Nerc Bulletin

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

MEMBERSHIP

It is through the active participation & support of its Advisory Members that NERC is able to provide the
strength of multi-stakeholder involvement and problem solving.

To see a listing of Advisory Members and the benefits of membership, visit the NERC Advisory Membership web page.

It is the broad spectrum of interests represented by NERC's Advisory Members and Board Members and their willingness to participate that significantly contributes to the unique and important role that NERC plays in recycling in the region.

Stop What You Are Doing & Register for NERC's Fall Conference!

Conference sponsors include: Public Service Enterprise Group, Steel Recycling Institute, American Forest & Paper Association, Verizon, and the National Solid Wastes Management Association.
To reserve accommodations for the conference, call the Hotel Northampton at 800/547-3529. Please note: The NERC Conference discounted room rate was scheduled to be held until October 1. When speaking with them, refer to "Booking Number 3719" to see if they will still honor the discount.
To register to exhibit at the conference go to http://www.nerc.org/exhibitorregistration.html.
For more information, contact the Conference Organizer, Mary Ann Remolador.

Staff Change at NERC
We are very sorry to have said good-bye to our co-worker Jessica Wozniak at the end of September. As a Project Assistant at NERC for the past four years, she has been the lead staff person on EPPnet, the Environmental Benefits Calculator, and the New York State Database project, among other responsibilities. Jessica resigned from NERC to become the full-time Executive Director of MassRecycle. We offer her our congratulations and heartfelt thanks for the excellence that she contributed to NERC. She will be sorely missed.

Projects Manager Position Now Available - NERC
NERC is seeking a Projects Manager for a permanent, salaried position in its Brattleboro, VT office. This is not the USDA-funded position. That job opening will be posted in early 2007.

This is a 35-hour per week position that provides a flexible schedule and a competitive salary and benefits package. There is the potential for this position to be based in a home office.

The position requires management of substantive projects, including recycling markets research and the environmental benefits calculator. Interfacing with the NERC Board and Advisory Members, and responding to queries from the Board and public will also be primary responsibilities in this position.

A full job description is available on the NERC website and can be viewed from the NERC home page at www.nerc.org

Applications should be emailed to info@nerc.org on or before October 13, 2006 and must include a cover letter, resume, and contact information (email addresses and phone numbers) for three recent employer references and one personal reference. No phone calls, please. EO/AAE

NERC's Environmental Benefits Calculator – New Version Available
NERC's staff has recently updated its Environmental Benefits Calculator and the Northeast states’ Environmental Benefits Fact Sheets. NERC's Calculator is the most comprehensive and up-to-date calculator of its kind and it's free-of-charge!

The Calculator generates estimates of the environmental benefits of a study area, based on the tonnages of materials that are source reduced, reused, recycled, landfilled, or incinerated (includes waste-to-energy). The Calculator incorporates the EPA's most recent WARM Calculator, as well as, facts and figures from the U.S. Department of Energy, Steel Recycling Institute, Glass Packaging Institute, and U.S. Climate Technology Cooperation Gateway, to name a few. More facts and figures can be found cited throughout the Calculator.

NERC would like to take this opportunity to thank EPA and all of the other organizations and agencies that provided us with updated information for NERC's Calculator. We would also like to sincerely thank Jessica Wozniak for her hard work on the Calculator over the years, and for completing this detail-laden update before she left NERC to take a full-time position with MassRecycle.
For more information, contact Mary Ann Remolador, NERC's Assistant Director.

Gypsum Wallboard Waste Management Fact Sheet Now Available
In direct response to requests made at the NERC/NEWMOA Construction & Demolition Debris Workshop earlier this year, NERC developed a fact sheet on the waste management of gypsum wallboard. The fact sheet is intended as a quick reference on the different options for managing unused wallboard and available resources. It may be found on NERC's website at http://www.nerc.org/documents/gypsum-july_2006.html.

Another request made at the same workshop was for an Asphalt Shingle Waste Management fact sheet. NERC is in the final stages of completing that document, and it will be announced it in the November Email Bulletin.
For more information, contact Mary Ann Remolador, NERC's Assistant Director.

Vote in Support of Regional Electronics Legislation
The NERC Board of Directors has expressed its support of the model regional electronics legislation, of which NERC co-facilitated the development process with the Council of State Governments/Eastern Regional Conference (CSG/ERC). The successful motion was:

NERC supports the Model Electronics Legislation developed through a project jointly lead by the Council of State Governments/Eastern Regional Conference and NERC; recognizing that when enacted the legislation may require state specific modifications.

With this motion, NERC recognizes that regional efforts to promote the recycling of e-waste in the continued absence of national legislation and the failure of NEPSI to produce a consensus have become all the more significant. The full text of the model legislation is available at http://www.nerc.org/adobe/ElectronicRecyclingLegislation/RegionalDraft5-06_revised.pdf.

Background on Model Legislation
In late 2004, CSG/ERC approached NERC to co-facilitate the development of model regional electronics legislation. NERC recognized this as an important opportunity for a multi-stakeholder collaborative process that had the potential to achieve action where NEPSI and the Congress had, to date, failed.

Historically, NERC has intentionally rejected legislative solutions, preferring negotiated ones. In this instance, however, legislation was identified by the recycling industry as an essential strategy.

From the beginning of NERC's involvement with this topic, dating back to Fall 2000, NERC was hearing from stakeholders that legislation was going to be necessary in order to promote efficiency, avoid anti-trust problems, and ensure level playing fields for competition. Disposal bans were also seen as important to securing adequate feedstock to support the evolving recycling infrastructure. Further, During NEPSI, the manufacturers made clear that national legislation was essential to develop and sustain a recycling and collection infrastructure. This echoed the opinions that NERC had been hearing from the recycling industry.

To date the model legislation has been filed in Delaware, New Jersey New York, and Pennsylvania. We expect that it will also be filed in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Puerto Rico this upcoming legislative season.

Managing Unwanted Medications – 2 Guidance Documents Now Available
Based on two years of research and eight pilot collections, NERC has published the most comprehensive guidance for operating legal and safe unwanted medication collections that is available.

Two guidance documents have been published: one that is general and addresses any type of unwanted medication collection, and the other is specific to collections held in conjunction with household hazardous waste events.

These documents carefully lay out the federal and state legal requirements for operating an unwanted medication collection, as well as providing in-depth information about planning and implementation such events. Data from the pilot collections is reported, including costs, hours to plan and implement the collection events, and the amount of material that was collected.

NERC Awarded National Grant to Pilot "State Electronics Challenge"
NERC has been awarded a $140,000 grant through EPA's Resource Conservation Challenge Grants Program to "Bring the Federal Electronics Challenge to the States through a Pilot Demonstration in the Northeastern U.S.: the State Electronics Challenge".

This two-year demonstration project, which begins October 1st, will promote the green procurement, improved operations, and maintenance of computer equipment, and reuse and recycling by state, regional, and local governments by creating and implementing the State Electronics Challenge (SEC); a replication of the Federal Electronics Challenge (FEC) that will embrace state, regional, and local governments.

The SEC will promote environmental stewardship of computers by state, regional, and local government by providing information, implementation tools, awards, technical assistance, and specifically promoting implementation of EPA's electronics programs: the Electronics Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), Energy Star®, and Plug into eCycling.

Cleaning Out Bulk Compounding Chemicals from Pharmacies - Guidance
Pharmacies may have stores of unwanted chemicals that were once used in the on-site preparation of prescriptions. Known as "bulk compounding chemicals," these often include coal tar, phenol, and sulfur power. Most pharmacies rarely, if ever, do on-site compounding of pharmaceuticals anymore.

Bulk compounding chemicals are chemicals – not drugs. Once determined to be a waste rather than an inventory item, many of these are Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous wastes. Due to a lack of familiarity with how to dispose of these chemicals, as well as the difficulty and expense of disposing of small amounts of wastes (i.e., one or two gallons) on a one-time basis, pharmacies may store unwanted bulk compounding chemicals in a cabinet for many years, uncertain of what else to do.

Providing the opportunity to appropriately remove and manage these materials is a valuable service that household hazardous waste programs can offer to businesses in their community. The goal is to divert bulk compounding chemicals from the municipal solid waste stream by establishing a cost effective and convenient system for disposal as a hazardous waste. The strategy is to create partnerships between existing household hazardous waste programs that accept materials from conditionally exempt generators of hazardous waste.

Cleaning Out Bulk Compounding Chemicals from Pharmacies: Developing Partnerships with Household Hazardous Waste Programs, is a new guidance document that details how to develop successful partnerships between household hazardous waste collection programs and pharmacies. The guidance is the result of a pilot project that NERC conducted, with funding from the EPA. The project identified pharmacies with unwanted bulk compounding chemicals and demonstrated that their participation in local household hazardous waste collections is a cost-effective and convenient method of disposing of these materials responsibility. This document does not address the disposal of unwanted medications.

Purchasing Green Computers – 2nd EPEAT© Teleconference Opportunity
On Thursday, November 2nd, from 1 – 3 (eastern), the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc. will offer its 2nd free teleconference on purchasing "green" computers using EPEAT©. EPEAT©, the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, is an easy-to-use rating system with a free online registry that helps purchasers identify and select environmentally preferable computer products. Currently over 180 desktops, monitors, and notebook computer products marketed by eight major manufacturers are available in the EPEAT© Product Registry.

Please join NERC and its panel of experts to learn more about EPEAT©, including:

How to register: Send the following information to NERC by email or fax (802-254-5870):

Confirmation will be sent by email to all registered participants along with the teleconference number and access code. A web address will be provided for participants to access the speakers’ PowerPoint presentations and other resources for the teleconference.

This teleconference is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through a grant to the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.. EPEAT© was developed by a multi-stakeholder group, consisting of government, industry, non-profit organizations, academics, and other experts with the support of the U.S. EPA.

For more information on the teleconference, please contact Patty Dillon.

EPEAT© Product Registry Lists Over 180 Computer Products
Just three months since its launch, the EPEAT© Product Registry now contains over 180 computer desktops, monitors, and notebook computers that meet minimum environmental performance criteria for toxicity, energy use, recycled content, design for recycling, and more. Eight major manufacturers have registered products, including: Apple Computer, Dell, Hewlett Packard, Lenovo, NEC, Panasonic, and Sony.

The EPEAT© product registry is free of charge and simple to use. It allows purchasers to narrow their product search by manufacturer, environmental performance criteria, and performance tiers (bronze, silver and gold). The U.S. EPA sponsored the development of EPEAT©, also known as the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool.
NERC has grants from EPA New England and Region 3 to support the use of EPEAT© as a procurement tool by businesses, institutions, and government agencies through technical assistance and outreach. On November 2nd, from 1 – 3 (eastern) NERC will repeat its very successful educational teleconference about EPEAT©. The teleconference will be open, at no cost, to anyone interested in learning more about EPEAT©.

The NERC website offers additional EPEAT© resources under Green Procurement of Electronics. For more information about the NERC project, about using EPEAT©, or for information about upcoming informational teleconferences, contact Patty Dillon.

Paper Recycling Coalition Joins TPCH
The Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH) is pleased to welcome its newest member, the Paper Recycling Coalition. The Paper Recycling Coalition (PRC) was formed in 1990 to educate policy leaders, regulators, and others about the 100% recycled paper industry. Members of the Coalition include: Altivity (Formerly part of The Smurfit Stone Corporation), The Rock-Tenn Company, The Newark Group, Caraustar Industries, the Newman Company, and White Pigeon Paper Company. PRC joins three long-standing TPCH industry advisory members: the American Plastic Council (APC), Society of Glass and Ceramic Decorators, and the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI). For more information on the TPCH, contact TPCH Program Manager Patty Dillon.

Maine Recycles Week Posters Being Sent to Maine Communities and Schools
Maine Recycles Week 2006 Poaster

November 8th -15th marks the eighth annual Maine Recycles Week! The event engages educators, businesses, and municipal officials with waste management professionals and community professionals to promote and teach the waste management hierarchy. Since recycling happens at the local level, the program educates and energizes not only the educators, but also increases understanding at all levels of responsibility. The Maine Recycles Week steering committee has already recognized a banner year for sponsors and, this week, introduces the event with its annual poster, which is distributed to schools, municipal offices, and recycling facilities across the state. Individual posters can be ordered at the MRW 2006 website. The picture used in this year's poster was the state winner in the 2005 Maine Recycles Week poster contest.

Waste Combustors Submit Material Separation Plans for Public Comment Through October 16, 2006
Required by MassDEP under the 1998 Municipal Waste Combustor Rule, Material Separation Plans (MSPs) describe how municipal waste combustor operators will prevent discarded items that contain mercury from entering their facilities. Five facilities are required to submit MSPs every two years, which MassDEP reviews and approves. Approved MSP4s will be in effect for two years, starting Jan 1, 2007.

MassDEP reviewed facilities' draft MSP4s and identified areas needing improvement. Facilities then submitted revised plans which have been approved and posted for public comment. Correspondence relating to plan revisions is posted along with the draft plans to provide context for the MSP4 development process.

Please note that MSP4s vary in the types and levels of assistance offered to the various sectors (e.g. schools, businesses, municipalities). MassDEP is interested in feedback about the effectiveness of the proposed programs and the extent to which they serve these sectors. Plan revisions may be requested as a result of comments received and final approvals are targeted for November 15, 2006. In addition to accepting written comments by US Mail, MassDEP can accept comment online.

MassDEP Announces Availability of RIRC Grants
The 30-day public input period ends regarding the target materials list for the Recycling Industries Reimbursement Credit (RIRC) Grant Program. Each year Consumer Programs staff solicits public input on which materials face market challenges and would otherwise likely be disposed. This year's proposed target list includes: food waste/residuals (residential and/or commercially generated, such a supermarkets, restaurants and food processors); construction and demolition debris: asphalt roofing shingles, wood, gypsum wallboard, carpet, paint, used building products/components (windows, countertops, sinks, etc.); and, commingled and other materials: mixed glass (commingled amber, clear and green container glass; non-container glass), mixed rigid plastics (commingled #s 3 through 7); agricultural plastics (film and bags), street sweepings and/or catch basin cleanings, and mattresses. RIRC provides grants to recycling processors and manufacturers to help purchase capital equipment, and conduct pilot projects and materials testing. Since it inception in 1999, the RIRC program has provided 55 grants for just over $2 million and leveraged $8 million in matching funds.

Massachusetts Municipal Waste & Climate Protection Grants
MassDEP's Municipal Waste Reduction and Climate Protection Grant application was issued on June 15th, 2006. This annual solicitation included consumer education materials, various types of recycling and composting equipment as well as funding for waste reduction and climate protection technical assistance projects. The deadline to apply for assistance was September 15th.

August 15th was MassDEP's Early Decision deadline for Waste Reduction Technical Assistance Grants. MassDEP received 22 proposals requesting more than $250,000 and over 1000 hours of dedicated staff time. Grants were awarded to 10 communities just after Labor Day. Some awarded projects include: Expanding a Regional Recycling Center; Developing a Regional Food and Yard Waste Composting Facility; and Curbside Enforcement of the Waste Bans. Total funding for these 10 awards was more than $55,000 and over 350 hours of dedicated staff time from Municipal Assistance Coordinators.

For more information regarding the FY2007 Municipal Waste Reduction and Climate Protection Grants, please visit the DEP online. For more information, contact Amy Roth.

MRF Efficiency Studies Posted on Website
Five Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) efficiency study final reports have been posted on DEP's website. The studies took place at MRFs across the Commonwealth and were designed to provide technical support to suggest changes in operation to make the MRFs more efficient. While recommendations are specific to the visited MRFs, the reports are written in a way that can benefit other operation MRFs as well.

To view the documents, check out the "What's New" section of the DEP website or for more information, contact Jeff Bednar.

Rhode Island Resource Recovery Awards Grant to Aid School Recycling
R.I. Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) recently awarded a grant of $32,500 to the ARC of Blackstone Valley to assist them in purchasing a vehicle for collecting recyclables. The RIRRC and the ARC of Blackstone Valley have worked together for five years to implement SORT (Sort Our Recyclables Today) program, which provides collection services of paper recyclables for Rhode Island school districts that are unable to afford private hauling. The acquisition of a new truck will enable members of the SORT program to assist more schools and small businesses with their recycling programs.

SORT's client list has grown to more than 60 schools and 50 small businesses since 2001. Additionally, the program provides financial assistance to support the employment of 29 ARC staffers, all of whom have intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Paper recyclables collected by the organization are brought to the Materials Recycling Facility at R.I. Resource Recovery. To date, SORT has brought more than 500 tons of recyclables to the RIRRC MRF through their program.

ANR Re-adopts the Current Vermont Solid Waste Management Plan
The Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) is re-adopting the current Vermont Solid Waste Management Plan (State Plan). Although it is a Plan and not a rule, Vermont statute requires that the State Plan be revised every five years and adopted in a manner similar to adopting administrative rules. One of the last steps is review by the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR). ANR staff prepared a report summarizing the current solid waste management infrastructure and systems, progress made on the critical issues since the State Plan was originally adopted in 2001, and the basis for re-adopting the goals and action steps. Armed with the report, LCAR voted to agree with re-adoption. Formal re-adoption by ANR should be completed by the end of September.
For more information, contact Jeff Fehrs.

GREENING UP YOUR BOTTOM LINE conference in Burlington, VT
The Environmental Assistance Division along with the Small Business Development Center is hosting a conference highlighting what Vermont businesses are doing to reduce their environmental impacts and improve their bottom lines. Panel topics include: Energy Efficiency, Green Marketing & Reporting, Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, CFO's panel, Best Management Practices, and Greening Your Corporate Culture. For more information, go to www.vbep.org or contact Chad Cliburn.

Andrea Cohen leaving Solid Waste Program for New Challenges
After 10 years managing the Department's Solid Waste Program, Andrea Cohen is leaving to take a Public Policy Coordinator position with the Vermont Business for Social Responsibility. Previous to her solid waste manager position, she managed the Recycling Program. We’ll miss her!

WeRecycle! Event Keeps 60,000 Pounds of Used Electronics From Landfills
On September 9, 2006, WeRecycle!, Inc., and HP conducted a residential electronics recycling collection event in Wallingford, Connecticut, that kept approximately 60,000 pounds of used electronics from going to solid waste disposal.

This free event was part of a series of collection events sponsored by HP, which has been providing environmentally sound options to communities throughout the country for their end-of-life computers and electronics.

More than 500 New Haven County residents came to the collection event at Wal-Mart between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm to drop off their used computers, copiers, fax machines, and other household electronics. Approximately 30 tons of used electronics were collected during the five-hour event.

Residents of Wallingford and surrounding towns of New Haven County were pleased to have this opportunity to recycle their old computer equipment. One resident of Wallingford said, "I’m so glad I had the chance to recycle my old computer so close to my house."

HP created this program to minimize electronic waste going to landfills and to help consumers conveniently recycle products in an environmentally responsibly way. To learn more about HP recycling programs and events , visit them online.

WeRecycle!, Inc. is committed to meeting and exceeding globally accepted best practices for the recycling and management of used electronics. In addition to recycling, WeRecycle! provides certified data removal, asset tracking, remarketing, logistics, and reporting. WeRecycle!'s asset management and data security services protect customers’ assets and proprietary information by adhering to the strictest industry standards. WeRecycle! upholds the highest environmental standards for all managed materials.

World Repair, Reuse, and Recycling Association Researches E-Cycling on a Global Scale
Colin Davis, Director of the World Repair, Reuse, and Recycling Association (WR3A), traveled to Southeast Asia last month to meet with Proview Group and other computer refurbish/reuse businesses to assess the viability of new and existing markets. During his visit, Mr. Davis found strong evidence that there are some businesses overseas that are at least as capable as U.S. processors when it comes to processing E-waste.

"The most professional of these businesses are located in areas of concentrated electronics manufacturing, which means they have access to highly skilled repair people, knowledge of the machines, and demand for components. For example, U.S. processors reclaim heat sinks for their aluminum scrap value while companies like Proview reuse the heat sinks AS heat sinks, saving labor costs and energy" reported Mr. Davis.

These overseas businesses also meet WR3A's high standards for the disposal of CRT glass (a primary concern for many in the US).

WR3A President, Robin Ingenthron and Colin Davis have both traveled to Mexico and Texas to conduct similar research. WR3A hopes its efforts will result in more efficiency, lower costs, and higher standards for E-recycling.

Additionally, WR3A will be unveiling an on-line Certification Tool next month at the E-scrap Conference in Austin, Texas. The Certification Tool is a matching service, similar in concept to E-Harmony, which will help connect generators (schools, businesses, etc.) with an appropriate recycler. For more information, please visit WR3A online.

Connecticut Recyclers Coalition to Host Speakers on Sludge, C&D, & More at Annual Meeting
At its annual meeting on Wednesday, November 8, the CRC will be showcasing experts on cutting edge recycling issues. Jeannette Brown will be speaking on the efforts being made in Stamford, CT to improve management of sludge through energy recovery. The Institution Recycling Network will be providing an overview of its efforts to recover construction & demolition, fixed assets, electronics and other institutional discards.

The event will be held in Hartford at the CRRA's Visitor's Center. It will run 8:30 - 1:00. Lunch will be catered. Registration is $20 (members) or $25 (non-members). To join the CRC, visit them online or bring a check to the annual meeting. Membership forms are available at the website.

Bring business cards, brochures, freebies and other items to share with other attendees. There will be a table set up in the hallway for these items.

For more information, please contact CJ May.

NERC
EMAIL BULLETIN
October 2006

Sustaining Members

MEMBERSHIP

Stop What You Are Doing & Register for NERC's Fall Conference!

NERC EMAIL BULLETIN October 2006

Sustaining Members

MEMBERSHIP

Stop What You Are Doing & Register for NERC's Fall Conference!

NERC
EMAIL BULLETIN
October 2006