Back Page

PRIME-TIME SCRAP COVERAGE

The show’s slogan says, “finally, there’s good trash on TV,” though recyclers may resent the use of the word trash.

The Learning Channel is airing “Junkyard Wars,” on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. The show puts teams in a scrap yard and challenges them to build assigned devices with what they can find there.

The teams are given up to 10 hours to build their machines and are only allowed to use the tools provided.

The show is based on the British show “Scrapheap Challenge,” and according to the TLC Web site, an upcoming American version of the show will focus on robotics.

A Comedy Central show called “BattleBots” is gaining a large American followings as well, meaning scrap facilities may soon host more scavengers looking for items before they are shredded, baled or sheared.

IN-STATE RECYCLING RIVALRY

Ohio University, Athens, and Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, are in competition with each other to see which university can recycle the most in a 10-week contest that began in February and ends April 13.

Recycling bins are being placed in residence halls and dining halls at both universities, with the school that diverts the most poundage per student winning a trophy and a congratulatory half page advertisement in the local campus newspaper.

“About 70% of waste on campus is generated by residence halls and dining halls, with about half of it being recyclable,” says Stacy Edmonds, associate recycling coordinator at Miami University.

Ed Newman, Ohio University refuse and recycling manager says a rivalry on the playing field led to this friendly competition. “Since Ohio University and Miami are already athletic rivals with proactive approaches to solid waste reduction, this seemed like a natural way to go.”

Glass, cans, paper and even old textbooks will be accepted for recycling.

PROFITABLE FIND FOR WORKERS SHEARING ATM

Six employees at Sadoff Iron & Metal, Fond du Lac, Wisc., found more than $34,000 as they tore apart an old automated teller machine that was going to be scraped.

The money, all in $20 bills, fell from the machine as it was sheared in half at Sadoff Iron & Metal, said Tom Knippel, the company’s industrial marketing manager, in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.

The lucrative ATM was one of about 250 shipped to the scrap metal processor. The employees, Bill Wals, Dave Noven, Gary Brown, Rick Horton, Dick Behlke and Dave Braeger, retrieved the money, dusty and dirty, and the company called the police.

They wanted to find the owner or owners of the money and if that could not be done, they wanted to donate it to a charity. Detectives tracked the ATM to an ATM recycling and repair company and its subsidiary, the ATM leasing company.

The finders were each given a $250 gift certificate by their employers and the ATM leasing company also gave them a $3,500 reward to be divided among the employees.

MRC HONORS TOP RECYCLERS

The Maryland Recyclers Coalition (MRC) honored the top Maryland recyclers at the MRC’s 12th Annual Recycling Conference and Exposition in Wye Mills, Md.

The following awards were presented:

•Outstanding Corporate Leader-ship Award to the Maryland Soft Drink Association for its participation in educational and training activities. A highlight of the groups achievements includes the development and funding of the 1999 Solid Waste Coordinators Training Program, developed by a focus group of Maryland recycling and solid waste coordinators.

Outstanding Government Leadership Award to Harford County Commercial Partners-In-Recycling Program for a commercial recycling campaign that began in 1993. The county has also offered assistance to businesses interested in starting recycling programs.

Outstanding Small Government Program Award to the U.S. Naval Academy Qualified Recycling Program for a recycling program that supports all 7,000 midshipmen, staff, and supporting activities. The program m diverted more than 5,000 tons of solid waste.

Best Market Development Program Award to BGE Ash Operations and Marketing Unit for its reuse of more than 600,000 tons of coal combustion by-products each year.