NERC EMAIL BULLETIN March 2006

Sustaining Members Eastern Regional Conference of The Council of State Governments,   Newspaper Association of America (NAA)   Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG)     ElectroniCycle   American Plastics Council   United Recycling Industries   EIA   UNICOR     Canon USA     Curbside Value Partnership     Metal Management, Inc.

TOPICS

MEMBERS

Renewing Supporting Members:

• International Association of Electronics Recyclers
• National Recycling Coalition
• Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority

NERC NEWS

• Do It Now - Register for NERC's Spring '06 Conference - March 21-23!
• NERC Co-Sponsors C&D Stakeholders Meeting with NEWMOA
• NERC Attends International Green Purchasing Meeting
• Bylaws Revised
• Feature Article in Pharmacy Journal of New England, Fall 2005

NEW NERC PUBLICATIONS

• Special Events Reports Now Available

STATE UPDATES

• CONNECTICUT
  • Taking Action to Address Climate Change
  • Giving Recycling the Old College Try
  • Solid Waste Management Plan Moving Forward
  • A Paint Primer
• MASSACHUSETTS
  • MassDEP Joins Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E)
  • MassDEP Expands Waste Ban Enforcement to Generators
  • Registration for 6^th Massachusetts Organics Summit
  • New DEP-Approved Recycling Program Criteria
  • MassDEP FY2006 Municipal Grant Update
  • School Green Team Summary
• PENNSYLVANIA
  • Looking for Award Applicants
• VERMONT
  • FY 2006 Youth & Consumer Education Grants Awarded
  • Use and Sale of Lead Sinkers Banned in Vermont

OF GENERAL INTEREST

• Full-time Manager Sought for Vermont Solid Waste Management District
• Green Computers Soon Just a Click Away
• WasteWise Forum - March 21^st, Philadelphia

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NERC's new mission is to advance an environmentally sustainable economy by promoting source and toxicity reduction, recycling, and the purchasing of environmentally preferable products and services.

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Do It Now - Register for NERC's Spring '06 Conference - March 21-23!
Three regions of the country will be coming together at NERC's Spring Conference - MACRO, MACREDO, and NERC. Be part of this tremendous networking opportunity to learn what's happening in 26 states and the District of Columbia.

The conference agenda includes:

• Chaz Miller of the National Solid Waste Management Association addressing the future recycling markets and the hauler perspective,
• Steve Thompson of the Aluminum Association's Curbside Value Partnership Program and Sandi Childs of RME Associates speaking about beverage container recycling issues,
• Jill Kowalski of the Delaware Valley Green Building Council teaching us how to assist recyclers to affectively partner with green builders to maximize the use of recycling credits,
• Sony, Envirocycle and Californians Against Waste speaking on California's E-waste legislation, and
• Priorities and potential collaborative opportunities for MACRO, MACREDO, and NERC.

The complete agenda and registration are posted. Please note that the conference registration deadline is MARCH 10.

The Conference will be held at the EPA Region III office in Philadelphia, PA. The official conference hotel is the Hotel Windsor.

The NERC Board of Directors meeting will take place on the morning of Tuesday, March 21^st, 9 - noon, also at EPA Region III.

And, of course, there will be a special social hour Tuesday evening, 5:30 - 7, at the Independence Brew Pub, sponsored by PSEG.

Be sure to register for these events.

NERC Co-Sponsors C&D Stakeholders Meeting with NEWMOA
Recycling of gypsum wallboard and asphalt shingles were the topics of discussion at the C & D Stakeholders Meeting held in Westford, Massachusetts in February. Businesses and government staff filled the room to discuss how we can increase recycling of these materials. To continue this joint NERC/NEWMOA effort, NERC will be developing two fact sheets on the recycling potential for these materials. Contact Mary Ann Remolador of NERC for more information.

NERC Attends International Green Purchasing Meeting
NERC staff attended the North American Green Purchasing Initiative's annual meeting in Miami. Representatives from Canada, Mexico, and the United States participated in the development of facts sheets on three priority topics at this meeting - renewable energy, recycled paper, and green cleaning products. These fact sheets will be available for public use in the next few weeks. Once available, an article - with links to the fact sheets - will be published in the NERC Email Bulletin. Contact Mary Ann Remolador of NERC with any questions regarding this meeting or the fact sheets.

NERC Bylaws Revised
At the fall 2005 Board of Directors meeting the decision was made to update the NERC Bylaws. Key changes focus on appointment to the Board and requirements for voting membership. The revised text is available on line. For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein.

Feature Article in Pharmacy Journal of New England
The fall issue of the Pharmacy Journal of New England focuses on unwanted medications and their proper disposal. And the feature article was written by NERC's Executive Director, Lynn Rubinstein. The article was the result of a successful pilot collection held in early 2005 in a CVS pharmacy in South Portland, Maine. This caught the interest of the pharmacist community and we were asked to explain the potential role of the pharmacist in this evolving area of interest. The issue of the magazine also includes an article about the environmental problems that underlie the need to safely collect and dispose of unwanted medications from individuals.

Recently, NERC has met with the Boards of Pharmacy in Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Vermont, as well as staff from the Board of Pharmacy in Massachusetts, to discuss how unwanted medication collections could safely operate in the respective states, and the essential role of pharmacists at these events. Each of these meetings was very successful and garnered the support of the Boards. In several instances, important suggestions were made for improving collection events. Currently, we are in the planning stages for collection events in Rutland, Vermont, Bergen County, New Jersey, Franklin County, Massachusetts, several potential locations in Connecticut, and preliminary discussions have taken place exploring a possible Pittsburg event. NERC's involvement in this topic is funded by the U.S. EPA and the USDA. Guidance documents about how to set up and operate unwanted medication collections will be written and published by January 2007. For more information, contact Lynn Rubinstein.

Special Events Final Reports Now Available
With funding from the USDA-Rural Utilities Service Solid Waste Management grant program, NERC has produced recycling plans for six rural special events in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The final report for each of these events is now available.

• Clinton Lions Club Fair, Maine
• Bath Heritage Days, Maine
• Deerfield Agricultural Fair, New Hampshire
• HCS Flower Show, New Hampshire
• Tunbridge Agricultural Fair, Vermont
• Stowe Celebrates Summer, Vermont

A guidance document about developing and implementing recycling programs at rural special events will be published in the next few months. When this document is available, an announcement will be made in the Email Bulletin.

For more information, contact Mary Ann Remolador.

STATE UPDATES

CONNECTICUT

Taking Action to Address Climate Change
At first glance one wouldn't think that the insurance industry, power plants and school lunches have anything in common --- but they do. All three areas have been the focus of bold steps taken to address climate change in Connecticut. Their success stories are in a recently released report documenting 2005 progress towards implementing the Connecticut Climate Change Action Plan. The report highlights many actions taken by individuals, businesses, universities, towns and civic organizations -- and calls for on-going action and commitment in order to continue the reduction of greenhouse gases in our state.

Greenhouse gases, largely the result of burning of fossil fuels, are contributing to changes in climate -- including fluctuations in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans. In order to address this problem, the Governor's Steering Committee on Climate Change along with over 80 organizations, including businesses, non-profit organizations, state and local government agencies and academic institutions, came up with a comprehensive plan that was adopted in February 2005. The plan recommends 55 practical actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state.

In the months since the Plan was adopted, Connecticut has taken numerous steps toward its goal. The Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) has submitted the Clean Diesel and Clean Car Incentive Plans to the state legislature - these plans outline options that will reduce pollution and improve public health. State agencies and municipalities are opting to purchase fuel-efficient vehicles. Universities, colleges and other schools have launched groundbreaking initiatives by designing "green buildings" and purchasing locally grown food for their cafeterias. And over 6,000 Connecticut households and businesses have signed up to purchase clean energy.

Connecticut's accomplishments have been so notable that other states now look to us as a model. Many success stories along with can be found at the Connecticut Climate Change website. Despite this progress, much remains to be done. CT DEP, along with the other members of the Governor's Steering Committee, look forward to working with organizations and individuals throughout the state to continue creating a cleaner, healthier environment and a more stable climate for generations to come.

Giving Recycling the Old College Try
Three Connecticut colleges are in competition this winter for a coveted trophy. But not for basketball glory - the trophy is for recycling! Connecticut College, Wesleyan University, and Yale University are participating in a ten-week competition (Jan. 29-April 9) called RecycleMania, a 5-year old event that aims to increase recycling and minimize waste on the nation's college campuses.

RecycleMania began in 2001 as a friendly competition between Miami and Ohio Universities. It has since grown to include 93 campuses across the nation and is endorsed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Waste Wise program and other national environmental organizations. Its goal is to increase awareness about recycling and waste minimization and ultimately lower the waste generated on campuses. Colleges can compete in three categories: (1) the most recyclables, (2) the least trash, and (3) the highest recycling rate. The participants must provide trash and recycling measurements weekly during the contest.

Programs like RecycleMania are a natural fit for colleges. First, there is usually a high degree of environmental interest and action on college campuses. Secondly, recyclables and food waste from residence and dining halls can make up a large percentage of campus trash, so there are opportunities for significantly decreasing the amount of trash that needs to be disposed.

At Yale University, Recycling Coordinator CJ May, says the objective of having RecycleMania is to bring awareness and greater interest about this important issue to students, faculty and staff. This is Yale's 3^rd year in the contest. Connecticut College, and Wesleyan will be competing for the first time. Both colleges are also using RecycleMania to increase awareness and communication about recycling on their campuses. Amy Cabaniss, Campus Environmental Coordinator at Connecticut College, says the school will track recyclables and the amount of food remains that go to a piggery. At Wesleyan, Bill Nelligan, Associate Director of Environmental Health, reports that increased recycling and charitable donation of many items left by students at the end of the year has the added benefit of decreasing the cost of managing trash at the school. For more information on RecycleMania, see their website.

The Connecticut Climate Change Action Plan has identified recycling as a key recommended action for the state. Colleges and universities can contribute significantly to achieving the goals of the plan. The Green Campus Initiative was established to encourage institutions to implement solutions to climate change. For ways to get your campus involved, go to the Green Campus Initiative website.

Solid Waste Management Plan Moving Forward
In January, CT DEP and the External Stakeholders Working Group held a meeting to gather final comments and thoughts on the Preliminary Draft of the State Solid Waste Management Plan. The Preliminary Draft contains six objectives and 38 related strategies. While many of the strategies have been met with general acceptance, some issues yet remain to be resolved.

One significant issue is that even with achieving a 50% recycling rate, there will still be an in-state capacity shortfall of 668,000 tons per year of municipal solid waste. Other issues include: mandating #1 and #2 plastics recycling, funding to municipalities, redirecting unclaimed bottle deposits for recycling education and other related uses, recycling and/or disposal of construction and demolition debris, and applying the solid waste fee to waste going out-of-state.

CT DEP is evaluating the comments received to date and is currently drafting the Plan. It will be subject to public meetings and hearings held in May or June with an anticipated adoption date of August 2006. For more information - see CT DEP's website.

A Paint Primer
It's spring and many of us start thinking thoughts about home improvement. The challenge for the environmentally conscious person is choosing the best paint for the results you want and the least impact on your health and the environment.

Paints that homeowners use are either latex (also called acrylic latex) or oil-based (also known as alkyd). Both types can contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other toxic additives that can be harmful to your health when inhaled and can contribute to sick building syndrome. Many of the products used with paints, such as thinners and strippers also contain chemicals that are harmful to you and the environment.

Here are pointers for picking the right paint:

• Avoid oil or solvent-based paints. Oil base paint can be trickier to use and requires more chemicals, like turpentine for clean up. Instead, use latex paints, which are water-based. They are less harmful to you and the environment, clean up with water and are less expensive than oil-based paints. Latex is formulated for interior or exterior use. Exterior latex usually contains biocides to prevent the formation of mold and mildew.
• Look for paint with low or no VOCs and low odor. Green Seal, an independent, non-profit organization that identifies products and services that cause less toxic pollution and waste has compiled a listing of companies that manufacture paints that meet their standards for VOCs and other chemicals.
• Consider buying recycled content paint. Although the color pallet may be limited, these high-quality paints can be an economical and environmentally preferable alternative to regular latex.
• Try out the color before you invest your money and time in the project. Some paint manufacturers now sell samples in a wide range of colors. This can also provide a test of how well the paint will cover the surface or if you need a primer.
• Determine how much paint you need. You will save money and storage space by calculating the right quantity of paint for the job. There are many calculators on-line or ask the retailer for help. For a list of web sites that have paint calculators, go to se the Earth 911 website.
• Protect yourself and your family when painting. Read the label on the can before you start and make sure your work area is well ventilated. If you are living in a house or apartment that was built before 1978, it may have surfaces painted with lead paint. Lead can cause irreversible brain and nerve injury. Before you prepare any surface, such as sanding, you should have it tested for lead. You can also consult, "Lead Paint Safety: A Field Guide for Painting Home Maintenance and Renovation" available online.
• Store leftover paint properly so that it can be used for touch-ups or another project. You want to keep air out of the can, so clean all the paint from the rim and firmly tap the cover in place. Store the tightly sealed can upside down. A skin will form on the lid and help the paint stay fresh. Store the paint away from heat and extreme cold. You could also donate usable paint to a community or school group. Nothing left over? Remember to recycle the paint can as scrap metal!
• Dispose of old paint properly. Do you have a lot of old, partially filled paint cans? If the latex paint has hardened, has rust or mildew or there just isn't enough of it to do anything with, you can completely dry the paint out by leaving the lid off or transfer the paint to leak-proof bag and put enough kitty litter or shredded newspaper in the bag to absorb the liquid. You can then put the bag in your regular trash and recycle the can.

Latex paint is not considered hazardous waste, so it will not be accepted at a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection. However, latex paint manufactured before 1990 may contain mercury, so that should be accepted. (Any oil based paint, stain or solvent-based paint product is hazardous waste would be accepted at an HHW collection. To find a collection for your town, visit CT DEP's website. The towns of Barkhamsted, New Hartford, Winchester, Essex, Avon, Sharon and Salisbury have a DEP permit to collect paint. If you live in one of those towns, contact the transfer station for more information. Now you know all there is to know about paint. If you could only decide on a color…

MASSACHUSETTS

MassDEP Joins Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) as a Champion for Change to Promote Waste Reduction
Working with a stakeholder workgroup to identify key concerns and needs in the healthcare sector, The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will develop a series of technical assistance and networking programs aimed at the healthcare sector, with specific support for acute care hospitals in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Focused on waste reduction and recycling initiatives, MassDEP's healthcare waste reduction activities will assist all healthcare facilities to significantly improve their overall environmental performance. For more information, please contact Nicholas Oliver.

MassDEP Expands Waste Ban Enforcement to Generators
Even though Massachusetts has made great strides in increasing recycling and businesses are recycling more than ever before, large amounts of recyclables are still being thrown away when instead they could be used as feedstock by companies that make value-added products and employ thousands of "Bay Staters". Continued disposal of recyclables unnecessarily reduces the capacity of in-state disposal facilities, which is already limited. As recycling reduces disposal costs, businesses can save money by diverting materials from their trash dumpster to their recycling bin.

The MassDEP has announced that in 2006 it will increase its focus on enforcing waste ban regulations as they apply to businesses that improperly manage certain recyclables and hazardous materials subject to waste disposal ban regulations. In addition to MassDEP continuing waste ban inspections at solid waste facilities, such as landfills, transfer stations and incinerators, to ensure that they are not accepting waste loads containing banned materials, the agency will also begin looking more closely at businesses that generate or transport wastes containing those materials. As MassDEP extends waste ban compliance and enforcement to haulers and generators, it will initially focus on outreach and assistance prior to issuing enforcement actions. However, MassDEP may pursue enforcement at any time for particularly serious or extensive violations.

MassDEP is pursuing this initiative to hold all parties accountable for waste ban violations, whether they are facility operators, haulers, or generators. Waste ban information can be found on MassDEP's web site.

For information on how to set up a recycling program for your business or to learn more about other MassDEP-sponsored business assistance programs, visit the MassDEP Web site or Earth 911's web site.

Registration for 6th Massachusetts Organics Summit
Consumer Programs of MassDEP will hold its Sixth Massachusetts Organics Recycling Summit: "Growing Opportunities in Organics Recycling". This year the summit will be a 2-day event. The first day (March 1) will feature a professional conference and vendor exhibit hall focused on the food waste management and composting infrastructure in Massachusetts. A second day has been added that includes site visits to a local compost facility and supermarkets diverting food waste.

The summit begins on Wednesday, March 1 at the Best Western Royal Plaza in Marlborough, MA.

Of special interest to the Northeast Recycling Council members:

• Hear how MassDEP has balanced carrots and sticks to promote market development
• Learn what technical assistance your agency can offer food waste generators and composters
• Find out about innovative public-private partnerships

This is a terrific networking opportunity -- last year's Summit attracted over 200 attendees from 12 states. For more information contact Steve Long.

New DEP-Approved Recycling Program Criteria Issued
MassDEP issued new criteria for the Department Approved Recycling Program (DARP) in January. DARP establishes recycling, composting, and public outreach standards for municipal recycling programs. DARP is a voluntary program. Qualifying communities receive DARP status that exempts municipal solid waste loads from comprehensive inspections for select "waste ban" materials (paper; glass, metal and plastic containers; leaves and yard waste) at solid waste disposal facilities. Every 2-4 years, MassDEP "raises the bar" by instituting new DARP criteria designed to leverage more recycling and composting in municipal programs. The current DARP criteria, established in July 2002, will expire on June 30, 2006. Currently 283 municipalities out of 351 in Massachusetts have DARP status.

To qualify for DARP status municipalities must meet mandatory and elective criteria in three categories: (1) Recycling Commitment and Access, (2) Composting Commitment and Access, and (3) Public Education and Participation. Each category has a mandatory element and an elective element. Communities may choose between 2-3 elective criteria in each category.

The FY2007-2008 program includes the following mandatory element changes:

• Adds the collection of cardboard (OCC) and mixed paper (magazines, catalogs, junk mail) in curbside and drop-off programs.
• Requires through a bylaw, ordinance, or hauler contract language, that leaves and yard waste not be collected with MSW.

The following elective elements changes were implemented:

• Establish recycling collection at public schools
• Meet a 100 pounds per capita criterion for paper, bottles and cans.
• Enforce mandatory residential recycling through a by-law, ordinance, regulation or clause in the municipal trash collection contract.

MassDEP anticipates strong participation in the program. Consumer Programs offers technical assistance to communities that are working to meet the DARP criteria. For more information, contact John Crisley .

MassDEP FY2006 Municipal Grant Update
MassDEP's FY06 Municipal Waste Reduction Grant Program received 166 applications requesting $3.14 million in recycling and composting equipment, pay-as-you-throw assistance, rain barrels, water conservation kits, idling reduction toolkits and technical assistance projects in September 2005. MassDEP has conditionally awarded $1.25 million for those requests to 148 towns, cities and regional organizations.

Two rounds of FY06 grants have already been awarded, the first in mid-October and the second just before Thanksgiving. These rounds awarded thirty-five "in-kind" technical assistance grants for projects including pay-as-you-throw planning, mandatory recycling/waste ban enforcement at the curb, outreach and education, regional HHW collections, municipal green building workshops and business recycling initiatives and 13 in which MassDEP provided funds for specific waste reduction projects. 4 communities also received School Chemical Management Grants of $5,000 for clean-out services plus 50 hours of technical assistance, and 17 communities received Idling Reduction Toolkits.

MassDEP expects to announce recycling and composting equipment, pay-as-you-throw start-up grants, recycling bins stickers, additional technical assistance grants, diesel vehicle retrofits, water conservation equipment and consumer education materials awards this spring. For more information, contact MassDEP's Municipal Recycling Grant Manager, Amy Roth.

School Green Team Summary
The Green Team, MassDEP's school waste reduction and recycling program, is well underway and in the midst of a very enthusiastic school year. Two hundred and seventy four teachers have joined The Green Team this year, nearly 50% more than last year. These teachers represent 200 different schools and nearly 45,000 students. Requests for recycling equipment from Green Team schools have been coming fast and furious this fall and winter, with about 800 recycling bins, 50 wheeled carts, 9 compost bins and 10 worm bins distributed to 31 schools.

At the Kingston Intermediate School, the 5^th and 6^th grade students are leading by example, coordinating the school recycling effort. "We've really seen a difference in the amount of trash we're throwing away," the custodian was quoted as saying in a Patriot Ledger article about the school recycling effort.

Students at the Granby Junior-Senior High School are expanding their recycling efforts to include composting. They are separating their food scraps to send to a nearby organic farm for composting. Lorenzo Macaluso of the Center for Ecological Technology has been providing valuable assistance to this school.

New to the Massachusetts recycling scene this year, Abitibi Consolidated has provided Paper Retrievers at several schools, with positive results reported. School recycling is receiving a lot of support from a variety of individuals and organizations across the Commonwealth and together, everyone's efforts are making a big difference.

PENNSYLVANIA

Pennsylvania Looking for Award Applicants
It's time to put your recycling, composting and collections programs to the test! Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania (PROP), along with Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association (PWIA) and the Keystone Chapter of the Solid Waste Management of North America (SWANA) are once again sponsoring the "Waste Watcher" awards. These awards are given to those outstanding recycling, waste reduction, reuse and composting programs in Pennsylvania. Awards are presented to municipalities, counties, private businesses, individuals and community organizations in 10 categories; Special Collections, Public Education, Recycling Achievement, Materials Processing, School Recycling, Reuse, Commercial/Institutional Recycling, Composting, Special Event Recycling and Green Procurement.

Through the years, recycling has become a billion dollar industry in Pennsylvania. With each passing year, there is a steady increase in the amount of collected recyclables and the number of jobs created by the industry. Recycling has saved precious resources and energy, limited greenhouse emissions and other air and water pollutants. This growth and success is the result of a serious commitment to recycling by individuals, businesses, government and the recycling industry. That commitment should be recognized. Contact Marissa Carney at PROP for more information and an application. The deadline is May 2^nd, so don't wait!

VERMONT

FY 2006 Youth and Consumer Education Grants Awarded
DEC awarded eight grants totaling $42,000 under its Youth and Consumer Education Program. Most of the funding went to local memberships to the Association of Vermont Recyclers. Other grants funded creation of a web site, funding development of a high school recycling program and a marketing study. Contact Marc Roy for more information.

Use and Sale of Lead Sinkers Banned in Vermont
On January 1, 2007, the Vermont Law, banning the use and sale of lead sinkers used in fishing, goes into effect. To help anglers learn how to properly manage this waste, the State Fish and Wildlife Department has created a website that includes recycling locations for the lead sinkers. Contact Zapata Courage, Education Specialist for more information.

OF GENERAL INTEREST

Full-time Manager Sought for the Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District
The District serves fourteen municipalities in southern Vermont. The Manager will be responsible for implementing the District's Solid Waste Implementation Plan as well as managing contracts and the District's finances. Minimum BS/BA degree plus 5 years of solid waste experience required. Send cover letter and resume by March 10th to forrand@vermontel.net or to Forrest Randall, 94 Wall St., Springfield, VT 05156. Full job description available by email. The District is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

Green Computers Soon Just a Click Away
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Designates Group to Identify Green Computers
Responding to growing demand by large-volume computer purchasers seeking to buy more environmentally sensitive computers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated the Green Electronics Council to develop and maintain a list of computers, laptops, and monitors meeting strict environmental criteria. Manufacturers will identify products meeting the recently developed Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) criteria and the Green Electronics Council will verify the credibility of their claims. The Green Electronics Council will post the initial green computer registry online in June 2006.

Even though EPEAT is not yet operational, it is already referenced in $16 billion worth of upcoming computer purchases. To meet this demand, green computers are currently in development by many of the major computer manufacturers. They have significantly reduced levels of hazardous materials such as cadmium, mercury, and lead. They also are more energy efficient, easier to upgrade, and easier to safely recycle.

EPEAT was developed over a two year period in an extensive multi-stakeholder process funded by EPA. The more than 50 participating stakeholders included environmental non-profit organizations, large public and private sector purchasers, major computer and component manufacturers, electronic recyclers, and others.

The three-tiered EPEAT rating system developed by EPA's stakeholder group includes 23 required criteria and 28 optional performance criteria organized in the following eight product performance categories:

1. Reduction/Elimination of Environmentally Sensitive Materials
2. Materials Selection
3. Design for End of Life
4. Life Cycle Extension
5. Energy Conservation
6. End of Life Management
7. Corporate Performance
8. Packaging

Products meeting all 23 of the required criteria will be identified as EPEAT Bronze products. Products meeting at least 14 of the optional criteria will be listed as EPEAT Silver products and those meeting at least 21 of the optional criteria will be designated EPEAT Gold products.

The EPEAT standard will be officially released in April 2006 when the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) releases the IEEE/ANSI 1680 Standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products, including Notebook Personal Computers, Desktop Personal Computers and Personal Computer Monitors. Once the standard is released, the Green Electronics Council will begin processing applications from manufacturers to list their products on the EPEAT website. The Green Electronics Council partners with manufacturers and other interested stakeholders to improve the environmental and social performance of electronic products. Additional information is available at their website.

NERC's Involvement

NERC was a member of the multi-stakeholder team that developed EPEAT over 2.5 years. Lynn Rubinstein participated as a non-governmental organization (NGO) representative on the Development Team, bringing her perspective on electronics recycling, market development, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to the team. The Development Team spent 1.5 years creating the overall structure of EPEAT, negotiating the environmental criteria, and developing the organizational framework. When the EPEAT Development Team completed its work in November 2005, NERC asked Patty Dillon, now of NERC's staff, to represent NERC on the EPEAT Implementation Team (I-Team).

The EPEAT I-Team was also a multi-stakeholder group, made up of a subset of the Development Team. Its task was to take EPEAT from concept to reality. Patty was well entrenched in the process as a member of the Development Team alongside Lynn, so easily transitioned into this role representing NERC. The I-Team was challenged to find an organization to host EPEAT and another organization willing to sponsor the process of creating an American National Standard (ANSI) based on the EPEAT requirements. The I-Team succeeded on both accounts, announcing recently the selection of the Green Electronics Council as the host organization and the official release in April 2006 of the IEEE ANSI 1680 Standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products, including Notebook Personal Computers, Desktop Personal Computers, and Personal Computer Monitors. The EPEAT I-Team Communications Subcommittee, co-chaired by Patty Dillon, also developed EPEAT marketing materials, presentations and outreach strategies.

NERC's involvement in EPEAT will continue through grants from EPA New England and Region 3 to promote the use of EPEAT as a procurement tool to institutional and public sector purchasing officials. Both Lynn and Patty are working on this project.

WasteWise Forum - March 21^st, Philadelphia
Join us or this excellent opportunity to meet with current and prospective WasteWise members, learn what others are doing to enhance their waste reduction, recycling and purchasing programs, and ask questions regarding your own program.

What is WasteWise? WasteWise is a free, voluntary program that helps organizations reduce costly solid waste, benefiting their bottom line and the environment. It's flexible and allows members to custom design waste reduction programs to fit their needs. More information is available on the WasteWise website.

Benefits of Joining WasteWise

• Potential awards from EPA
• Savings for your organization from your waste reduction efforts
• Positive public relations stories with additional EPA recognition through press releases and media outlets
• Opportunity to use the WasteWise logo in your organization's reports and correspondences
• Free technical assistance to help you develop, implement, and measure waste reduction activities

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When:	Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Where:	EPA Region 3 Regional Office 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
Time:	9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Who:	All organizations (e.g. businesses, institutions, government agencies, nonprofits)
Cost:	Free
RSVP:	RSVP required by March 15, 2006, to WasteWise Helpline by e-mail, or phone, 800-EPA-WISE (800-372-9473). Please include your name, title, organization, e-mail address, and telephone number.

Agenda

9:00	Welcome and Introductions Lorraine Graves, US EPA Region 2
9:05	Update on EPA's Resource Conservation Challenge Lorraine Graves, US EPA Region 2 This session will provide the latest news related to EPA's Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC) - a national effort to conserve natural resources and energy by managing materials more efficiently.
9:15	Social Responsibility in the Global Supply Chain Environment Dr. Kevin Lyons, Rutgers-Cook College This session will explore integrating social responsibility into supply chain management and purchasing programs.
10:00	Connecting Consumers with Recycled Content Products During this session, a Staples representative will explain how the company is assisting customers in identifying and buying recycled content products.
10:25	Break
10:35	EPA's ReCon Tool Ron Vance, ERG During this session participants will be introduced to EPA's Recycled Content (ReCon) Tool, which helps organizations estimate life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy impacts from purchasing and/or manufacturing materials with varying degrees of post-consumer recycled content.
11:00	Roundtable Discussion During this session participants are able to ask questions, share experiences, and help each other with issues. This has proven to be an important session for participants in past meetings.
12:00	Adjourn For more information on the forum and to RSVP, please contact the WasteWise Helpline by e-mail or phone, 800-EPA-WISE (800-372-9473). RSVP is required for this event. Please include your name, title, organization, e-mail address, and telephone number.