INDIANA LOOKS FOR PLASTICS END MARKETS
The Indiana Department of Commerce is looking for more companies within the Hoosier State to serve as destinations for collected plastic recyclables. Sarah Carney of the Indiana Department of Commerce’s Recycling Markets Development Program, has informed members of the Indiana Recycling Coalition that funding is available through the Recycling Promotion and Assistance Fund (RPAF) "to provide financial assistance to companies using recyclables to make feedstock or a new product." The RPAF offers zero-percent interest loans for the purchase of equipment used to make a recycled content product, with funding for up to 50% of the cost of the equipment available. Carney cites Harris Material Exchange of Berne, Indiana, as a successful recipient of RPAF funding. Harris offers toll grinding, material separation, custom blending, repelletizing, and brokering of scrap plastics.The company processes post-industrial plastics, including PE, PVC and engineering grades, but also works with some cities to market their post-consumer PET and HDPE containers. Harris brokered or processed approximately 7,500 tons of plastics in 1999, and is projecting the ability to grow that amount to 17,000 tons per year in 2001.
CALIFORNIA REDUCES GOVERNMENT WASTE
The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) has set in motion a process to reduce government waste sent to landfills. A goal of 25% reduction by Jan. 1, 2002 and a 50% reduction by Jan. 1, 2004 was approved by the board. The board-approved "State Agency Model Integrate Waste Management Plan" will serve as a model for state agencies and large state facilities to prepare to comply with the waste reduction mandate created by Governor Gray Davis in October. Large state facilities include California State University, the California Community Colleges, Department of Corrections facilities and CalTrans operations, along with others determined by the board. "This model plan will provide them [state agencies] with the consistent tools to get the job done," says Waste Board chair Dan Eaton. California cities and counties are required by law to reduce their waste by 50% this year compared to 1990 levels; however, no such mandate existed for state agencies and facilities prior to Jan. 1, when the new policy took effect.PURCHASING GUIDE AIDS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
The National Association of Counties (NACo), Washington, has developed the "Environmental Purchasing Starter Kit: A Guide to Greening Government Through Powerful Purchasing Decisions." The guide is designed to help county officials make purchases with an eye on recycled-content products and other products deemed "environmentally preferable." The guide helps identify such products, outlines how to gain support for programs, and explains how to take advantage of public awareness. "Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) not only protects our health and preserves resources, but plays an important role in stimulating investment in new industries," says NACo President C. Vernon Gray. "To remain competitive in the global arena we must depend on the continued development of clean, efficient technologies for domestic use and export." The kit was developed with support from the U.S. EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxic Substances. For more information, Naomi Friedman of NACo can be contacted at (202) 942-4262.NEW MRF INCREASES CAPACITY
The city of McAllen, Texas has begun construction of a 20,000 square feet, $1.44 million materials recovery facility (MRF) that will increase the city’s capacity to recover aluminum, cardboard, glass, newsprint and other recyclables. The new facility will replace the city’s current 6,400 square feet facility. The MRF is scheduled to open in April and the city will then expand its recycling program to include multi-family dwellings and to collect paper and cardboard from area businesses. Once the shell of the building is in place delivery of equipment will begin. In addition to the opening of the new facility, the city will also expand its current recycling offerings to include commercial and apartment dwelling collections.SUSTAINABLE JOBS FUND MAKES INVESTMENT
The Sustainable Jobs Fund (SJF), Durham, N.C., has invested in SelecTech Inc., Taunton, Mass. SelecTech produces end products from low-value plastic scrap using an injection molding process. "SelecTech is a strong company and one that meets SJF’s mission," says David Kirkpatrick, co-founder and managing director of SJF. "It is a sustainable business in the eastern U.S. that provides quality jobs for former low-income individuals." As result of the SJF financing, SelecTech anticipates the creation of 10 additional manufacturing jobs.NEW TRANSFER STATION OPEN
The city of Sacramento has opened a new recycling and transfer station that can accept up to 1,500 tons of waste per day from Sacramento residents and businesses. About 30% of the commercial material taken in at the facility will be recycled, which will help Sacramento meet state mandates requiring the city to divert 50% of its waste by 2000. "City garbage trucks will no longer have to drive [a combined] thousands of extra miles each day to the county landfill," says Reina Schwartz, Sacramento’s solid waste manager. "This will result in decreased fuel usage, increased air quality and reduced need for additional trucks and driving." Adjacent to the transfer station will be the city’s permanent household hazardous waste (HHW) collection facility. The facility will accept toxic materials such as paint, oil and batteries. The $20 million recycling and transfer station and HHW facility will be operated by BTL Enterprises, which also operates three other California facilities in Oxnard, Los Angeles and Burbank.GRANT PROPOSALS REQUESTED
NAPCOR (National Association for PET Container Resources), Charlotte, N.C., is requesting grant proposals for its upcoming grant cycle. NAPCOR has two goals for the projects that are funded under the grant—to increase the collection and recycling of PET plastic containers and to increase the residential curbside or drop-off collection of custom PET bottles.Those interested are encouraged to contact NAPCOR to discuss proposed projects. More information can also be obtained from the NAPCOR website at
www.napcor.com.CALIFORNIA EXPANDS RECYCLING EFFORTS
A series of recycling bills written by the California state legislature have made their way to the desk of Governor Gray Davis, and all have been signed into law. Californians Against Waste (CAW), a non-profit group based in Sacramento, is taking credit for pushing the pro-recycling agenda to legislators and, ultimately, the governor. "Finally, after 10 years, recyclers have much to cheer at the end of the legislative session," says CAW policy director Rick Best. The most noteworthy laws deal with an expansion of the bottle bill program and requirements for state agencies to recycle. · Senate Bill 332 expands the state’s bottle bill program to include additional container types, including those for non-carbonated waters, juices, teas, sports drinks and other "soft" drinks. · Assembly Bill 75 requires state agencies to comply with existing landfill diversion requirements that businesses and municipalities must comply with. State agencies, including state universities and community colleges, will have to prepare plans and implement them with goals of diverting 25% of their waste by 2002 and 50% by 2004. Additional bills passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Davis will fund recycling education programs, provide funding for expanded curbside recycling in San Diego, and eliminate "sunset" laws that caused the legislature to renegotiate bottle bill provisions every two to three years. Other recycling-related programs receiving funding involve allowing biomass facilities to burn non-recyclable paper and establishing a grant program to use playground equipment made from recycled materials.UTAH LOOKS FOR ONLINE CONNECTIONS
The Recycling Coalition of Utah (RCU), Salt Lake City, Utah, has published an On-Line Recycling Guide for Utah residents, found at www.recycle.utah.org. The website provides a list of more than 450 recycling drop-off sites and curbside programs in the state. The listings, categorized by city, include the location, materials accepted and a contact number for many programs. An additional link to "unusual materials" offers contacts for items such as packing peanuts, batteries and used clothing.The RCU website is being sponsored by the Utah Office of Energy Services, and will be updated continually by RCU staff members.
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