DEP & Massachusetts Food Association Sign MOU to Advance Recycling
and Composting
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and
the Massachusetts Food Association signed a memorandum of understanding
on August 24, 2005 that will encourage grocery stores across the state
to increase their recycling participation - particularly in the composting
of such items as spoiled fruits and vegetables, floral and deli wastes,
and waxed cardboard.
The agreement outlines a collaborative effort between DEP and the industry
group to advance recycling at supermarkets across Massachusetts by expanding
their existing Supermarket Organics Recycling Network.
DEP will do its part by providing technical assistance to stores that
want to start new programs and developing a voluntary certification
program to provide regulatory relief incentives for supermarkets that
establish and maintain comprehensive recycling programs.
The 57 grocery stores that participated in SORN last year composted
and recycled between 60 and 75 percent of their waste, diverting 8,900
tons of organics, 26,200 tons of cardboard, and more than 1,000 tons
of plastic from disposal, saving an average of more than $45,000 per
store in the process.
Participation has since grown to 62 supermarkets. DEP and MFA hope
at least 100 Massachusetts grocery stores will be recycling organics
by next year. Their ultimate goal is for all supermarkets in the state
to have active recycling and composting programs in place by 2010. For
more information on this program contact Julia
Wolfe.
DEP Issues RFR for Recycling Industries Reimbursement Credit (RIRC)
Program
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued
its RFR for the Recycling Industries Reimbursement Credit Grant Program
(RIRC). RIRC provides grants to recycling companies for the purchase
of capital equipment and/or funding for pilot projects to overcome barriers
to establishing, or increasing the use of, difficult to recycle materials
(food waste residuals; construction and demolition debris: paint, asphalt
roofing shingles, wood, gypsum wallboard, carpet, used building products
and components; and, commingled materials: mixed glass and mixed plastics).
Please note that DEP anticipates having approximately $100,000 available
for RIRC this fiscal year. RIRC applications are due on October 12,
2005. Applications are available from Steve
Long.
DEP Holds Public Meetings on Department Approved Recycling Program
(DARP)
DEP has scheduled four public meetings to gather comment from municipal
officials, regional groups, and members of the general public regarding
proposed criteria for the FY2007-08 Department Approved Recycling Program
(DARP) - three in September and one coming up in October. DARP establishes
minimum program criteria for municipal recycling and composting programs.
"DARP" communities are exempt from comprehensive "waste
ban" inspections of MSW that is tipped at Massachusetts transfer
stations and disposal facilities. Banned items include paper, glass,
metal and plastic containers, leaves and yard waste.
The public meeting in October will take place on October 12th, (Wednesday)
at the Wilmington Public Library from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM.
For more information contact John
Crisley.
DEP &MassRecycle Sponsor Recycling Facility Tours
Come see what happens to your recyclable materials after they're
collected at the curb or drop-off facility! MassRecycle and DEP have
joined forces to offer free tours of Massachusetts recycling facilities,
featuring a wide range of materials (paper, asphalt roofing shingles,
glass, and building materials) and locations. Registration for the tours
is available on-line at www.massrecycle.org.
- The tours are valuable to municipal and commercial recycling and
facilities staff because they will:
- See processing and manufacturing of recyclable materials.
- Learn what can and cannot by recycled and why.
- Gain an appreciation of the materials, contamination issues,
and markets.
- Get take home stories regarding your recyclables to build support
for your programs.
October 5: ReStore Home Improvement, Springfield
(11:15 am - 12:30 pm) |
The ReStore sells used building materials, including the kitchen
sink! (Note: MRC Meeting schedule prior to tour.)
|
October 19: Container Recycling Alliance, Franklin
(10:00 am to 12:00 pm) |
Container Recycling Alliance sorts mixed-color container glass
into feedstock for glass manufacturers.
|
| New Faces, New Positions in DEP's Recycling Program |
|
New Bottle Bill Administrator: Nicholas
Oliver has joined the DEP's Commercial Waste Reduction Branch
as its new Bottle Bill Administrator. In addition to handling
bottle bill administration and policy related issues, Nicholas
will be working on enhancements to the Mass Earth911 web site,
public area recycling, and waste reduction in Massachusetts hospitals.
Before coming to DEP, Nicholas served as Director of Advocacy
for the American Heart Assn, Northeast Affiliate.
New Regional Planner: Tina
Klein joined DEP's Municipal Waste Reduction Branch in August,
filling the position previously held by Lori Segall. Tina is working
with cities and towns on household hazardous waste programs, school
chemical management grants, and vehicle idling reduction grants.
She also oversees the Municipal Waste Combustor's Mercury Separation
Plans and manages state contracts for electronics, mercury and
HHW collection. Tina worked as the City of Lowell's recycling
coordinator before joining DEP.
New Branch Chief: DEP is pleased to announce Peggy
Harlow as its new Branch Chief for Commercial Waste Reduction.
The position was vacated by Peter Allison in August, 2004. Peggy
is no stranger to DEP; she served as the Municipal Recycling Grant
Manager for 7+ years in the Municipal Waste Reduction Branch.
Peggy brings a wealth of experience and know-how to her new position.
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"Pay-As-You-Throw" Can work in your community! Here's
How!
Many Massachusetts cities and towns are adding fees to supplement
property tax revenues for trash services. Trash fees come as unit fees,
flat fees, or a combination of these. As of July 2005, 114 Massachusetts
municipalities use Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) programs to finance all or
part of their solid waste budget and the number is growing. In the past
year, the DEP awarded grants to 19 municipalities to evaluate PAYT and
three municipalities to implement new programs.
- DEP promotes PAYT for management of municipal solid waste (MSW)
because it offers three advantages over a tax-based system:
- Equity/Fairness - Users who generate more trash pay more; just
like they would for water or sewer usage or electricity. Those
familiar with PAYT programs view them as a fair way to fund trash
disposal.
- Environment - National and local research shows that residents
reduce their trash tonnage by 15 - 50% when required to pay by
the bag/barrel. Brockton's Mayor, John T. Yunits, said "PAYT
has been successful in their City, reducing trash 24% initially
and more each year and resulting in cleaner streets" .1
- Economics - A PAYT system can reduce the demand on property
tax revenues. DEP statewide data shows that the average per household
trash tonnage is 30% lower in PAYT cities and towns . 2
Rate Setting and Estimating Revenue - Rate setting is key to setting
and meeting a city or town's annual solid waste costs. The ideal is
to match fixed costs with predictable funds and match variable costs
with PAYT fees. Fixed costs are defined as costs that do not change
with the tonnage of solid waste generated by a municipality's residents
for providing curbside collection. Variable costs change as tonnage
changes - primarily the disposal cost of trash. Setting unit fees (the
fee per bag) is a critical step since this fee must adequately account
for the municipality's yearly cost of solid waste disposal.
For more information visit the DEP
website for a listing of Massachusetts PAYT programs and contacts;
and to obtain technical assistance, financial planning and grants to
offset start-up costs. Or visit US EPA's PAYT website at www.epa.gov/payt.
1Mayor John T. Yunits,
Mayor's Panel, DEP Waste Forum Conference, January 13, 2004
2DEP Bureau of Waste Planning Data from 2002 Recycling Data
Sheets, provided by John Fisher
School Green Team Kick-Off
DEP kicked off its school Green Team program, now in its fourth
year, by mailing brochures to each public school principal and past
Green Team teachers. The brochure invites them to join the Green Team,
DEP's school waste reduction and recycling program, for the new school
year. Teachers who join are mailed a Green Team kit, consisting of a
classroom poster, program guide, lesson plan, achievement stickers and
magnet. Classes progress through three achievement levels as they complete
recycling activities. At the end of the school year, participating classes
receive Certificates of Recognition and prizes. Additional resources
and recycling equipment are available to Green Team members via the
web site.
Last year, 151 teachers representing 29,000 students joined the Green
Team and 37 classes received awards for their participation. For more
information contact Ann McGovern.
Recycling Builds at Marshfield Fair
Last year, DEP provided a grant for a pilot recycling program at
the 10-day Marshfield Fair. The program succeeded in recycling 5 tons
of cardboard, bottles and cans, comprising about 10% of the Fair's waste
stream, and was embraced by the Fair management to continue at future
Fairs. DEP's Ann McGovern coordinated the volunteer recycling effort
at the Fair again this year, from 8/19 through 8/28/2005.
Once again, approximately 5 tons of cardboard, bottles and cans were
recycled, representing about 10% of the Fair's waste, similar to last
year's results. Even better, 190,000 people attended the Fair, about
2% more than last year, yet the Fair experienced a 7% reduction in the
tonnage of trash disposed compared to last year, in addition to the
10% recycled.
Some of the additional diversion might be a result of more people emptying
bottles and cans for recycling, whereas in the past they were often
thrown in the trash half full. With the help of 14 volunteers during
the 10-day event, recycling has been adopted as part of the Fair's waste
management system and has raised awareness of vendors and the public
about conserving resources, reducing waste and recycling. For example,
one of the vendors recycled used cooking oil from the other vendors
for making biodiesel fuel for his truck.
Fifty 32-gallon wheeled carts w/specially designed lids to accept bottles
and cans and 150 14-gallon curbside recycling bins were placed next
to each trash can throughout the 25-acre fairgrounds. Vendors flattened
cardboard and placed it on the ground next to the bins. Fairgoers and
vendors placed bottles and cans in the curbside bins and toters. Contamination
in the bins and toters was minimal, as long as there was a trash can
next to them. Volunteers assisted with flattening cardboard, monitoring
bins and public education. The Marshfield Fair Grounds staff picked
up the recyclables at 7 am each morning (which is when the trash is
picked up by packer truck) using a pick up truck, and transferred them
to one of two 30 cubic yard roll off containers located in the maintenance
area. The roll off containers were filled and emptied 4 times during
the 10 days. North Shore Recycled Fibers, the Town of Marshfield's recycling
contractor, donated the use and hauling of the roll offs.
Incorporating recycling into the Fair's waste management system requires
more time and labor on the part of the Marshfield Fair Grounds staff,
as well as assistance from volunteers. But the Fair Directors continue
to embrace recycling because it is more environmentally responsible,
gives a good public appearance, conserves resources and saves on disposal
costs. For more information contact Ann
McGovern.
TOPICS
NERC's
Fall '05 Conference will be held on October 25-26 at the 
we
hold. With the completion of the second combined household hazardous
waste event/unwanted medication collection organized by NERC as a pilot
project, we gain better understandings that will help inform the guidance
document that will be written as a product of this project funded by
a grant from the U.S. EPA. The Western Massachusetts Municipal Recycling
Incentive Program Coordinator assisted with the planning of this event.
We
also kept track of the amount of paper recycling that was generated.
At previous collection events, it had been apparent that a lot of recycling
was a by-product but it had not been targeted for data collection. The
recycling consists primarily of paperboard. It comes from removing the
outer packing from medications. As you probably have noticed from your
own experience, the ratio of paper packaging to the number of pills
is dramatic. Because the unwanted medications go into a hazardous waste
drum, it is important for cost control not to send anything in the drum
that does not need to be there. Paperboard packaging, in other words.
Approximately 15 gallons of paper were recycled (two over-filled blue
bins and several cardboard boxes). In addition, there was two gallons
of trash and, to our dismay, 6 gallons of sharps. 
On
July 12, 2004 Governor George E. Pataki signed a new law banning the
sale of mercury-added novelty products and mercury-fever thermometers
in New York State and requiring new labeling and proper disposal or
recycling of mercury-added consumer products. The new law also prohibited
primary and secondary schools from purchasing or using mercury. Many
of the provisions of the law had a July 1, 2005 effective date.
In
a pilot project for the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA)
and 
VEPPA
was formed in 2004 to identify and address real and imagined obstacles
to the purchase and use of EP custodial cleaning chemicals in schools.
The Alliance is comprised of representatives from the Vermont Departments
of Education, Environmental Conservation, Health, and Buildings &
General Services, the Vermont School Boards Insurance Trust, INFORM,
and the Association of Vermont Recyclers. Alliance members developed
a simple brochure responding to common questions and concerns about
EP cleaners, offered the key note presentation, and developed the Purchasers
& Users Guide.