Newsworthy

> MUNICIPAL

Sonoco Recycling Makes Acquisition, Breaks Ground on MRFs
Hartsville, S.C.-based Sonoco Recycling Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonoco, has completed the acquisition of American Recycling of South Carolina's Greenville, S.C., location. Sonoco Recycling says the material recovery facility (MRF) will allow it to meet rising demand for recycling in the state.

"With this acquisition, Sonoco Recycling has significantly expanded its single-stream recycling capabilities in the Upstate (region of South Carolina)," says Jim Brown, vice president, Sonoco Recycling.

"The Greenville MRF will help accelerate Sonoco Recycling's current goal of doubling the volume of tons collected by 2014," Brown adds.

Ron Moore founding American Recycling of South Carolina LLC in 2003. The company processes a range of materials, with a focus on plastics and various grades of paper.

In related news, Sonoco has been awarded a 10-year contract to operate Onslow County, N.C.'s MRF. Sonoco Recycling says it plans to invest $1 million in upgrades at the MRF.

"We are very excited to work with the county," Brown says. "Residents of coastal North Carolina will now have access to expanded, single-stream or commingled, recycling, increasing the types of materials they are able to recycle.

"We also plan to build an education center at the county's MRF, developing recycling education efforts in and around Onslow County through partnerships with local schools and public education programs at the facility," Brown adds.

Sonoco Recycling also has broken ground on a new MRF in Charleston County, S.C., which the company expects to be completed in February 2012. Sonoco says the new MRF will handle both residential and commercial/industrial materials collected from the county.

"We've been in Charleston County since 1972 and are excited to continue our growth in this area by offering expanded services to local residents and businesses," Brown says.

"Our new facility represents a $1 million investment into the greater Charleston community," he adds.

Sonoco Recycling now operates four MRFs in the South Carolina cities of Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and Spartanburg.

Sonoco says it expects to hire 15 additional employees to work at the Charleston MRF. With the new facility, Sonoco Recycling says it plans to grow its capacity by 25 percent.

One way Sonoco plans to increase capacity is by expanding the list of materials accepted for recycling in Charleston County. Additionally, the new MRF will be equipped to process residential single-stream materials.

Sonoco Recycling, which bills itself as one of the largest packaging recyclers in North America, annually collects more than 3 million tons of old corrugated containers, various grades of paper, metals and plastics.

The company currently operates four MRFs and serves more than 125 communities in which curbside collected residential and commercial materials are processed for recycling.

Sonoco Recycling also provides recycling programs that identify waste reduction opportunities to reduce operating expenses for many of the largest consumer product companies in the U.S.

More information on Sonoco Recycling is available at www.sonoco.com/ productsservices/sonocorecyclinginc.aspx.
 

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> METALS

Novelis to Invest $32 Million in Brazil Aluminum Complex
Atlanta-based Novelis Inc., a manufacturer of rolled aluminum products, has announced plans to invest nearly $32 million to expand the recycling capacity at its aluminum rolling and recycling complex in Pindamonhangaba, Brazil.

This announcement is in addition to a $300 million rolling-mill expansion currently under way at the plant and $30 million that Novelis has invested during the past two years to expand recycling capacity and establish a network of used can collection centers within Brazil.

The expansion will include a recycling line that will nearly double the plant's capacity to recycle used beverage cans (UBCs) and other aluminum scrap from 200,000 metric tons per year to 390,000 tons per year, according to the company.

In a statement, Novelis says the new line, which is expected to come on stream in late 2013, will help to ensure metal supply for the plant's rolling mills while reducing operating costs and delivering environmental benefits.

"Novelis is the leading producer of flat-rolled aluminum products in South America and the largest recycler of beverage cans," says Marco Palmieri, senior vice president of Novelis Inc. and president of Novelis South America. "Novelis has had a long, successful history in Brazil, and these investments are further evidence of our commitment to strengthen our market leadership in the region," he adds.
 

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> ELECTRONICS

Image Microsystems Acquires Texas Facility
The electronics recycling company Image Microsystems, based in Austin, Texas, has acquired a new facility in Kyle, Texas. The company says it expects the 100,000-square-foot plant to enhance Image Microsystems' asset recovery, recycling and MicroStrate sign substrate manufacturing capabilities.

The announcement was made in conjunction with the company's sponsorship and speaking engagement at the GreenGov 2011 Symposium, Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, in Washington, D.C.

"We are excited about the opportunity to increase our e-waste recycling and MicroStrate signage manufacturing capabilities," Alex Abadi, Image Microsystems CEO, says. "We're honored to be sponsoring and speaking at the GreenGov 2011 Symposium and chose this event to announce our expansion."

Abadi continues, "Our new Kyle plant is just the first of five planned e-waste recycling and MicroStrate sign substrate manufacturing facilities we have planned. Due to the overwhelming demand for our MicroStrate signage, as well as the growth of our asset recovery business, we're launching a dramatic expansion program that will eventually include the investment of over $30 million and facilities in California, Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania in addition to the Kyle plant. Once our extensive remodeling process has been completed in Kyle, we'll be able to process over a quarter million pounds of e-waste plastic daily."

Patent-pending MicroStrate sign substrate is made of recycled plastic from electronic scrap. According to Image Microsystems, the product is the result of extensive investment in research and development and combines dirty plastics found in spent printer cartridges and other electronics, converting it into MicroStrate signage.
 

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> ELECTRONICS

Metech Recycling Sponsors Massachusetts Electronics Challenge
Metech Recycling, a certified e-Stewards recycler with a location in Worcester, Mass., has become an official sponsor of the Massachusetts' State Electronics Challenge (SEC).

The SEC is a voluntary program that is designed to encourage residents in the state of Massachusetts to reduce the environmental impact of electronic equipment throughout its life cycle, including by recycling electronics with a certified electronics recycler.

"We are delighted to have Metech's support and participation in the State Electronics Challenge," says Lynn Rubinstein, SEC program manager. "Metech Recycling has demonstrated its commitment to responsible recycling by achieving certified e-Stewards recycler status. Its support of the challenge is yet another way in which Metech Recycling has distinguished itself as one of the leading electronics recyclers in the U.S."
 

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> MUNICIPAL

Republic Services Upgrades Anaheim, Calif., MRF
Bulk Handling Systems (BHS), Eugene, Ore., is installing a 50-ton-per-hour single-stream and commercial fiber sorting system at Republic Services' material recovery facility (MRF) in Anaheim, Calif. The system, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2011, is part of Republic's $40 million investment in its Anaheim MRF. The improvements are being made to comply with state diversion requirements and to handle population growth in the communities it serves.

According to Republic, the CVT Regional MRF is one of the largest facilities by volume in the United States and has served municipalities throughout Southern California for more than two decades. The 250,000-square-foot facility, located on 35 acres, is the central processing center for waste and recyclables collected from communities in Orange County. The company is investing $20 million in Phase 1 of the project, which began in August 2011.

The high-capacity, low-labor system incorporates the latest in screening, air, optical and controls technology designed to maximize recovery and purity of commodities and minimize waste, BHS says. It features a dual-processing front end, a glass cleanup system and an optical container recovery line.

Phase 2 of the facility improvements will replace and upgrade the MRF's municipal solid waste (MSW) processing line and is scheduled to be completed in 2013.
 

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> METALS

British Columbia Introduces Bill to Combat Scrap Metal Theft
The British Columbia Legislature has introduced the Metal Dealers and Recyclers Act, Bill 13, which seeks to deter the theft of scrap metal. If passed, the act would make British Columbia the first Canadian province with legislation targeting scrap metal transactions.

According to the British Columbia Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, fewer than a dozen municipalities currently have bylaws that require scrap dealers to maintain records for copper and other high-value metals they purchase and to share details daily with local police. Variations in bylaws and enforcement have failed to curb the problem, and municipalities and utilities have called for a consistent, provincial approach, according to British Columbia officials.

The bill is designed to help deter and prosecute metal thieves, minimize regulatory costs for the recycling industry and protect the personal information of those who sell metal to scrap dealers, the government claims. Under the proposed law:

• Companies dealing in high-value metals such as copper, which are targets for metal thieves, would be required to record details including the weight and type of metal purchased, distinguishing marks on the material and where the seller says it was obtained.
• Scrap metal dealers would have to share the details with local police daily and retain their records for a minimum of one year.
• Dealers would need to record each seller's personal information, including his or her full name, current address, telephone number and date of birth, as well as vehicle or pickup address details.
• To protect sellers' privacy, dealers would assign a unique code to each customer from whom they buy metal. This code would accompany purchase information supplied to the police. Dealers would only release a seller's personal information to police who present a court order for that information.
• The law would prohibit dealers from buying regulated scrap metal from any seller unable or unwilling to provide required information.

The proposed legislation avoids the financial and administrative burden of licensing but will create a dealer registry and a system of compliance and enforcement by appointed inspectors, according to provincial officials.
 

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> METALS

PSC Acquires Tennessee Companies
PSC Metals Inc., a Cleveland-based metals recycling company, has acquired the assets of two Knoxville, Tenn., metals recycling companies. Dale Ferraro and Jason Loveland own the two companies, Metals Solutions, a secondary aluminum producer, and Knox Recycling, a scrap metal facility. Both men will remain with PSC.

A spokesman for PSC says Metals Solutions will allow PSC to diversify its operations into the ingot converting and aluminum tolling operations. Metals Solutions' operations will be folded into PSC Metals' Knoxville operations.

Knox Recycling will supply PSC's Knoxville auto shredder.

This is the fourth acquisition PSC Metals has made in 2011.
 

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> MUNICIPAL

Recyclebank, Cincinnati Celebrate One-Year Anniversary
The city of Cincinnati celebrated the one-year anniversary of the launch of its enhanced recycling program and the implementation of the Recyclebank rewards program in October.

Cincinnati experienced a 49 percent increase in the tonnage of recyclables collected in the past six months compared with the same period in 2010, according to a press release issued by Recyclebank. Recycling diversion increased to 17 percent, which exceeds the 2011 benchmark of 15 percent established by a city council motion in May 2008.

"We had a great first year," says Larry Falkin, director of the Cincinnati Office of Environmental Quality. "We were able to grow participation in the recycling program by nearly 75 percent, increase the amount of recyclables collected curbside by nearly 50 percent and save the city nearly $1 million through decreased landfill disposal costs and increased revenues from the sale of recyclables."

The enhanced recycling program launched in October 2010 in partnership with Cincinnati-based waste hauler Rumpke Recycling, recycling cart manufacturer Cascade Engineering and Recyclebank. Part of the program's success can be attributed to the adoption of larger recycling carts, which allow residents to recycle three-to-five times more material than the traditional 18-gallon bins.
 

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> PLASTICS

Grow-California Recognizes MBA Polymers
MBA Polymers Inc., Richmond, Calif., has been selected as a California Clean Technology "Game Changer" for 2011 in the Innovation in Environmental Recycling category by Grow-California, Chico, Calif. The company received its award at the conclusion of the Clean Tech Innovation Conference at the Kaiser Center, Oakland, Calif., held in early November.

MBA Polymers recycles plastics from complex waste streams and end-of-life durable goods, such as appliances, computer and business equipment, electronics and automobiles. The company was founded in 1993 to expand the research capabilities in plastics recycling and to develop a commercial process for recovering plastics from complex streams of materials. MBA Polymers designed, built and currently operates plastics recycling facilities in Guangzhou, China; Kematen, Austria; and Worksop, England.

Mike Biddle, founder and president of MBA Polymers, says, "I am very proud of the MBA team and, on behalf of MBA, I want to thank Grow-California for creating these awards and recognizing MBA for nearly two decades of work at developing its game-changing technology and business. Our team is excited to be included with such an impressive list of the other category winners and part of such a vibrant California clean-tech community."

Organizers of the Clean Tech Innovation Conference seek to bring together the venture capital community with the clean-technology industry, linking financial resources with innovation to create new companies, jobs and economic activity.

"This company is a prime example of a true game changer in the clean-tech space," says Jon Gregory, president and CEO of Grow-California. "There were more than 200 quality companies nominated, which means that the 2011 Game Changes are an elite group and an excellent representation of California's leading role in the world's clean-tech industry."

A selection committee comprised of investment banks, venture capital funds, academia and conference sponsors reviewed nominations and determined the winners in each category.

More information about the California Clean Tech conference and the Game Changer of the Year awards is available at www.grow-california.com.
 

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> PAPER

KapStone Completes Deal for US Corrugated
KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp., Northbrook, Ill., has completed the acquisition of U.S. Corrugated Inc. (USC). The assets acquired by Kapstone include a 240,000-ton recycled containerboard paper mill in Cowpens, S.C., as well as 14 converting facilities in the East and Midwest.

In an announcement, Roger Stone, chairman and CEO of KapStone, says, "Today we are welcoming USC's team as the newest members of KapStone. We look forward to building on their momentum. The acquisition of USC now transforms KapStone into a much more profitable and stronger company."

KapStone Paper and Packaging is the parent company of KapStone Kraft Paper Corp. In addition to 14 converting facilities, KapStone operates paper mills in Roanoke Rapids, N.C., North Charleston, S.C. and now USC's mill in Cowpens.
 

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> TIRES

Canadian Community Builds Playground with Tire Mulch
Frog Lake, a small community of Native American Crees in Alberta, Canada, has completed a new playground for its 1,000 residents, which was built using 100 percent recycled materials. Pinnacle Rubber Mulch was selected for the playground's safety surfacing.

Manufactured by LTR Products, a subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based Liberty Tire Recycling, Pinnacle Rubber Mulch comes from recycled scrap tires, making it what the company calls "an innovative and eco-friendly alternative to wood mulch for landscaping and playgrounds."

Brad Pittam, LTR Products general manager, says, "In Canada, year-round harsh weather conditions put wood mulch safety surfaces at risk for deterioration and freezing." He adds, "With Pinnacle Rubber Mulch, the Frog Lake community will have a playground that is safe throughout the year as our rubber mulch doesn't absorb water and freeze into a solid block like wet wood mulch can."

More than 96,000 pounds of redwood Pinnacle Rubber Mulch were installed at the community's new playground.

As a playground safety surface, a 6-inch layer of Pinnacle Rubber Mulch will cushion a child's fall from as high as 16 feet, providing up to 50 percent more fall-height protection than wood mulch using half of the material, according to LTR.
 

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> ELECTRONICS

Ohio Firm Achieves e-Stewards Certification
2trg, an electronics recycling company based in Cincinnati, Ohio, has announced that its Cincinnati processing center has achieved e-Stewards, ISO 14001:2004, and OHSAS 18001:2007 certifications. The company says compliance with these certification standards indicates that 2trg is committed to quality recycling operations for obsolete electronics.

Stuart Shaffer, 2trg chief client officer, says, "The certifications 2trg has completed are significant since there are a limited number of recyclers in the country who qualify for e-Stewards certification. This substantiates 2trg Cincinnati's positioning in the tri-state market as a premier processor of end-of-life electronics. Customers can trust us to responsibly recycle their electronics in an environmentally friendly and legally compliant manner."

He adds, "We are looking forward to certifying our other processing centers to provide the same assurance to customers nationwide."

In addition to Cincinnati, 2trg operates electronics recycling facilities in Geneva, N.Y., and Louisville, Ky.

E-Stewards Certification requires 2trg to use NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Special Publication 800-88 guidelines to clear or destroy data on hard drives and to provide accountability for the chain of custody, providing the data destruction required by various federal laws, such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and FACTA (Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act).

"Our customers can rest assured that the data from their hard drives and other storage devices is cleared or destroyed meeting NIST SP 800-88 standards," 2trg CFO Carol Weinstein says.

Jerry Townsend, 2trg director of operations, says, "2trg operates in a way that respects the environment, follows legal standards and protects worker health and safety as demonstrated by our compliance with the e-Stewards Standard.
 

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> METALS

New Jersey Salvage Company Adds Scrap Location
Universal Wrecking Corp., Toms River, N.J., has begun to operate a scrap yard at the former Cosmos Green Acres scrap yard in Bayville, N.J. The scrap yard will operate as a subsidiary of Universal Wrecking under the name Universal Recycling & Scrap Iron Corp. (URSI).

In a news release, Universal Wrecking says it "plans to transform the 16-acre site into a state-of-the-art scrap recycling facility that accepts nonferrous and ferrous scrap metals as well as scrap autos, trucks, trailers and heavy equipment."

URSI has installed two 70-foot, 100-ton truck scales and two smaller platform scales to serve its customers. Processing machinery on the site includes material handlers, shears, grapples, skid steers, wheel loaders and forklifts, plus "various hoppers, containers and support equipment."

In addition to the recycling yard, URSI also owns and operates a fleet of roll-off trucks, containers, tractors, dump trailers, flatbeds, rollbacks and box trucks.

The company says it intends to serve accounts in the East Coast region, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York and Maryland.

"URSI strictly operates on three key principles: price, service and integrity," says owner Steve Vesseli.

Recycling services available to customers at Bayville, N.J., scrap yard include metal processing and brokerage, scrap metal container services, mobile scrap processing and scrap purchase agreements, according to the company's website, www.universalwrecking.com.