Association News

Research compiled for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes the steady decline of soft drink containers in the nation’s waste stream from 1.17 percent in 1992 to 1.08 percent in 1993. According to information collected by Franklin Associates, Prairie Village, Kan., for the EPA’s 1994 Update of Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste, the percentage of soft drink container discards, containers remaining after recycling, has decreased 32.5 percent since 1988.

Renew America, Washington, has announced 24 winners in the 5th annual Renew America National Awards for Environmental Sustainability. The program awards programs throughout the nation that demonstrate leadership and excellence in environmental sustainability. In the category of Solid and Hazardous Waste Management, the Recycled Paper Coalition, Palo Alto, Calif., was awarded for its recycling efforts.

The Recycled Paper Coalition is a joint effort of Bay Area businesses such as Safeway and Bank of America and local environmental activists aimed at encouraging office paper recycling and purchase of recycled-content office paper, according to Jeff Nelson, Renew America spokesman.

"The Coalition won in the recycled content category for bringing about a huge upturn in the use of recycled content product, as well as overall reduction in use of paper in the Bay Area," says Nelson.

"And by going to the Safeways of the area, the project had a further impact since Safeway implemented some source reduction policies system-wide."

ASSOCIATION HONORS WASTE REDUCERS

Several recycling and waste reduction efforts have won the 1994 Top Packaging Awards from the Flexible Packaging Association, Washington.

Tide and Cheer Refill Bags, manufactured by Paramount Packaging Corp., Chalfont, Pa., provide 80 percent less packaging than cartons, as well as containing 25 percent post-consumer recycled content. The bags can be recycled as low density polyethylene. In addition, Ben & Jerry’s is switching from a folding box to a plastic wrapper manufactured by Printpack Inc., Atlanta, for its Peace Pops. The substitution is expected to result in a reduction of 165 tons of waste annually.

PSI BECOMES PAPER STOCK INDUSTRIES

The board of directors of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Washington, has voted to change the name of its PSI Chapter to the Paper Stock Industries Chapter. Members of the chapter -- ISRI’s only national chapter as well as its only commodity-focussed chapter -- desired the name change in order to increase its name recognition within the recycling industry and to emphasize to the public what it represents. The 80-member chapter also voted to abolish the acronym, using the full name in all references.

"I didn’t feel that ‘PSI’ meant anything," says Chapter President Stan Litman, president of Texas Recycling/Surplus Inc., Dallas. "We wanted to spell out ‘Paper Stock Industries’ so it would be easier for others to identify us. This change gives us a name instead of several letters."

ISRI APPROVES 1995 OPERATING BUDGET

The National Recycling Coalition, Washington, has announced several new programs to be undertaken in 1995. Among these are increased advocacy efforts on the federal level, a media outreach project promoting recycling as a market-based activity with environmental benefits, a consumer awareness campaign, a source reduction council, a recycling financing initiative and a grassroots outreach leadership and development effort aimed at recruiting future recycling leaders.

BRIDGESTONE'S KUMAR TO GIVE ARA KEYNOTE

Sunil Kumar, president of Bridgestone/Firestone Tire Sales Co., will be the featured keynote speaker for the American Retreaders Association World Tire Conference April 6 through 8 in Louisville, Ky.

In his remarks, Kumar will address the positive effects change has had on his company and the challenges and opportunities it presents for the future.

He will also explore how changes in business and everyday life can affect people and will offer ideas for using this as a possible means to improve business success.