources to create recycling programs in for residents, schools, and businesses. Developing and implementing systems for recycling and source reduction away from these settings provides unique opportunities to manage large volumes of solid waste and to reinforce the recycling message. Creating recycling and compost programs at special events will help to foster awareness about and reinforce a commitment to the environment and waste reduction. NERC will achieve the goal of reducing the amount of solid waste generated at rural special events and increase the amount of waste that is recycled and composted through four key strategies: Work directly with six rural events (two in each state) to understand the composition of the waste stream. This will be accomplished through waste audits at the events and analysis of documentation from past events. Analyze this information and characterize the events and associated waste streams. Provide technical assistance to each event in planning for solid waste management. Write a "Best Management Practices for Event-Generated Waste in Rural Communities" guidance document. The first Advisory Committee conference call has already been held. If you are interested in becoming involved in this project, please contact Mary Ann Remolador.

3. Peer-to-peer Business Training for EPP Procurement

Because of the profound potential that purchasing practices has to impact public health and the environment, President Clinton issued Executive Order 12873 directing federal agencies to apply environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) criteria. In addition, many state and local governments have expended significant resources to develop, promote, and instigate EPP practices. To date, however, similar efforts in the private sector, especially in rural areas, have been extremely limited. Increasingly, state and regional recycling and purchasing officials have expressed the opinion that in order to expand the impact and use of EPP practices, the private sector needs to expand its EPP practices. Lack of information and support for developing and implementing EPP programs has been demonstrated to be a barrier to the development of such programs in the private sector. This project will bridge that gap by providing the private sector with the tools and training to make use of existing EPP resources strategies and thus decrease its impact on the solid waste stream. The core of this project will be the development and implementation of a pilot that provides rural businesses with the tools to make environmentally preferable purchasing decisions. A peer-to-peer-mentoring strategy will be used in which businesses with successful EPP programs will train rural businesses that are interested in developing an EPP program. The mentoring process will include providing rural companies with: The tools to understand the environmental impacts of existing purchasing practices; The key steps and considerations for developing an EPP program; A process for involving management and obtaining its support for EPP; The tools to determine program priorities and goals, as well as EPP criteria, Tools to identify EPP product information; Tools for data collection to document impact of program; Strategies for transitioning to an EPP program; and Strategies for maintaining an EPP program. In addition to the mentoring provided to rural businesses, a how-to guidance document will be created to enable replication of the pilot. The how-to guidance document will be posted on the NERC website. The posting will include links to other EPP such as examples of EPP plans, resources for identifying EPP products, procurement criteria, calculators for determining the environmental impacts of purchasing decisions, case studies, etc. There will also be links to other organizations' websites, such as the National Association of Purchasing Managers, EPA, and state, federal and non-profit organization EPP websites.

The first Advisory Committee conference call has already been held. If you are interested in becoming involved in this project, please contact Mary Ann Remolador.

Save the Dates: NERC Spring & Fall Conferences & Board Meetings 2005
Our conferences just get better and better, and you don't want to be left out of the next opportunities for networking, education, and change that they present. Both conferences will take place in Northampton, Massachusetts at the Hotel Northampton.

Spring Conference March 22-23rd, 2005

Spring Board Meeting March 24th, 2005

Fall Conference October 25-26th, 2005

Fall Board Meeting October 27th, 2005

The preliminary agenda for the Spring Conference will be posted in January 2005.

For more information, please contact Mary Ann Remolador.

NERC Provides Comments to Department of Commerce on National Electronics Recycling
First there was NEPSI , then there was state legislation (Maine and California), and now the federal Department of Commerce, Technology Administration has become involved in the challenge of electronics recycling.

In late September the Technology Administration held a roundtable on electronics recycling, entitled Technology Recycling: Achieving Consensus for Stakeholders. The roundtable suffered from a lack of notice in advance of the meeting as thus has limited physical participation. As a result, the agency solicited comments on the following specific issues regarding electronics recycling: (1) definition of covered products; (2) collection and the role of government in collection; (3) financing collection, transportation and recycling, financing for orphan products, financing historical products versus future products, and the role of government, the electronics industry, and intermediaries in financing; and (4) the role of the federal government in creating a national recycling plan. The solicitation was intended to give those who were unable to comment at the September 21^st roundtable an opportunity to submit a statement regarding these issues.

Due to its active role in NEPSI and many electronics recycling issues affecting recycling markets in the Northeast and the nation, NERC determined to offer comments.

At this time it is uncertain where the Department of Commerce effort will lead, but stated purpose of the roundtable was to obtain information for a report on electronics recycling that will be released in 2005.

Mercury Switch in Vehicles Final Report
The Final Report from the NERC "Performance standards for mercury switch removal from automobiles at end-of-life" project is now available on the NERC website.

The project was funded by EPA and benefited from the active support and participation of an expert Advisory & Stakeholder Committee. Thank you to:

• Amy Lily, Honda North America
• Bailey Mylleville, Great Lakes United
• Charles Griffith, Ecology Center
• Chip Foley, SRI
• Chris Way, NH DES
• Chuck Ossenkop, Northwest Auto Salvage, ARA
• Dan Adsit, Ford
• Dan Bennett, New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association
• David Raney, Honda North America
• George Eliades, ARA
• George MacDonald, ME SPO
• Jeff Gearhart, Ecology Center
• Jeff Kantor, NH Auto & Truck Recyclers
• Jim Honan, NY DEC
• Jodi Theut, GM Public Policy Center
• John Cabaniss, AIAM
• John H. Rugge, Jr., Subaru
• John Hayworth, ISRI
• John James, ME DEP
• John Trevor, RIRRC
• Joy Taylor, MI DEQ
• Judy Shope, MA DEP
• Julie Rosenbach, EPA HQ
• Karen Busshart, VT ANR
• Mark Reiter, ISRI
• Mike Gerel, Sustainable Conservation
• Mike Wilson, ARA
• Nathan Arbitman, Sustainable Conservation
• Paul Lockwood, NH DES
• Peter Pettit, NY DEC
• Richard Paul, Subaru
• Ross Good, Daimler Chrysler
• Sam Morris, ME SPO
• Skip Weller, Weller Auto Parts, ARA
• Steve Parker, Coventa Energy
• Steven Kratzer, MI DEQ
• Susan Tashjian, AIAM
• Terri Goldberg, NEWMOA
• Tom Benoit, VT ANR
• Tom Corbet, NY DEC

The project goal was to provide essential tools for the implementation of mandatory and voluntary end-of-life motor vehicle mercury light switch, and ABS brake system mercury switch removal programs. The intended benefits from such a system were:

• Pollution prevention through the removal and appropriate handling of mercury switches.
• Protect the market value of vehicle steel for recycling, by removal of contaminant of concern.
• Provide fundamental information to support producer responsibility in the management of mercury switches.
• Resolve a current obstacle to national model mercury switch removal legislation.
• Facilitate multi-stakeholder cooperation in promoting and supporting end-of-life mercury switch management.
• Provide a system for documenting the amount of mercury being removed.

Recommendations & Observations: Ultimately, we did not succeed in achieving a negotiated standard. However, there were several significant products and recommendations that resulted from the effort. While not all stakeholders supported the following recommendations and observations, the consensus of the Stakeholder Committee supported the following:

1. There remains a need for comprehensive data about the use of mercury switches by make, model and year.
2. Stakeholder members urged that an ISRI standard prohibiting scrap metal with mercury (switches) with a pre-shredder spot check and rejected loads could play an important role in encouraging the removal of mercury switches.
3. Stakeholders in the end-of-life processor industry urged that a per switch bounty, coupled with a program for management of the switches, would result in the removal of all mercury switches.
4. There is an increasing use of mercury-based applications in vehicles; including by manufacturers that never previously used mercury. These include HID lamps, entertainment, navigational, and other lighting displays. There should be an effort made to eliminate the use of all mercury from vehicles and proper end-of-life management of all mercury-based applications.
5. Facilities that handle whole end-of-life vehicles, whether it's a shredder or a recycling facility of any type, should be the point of focus for mercury switch removal and record keeping due to resource efficiency. However, in-service removal (rather than replacement) of mercury switches, when possible, provides another significant opportunity for mercury switch capture from vehicles.
6. While end-of-life removal of mercury switches is the most cost-effective, programs to remove in-service should be encouraged. It is important that it be removal rather than in-service replacement of like parts.
7. The required removal of mercury switches pre-sale of a used vehicle was deemed to be another important strategy, but one that has yet to garner political support.
8. The scope of the use of mercury switches in replacement parts and after-market applications is unknown and should be a topic of research.
9. It is essential that whatever strategies are designed for end-of-life removal exists within the context of an "even playing field." It was noted that the automotive end-of-life processing industry is one made up primarily of small, marginal businesses. These businesses tend not to be member of trade associations and may be not be as fully aware of or compliant with environmental standards as the larger enterprises. This presents a significant challenge to the focus on end-of-life management of mercury switches.
10. ARA certification program should be amended to include a requirement for the removal of mercury switches from vehicles as part of the standard environmental performance procedures. ¹
11. In some circumstances, NSPDS permits are an effective tool for encouraging the removal of mercury switches.

For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein.

Annual Report Fiscal Year 2004
For a comprehensive overview of NERC's activities in Fiscal Year 2004 please take a look at the newly posted Annual Report [link sent separately]. Some of the highlights for FY 2004 were:

• Staff made 11 presentations, including three overseas;
• Produced 20 new publications and web resources;
• Completed 3 grant projects;
• Was awarded 3 more
• Awarded contract for the administration and management of the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse, and two research projects.
• Advisory Membership continued to grow, as did the number of participants in EPPNet and the Email Bulletin.
• This Fiscal Year also saw the introduction of the EPPNet Digest, a Members Only section of the NERC website, and expanded staffing.

¹ The ARA has provided the following comment: "The general feeling in ARA is that mercury switch removal could most likely be included in the certification program if there was an infrastructure in place that would allow for the transportation and disposal within reasonable business parameters. Right now each part of the country has unique problems in dealing with the mercury.

Operating Plan Fiscal Year 2005

This Operating Plan is dedicated to Christopher Way, New Hampshire & Peter Allison, Massachusetts Both of who served as Presidents of the NERC Board and who - due to career changes - have stepped down from the Board of Directors. Their contributions continue to be greatly appreciated and their presence, intellect and enthusiasm will be missed.

So, what will NERC be doing this year? The Operating Plan is now posted and provides the framework for the organization, including its goals and objectives.

GOALS
NERC'S goals are to:

Regionally promote

• The link between environmental sustainability and recycling, source reduction and economic development.
• The environmental and economic benefits of recycling and source reduction.
• Activities that maximize the efficiency of the infrastructure for recycling and source reduction.

• Support state environmental agencies, economic development agencies, recycling organizations and trade associations in their recycling and source reduction efforts and priorities.
• Provide a forum for regional communication, education, cooperation, and participation on policy, research, and technical support.
• Provide and disseminate basic regional research and analysis, and assist with policy development.
• Advocate for regional approaches to recycling and source reduction.
• Encourage the demand for recycled-content products and other environmentally preferable products.

 

NERC pursues its mission and goals through the following types of programs:

• Offering semi-annual conferences with substantive and relevant agendas, providing an opportunity for networking, forging new relationships and professional development.
• Conducting research and analysis on issues of regional significance.
• Facilitating information exchange among its members, networking with organizations influencing recycling and the economy in the Northeast, and responding to information requests.
• Undertaking regional initiatives, forging strategic partnerships, and advocating for regional policies.
• Conducting projects that substantively advance NERC's goals.
• Providing requested services to individual states.
• Providing technical assistance to recycling businesses.
• Educating decision-makers on the environmental and economic benefits of recycling, source reduction, and purchasing of environmentally preferable products and services.

For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein.

STATE UPDATES

MAINE

Maine Recycles Week 2004 Posters Are Now Available
The campaign for the 2004 Maine Recycles Week moved up a notch as this year's poster returned from the printer this week, ready for distribution. Maine Recycles Week is held annually to promote awareness of recycling and the importance of purchasing products made from recycled materials. The posters have been distributed to schools, libraries, communities, and businesses to assist them with promoting local activities for the week-long event, held November 8 - 15. If you would like a copy of the poster, which features the winning poster from the 2003 school poster contest, visit the Maine Recycles Week website to order one. The web site also includes news of planned activities in communities across the state, teaching materials, and other related information. For more information, contact Bruce White .

Maine Recycles Week 2004 Goes to the Annual Conference of the Maine Science Teachers Association
Again this year, the State Planning Office (SPO) exhibited at the annual conference of the Maine Science Teachers Association held at the Gardiner Area High School on October 8. Last year, an overflow crowd caused SPO's tables to be moved to just outside the entrance to the assembly hall; and so, this year, that same location was requested. From this vantage point, SPO displayed promotional materials for Maine Recycles Week 2004 , the school competition, the poster competition, and the recycling educational kits. An estimated 300 science educators attended the day-long event. This year's event was seen as a tremendous success for getting the word out for the importance our state's recycling effort and the need for continued energy in supporting our communities' success in recycling. For more information, contact Bruce White.

The Northern Maine Water Festival a Great Opportunity to Reach Teachers & Students About Maine Recycles Week
More than 900 students gathered on the Orono campus of the University of Maine on October 12 to be greeted with environmental lessons and educational activities. The event, which is hosted by the DEP and their sponsors, was supported with presentations from several environmental organizations, as well as state and federal agencies, including SPO's Waste Management and Recycling program. SPO staffed an exhibit on the solid waste management hierarchy and offered a display in the teacher's resource area to promote Maine Recycles Week 2004 . Both attendees and presenters agreed that everyone had several successful experiences at this worthwhile event. The high point of the day came when the winner of last year's Maine Recycles Week poster contest (from Hampden's Weatherbee School) was introduced to this year's Maine Recycles Week poster on which her wining work of art is prominently displayed. The poster has been distributed to all Maine communities and schools. For more information, contact Bruce White.

Board of Environmental Protection to Hear Appeals Of West Old Town Landfill License Amendment Decision
On April 9, 2004, the Department of Environmental Protection approved a license amendment for the landfill located in Old Town, which was purchased by State Planning Office to provide disposal capacity for Maine. The purchase was the fulfillment of long-standing state policy in reference to the management of the solid wastes generated in Maine and was authorized by the Legislature through 2003 Resolve, Chapter 93. The landfill was formerly owned by Georgia Pacific and, since 1996, had served as their Old Town mill's waste disposal facility. The mill will continue, under terms of the purchase agreement, to utilize the landfill for the disposal of their mill generated wastes. The license amendment sought by the State Planning Office is for additional disposal capacity and permission to dispose of additional waste streams in the existing landfill.

Two timely appeals were filed against the approval; one by a local group, called We the People, and the other by an Orono resident, Paul Schroeder. The Board of Environmental Protection considered the appeals at their July 15, 2004 meeting and will be hearing the appeals on October 21, 2004 at the Black Bear Inn in Orono. The Attorney General's Office is representing SPO in the appeal process. For more information, contact George MacDonald.

Computer Reuse Opportunity Flourishes!
As of August of 2004, over 2,000 Mainers have personal computer access that otherwise would not. PC's for Maine, a nonprofit entity that manages a public computer literacy project, collects older computer equipment from businesses for reuse. The project helps businesses elude the costly process of managing and recycling older computer equipment and provides cost-effective computers to individuals and non-profit organizations. Its goals are to enrich lives, educate the young and old, and increase job skills for people all over the state of Maine . For more information, go on-line at http://www.pcsformaine.org or contact George MacDonald.

MASSACHUSETTS

Recycling Industries Reimbursement Credit (RIRC) Program RFP Released
Massachusetts DEP issued it request for proposals under the Recycling Industries Reimbursement Credit (RIRC) Grant Program on September 30. The deadline for proposals is November 15. Although funding is limited compared to previous years, DEP is attempting to use the funds to increase the capacity of Massachusetts-based companies that process and/or manufacture products made from of construction and demolition debris and food waste and other targeted materials. For more information contact Stephen Long.

Six Supermarket Chains Honored with 'WasteWise Awards' for Leadership in Recycling Food & Packaging Wastes
Massachusetts and federal environmental officials honored six supermarket chains on October 7^th, 2004 for their leadership in composting food wastes instead of throwing them away, and for aggressively recycling a range of materials, including bottles, cans, cardboard, shrink wrap and stretch wrap.

Receiving Massachusetts WasteWise Supermarket Recycling Leadership Awards were Big Y Foods, based in West Springfield, Hannaford Bros. of New Hampshire, Roche Bros. of Wellesley, Shaw's Supermarkets of West Bridgewater, Stop & Shop Supermarkets of Quincy, and Whole Foods Market of Cambridge. The awards were presented at a meeting of the Massachusetts Food Association (MFA), a supermarket industry group.

Forty-five participating Massachusetts supermarkets are currently diverting approximately 6,600 tons of organics and 21,000 tons of cardboard and other recyclables from disposal facilities each year. This translates to an annual disposal cost savings of approximately $7,000 per store. These savings are particularly impressive when put in the context of the razor-thin profit margins in the supermarket industry. To generate $10,000 to $20,000 of profit, a supermarket would need to sell $1-$2 million of product. Some supermarkets have saved as much as $20,000 annually.

The WasteWise Awards, sponsored by DEP and EPA, are given to companies that demonstrate recycling leadership, sustainability and innovation. The two agencies jointly fund the Massachusetts WasteWise Program, which provides waste reduction assistance to businesses and organizations. Participation is voluntary. For more information about the award see the DEP News Release or contact Julia Wolfe.

Massachusetts Issues 3^rd Annual Solid Waste Progress Report
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has released its 3^rd Annual Solid Waste Progress Report on the Beyond 2000 Solid Waste Master Plan. This report includes calendar year 2002 solid waste and waste reduction data, updated disposal capacity projections, and FY2004 program accomplishments.

Waste Generation and Disposal Increase Despite a Slowed Economy
In 2002, Massachusetts' waste generation increased 3% from 2001, despite a slowed economy. This is consistent with national trends for 2002. The overall amount of waste disposed increased 2 % from 2001 to 2002, after a 2% decline in 2001. Net export for disposal increased slightly in 2002 to just under 1.6 million tons. Based on these figures combined with recycling, composting, and other diversion data, Massachusetts achieved an overall waste reduction rate of 55% in 2002, a decline from 57% in 2001. This waste reduction was still sufficient to prevent the need for 22 new 1,200 ton per day disposal facilities.

C&D Recycling Rises, While MSW Recycling Falls
Massachusetts' recycling rate for construction and demolition debris (C&D) rose from 69% in 2001 to 75% in 2002, even with an increase in C&D generation. However, the MSW recycling rate dropped from 34% in 2001 to 31% in 2002. This decrease was largely due to a drop in commercial recycling tonnage, while residential recycling tonnage remained flat.

Massachusetts Solid Waste Master Plan Review
While Massachusetts has made progress towards meeting the goals laid out in the Beyond 2000 Solid Waste Master Plan, the Commonwealth faces new and different challenges than it did four years ago. Both state and local government funding and staffing have been cut substantially over the past several years. The effect of these cuts is that Massachusetts will not be able to meet all of the commitments in the 2000 Master Plan, particularly in terms of financial assistance to municipalities.

Given this reality, DEP is re-evaluating the 2000 Master Plan strategies and goals, identifying what Master Plan commitments DEP and others can continue to implement, and which need to be modified or eliminated. DEP is working closely with its Solid Waste Advisory Committee in conducting this review over the course of the coming year.

The full report is available on DEP's website.

For questions on the Progress Report, please contact Amy Roth. For questions on the Master Plan Review, please contact John Fischer.

NEW JERSEY

Bergen County Utilities Authority Awarded National Grant from Dell Inc. for Preventing Harmful Substances from Entering the Environment through Computer Recycling Program
On August 30, 2004, Dell Inc. announced twenty grant recipients nationwide whose awards totaling $10,000 each will be used to conduct computer recycling collection events across the United States. The Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA) was selected from a pool of 175 applicants that included state and local governments, higher education institutions and non-profit organizations.

Many people today are acquiring ever-faster computers and bigger-screen televisions and do not realize the tremendous impact this can have on the environment if not disposed of properly. U.S. households are acquiring 45 million new computers and 30 million TVs a year to replace broken or outdated models. If not disposed of properly, these computers and TVs can have devastating effects on our environment. They contain toxins that are full of lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium and zinc, all of which can cumulatively imperil our air and water. Since 2000, the BCUA has recycled 1,183,197 lbs. or 591.6 tons of computer and electronic equipment.

The BCUA hosted their computer recycling collection event on Saturday, October 16, 2004, along side their tire recycling program at three locations: Bergen County Community Services Building, 327 East Ridgewood Ave., Paramus; Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute, 281 Campgaw Road, Mahwah, and at the BCUA, Foot of Empire Blvd., Moonachie.

These collections were offered free of charge to all Bergen County residents.

In addition to the weekend collections, residents may also bring electronics to the BCUA's permanent Computer/Electronics Depot in Moonachie. Since 2001, the BCUA has been accepting computer and electronic equipment from Bergen County residents, commercial establishments, and schools at the Moonachie depot. Participants can deliver computer and electronic equipment Monday through Friday by appointment only. There is no charge for residents delivering acceptable equipment. Commercial businesses are charged a nominal fee for both monitor and CPU recycling.

The computer and electronics program is developed and run by the BCUA's Solid Waste Division. The BCUA received a Silver 2003 Special Waste Management Technical Division Excellence Award from the Solid Waste Association of North America in recognition of hazardous waste and computer/electronics recycling programs.

For additional information on any of the BCUA's environmental programs please contact the BCUA Environmental Hotline at (201) 807-5825 or visit the BCUA's website for additional information.

Association of New Jersey Recyclers Holds Its 20^th Annual Symposium & Awards Luncheon
This year's ANJR Symposium & Awards Luncheon were held on October 20^th at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township, NJ. Speakers included Johnny Gold, Senior Vice President of Recycled Fibers, The Newark Group, Mike Sarasin from Ricoh Corporation, Nora Goldstein, editor of BioCycle magazine, and others.

The following awards were also presented during the Luncheon:

2004 POETRY CONTEST
GRADE 4

• Shannon Peropat- St. Catharine School - Spring Lake
  
• Kayla Krouse - Lopatcong Township Elementary School - Phillipsburg
  
• Jennifer Heine - Orange Avenue School - Cranford
  
• Victoria DeLena - St. Peter School - Pt. Pleasant Beach

GRADE 5

• Daniel Chedid - St. Augustine of Canterbury School - Kendall Park
  
• Audrey Patricola - St. Catherine of Bologna School- Ringwood
  
• Hannah Seasock - Holy Saviour Regional School - Westmont
  
• Kristine Sibbio - St. Thomas the Apostle School - Old Bridge

GRADE 6

• Stefanie Urso - Spring Garden School - Nutley
  
• Kathryn Markferding - Holy Family School - Florham Park
  
• Nicole Sandoli - St. Thomas the Apostle School - Old Bridge
  
• Nick Perkons - St. Augustine of Canterbury School - Kendall Park

2004 AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN RECYCLING
INSTITUTION/SCHOOL

• Harmony Township School
  
• Lacey Township Board of Education

COUNTY RECYCLING COORDINATOR

• Richard Hills, Middlesex County

OUTREACH/MEDIA

• Barbara Fiedler, Galloway Township

COUNTY RECYCLING PROGRAM

• Atlantic County Utilities Authority

MUNICIPAL RECYCLING PROGRAM

• Borough of Woodcliff Lake

PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP

• Ricoh Corporation

RECYCLING INDUSTRY

• Hesstech, LLC

SOURCE REDUCTION

• Bergen County Utilities Authority

COMMISSIONER'S AWARDS

• Audrey Rockman
  
• Lumberton Township, Burlington County
  
• Anheuser-Busch - Newark Brewery

For more information, visit http://www.anjr.com or call 609-984-3438.

NEW YORK

NYC Makes Long-Term Commitment to Recycling
Just two years after New York City's decision to no longer sort plastic and glass containers for recycling, its leaders have reversed course and made the historic announcement that the City will partner with long-time recyclers at Hugo Neu Corporation to work together in a public-private arrangement that will not only improve waste management in New York, but will help create new economic and environmental opportunities.

On Tues., September 14, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg held a press conference to make it official. Together with the City Sanitation Commissioner, City Council President, City Economic Development Corporation President, Hugo Neu Corporation President, and others, Bloomberg announced that the City will enter into a 20-year contract with Hugo Neu to not only manage recyclables collected through its residential collection program but to also build a state-of-the-art processing facility that will add value to the sorted materials and potentially attract new businesses to the region.

The City's decision to enter into a 20-year processing contract with a well established and creative recycling company will create the necessary infrastructure to make recycling successful for the long-term. The contract length gives the private sector the confidence to make the necessary investment to make recycling its most cost effective, while reducing exports of garbage to out of state landfills.

The new process plant, scheduled to be finished by 2007, will be on City-owned land at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Sunset Park. A majority of materials collected will be barged to the facility from two other Hugo Neu facilities in the City, processed, and barged to market, significantly reducing truck traffic and related air emissions.

In addition, 160 construction jobs will be needed to build the new process plant, and 100 full time employees will be needed to work there. This is a win-win situation for everyone.

A New Leader for Environmental Services
In September, New York's Empire State Development, the state's economic development agency, announced that former Environmental Services Unit Director Keith Lashway would be re-assigned to help implement the Manufacturing Assistance Program (MAP), a 2004 Governor's initiative to provide technical expertise to manufacturers.

Since then, the recycling market development office has been under the direction of the newly-appointed Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Programs, Amy Schoch. Of course, Ms. Schoch, who will oversee the efforts of the Environmental Services Unit and Empire State Development's Brownfields Program, is not new to recycling market development. She worked with the rest of the market development team back when it was referred to as the Office of Recycling Market Development under then-director, Will Ferretti.

NYS Waste Tire Cleanup Program to Begin
The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has completed work on a comprehensive plan to clean up 95 waste tire stockpiles, or 29 million tires, throughout New York State. The DEC and the Department of Transportation (DOT) will partner on an initiative to recycle scrap tires for use in state highway projects.

In a press release, Governor Pataki said. "This comprehensive plan is a major step forward in the state's efforts to eliminate potentially dangerous waste tire piles from our communities, and protect our air and water for our children and generations to come."

To develop this comprehensive plan, DEC inspectors visited 162 locations that were identified as potential waste tire stockpiles during September 2003 through May 2004. The plan seeks to eliminate all 95 noncompliant waste tire stockpiles in the state by a combination of site owner/operator efforts and DEC efforts, should the site owners/operators fail to clean up their tire stockpiles.

The "Waste Tire Management and Recycling Act of 2003" was enacted to ensure the proper management of waste tires in New York State. It required DEC to prepare and implement a comprehensive plan designed to abate all noncompliant waste tire stockpiles in the state and subsequently initiate cleanups. Funding for this program is provided through a $2.50 fee added to each new tire purchased. Fees are deposited into a Waste Tire Management and Recycling Fund to be used for the cleanup of waste tire stockpiles and to develop markets for newly generated waste tires.

In cooperation with DOT and the New York State Thruway Authority, DEC is investigating beneficial ways to use discarded waste tires in road construction activities. Shredded tires will be used in a variety of DOT projects as embankment filler to help reduce the amount of gravel necessary for many highway projects. Tire shreds are lightweight, compact, and drain better than conventional gravel material used on highway embankments.

DEC is finalizing a series of contracts with companies across the state to begin shredding tire piles for use. The first DOT project that will use the shreds will eliminate a bridge on Interstate 87 in Clinton County. The bridge will be replaced with a large embankment consisting of 10,220 metric tons of tire shred, the equivalent of 1 million scrap tires. Subsequent projects could use as many as 25 million tires.

For more information regarding the Waste Tire Abatement Program, please visit DEC's Waste Tire Management webpage.

PENNSYLVANIA

Compost Markets

• Compost Database
  Many communities throughout the Commonwealth offer yard waste and leaf collection programs to manage organic wastes and recycle them into compost. The Department now has available a searchable database of compost facilities and related compost products in Pennsylvania. You can find the location of a compost operation by municipality or county. You can search for different types of compost products such as mushroom compost, yard waste compost, biosolids compost and even worm compost. The database lists public, private, land application and on-farm composting sites. To locate a compost facility nearest you go to the DEP website at http://www.dep.state.pa.us, Keyword, "Compost".
• Compost Infrastructure Development Grants
  In May 2004, DEP awarded $185,886 in compost infrastructure grants to help four facilities expand their existing composting operations and increase the amount of organic materials that they recycle. Composting Infrastructure Development Grants provide reimbursement of up to $75,000 to businesses and nonprofit organizations to help increase the volume of organic materials, particularly yard and food waste, being diverted from landfills and composted. The funding helps businesses increase their use of organic materials in the production of finished compost products. The grants are financed by the Recycling Fund, which is supported by a $2 per ton fee on all materials disposed of in landfills. The Rendell administration recently increased the amount of money available for the grants from $150,000 to $225,000. Recipients include:
  • Four Springs Farm, Lehigh County - $54,396 for equipment to be shared with farmers to increase the number of yard and food waste composting facilities in the Lehigh Valley.
  • Wilson College, Franklin County - $36,850 for equipment and supplies to expand the current composting operation to include food waste generated at the college dining halls.
  • Two Particular Acres, Montgomery County - $75,000 for equipment and supplies to increase the efficiency of the current operation and expand the volume of food waste accepted from local grocery stores and yard waste accepted from local communities.
  • Shenk's Berry Farm, Lancaster County- $19,640 for equipment and supplies to expand the volume of yard and food waste accepted from local communities, and increase the quality of the compost produced by the facility.
  • Four additional grants were awarded earlier this year to: Two Particular Acres for a roll-off container truck; Earthworx for a compost turner; Penn State University for a 4-wheel drive loader; and Middle Smithfield Materials for a roll-off container truck.
    
• PENNDOT Compost Efforts
  PENNDOT is currently working on adopting the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standard Specifications entitled "Compost for Erosion/Sediment Control - Compost Blanket and Filter Berms." Two pilot projects are scheduled for Fall 2004.
  PENNDOT has also completed a pilot project using leaf compost for wetlands creation.
• Backyard Compost Bins
  DEP is continuing the distribution of backyard composting bins to residents participating in a composting educational session. The Department has distributed over 40,000 bins since 2000, with an anticipated 10,000 additional bins being distributed Spring 2005.
• Manufactured Soils Conference
  DEP is sponsoring the annual Manufactured Soils Conference, to be held this year Nov. 17-18, 2004. This conference discusses the issues surrounding soil-based recycling of organic and inorganic residuals.
• Deer Composting
  DEP is working with several local communities, the Game Commission, and PENNDOT to support deer composting in order to reduce the costs associated with disposing of deer carcasses.

Dauphin County Electronics Recycling Event Scheduled
Dauphin County will hold an Electronics Recycling event at Harrisburg Area Community College on November 6, 2004, from 9am to 1pm, in the west parking lot, entrance w-2. Contact Kelly Wolf for more information.

RHODE ISLAND

Grants Awarded for Effecting Change
Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation recently awarded four grants-in-aid to Rhode Island businesses and organizations who help effect change in the collection, disposal, reuse and recycling of unwanted materials and waste. RIRRC has long-term relationships with each of the partners and the total amount of the grants this year equaled $71,700.

The recipients were:

• The Diabetes Foundation of RI for continued funding for its sharps disposal collection project. Improper disposal of sharps causes expensive problems and health scares for RIRRC's MRF, which experiences periods of shutdown when sharps need to be removed from the hand-sorting lines. This program teaches users of sharps, primarily diabetics, to use special disposal containers. Presently, the program removes more than one million sharps annually from the R.I. waste stream.
• The Environment Council of RI Education Fund - to continue funding of the RI School Recycling Club Report Card, web site and awards program. The program evaluates the state's school recycling programs and grades them according to their success and/or existence. Since the inception of this program, RIRRC recycling has experienced perpetual increases in the volume of inquiries from schools and municipalities interested in starting or reinvigorating their school recycling programs.
• RI Community Food Bank - to continue funding for the Community Kitchen program, which diverts food from farms, wholesalers, restaurants, caterers and other food service institutions that would otherwise be disposed of in the landfill. The program collects canned, dry and fresh food products and redirects it to the Community Kitchen where it is reprocessed into meals and served to people in Rhode Island. The program is a meal production and job-training program for individuals transitioning to work.
• Recycling for RI Education (RRIE) - to fund operations of RRIE's Recycle Center. With 1,400+ members, the center was visited by 7,626 individuals and distributed 183,120 pounds of reusable materials (to date) in 2004. As an additional benefit to RIRRC, the corporation linked directly to the RIRRC Materials Exchange web site this year and received donations of some very interesting cast-offs, in very large lots.

VERMONT

New Materials Exchange Management
The Agency of Natural Resources is pleased to announce a new manager for the Vermont Business Materials Exchange (VBMeX); Internet Support Services (ISS) of Pownal, VT. The VBMeX, launched in 1993, is an Internet-based service that helps businesses buy, sell, trade, or donate their discarded and surplus materials, conserving resources and saving money. Putney Press of Newfane, VT managed the Exchange for the past ten years. The publishing firm guided the program from a fledgling internet service to a primarily internet-based business while keeping its strong assistance focus and personal touch.

ISS is now poised to bring the VBMeX to the next level to expand its Internet coverage, streamline the listing process and improve the ability to track use of the service and exchanges made. ISS's strong marketing background should be instrumental in increasing businesses awareness and use of VBMeX.

To learn more about the Vermont Business Materials Exchange, visit its website.

OF GENERAL INTEREST

WeRecycle! Becomes First Electronics Recycling Facility Permitted Under New Connecticut Program
WeRecycle!, Inc. has received approval from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to disassemble used electronics for recycling. The DEP's Bureau of Waste Management has issued this approval under the General Permit for Disassembling Used Electronics. WeRecycle! is the first and only facility to be authorized under this new program.

"It is imperative that businesses establish a relationship with a reliable organization that will manage electronics in an environmentally responsible and secure manner," said Mick Schum, P.E., President of WeRecycle! "Our mission is to provide the most environmentally sound recycling options for all of the materials that we manage. Disassembling electronics on-site improves our efficiency and gives us greater control over the management of the end components (CRT glass, plastic, circuit boards, etc.)." WeRecycle! maintains a no landfill policy and no exporting policy on non-tested electronic equipment. WeRecycle!'s facility, located at 500 South Broad Street, in Meriden, CT has been renovated to include a new state of the art high security area and an electronics disassembly line.

For more information, contact Gina Chiarella.

Electronics Recycling Exporters Form Reform Association
The World Reuse, Repair and Recycling Association was incorporated this week in Middlebury, Vermont. This association will gather electronics recyclers and other reuse exporters who wish to export goods for reuse but cannot afford due diligence of end markets on their own.

The founding members of the cooperative include USA's American Retroworks, Cochise County Learning Action Coalition, staff from University of California at Davis, and will include international member companies representing refurbishment markets in Hong Kong, Philippines, Egypt, Eastern Europe, and South America. Some overseas companies have already expressed interest in joining, and even financing, the WRRRA.

The first goal of the World Reuse, Repair, Recycling Association will be to establish agreed upon quality standards for monitors, televisions, and other repair-and-reuse items exported for repair from the USA. Association members will pool their resources to offer a "cleaner" option to meet global demand, and demand higher environmental standards for overseas refurbishing companies. Association members hope to keep USA recycling costs affordable to residents, to meet legitimate export demand, and to force association members to improve their own processes for electronic scrap. The organization will also promote domestic recycling of scrap such as leaded CRT glass and gold circuitry.

According to founder Robin Ingenthron, there was an immediate positive response to the WRRRA. "Several companies like American Retroworks Inc. tried to establish a higher exporting standard to meet the strong legitimate demand for working and repairable monitors and TVs overseas. I think many of us found we didn't have enough material to dictate the terms. Some of us have tried raising our prices on generators, while others have lowered their export standards to compete with low-ball bids. "This organization will cooperatively sell quality items, and perform diligence on every member's behalf. We will make use of market forces rather than trying to deny them."

According to Ingenthron, the need for the Association became apparent when several desperate monitor refurbishing companies contacted him for help, to improve the quality of used goods imported into Southeast Asia. Some of these companies have raised refurbishment to an art form, producing digital TVs which double as PC monitors, with on-board DVD, games, and input jacks for either computer or television display. But they say some of their sources in the USA are sending junk monitors along with the good tubes, as "Toxics Along for the Ride."

What drives Toxics Along for the Ride is the expense of recycling unrepairable units in the USA. A scratched or damaged or obsolete CRT tube costs an American processor between $5 - 15 to recycle. The temptation to ship American pollution to repair markets is undeniable.

The association is patterned after organizations such as ISRI (Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries) and jewelers associations, whose membership fees are too high for some small recyclers. WRRRA membership will be free to those joining in 2004; afterwards, rates will only rise if those members vote to raise them. Members will be required to adapt reputable environmental standards, to document domestic recycling of gold and lead, and to allow WRRRA dispute resolution if bad quality exports are alleged. Both domestic and overseas members will be required to submit to due diligence inspections voted on by the WRRRA board of directors. WRRRC is a non-profit organization.

For more information, contact Robin Ingenthron, American Retroworks, Inc..