Municipal Recycling

MRF Goes Online in Rockland County, N.Y.

The Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority (RCSWMA) has begun operating its new MRF in Hillburn, New York. The new facility is being operated by Waste Management of New York under contract to the RCSWMA. The MRF is able to process more than 200 tons of recyclable materials per day in a single shift.

Recycling advocates who keep an eye on landfill diversion rates have generally had high praise for the German Packaging Ordinance, also known as the Green Dot program. One industry group known as the German Institute for Applied Innovation Research (IAI), however, has spoken out against what it sees as the economic burdens imposed by the program.

The IAI claims that the program and the organization that oversees it—Duales System Duestchland—has created a monopolistic system funded ultimately by consumers. According to the IAI, Germany would have an acceptably strong recycling system based purely on market incentives. "Every ton additionally collected by the Dual System burdens the affected companies and consumers with an average of 4,400 Duetschmarks. In contrast to that, the incineration costs lie between 500 and 800 Duetschmarks per ton," an IAI report states.

Activists Urge Coke to Use Recycled Content Resins

"Some things don’t go better with Coke, things like plastic recycling," says GrassRoots Recycling Network (GRRN) spokesperson Bill Sheehan. According to Sheehan, Coca-Cola promised in 1990 to make new plastic soft drink bottles sold in the U.S. with 25% percent recycled material (as in the photo at right). In 1994, however, the company stopped using any recycled plastic in bottles sold in the U.S.

Nebraska Honors Top Executives

The Nebraska State Recycling Association, Lincoln, presented awards to several individuals and organizations at its 1998 Annual Awards Banquet in Nebraska City, Neb. The Recycling City Award was presented to the City of Lincoln for its effort in recycling and re-processing storm debris that resulted from the massive snow and ice storm that hit Lincoln last October. The storm generated over 350,000 cubic yards of wood chips—seven times the average annual volume of wood chips produced from downed trees and limbs. The Municipal Official Award was presented to Rick Medema of Valentine, Neb. Over the last several years, Medema has helped that city establish a cost-effective recycling program.

California Funds Container Recycling

"Recent consumer research tells us that people have gotten a little lazy in their recycling habits, especially when they are away from home," says Department of Conservation director Larry Goldzband. "Our goal is to place more recycling containers within people’s reach so local communities can retrieve more aluminum, glass and plastic beverage containers that otherwise would end up in the nearest trash can," he adds.

The largest single grant, of $116,430, went to the cities of Palm Desert and Palm Springs.