Commerce Department Awards Grant for Oklahoma Plastics Recycling Plant
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a grant of $900,000 to the city of Watts and Adair County, Okla.
Sen. James Inhofe says, "This investment will support the construction of infrastructure improvements to accommodate the development of a new state-of-the-art plastic recycling and composite building material manufacturing facility in Watts. These improvements will allow for the continued expansion of the city and county’s economic base."
Joe Harrington, deputy executive director, Eastern Oklahoma Development District, adds, "With Sen. Inhofe’s continued support, this is another example of one of the premiere federal agencies providing assistance to distressed areas of Oklahoma."
The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration serves as a venture capital resource to meet the economic development needs of distressed communities throughout the United States. EDA’s mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.
More information is available at www.eda.gov.
European Group Sees Plastics Gaining Value
A combination of increased raw materials costs and steady demand will likely keep the cost of plastic and rubber on an upward curve, according to a Belgian plastics organization.
The rising cost of base chemicals such as ethylene, propylene and butadiene already have contributed to plastic and rubber becoming 10 percent to 25 percent more expensive, according to Federplast.be, the Brussels-based Belgian Association of Manufacturers of Plastic and Rubber Articles.
High oil prices and anticipated further chemical price increases on the supply side as well as a continued growing use of plastics and rubber in applications with higher added value should keep the upward trend continuing, according to Federplast.be.
"Most plastics have become more expensive by 20 to 30 percent since January 2006," reports the agency. In a news release, Federplast.be says it "anticipates further price increases in the third and fourth quarter [of 2008]."
The spot price of naphtha, the oil derivative from which raw materials for plastics and rubber are made, went up in July an additional $100 per ton. Naphtha has doubled in price since January 2007. "As a result of this evolution, higher contract prices were concluded in the third quarter of 2008 for most raw materials," the association reports.
"Propylene, ethylene and butadiene became 10 percent, 20 percent and 25 percent more expensive," says Henri Vliegen, chairman of Federplast.be. "These are the raw materials from which polypropylene, polyethylene, PVC, high impact polystyrene and synthetic rubbers are made."
"The era of cheap plastics has definitely come to an end," he says. Even if "low-value products," such as one-time-use retail bags are phased out, other applications are growing. "Plastics and rubber are used increasingly as lightweight parts in vehicles for reduced fuel consumption and higher safety," Vliegen adds.
The higher cost of raw materials is stimulating more recycling, the agency notes. "Belgium already collects 30 percent of its post-consumer plastic [scrap] for recycling into new plastic products and is leading in Europe," Vliegen says. "This positive trend will be confirmed."
Border States Sign Measure to Reduce Tire Problems
Environmental Secretaries from all 10 U.S.-Mexico border states have signed the Tire Initiative Letter of Understanding, which implements tire pile prevention measures and strives to eliminate public health risks from tire piles. To date, 4 million tires have been removed by Border 2012 program partners, who seek to reduce pollution and improve environmental stewardship.
The Border Governors Conference features representatives from California, Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The Tire Initiative is a joint partnership by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to reduce scrap tires in the border region.
"Scrap tires along the U.S.–Mexico border pose major health threats for the millions of border residents," says Matt Hale, director of the EPA Office of Solid Waste. "With the support of both of our countries, we can prevent the creation of additional scrap tire piles and clean up our border communities."
Collaboration has extended beyond the federal environmental level as states and municipalities on both sides of the border and private industry have joined to implement the Tire Initiative’s measures.
PSI Announces Preliminary Agenda for Fall Meeting
Paper Stock Industries (PSI), a national chapter of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI), Washington, has announced the preliminary schedule for its fall conference, Nov. 12-14, in Orlando.
John Seigenthaler, former NBC news anchor; Doug Schwartz, managing director, recycling, International Paper; and Erik Deadwyler, executive vice president and general manager, recycled fibers division of Rock-Tenn, will be speaking at the event.
Event sessions include a look at environmental initiatives, progressive government recycling approaches and a standards and practices meeting.
More information is available at PSI’s Web site, www.paperstockindustries.org.
Recycled Iowa Tires to Improve Playground Safety
The Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) is implementing the Iowa Safe School Playground Initiative by recycling more than a half million pounds of rubber to be reused as crumb rubber and rubber safety tiles on Iowa school playgrounds. The initiative seeks to heighten awareness of the benefits of recycling Iowa scrap tires while simultaneously increasing playground safety.
GreenMan Technologies Inc., a Des Moines, Iowa-based rubber recycling company, has been selected to facilitate the program, a collective effort by the IASB, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and GreenMan’s subsidiary Welch Products Inc.
The Iowa DNR has agreed to provide matching grant awards in the form of rubber tiles for playground surfacing made from recycled Iowa tires, while Welch Products’ subsidiary, National Safe Surface Initiative (NSSI), will supply the recycled rubber safety tiles. NSSI will assume responsibility for the installation, safety certification and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) certification of the playground equipment at more than 20 Iowa schools.
Schools receiving playground grants from the Iowa DNR must hold an educational program showcasing the long-term benefits of environmental responsibility and recycling scrap tires.
Ontario to Develop Tire Recycling Program
Waste Diversion Ontario is developing a self-funding tire recycling program that aims to recycle 90 percent of used tires collected in the province by its fifth year.
The program has been designed to clean up existing tire stockpiles as quickly as possible.
An industry organization will collect program fees from tire producers, and fees will go to the government.
The new program, which is due to the Minister of the Environment by the end of the year, is to include all truck and car tires, off-road tires and industry/farm vehicle tires.
Vehicle and tire manufacturers, tire importers and retailers with their own brand of tires will pay a fee to an industry group to cover program costs.
Explore the October 2008 Issue
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