Municipal Recycling

Karl-Heinz Florenz of Germany, a key member of the European Parliament, will replace Ludwig Kraemer as the keynote speaker for Take It Back! 2001, April 18-19, Arlington, Va.

Florenz played a key role in moving the End of Life Vehicle Directive, as well as the Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste in his position as manager of the Waste Management Unit at the European Commission. In his keynote address, he will speak on electronics directives and other issues concerning electronics legislation.

Also speaking at the show will be Filip Geerts, president of the Belgium-based RECUPEL-ICT, an electronics collection organization.

Packaging managers from Microsoft Corp. will speak on how their designs save money and help comply with international packaging mandates.

SOLID WASTE COMPANIES CRACK TOP 10 LIST

Solid waste management companies Republic Services, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Waste Connections, Folsom, Calif., were listed in a ranking of the top10 most profitable companies in the environmental services industry. Both companies have grown through acquisition in the solid waste business without reporting problems or severe debt.

“As we have seen in the past years, there are still a few companies, spanning the breadth of the environmental industry, which are clearly out-performing the rest of the business,” says Steve Maxwell, editor of The Environmental Benchmarker and Strategist (TEBS).

The TEBS model for top performers is based on several attributes, including the ability to generate profits from selling a product and the shareholder capital employed.

Most Profitable Companies in the Environmental Industry

1. American Water, Vorhees, N.J.

2. Republic Services, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

3. Waste Connections, Folsom, Calif.

4. Insituform Techs. Netherlands

5. Stericycle, Lake Forest, Ill.

6. Danaher, Washington, D.C.

7. GTS Duratek, Columbia, Md.

8. Cuno, Meriden, Conn.

9. Badger Meter, Milwaukee

10. Met-Pro, Harleysville, Pa.

WASHINGTON NAMES ‘RECYCLER OF THE YEAR’

Sego Jackson, principal planner with the Snohomish County Solid Waste Management Division, was awarded the “Recycler of the Year” award from the Washington State Recycling Association at the organization’s Annual Conference and Trade Show.

“Environmental protection is not just a job for Sego, it is his life,” says Kim Ducote, director of public affairs and business development for Rabanco Recycling.

Jackson serves in an external advisory committee to the Department of Ecology, a group that is revising solid waste rules to encourage more recycling. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation, the Washington Organic Recycling Council and the Policy Committee of the WSRA. In addition to serving on those committees, he developed a program, “Soils for Salmon,” that calls for developers to heavily amend disturbed soils with compost during construction.

WASTE MANAGEMENT TO SELL AUSTRALIAN SUBSIDIARY

Waste Management’s international subsidiary, Waste Management International B.V., has reached an agreement to sell Pacific Waste Management, its Australian subsidiary, to Paris-based SITA for $230 million. The sale was completed in the second quarter. Pacific Waste Management currently provides services to more than 600,000 residents and 30,000 individual and commercial customers.

The sale is part of Waste Management’s strategic plan to refocus the company in its North American solid waste operations. The possible sale of other Waste Management subsidiaries is also being discussed and the company intends to use the proceeds from these transactions to reduce debt and, over time, repurchase shares and make selective tuck-in acquisitions of solid waste business in North America.

PUBLICATION RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL AWARD

“Your Recycling Guide,” published by Maui Recycling Group, has received the Rotary International Public Relations Award for 1999-2000. The award was given by RI president Carlos Ravizza and presented at the Rotary District 5000 Conference on Maui.

The publication was distributed by The Maui News and through community and recycling events and provided information on local recycling opportunities and where to take recyclables. The August issue was the final issue, as the guide was discontinued when the County of Maui published its own guide in early January.