Newsworthy

> LEGISLATIVE

Injunction Halts Dallas Flow Control Plan
A federal judge has halted implementation of a Dallas waste control ordinance, ruling that the law interferes with the commercial rights of waste haulers and with existing contracts.

According to the Dallas News, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor rejected the city’s contention that its flow control ordinance was foremost a way to create a “greener, cleaner city.”

“Based on the evidence currently before the court, the Flow Control Ordinance was enacted to raise revenue,” the judge stated, according to the Dallas News report.

Judge O’Connor ruled that the city cannot enact its ordinance, designed to direct solid waste and recyclables generated within the city to a city-owned landfill and transfer station, “until further notice from the court.” The judge reportedly referred to earlier comments from Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings touting the plan as one that would raise revenue for the city.

According to the judge and Dallas News reporter Rudolph Bush, in September 2011 Rawlings said, “thousands of tons of commercial waste leaving the city of Dallas, and people are making money off of that. Corporations outside of Dallas are making money off of that. That could mean $15 to $18 million of revenue for the city coffers...This is a business revenue issue.”

> MUNICIPAL

Blue River Resources Receives OK for Delaware MRF
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) says it has issued a solid waste resource recovery permit for the first private material recovery facility (MRF) in the state.

The DNREC permit enables Blue River Resources LLC to operate a MRF to separate and aggregate single-stream recyclables collected from New Castle County and the surrounding area. The permit allows the company to accept recyclables delivered from as far as 50 miles away—potentially a four-state area including Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey. The MRF is permitted to accept up to 4,500 tons per week of single-stream recyclables.

According to a news release from the Delaware DNREC, Delaware’s Recycling Public Advisory Council has long advocated for a MRF in the state.

DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara says New Castle County is ideal for the MRF because most of the state’s population and businesses are in the county.

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell says, “Blue River will create local jobs and strengthen our economy while giving second life to materials we throw away, sparing valuable landfill space.”

Herb Northrop, Blue River president, says, “We are excited about the opportunity to help support the universal recycling law by utilizing our years of experience and advanced technology to provide cost-effective and environmentally responsible alternatives to landfills for Delaware’s homes, businesses, schools and institutions.”

> METALS

ISRI Offers Superfund Compliance Tool
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI), Washington, D.C., has launched its automated Superfund Recycling Equity Act (SREA) report system. The system is designed to help ISRI members obtain reports needed to meet Superfund due diligence requirements.

ISRI members can reserve and order SREA reports through what the organization describes as a user-friendly Web-based form offered through its SREA Reasonable Care Compliance Program at www.isri.org/srea.

In 1999, ISRI worked with the U.S. Congress to develop an exemption from certain types of Superfund liability for recyclers, but that exemption is not automatic, ISRI says. The 1999 law requires recyclers to conduct due diligence showing that their customers are in compliance with applicable environmental laws before they can obtain an exemption to ship recyclables to these customers.

ISRI President Robin Wiener says while due diligence reports can cost several thousand dollars or more if done individually, ISRI has contracted with URS, an environmental consulting firm, to provide these reports at a substantial discount. ISRI offers its members these reports for a handling charge of $15.

“ISRI is here to help our members protect themselves while saving time and money on compliance issues such as SREA,” Wiener says. “I strongly encourage our members to take advantage of this easy-to-use, money-saving system.”

> PLASTICS

SPI, NAPCOR Award Grant Money
The Society for the Plastics Industry (SPI) and the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) have announced the recipients of grants to establish programs to collect and process thermoformed PET (polyethylene terephthalate) packaging.

SPI is providing $100,000 in program funding, and NAPCOR is providing project management and technical assistance.

The request for proposal (RFP) focused exclusively on PET thermoformed packaging, including clamshells, cups, trays, boxes and lids. The organizations received 13 proposals in response to the RFP.

In a news release, Mike Schedler, NAPCOR technical director, says, “The quality and diversity of grant proposals was truly gratifying. It confirmed to us that intermediate processors of recycled materials in the U.S. are not only eager to capture and market PET thermoform material domestically but have already begun to work through how to make it happen. We expect this program to result in successful, sustainable PET thermoform recycling models that will be replicable in other markets.”

The three grant recipients are:

• Montgomery County, Md., Department of Environmental Protection—Montgomery County owns, manages and operates comprehensive recycling programs and facilities, including a 57,000-square-foot publicly owned and operated recycling center that serves more than 1.5 million people. With a strong focus on community education and a multi-phased approach to collecting and marketing PET thermoforms, Montgomery County’s program is expected to provide a solid urban/suburban model program, offering an immediate and a long-term impact on the recycling of PET thermoforms, the associations say.
   
• Firstar Fiber Inc.—Serving about 1 million residents in the Omaha and Lincoln, Neb., as well as metropolitan regions and western regions of Iowa, Firstar Fiber is a privately owned recycling operation with a diverse customer base and collection stream. Firstar has built a strong collaborative PET thermoform recycling program support team that includes the city of Omaha’s recycling office, local collegiate sports venues and regional retail grocery representatives, the groups say. Its PET thermoform collection efforts will be focused on residential and away-from home programs, including sporting event education and collection at Creighton University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
   
• Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center Inc.—A nonprofit corporation, the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center helps develop and expand recycling markets in the state. Its program will serve the 165,000 residents of Elk and Lebanon counties and will focus on reverse supply chain dynamics, primarily end market development, intermediate processing for material quality beneficiation and modeling of rural PET thermoform collection.

SPI President and CEO Bill Carteaux says, “This program marks an important milestone toward keeping thermoform packaging out of landfills and making the recycling of them commonplace. The diversity of these three grant recipients enables us to provide models for public and private operations as well as for both metropolitan and rural areas.”

> METALS

Weitsman Plans Investment at Binghamton, NY, Yard
Adam Weitsman, the owner of Ben Weitsman and Son, a large metals recycling company headquartered in Owego, N.Y., has announced plans to invest $5 million at the company’s Binghamton, N.Y., facility. The money will be used to renovate and upgrade the yard to the environmental, operational and aesthetic standards found at Weitsman’s other New York and Pennsylvania facilities, the company says.

“This multi-million dollar upgrade will bring the Binghamton yard in line with the high level of quality, service and environmental protection that our customers and neighbors expect from Ben Weitsman,” Weitsman says. “This is an investment in our customers to accommodate increased customer traffic and give them the best experience possible when they come to our yard.”

Weitsman says the company will demolish the old buildings on the site to construct new ones. Full landscaping and paving also are in the works.

The company also says it will buy new equipment, including Sennebogen material handlers, Kawasaki loaders and digital scales, to help guarantee efficiency, quality and customer satisfaction.

“The bottom line is we are going to do things in a better way that will benefit our customers,” Weitsman says.

“This significant investment will give our customers what they deserve when visiting our facility as well as give the city of Binghamton a landmark to be proud of,” he adds.

> PLASTICS

Brazil Closed-Loop Recycling Project Targets Agrochemical Bottles
DuPont’s Fusabond modifiers are being used in an award-winning closed-loop recycling process in Brazil called the Virtuous Cycle using Fusabond.

In the Virtuous Cycle Project, empty agrochemical multilayer bottles in Brazil are collected and recycled into high-value industrial applications, such as flexible corrugated pipes. Collection is managed by Brazil’s National Institute for the Processing of Empty Packaging (inPEV).

DuPont, based in Des Moines, Iowa, received the 2010 Premio ECO Award for Sustainability in Products for its role in the closed-loop recycling process. The award is considered to be Brazil’s most prestigious sustainability award.

Upon accepting the award, DuPont Latin America President Eduardo W. Wanick said, “Multilayer containers pose a great recycling challenge due to the variety of plastic materials used in the construction.”

The Virtuous Cycle Project started in 2002, and since then more than 150,000 tons of empty packaging have been collected, says Jose Torradas, senior technical consultant with DuPont Packaging. The recycling has effectively eliminated the need for 374,000 barrels of crude oil and more than 160,000 tons of carbon-dioxide equivalents, Torradas adds.

Fusabond is a family of polymer modifiers designed to help bond dissimilar polymers used in toughened, filled and blended compounds. The Virtuous Cycle using Fusabond project relies on the unique characteristic of Fusabond to compatibilize and bond dissimilar polymers in the recycling process. Fusabond also improves impact resistance, surface finish and processability of parts and films so the recycled product can be used to form other articles with little material loss and great added value, DuPont says.

“We are still operating at a strong and steady run rate,” Torradas says of the program. According to inPEV, Brazil is recycling its agrochemical chemical packaging at a 95 percent rate. “The consortium does a lot of activities to encourage the users to recycle,” he adds.

According to a statement released by DuPont at the time of the award, Brazil is a leader in collecting used agricultural chemical packaging compared with Canada (73 percent), Germany (76 percent), France (66 percent) and the United States (30 percent).

The flexible corrugated pipes are used in a variety of applications, such as for irrigation, drain pipes and other civil projects. “Cimplast, one of the bottle producers, makes motor oil containers with these materials,” Torradas says.

He adds that while this particular Fusabond application has been specific to Brazil thus far, it could be extended to other regions if there was an authority to manage the recycling infrastructure, which includes collecting and sorting containers.

> METALS

Insurance Group Releases Report on Metals Theft
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), Des Plaines, Ill., has released a report that tracks occurrences of metal theft claims from Jan. 1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2011. The full report can be found at www.nicb.org.

The NICB issued an initial report on metal theft in February 2009. Since then, incidents have dropped off slightly, the group says. However, the updated report shows that starting in August 2009, thefts steadily increased across the nation, driven by rising prices for base metals, especially copper.

The NICB report identified nearly 26,000 insurance claims related to metals theft from 2009 to 2011, compared with nearly 13,900 claims identified from the 2006 to 2008 report, representing an 81 percent increase. The states generating the most metal theft claims were Ohio, with 2,398 claims; Texas, 2,023 claims; Georgia, 1,481 claims; California, 1,348 claims; and Illinois, 1,284 claims.

The NICB report also ranked the five municipal areas that reported the most metal theft claims. They are Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, 963 claims; New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, 921 claims; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, 823 claims; Dallas-Ft. Worth-Arlington, 674 claims; and Detroit-Warren-Livonia, 587 claims.

The NICB is a nonprofit group that describes itself as “dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft.”

> EVENTS

C&D Recycling Forum Heads to the West Coast
The C&D Recycling Forum is heading to the West Coast in the fall of 2012. The three-day event will take place Sept. 23-25 at the Hilton Long Beach & Executive Meeting Center in Long Beach, Calif.

After two successful shows in the Baltimore area, organizers Recycling Today Media Group, publishers of Construction & Demolition Recycling and Recycling Today magazines, hope changing locations will give C&D recyclers and demolition contractors an opportunity to see what other efforts are being done nationally in C&D recycling.

“California has made great strides in its efforts to promote the recycling of C&D materials, so it only makes sense to host a show in an area that really embraces diversion and recycling of these sometimes challenging materials,” says James R. Keefe, publisher, Recycling Today Media Group. “The organizers of the C&D Recycling Forum are committed to bringing to the forefront the issues that are facing the industry on a national basis and to helping provide solutions through unmatched programming and networking opportunities.”

Sessions cover a wide range of topics and include case studies and information essential for building successful C&D recycling businesses.

“For those companies that handle these materials, there really is no other conference that provides the level of industry-specific programming that you will find at the C&D Recycling Forum,” Keefe adds.

In addition to the educational programming, attendees also have the opportunity to network with colleagues and with suppliers of equipment and services to the industry during breaks, meals and a reception to be held in the exhibit hall.

Those interested in attending or learning more can visit www.CDRecycler.com/forum.

> ELECTRONICS

Avnet Launches Global Aftermarket Services for the IT Supply Chain
Phoenix-based Avnet Inc. has launched Avnet Integrated Resources, a global provider of aftermarket services to the technology supply chain. Avnet Integrated Resources delivers end-to-end aftermarket services for electronics original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), service providers and corporations.

“Avnet has built a robust suite of aftermarket services through a series of strategic acquisitions to offer a ‘one-stop-shop’ approach to the growing need to repair, refurbish and responsibly dispose of electronic products and consumer electronics,” the company says in a press release announcing the formation of Avnet Integrated Resources.

Avnet Integrated Resources offers customers the ability to integrate end-to-end solutions that include:

• On-site technical field services;
• Board level repair and refurbishment of electronic products;
• Extended warranty, spares management and repair parts programs;
• Responsible disposition of electronic products to maximize asset value at the end of service life; and
• Responsible Recycling Practices-certified recycling.

Steve Church, president, Avnet Integrated Resources, says, “OEMs have made their electronic products more reliable, powerful and scalable. As a result, their useful life today extends beyond OEM service life support. Corporations increasingly want to maximize their original investments and fully leverage the expanded product life.”

Avnet Integrated Resources has more than 1.3 million square feet of operations in North and South America, Europe and Asia.

Avnet Inc. is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology.

> METALS

Metalico Starts Up Auto Shredder
In its annual report to shareholders, the scrap metal recycling firm Metalico, headquartered in Cranford, N.J., reports that its newest auto shredder in Buffalo, N.Y., has started operations.

While the 4,000-horsepower auto shredder has begun initial operations, the company says full commissioning of the shredder will not be completed until the middle of the year. Once fully operational, Metalico says its goal is to ship between 12,000 and 15,000 tons per month of shredded product via rail from the yard.

In related news, Metalico has acquired a Buffalo-based auto dismantler, Skyway Auto Parts Inc., to help supply the shredder with raw material. Skyway, which operates on a 24-acre site, is nearly three miles from the shredder.

In addition to the auto shredder, Metalico says it has invested in its facilities and operations by purchasing heavy equipment and transportation equipment, including a fleet of 96 rail cars currently being upgraded and placed into service.
 

> METALS

Garden Street Expands in Naples, Fla.
On the 23rd anniversary of its opening in Lee County, Fla., Cincinnati, Ohio-based Garden Street Iron & Metal is celebrating another event—the grand opening of its Naples, Fla., recycling facility.

With the new Naples yard comes the immediate addition of eight new jobs, with more to come, says Garden Street Iron & Metal President Rob Weber.

Weber says he began the Fort Myers facility with 10 employees. “Today, I have more than 70 employees. I look forward to the same kind of success in Naples,” he says.

“This is the first full-service scrap metal facility in Naples,” he says of the new yard in the South Industrial Park near Naples Municipal Airport.

> EVENTS

Electronics Recycling Asia Conference to be Held in Guangzhou, China, in November
Electronics Recycling Asia, organized by the World Recycling Forum, will take place Nov. 13 to 16, 2012, in Guangzhou, China at the Shangri-La Hotel Guangzhou.

A variety of global recycling experts, including manufacturers, processors and policymakers, discuss recycling technologies, metal and scrap trading, electronics recycling, rare earth metals recovery, market information, regulations and recycling of mercury-containing scrap during the conference.

The event includes an opening ceremony with keynote speakers and a roundtable with industry leaders. Simultaneous translation into Chinese and English is available. An integrated exhibition area, cocktail reception and networking dinner also are included.

Delegates also can tour manufacturing and recycling companies within the Guangdong province.

More information is available at www.icm.ch.

> PAPER

McDonald’s Launches Beverage Cup Pilot Project on the West Coast
In response to a 2011 shareholder resolution filed by As You Sow, McDonald’s Corp. will begin testing a new double-walled paper beverage cup to replace its polystyrene cups. A pilot project includes 2,000 U.S. restaurants on the West Coast.

As You Sow Senior Program Director Conrad MacKerron says, “This is a great first step for McDonald’s, and we hope it will lead to a permanent switch to paper cups in all of its restaurants. Given the company’s history of using high levels of recycled content in other food packaging, we hope that it follows suit with its cups and also establishes a robust recycling program for post-consumer waste left in its restaurants.”

The pilot project will assess customer acceptance, operational impact and overall performance of the fiber cups, according to As You Sow.

> PLASTICS

Hilex Poly Receives Award from Flexible Packaging Association
Hilex Poly Co., a Hartsville, S.C.-based manufacturer and recycler of plastic bags, has been recognized by the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) with its FPA Flexible Packaging Achievement Award.

Hilex Poly received the award for its “Bag 2 Bag” recycling program, a plastic bag and film recycling program that seeks to make it easier for consumers to recycle their used plastic bags, wraps and films. Hilex Poly has more than 30,000 plastic bag and wrap collection points in the United States. Once collected, the material is baled and transported to Hilex’ recycling center in North Vernon, Ind. Hilex also works with other companies to purchase used plastic bags and film.

“Our tremendous investment in recycling and sustainability has truly paid off, and we hope to make it even better in the future,” says Mark Daniels, Hilex Poly sustainability and environmental policy vice president.

> ELECTRONICS

Magnolia Data Solutions Certifies to R2 Standard
Magnolia Data Solutions LLC, an electronics recycler based in Jackson, Miss., has announced that it has obtained Responsible Recycling Practices (R2) certification for the processing of end-of-life electronics and their constituent components.

The R2 Standard is a set of requirements for companies that recycle computers, electronics and universal waste. The standard includes requirements for environmental and legal compliance, worker health and safety and security practices.

Christopher Lumaghini, president and CEO of Magnolia Data Solutions, says, “Achieving our R2 certification is a major accomplishment and demonstrates our dedication to transparent environmental processing and assures our clients that we are a trusted partner for secure information destruction and recycling of end-of-life electronics.”

> RUBBER/TIRES

Georgia DOT Amends Specs to Include Recycled Tires
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has amended the state’s road construction specifications to include recycled tire rubber as an alternative to oil-based polymers for road asphalt production.

Starting this year, recycled tires will be diverted from tire landfills to be used to make asphalt in the state.

“Tires are manufactured in large quantities and with great durability,” says Georgia State Rep. Randy Nix, vice chairman of Georgia’s Natural Resources and Environment Committee. “By reclaiming tire rubber for asphalt roads, we can repurpose that durability and provide a beneficial outlet for this problematic waste material. And, by sourcing tire rubber from within the state, Georgia will not only experience environmental benefits but create jobs. Oil-based polymers are brought here from other states and countries. Recycled rubber is sourced internally, so all dollars stay right here in Georgia.”

In planning to develop this end market for used tires, Nix sought the expertise of Liberty Tire Recycling, Lehigh Technologies and Blacklidge Emulsions. With new test data from these national companies, GDOT says it accelerated its approval of the process and will have recycled tire rubber specs available for asphalt road jobs bids, starting in April 2012.

“Liberty Tire Recycling and our partners are excited to work with GDOT to create longer-lasting, safer roads for Georgia residents and visitors,” says Dick Gust, director of government affairs for Liberty Tire Recycling.

> ELECTRONICS

Two URT Plants Achieve Certifications
Universal Recycling Technologies LLC (URT), based in Janesville, Wis., has announced that its processing facilities in Dover, N.H., and Ft. Worth, Texas, have been certified to the ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 and e-Stewards standards. ISO 14001 certification, which applies to environmental management, is a requirement of e-Stewards certification.

“These certifications validate our continuing efforts to recycle ethically, operate responsibly and consistently provide a superior customer experience,” URT President Jim Cornwell says. “Our goal has always been to work hard for our customers, continually improving what we do to better serve their needs,” he adds.

URT’s Janesville facilities were certified to e-Stewards in June 2011, making it the 11th recycling company in the nation to receive the certification, according to the company.