Recycling Scraps
December 22, 2011

The New Mexico Recycling Coalition Wishes Everyone a Very Happy Holiday Season

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Raton Holds Recycling Collection Drive in Preparation for their New Recycling Center

The Solid Waste Recycling Task Force of GrowRaton! coordinated a successful recycling drive on December 10th with 28 volunteers and city workers ready to accept household recyclables from as far away as Trinidad, Colorado. 118 participants delivered plastic #1 and #2, mixed paper, cardboard, Aluminum and Tin to an old shoe factory, which will house the new recycling center.

The City of Raton received an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant from the New Mexico Environment Department to fund a new recycling center consisting of a horizontal baler and collection containers. The new center is expected to be on-line by early 2012 and will accept household recyclables: cardboard, mixed paper, plastic bottles #1 and #2, Aluminum and Tin.

Photos from the top: Volunteers sort plastic, Mixed paper to be recycled, Cardboard collected

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You CAN Reduce Your Trash This Holiday Season

The New Mexico Recycling Coalition Offers Simple Solutions to Help

Americans generated 250 million tons of trash in 2010 (US EPA), which translates to 4.43 pounds per person per day.  If we isolate the holiday season, this daily average would be much higher, considering that Americans generate an additional five million tons of waste from Thanksgiving to New Years (California Dept of Resources Recycling & Recovery). Of that, four million tons come from shopping bags and wrapping paper alone. 

For example, an estimated 2.6 billion holiday cards are sold each year in the United States, enough to fill a football field 10 stories high. If every family reduced their mailing list by just one card, the nation would save 50,000 cubic yards of paper (California Dept of Resources Recycling & Recovery). Electronic holiday greeting cards, offered through a variety of websites, are a convenient, no-cost, waste-free alternative.  Electronic greeting cards aren’t the only way to reduce your holiday waste this season. 

Start off your holiday season on a green foot by making a few small changes. It’s easy to get the entire family involved, have fun and decrease the burden on your wallet as well.  To help get you started, the New Mexico Recycling Coalition is providing New Mexicans with a simple list of steps the average resident can take to put the green back into the Holidays.

• Regifting - The holidays are a difficult time for folks to dish out extra cash, yet year after year we purchase piles of new gifts for family and friends.  Did you know that, National Regifting day is December 18th?  Why not pass on something you have loved to someone that you love!  While it is not recommended that you regift your dad an old pair of grass-stained socks, wouldn’t you consider an antique (and working) watch from a resale shop? How about giving Mom a book that you really enjoyed, and thought she might also find interesting? Or why not give your niece that expensive toy you splurged on, but your kids quickly lost interest in?
• Compost or mulch your tree - Approximately 33 million live Christmas trees are sold in North America every year (EPA). After the holidays, look for ways to recycle your tree instead of sending it to a landfill. Check with your community solid waste department and find out if they collect and mulch trees.  Municipalities and the public might be able to use chippings from mulched trees for landscaping.  If your solid waste department doesn’t collect and mulch trees, consider using the tree in your own landscaping for water conservation or flood control initiatives. 
• Get creative with gift wrap - Wrap gifts in recycled or reused wrapping paper, paper bags, newspapers, funny papers, old calendars, magazines, mesh bags from produce, etc. Also remember to save or recycle used wrapping paper. Give gifts that don't require much packaging, such as concert tickets or gift certificates.
• Have a create-your-own-decorations party! - Invite family and friends to create and use holiday decorations such as ornaments made from old greeting cards or cookie dough, garlands made from strung popcorn or cranberries, wreaths made from treasures from nature and flowers, and potpourri made from kitchen spices such as cinnamon and cloves.  Cut up cards to be used as gift tags, bookmarks, greeting cards or place mats.
• Rechargeable batteries - About 40 percent of all battery sales occur during the holiday season. Buy rechargeable batteries to accompany your electronic gifts, and consider giving a battery charger as well. Rechargeable batteries reduce the amount of potentially harmful materials thrown away, and can save money in the long run.
• Shop smart - Consider the durability of a product before you buy it as a gift. Cheaper, less durable items often wear out quickly, creating waste and costing you money.  Bake cookies or other goodies and package them in reusable and/or recyclable containers as gifts. Home-made goodies show how much you care and help you avoid packaging waste.
• Use Reusable Bags - Headed out for some holiday shopping? Take along reusable shopping bags and you’ll help reduce the number of single-use, disposable bags distributed by retailers.
• Buy Foods in Bulk & Compost the Leftovers - Consider buying food and holiday snacks in bulk to reduce packaging waste. Be sure to compost the leftovers—the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates nearly 95 billion pounds of edible food, or 27 percent of the U.S. food supply, end up being wasted each year.   Also plan meals according to the number of guests - at least 28 billion pounds of edible food is wasted each year – more than 100 pounds per person. One of the best ways to reduce your waste over the holidays is to plan ahead for the meal and practicing portion control.
• Make Room for New Gadgets & Toys - Outgrown toys, clothes and furniture may be donated to charitable groups like Goodwill Industries, The Salvation Army, Big Brothers Big Sisters or other local thrift stores. Many local charities operate thrift stores and are always looking for donated items.
• Recycle Old and Defective Holiday Lights - Recycle old and broken holiday light strings at participating ACE Hardware stores or check with your local solid waste authority. More information about the ACE Hardware program can be found in the article belwo.
• Lay the Foundation for a “Green” Holiday Meal - Use a cloth tablecloth or a washable plastic tablecloth instead of purchasing single-use paper tablecloths for your holiday meal tables. Recycle cotton or cotton-blend fabric remnants into napkins.  If you host a party, set the table with cloth napkins and reusable dishes, glasses, and silverware. Consider using more formal tableware. Also save and reuse party hats, decorations, and favors.  After holiday festivities, put leftovers in recyclable containers, and share them with family, friends, or others. If you’re expecting a big crowd, organize it like a potluck and ask your guests to bring dishes and silverware for themselves.
• Get Off the Mailing List - Overwhelmed with holiday catalogs received in the mail? Request to have your name/address removed from mailing lists by contacting the Direct Marketing Association. A token $1 fee removes your name/address for up to three years.
• Reuse Packing Peanuts - Check with local postal shipping stores to see if they will accept foam peanuts for reuse. Call “The Peanut Hotline” at 800-828-2214 to find the nearest location, or check the Plastic Loose Fill Council website for a drop-off location near your home.
• Buy Recycled - When buying gifts, check product labels to determine an item's recyclability and whether it is made from recycled materials. Buying recycled encourages manufacturers to make more recycled-content products available.
• Save Energy - Recycling saves as much as 90% of the energy required to produce items from raw materials (Can Manufacturing Institute).  You can also save energy by turning off the TV and going outside to play with your friends and family during the holidays.  Do something fun!   Instead of firmly planting yourself in front of the TV for the day, consider getting some fresh air or playing a board game. Take advantage of the time together with friends and family while decreasing your energy usage.
• Recycling Isn't a Chore: Make it Easy - Last, but not least, recycle your household items and make it easy for guests to recycle if you host a party. Encourage your guests to pitch in and clearly mark recycling bins. Recycling will significantly reduce the number of times you have to take the trash out, as well as the amount of garbage you send to the landfill.  Remember recycling isn’t just good for the environment.  In November of this year The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc, (ISRI) released a study that found that the people and firms that purchase, process and broker old materials to be manufactured into new products in America provide 459,140 adults with good jobs in the United States and generates $90.1 billion in economic activity.

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Torrance County Recycling Hub is Officially Open & Making Bales!

Spoke Collection Bins in Torrance County

Cardboard Bales Ready for End Markets

Loading cardboard bales

The Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority, which manages and houses Torrance County's American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funded recycling hub is officially collecting and processing recyclables from area residents. The Solid Waste Authority has already hired a new FTE position in response to the investment.

Once again the Torrance County recycling center is proving that recyling not only creates jobs, but also makes cents! One bale of cardboard, assuming it weighs 1200 pounds, with a current market price of $140/ton would be worth $84 when sold. The cost to process that same weight of material (1200 lbs) is $28/ton (1200 lbs as proportion of 2000 tons with a $47/ton processing/handling cost). The value of recycling is then $56 once the cost to manage that material is deducted. That same material would cost $28 to throw away.

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Paving New Mexico Roads with Recycled Tires: New Study Shows Rubberized Asphalt is a Viable Option

Rubberized Asphalt Along Highway US 54

Las Cruces – A new study by the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Civil Engineering Department finds roadways paved with asphalt concrete containing  crumb rubber (produced from recycled tires), perform as well as or better than roads paved with conventional paving materials. Those results could lead to a substantial win-win for the Land of Enchantment, by not only improving the state's roads, but also finding a viable beneficial use for the hundreds of thousands of scrap tires that are illegally dumped throughout the State.

Expectations from rubberized asphalt roads include quieter traffic noise, smoother pavement, longer performance life and ability to withstand higher air temperatures. Four rubberized asphalt projects completed this year in the NM Department of Transportation Districts 1 and 2 show those Districts’ willingness and interest to use the product, based on successful experience of other states. Leaders in the utilization of rubberized asphalt include California, Arizona, Texas and Florida, providing twenty years of data and comparisons to regular asphalt paving projects. Although a higher cost to initially lay the rubberized pavement has been a hindrance to new projects, one NMDOT District 1 paving project showed only a $1/ton price premium over traditional materials. The new projects are located along Highway 54, I-10 and I-25.

 “The use of asphalt rubber products in pavements in New Mexico should be based on documented performance, particular project conditions or requirements, and life cycle analyses,” explained lead NMSU researcher Dr. Paola Bandini. She also noted that several rubberized asphalt projects have been completed on municipal and private property paving projects.
 
The study commissioned by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Solid Waste Bureau and the South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) evaluated road performance of rubberized asphalt pavements both in New Mexico and other states. This type of paving uses old, shredded tires to create the material called crumb rubber. The crumb rubber is then mixed into asphalt and applied as a component of the paving process.

Solid waste managers around the state struggle to keep tires out of arroyos and would prefer to keep them out of landfills due to their size and shape. Unlike scrap metal and other recyclables, which hold a value when recycled, communities must pay to have their tires properly disposed. Finding viable uses for tires, preferably with a market value, is ideal – one of which is turning tires into pavement.

Patrick Peck, the South Central Solid Waste Authority Director in Las Cruces explains, “Right now we landfill more than 10,000 tires each year and clean up thousands from illegal dump sites; I’d much prefer to have those tires recycled and put to good use.”

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Zero Waste Initiative Diverts 84% of Waste at the Albuquerque Downtown Growers' Market

There was a new addition to the Downtown Grower’s Market in Albuquerque held each Saturday from May to November in Robinson Park: recycling collection containers and the brightly painted Soilutions truck, which transported compostable waste from the market to its certified organic compost yard on the southside of Albuquerque. As part of a community collaboration with the Downtown Action Team and others, the Grower's Market launched an agressive recycling and composting campaign during the 2011 season.

John Shaski "Ski" from Soilutions, Inc was able to confront vendors and patrons with a potentially revolutionary challenge, “What IS that ‘trash’ in your hand and what SHOULD be done with it?”

As for the bottom line impact on the volume of waste that was diverted from the municipal landfill…the numbers speak for themselves:

• Total Carts for Collecting Compost – 43
• Organic Material Collected (gross weight) – 3767 lbs
• Organic Material Collected (net weight) – 2219 lbs
• Metal Recycled – 43 lbs
• Plastic Recycled – 52.25 lbs
• Total Waste Diverted – 2314.25 lbs
• Trash Collected – 427 lbs

This equals an 84% diversion rate with 2314 lbs diverted out a total of 2741 lbs of waste collected. In other words, for every 100 lbs. of waste collected, 84 lbs. was of a material recycled or composted.

BRAVO! to all who partnered together to establish these results (including but not limited to)…

The City of Albuquerque
The Downtown Action Team
The Downtown Grower’s Market
Soilutions, Inc.
NMSU Bernalillo County Master Composters
UNM Sustainability Studies Program
UNM School of Communications and Journalism

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Recycling Signs Available for Eligible Communities - Request Deadline is Dec 31

Sample Recycling Sign for Collection Containers

NMRC is pleased to make available standardized recycling signage through the Department of Energy ARRA grant funds. Signage is available on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible communities and NMRC R3 Cooperative members until funding runs out. In order to distribute as many signs as possible around the state, we may not be able to fulfill the total number of signs requested. Signs are 12" x 18": 4-color, UV-resistant with a guaranteed 5-year outdoor life. An eligible governmental entity needs to be an applicant for the signs.  Signs are intended to be placed on public collection roll-offs and trailers in drop-off environments and cannot be supplied for interior or small-scale collection containers. NMRC is happy to supply the sign designs for your own use to print for other needs.

NMRC can only print signs for eligible communities or R3 Cooperative members. A table of eligible communities can be found at
http://www.recyclenewmexico.com/pdf/List_of_Eligible_Communities-Final.pdf
Please confirm eligibility with NMRC if needed.

Deadline for Electronic Requests: December 31, 2011.  An application can be found at http://www.recyclenewmexico.com/pdf/Recycling_Signage_Request_Form_2011.pdf
and should be submitted to Jessi Just at jessi@recyclenewmexico.com
Delivery expected by February 15, 2012.

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Las Cruces Public Schools Begins Recycling Foam Trays

From Las Cruces Sun News - LAS CRUCES The Las Cruces Public School system is the first district in New Mexico to use new green technology to recycle plastic foam.

The school district purchased a Thermo Compactor and began using it at Mayfield High School in October. The machine melts up to 1,200 meal trays at a time into a solid block of hard plastic about two-feet long, four inches high and six inches wide. The molten plastic is then recycled by the same company that supplies the compactor: Earth Systems Technologies of Mesa, Ariz. LCPS bought the compactor for about $13,000 from the regional distributor for Thermo Compaction Systems, Inc., of Lakeland, Fla., which developed the first compactor. It was introduced at a Florida school two years ago.

Plastic foam also known as polystyrene and commonly called by the brand name Styrofoam is a major environmental concern. Even though it makes an inexpensive and flexible food and beverage serving container, it is not biodegradable. It is made from petroleum and there aren't many facilities that recycle it. By some estimates, it takes up nearly a third of all landfill space around the world.

"The LCPS Board of Education adopted a districtwide energy and water conservation policy last December," said LCPS Superintendent Stan Rounds. "It mandates that we save energy and reduce waste whenever and wherever possible in our schools. Recycling Styrofoam and reducing the solid waste it produces are important steps in the implementation of that policy."

LCPS continues to reduce its use of polystyrene, but there aren't currently any economically viable alternatives when it comes to the disposable food trays that Mayfield and some other schools still use. The district lacks the large-capacity dishwashers necessary to properly clean reusable plastic trays.

The Thermo Compactor works by reversing the polystyrene manufacturing process. The compactor then applies conductive heat to convert the trays into a liquid resin that is cooled into a solid block of plastic. The entire process takes about three hours.

A typical lunch in the Mayfield cafeteria produces 400 used polystyrene trays. Operating the compactor three times a week at the school means about six to eight fewer large plastic trash bags full of solid waste will be produced by the school and transported to the landfill every school day. And, using the compactor instead of a dishwasher saves water and doesn't require the use of chemical cleaners.

"We are pleased that we have decreased the amount of Styrofoam that is going to the landfill," said Nancy Cathey, director of nutrition services at LCPS. "In the future, we hope to find an affordable substitute for Styrofoam or purchase more of this type of machine."

Added Earth System Technologies representative Joe Wall: "The Styrofoam Melting Thermo Compactor is truly the solution to an age old problem; to be able to finally, effectively, 'recycle' Styrofoam waste. The melted end-product produces things like flower pots, pavers, picture frames, all while protecting our environment and landfills and drastically cutting our waste transportation costs. This is not only the right thing to do, it's a huge district money saver," he said.

For more information, contact Cathey at (575) 527-5996 or ncathey@lcps.k12.nm.us. Additional information is also available at www.thermocompaction.com/Home_Page.html.

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Tire Recycling Project at Grants-Area Mines

Submitted by Sarah Seigfreid, Peabody Energy - The Peabody Energy Lee Ranch and El Segundo mines near Grants, New Mexico generate a lot of big scrap tires.  Many of the tires from mining equipment are three or four feet wide, with diameters over ten feet.  With over 100 pieces of equipment between the two mines running on everything from 1800x25 grader tires to 55/80R57 loader tires, we’ve found some creative ways to dispose of those that are past their prime.  Many of our used tires are cut into water tanks for use by local ranchers.  Others will be sent to Lake Powell to form an artificial barrier reef around the marina.

Tires from large equipment make great watering tanks for livestock and wildlife.  At Giant Rubber Water Tanks (GRWT), a business out of Alva, Wyoming, Pat and Beth Reilly are experts in cutting scrap tires into watering tanks for ranchers.  Pat’s father-in-law came up with the concept of making an “indestructible” tank out of rubber, which doesn’t leak, crumble, or rust out like conventional tanks.  “My father-in-law didn’t have the ‘green’ aspect of the business in mind when he started,” says Pat, “but that’s part of our focus now – a great way to recycle large tires.”

Giant Rubber Water Tanks has been visiting Lee Ranch and other mines all over the country for years, and is even looking into global expansion.  Because navigating scrap tire regulations can be tricky, GRWT is a great option to dispose of our large equipment tires responsibly and make tanks that ranchers love at the same time.

To actually make the tire tanks, tires are cut in half radially, so two tanks come out of every tire.  The Lees, local ranchers and namesake of the Lee Ranch Mine, have numerous tire tanks for cattle watering.  They have developed a favorite tire over the years – 40.00x57 tires, which make 10-foot diameter tanks.

Many tires at Lee Ranch and El Segundo are ineligible for tire tanks because they are blown out.  Any kind of hole in a tire obviously means that it can’t hold water.  Bad for a tire tank – but just fine for an artificial barrier reef.  And that’s just what we’re planning to do – send tires to a Lake Powell marina to use in a breakwater.  To make old tires into the breakwater, floats are inserted into the tires and they are tethered together around the marina area.  Kayenta mine has been sending tires to Lake Powell for years, adding to the protective barrier around the Wawheap Marina.  Lee Ranch and El Segundo plan to be a part of forming synthetic breakwaters at Lake Powell as well.

Large used tires really have tons of practical applications.  In addition to making durable watering tanks, they also make great salt and mineral feeders for livestock and wildlife.  GRWT has used tires as windbreaks and road drags.  Many feedlots and dairy barns use cut tires as scraper attachments on skid loaders, an idea that we’ve been toying with at El Segundo to clear snow and clean out the wash bay.  The rubber tires make a great scraper attachment because they don’t harm concrete like a metal scraper.  There are tons of ways to recycle used tires legally and responsibly – it’s a matter of understanding the regulations and thinking outside of the box.

For more information please contact Sarah Seigfreid at SSeigfreid@peabodyenergy.com

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New Santa Fe Recycling Website Launched

It’s difficult to know how to properly dispose of your waste these days.  Who accepts what, how much will it cost, or what else can be done with it?  These questions are finally answered for Santa Fe City and County residents and businesses.  The Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency, City of Santa Fe, and Santa Fe County have teamed up to help Santa Feans rethink their waste with a new, informative website.

The new website, www.SantaFeRecycling.org, answers all of the what, when, why and where's of recycling in the Santa Fe area.  It also tells you how and where you can safely dispose of, or recycle, Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), electronics (e-waste), and green waste. The website also encourages waste reduction and supports local donation centers for items that are reusable. The website has an interactive component, as the groups involved are striving to keep up-to-date and accurate information on the website. The "contact us" link on the webiste encourages area businesses and residents to notify them with updates and additions for the site.

Other communities with active websites educating residents on how and where to recycle include Las Cruces' www.thescrappypages.com, the City of Albuquerque, Angel Fire, Cibola County, Greentree SWA in Lincoln County and Silver City. Each of these communities host recycling-oriented websites that effectively provide their residents with information on what can be recycled and where. A full list of recycling web

sites within New Mexico can be found at http://www.recyclenewmexico.com/links_resources.htm

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Update on Albuquerque MRF Project

City officials have signed a contract with Friedman Recycling to construct a new recycling facility. Within the next 18 months, Friedman Recycling will build the Material Recovery Facility in an effort to spur growth for automated, cart-based recycling in residential areas, according to KOB-TV in Albuquerque.

Only 6% of city residents recycle, but officials hope the plant and the distribution of 22,000 new recycling bins next March will raise that rate to 24%, the station reported.

At the moment, only 10,000 homes use recycling bins. In 2013, the city plans to give bins to each residence. "Our old processing recycling plant is old and antiquated. This is going to be a brand new state of the art facility for the city of Albuquerque," Mayor Richard Berry told the station.

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Report: 75% recycling rate would create 1.5 million jobs

Nearly 1.5 million more recycling jobs would be created if the national recycling rate reached 75%, according to a recent report.

The report More Jobs, Less Pollution: Growing the Recycling Economy in the U.S., recently prepared by the Tellus Institute with Sound Resource Management for six groups who are working hard to increase recycling jobs and infrastructure in the United States.

The summary noted that the higher recycling rate would mean reduced pollution and improved public health, along with generating strong local economies with stable employment bases.

"While the vast majority of municipal solid waste can be readily recycled, re-used, or composted, only 33% is currently diverted from disposal," according to the report. "Most of our discards are still sent to landfills and incinerators."

According to the report, not only would reaching a 75% national recycling rate create nearly 1.5 million more jobs than in 2008, but it also would reduce CO2 emissions by 276 million metric tons by 2030. This is equivalent to 72 coal-fired power plants or taking 50 million cars off the road, the report said.

The Executive Summary can be found here. To view the full report click here.

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Colorado Going Hub and Spoke

From Resource Recycling - Following the lead of its neighbor to the south, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is encouraging grant proposals that will establish a hub-and-spoke recycling collection system.

The New Mexico Recycling Coalition has developed a hub-and-spoke recycling scheme that seeks to create an economy of scale to make recycling feasible in rural areas. Under the arrangement, "spokes" are established in more remote areas of the state that collect recyclables and feed them into regional "hubs," where the materials are sorted, baled and sold to market. Colorado, which is similar to the Land of Enchantment in many key regards, is hoping to import the model.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which is refocusing its mission to increase access for recycling in underserved areas of the state, is seeking to emulate the hub-and-spoke model through its Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity program. Funded by a landfill surcharge, the program has awarded $5.3 million to 54 projects over the last five years throughout Colorado that increase waste diversion.

NMRC's Executive Director, English Bird, has traveled to Colorado to discuss the hub and spoke process and how it works well within rural communitites.

Applications that meet hub-and-spoke criteria outlined by the department will be given extra consideration. For more on the grants and how to apply, visit the department's website.

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America Recycles Day Announces "Recycling is No Joke" Video Winner

Keep America Beautiful sponsored a video contest as part of the 2011 America Recycles Day campaign. See the winning video below.

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Ace Hardware to Recycle Holiday Lights

For the fourth consecutive year, Ace Hardware stores across Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico are accepting strands of holiday lights for recycling to benefit Lights For Life. Lights For Life is a nonprofit organization that strives to make life easier for kids with cancer and their families. This year, Ace Hardware stores will also accept extension cords for recycling.

Lights For Life sells the donated light strands and extension cords to a recycling company for the copper and PVC they contain. The money raised is used to help children with cancer and their families cover the cost of medical bills and other expenses not covered by insurance, as well as to fund kids' camps and childhood cancer research.

Last year, Ace Hardware customers across the three states donated more than 30,000 pounds of holiday lights to the campaign, raising $14,000 for families of children diagnosed with cancer and bringing the total amount of lights donated by local Ace customers since 2008 to more than 77,000 pounds. Local stores hope to increase this year's donation by 50 percent and have set a goal of collecting 45,000 pounds of holiday lights and extension cords during the 2011 holiday season.

"Every year, more and more shoppers are making the switch to longer-lasting, more energy efficient LED light strands, and we wanted to give people an easy way to put their old light strands and extension cords to good use," said Clark Evans, manager of Orchards Ace Hardware in Loveland. Orchards Ace shoppers alone have donated more than 14,000 pounds of lights over the past four years. "Last year we were able to help the families of two Rocky Mountain Region children with cancer as a results of this program, and we hope consumers pitch in to help us do the same again this year."

According to Consumer Reports, a typical homeowner spends approximately $11 in energy costs to burn 50 feet of traditional lights for 300 hours, while the same use of LED lights costs less than 15 cents. LED lights are also more durable than incandescent lights, often lasting as much as ten times longer than traditional lights, and because LED lights burn cooler they are safer to use and reduce the risk of fire.

"Each year, more than 200 million strings of incandescent lights are sold in the U.S., and most of them end up in the landfill," said Linda Worthington, marketing director Lights For Life. "Just the small act of dropping your broken or old lights or extension cords in a collection bin at an Ace Hardware can make a big difference in the lives of the families of kids with cancer."

Holiday lights and extension cords can be dropped off at participating Ace Hardware stores between November 15 and February 15. The holiday light recycling program adds to the growing list recycling programs offered by area Ace Hardware stores. Many Ace Hardware stores also accept used compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), mercury-containing thermostats, used cell phones and rechargeable batteries for recycling.

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New Plastics Recycling Website for Recycling Professionals

Numerous organizations dedicated to increasing plastics recycling have launched a new website (www.RecycleYourPlastics.org) to aggregate the extensive but often far-flung information on plastics recycling that exists on the Internet. The site is designed to offer an easy-to-use gateway for information on plastics recycling, in an effort to help enable expanded collection and recycling of plastics across the United States.

RecycleYourPlastics.org is designed primarily for community recycling coordinators, solid waste officials and other professionals tasked with helping communities collect and recycle their plastics. The site organizes existing resources on plastics recycling into various searchable categories—consumer education programs, sortation technologies, containers, bags and film and more—so recycling professionals can readily find information on topics of interest.

RecycleYourPlastics.org gathers information on plastic bottles, rigid containers, film, foodservice and other plastics into “an easy-to-use resource on plastics recycling for recycling professionals, including user-friendly tips and tools, best practices, ready access to experts and peers in the recycling world and more.”

“We have consistently heard from recycling professionals that finding information on plastics recycling can be a challenge,” said Steve Russell, Vice President, plastics division, for the American Chemistry Council, which spearheaded the effort. “RecycleYourPlastics.org should make it easier to find useful information that contributes to recycling plastics.”

“Simply put, RecycleYourPlastics.org is designed to enable recycling professionals to recycle more plastics,” Russell continued. “We want the site to grow continuously with significant input from recycling professionals and others interested in increasing plastics recycling.”
 
The site was developed with input from a broad range of organizations and companies—from recyclers to retailers to plastics producers—interested in increasing the types and rates of plastics recycling. These groups encourage recycling professionals to contribute to the site by providing case studies, success stories, news and other information.

The site also includes numerous ways for recycling professionals to connect with their peers, including Twitter, LinkedIn, news feeds, “ask an expert” and more.

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Spent Batteries from US Put Mexicans' Health at Risk

From The New York Times - NAUCALPAN DE JUÁREZ, Mexico — The spent batteries Americans turn in for recycling are increasingly being sent to Mexico, where their lead is often extracted by crude methods that are illegal in the United States, exposing plant workers and local residents to dangerous levels of a toxic metal.

The rising flow of batteries is a result of strict new Environmental Protection Agency standards on lead pollution, which make domestic recycling more difficult and expensive, but do not prohibit companies from exporting the work and the danger to countries where standards are low and enforcement is lax.  

Mexican environmental officials acknowledge that they lack the money, manpower and technical capacity to police a fast-growing industry now operating in many parts of the country, often in dilapidated neighborhoods like the one here, 30 miles northwest of Mexico City.

Batteries are imported through official channels or smuggled in to satisfy a growing demand for lead, once cheap and readily available but now in short global supply. Lead batteries are crucial to cellphone networks, solar power arrays and the exploding Chinese car market, and the demand for lead has increased as much as tenfold in a decade.

An analysis of trade statistics by The New York Times shows that about 20 percent of spent American vehicle and industrial batteries are now exported to Mexico, up from 6 percent in 2007. About 20 million such batteries will cross the border this year, according to United States trade statistics, and that does not take into account batteries smuggled in as mislabeled metal scrap or second-hand goods. In September, more than 60 18-wheelers full of old batteries crossed the border each day, trade records show.

Spent batteries house up to 40 pounds of lead, which can cause high blood pressure, kidney damage and abdominal pain in adults, and serious developmental delays and behavioral problems in young children because it interferes with neurological development. When batteries are broken for recycling, the lead is released as dust and, during melting, as lead-laced emissions.

Lead battery recyclers in the United States now operate in sealed, highly mechanized plants — like labs working with dangerous germs. Their smokestacks are fitted with scrubbers, and their perimeters are surrounded by lead-monitoring devices.

But for much of the past decade, at the vast recycling compound of Industrial Mondelo here, batteries have been dismantled by men wielding hammers, and their lead melted in furnaces whose smokestacks vent to the air outside, where lead particles can settle everywhere from schoolyards to food carts. Officials of the plant, which has been given more than a dozen citations and fines for lead emissions and improper storage of dangerous materials, did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

The recycling factory has put a neighborhood of children at serious risk of lead exposure, said Marisa Jacott, director of Fronteras Comunes, an environmental group in Mexico City. Ms. Jacott wants to test young residents living near the plant but lacks the money to do so. The town’s elementary school is on the same block as the recycling plant, which recently moved the bulk of its operations to a larger facility elsewhere. Lead pollution remains in the ground for decades.

A sample of soil collected by The Times in the schoolyard showed a lead level of 2,000 parts per million, five times the limit for children’s play areas in the United States set by the Environmental Protection Agency. In most states, that would rate as a “significant environmental lead hazard” and require immediate remediation, like covering the area with concrete or disposing of the soil.

“If we export, we should only be sending batteries to countries with standards as strict as ours, and in Mexico that is not the case,” said Perry Gottesfeld, executive director of Occupational Knowledge International, a San Francisco group devoted to reducing lead exposure.

 One Border, 2 Standards
While Mexico does have some regulation for smelting and recycling lead, the laws are poorly enforced and even licensed plants are allowed to release about 20 times as much lead as their American equivalents, said Mr. Gottesfeld, who has studied the export trade.

Some American companies recycling in Mexico say that they already exceed that country’s requirements and that they intend to bring their Mexican plants up to American standards. But there is no way to ensure that will happen. The E.P.A. says it “does not inspect, monitor or verify the Mexican facilities.”

Which is why doctors and teachers in Mexico are demanding testing in a country that has little or none. At her community clinic on the outskirts of Guadalajara, Dr. Lourdes Pérez Ramírez said that she routinely saw children with seriously delayed development and that she was convinced that lead poisoning from a nearby recycling plant might play a role, although she cannot prove it, because studies have not been done. “I think there is danger from the lead,” she said, “but to find it you have to look. You have to look!”

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Vermont Trash Collection Powered by Horsedrawn Cart

From Waste & Recycling News - Their names are Jerry and Jake, a pair of dapple gray Persheron draft horses that wind their way through Bristol every Friday morning, pulling a wooden trash collection wagon designed to look like a sleigh. Clip-clop, clip-clop – the sound of the horses´ shoes hitting the asphalt serves as a rhythmic soundtrack to what has become a 14-year tradition in this quiet town of about 3,750 people.

Palmer and helper Lynda Malzac are familiar faces to those along their route, where residents put out an average of about 150 bags of trash each week for collection. But they are not the stars of the show.

On a recent Friday, a woman from California was out snapping photographs, saying that there´s no such service where she lives – hardly a surprise.

At another point, a father and infant daughter waited patiently by their bags of trash with a bribe. Would a plate of cookies be enough to allow them to jump on board for a little ride along the trash route? Sure enough.

"A lot of people just want to ride for the fun of it. A lot of townspeople do it," Palmer said. "It´s fresh air. I think it´s very calming. The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a person, and that´s not an original quote."

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School Waste Reduction, Recycling & Composting Study

Through a United States Department of Agriculture Rural Utility Services Solid Waste Management Grant, the Northeast Recycling Council provided technical assistance and training about waste reduction, recycling, and composting to rural schools in Connecticut, New York, and Delaware. Eight schools participated in the Waste Reduction and Recycling project over the course of two years.

Several resources were developed to support waste reduction, recycling, and composting in the schools. Tip sheets, waste assessments, case studies and more from this study can be found at http://www.nerc.org/documents/schools/schools.html

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Youtube of Congressman Bill Flores (R) Texas Promoting Recycling on the House Floor

Congressman Bill Flores (R) Texas Promotes Recycling on the House Floor. See the November 3, 2011 video at

http://www.youtube.com/RepBillFlores#p/a/u/0/7_Ue4pbiYMA

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Recycling Resolution Approved by US Senate

From Resource Recycling - A non-binding resolution expressing support for the recycling industry received unanimous approval from the U.S. Senate last month.

Senate Resolution 251 was introduced by U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Delaware) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) this summer to the overwhelming agreement from the recycling industry. The resolution expresses support "for improvement in the collection, processing, and consumption of recyclable material throughout the United States in order to create well‐paying jobs, foster innovation and investment in the United States recycling infrastructure, and stimulate the economy of the United States."

SR 251 includes many notes pointing out the positive impact made by recycling on the U.S. economy, including that U.S. recycling processors directly or indirectly employ over 450,000 workers. According to a press release announcing the resolution's approval says that that accounts "for more than $90 billion in economic output or roughly 0.6 percent of United States' Gross Domestic Product, which is more than the fishing and forestry industries combined."

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Dates Announced for 2012 Recycling and Composting Facility Operator Certification Courses

The NMRC and the New Mexico State Environment Department: Solid Waste Bureau will host two recycling courses and two composting courses in 2012. These courses provide an in-depth look at the science, safety, administration and operations of both recycling and composting operations. 2012 online registration will be available beginning in January.

Additionally, the December 2011 Recycling Course that was scheduled for December 6-8 in Santa Fe, but was cancelled due to the snow will be rescheduled for February, 2012 in Santa Fe. Details about the rescheduling once finalized will be sent to all attendees registered for the December course. If there are additional openings available, NMRC will send information out to members via its list-serve.

Compost Facility Operators Certification Courses

*April 24-26, Albuquerque -  Held at the Albuquerque Fire Academy

 

*October 2-4, Ruidoso

 

Recycling Facility Operators Certification Courses

*May 22-24, Taos -   Held at the Coronado Hall, 120 Civic Center Drive

 

*December 4-5, T or C -  Held at the WNMU Garden Learning Center, 601 Sunset Street

Our maximum class size is 35 students so please remember to register as early as possible to be assured a seat in the course.

Learn more at http://www.recyclenewmexico.com/cert_classes.htm

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Is Recycling Married to the Mob in New Jersey?

From Resource Recycling - A new report from the State of New Jersey Commission of Investigation has found that criminal elements, including organized crime, continue to infiltrate the state's waste disposal industry and are now increasing their presence in a related and less regulated business: recycling.

According to the report, New Jersey lawmakers, regulators and law enforcement have taken action in past years intended to weed out real-life Tony Sopranos from the state's waste management industry.

However, investigators with the commission have found that individuals with ties to organized crime, some of whom have been banned from the solid waste industry in New Jersey, still continue to profit from refuse hauling and recycling by setting up front companies, operating as owners of real estate or equipment and by working through businesses set up by relatives. The commission found 30 individuals barred from working in New York's waste industry who have managed to set up shop in neighboring New Jersey.

"The urgency of this matter is compounded by evidence that convicted felons, including organized crime members and associates, profit heavily from commercial recycling, which, though a lucrative adjunct to solid waste, has remained largely unregulated," reads the report. "That is the case even though recycling has developed and grown to be an economic force far beyond what was envisioned when New Jersey adopted mandatory recycling nearly 25 years ago."

The report mentions that as recycling has become more global, particularly with e-scrap recovery, the largely unregulated industry is growing more susceptible to infiltration by criminal elements.

"When it comes to vetting, overseeing and controlling the activities of those engaged in recycling, the flaw is obvious and far more fundamental: there is no systemic oversight," reads the report.

The lack of oversight preventing unscrupulous figures from entering the recycling industry can have real consequences. The report details how in 2007, Steven G. Marcus, an associate of the DeCavalcante crime organization, acting as a broker, obtained a hauling contract for I.T.L. Concrete Recycling, a Jersey City-based company. Within weeks of being awarded the contract, the firm was found to have illegally dumped demolition debris from excavation sites in New York City at a Conrail railway siding in Jersey City.

The report points out that businesses involved in C&D recycling are not required to undergo the same background checks as waste hauling companies. In this particular instance, the company kept its permit, even after being involved in illegal dumping, and was still paid $985,000 under a contract with two mob-associated firms.

When New Jersey enacted a law 25 years ago aimed at bolstering recycling, according to the report, the consensus was that the industry was not a lucrative one, and lawmakers did not want to burden it with licensing and permitting requirements. However, the report notes that as the industry has become more profitable and international in scope, the state needs to bring more oversight to it.

Among the companies mentioned in the report with links to organized crime include South Plainfield Transfer and Recycling, Mack Service Co., All Star Recycling, Central Jersey Waste & Recycling Inc., Premier Food Waste Recycling Inc. and others.

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China's Regulation Shakes Up Plastic Recycling Industry

Plastics scrap imports through China´s Guangzhou customs fell by more than 80 percent in the past two months, as the local customs tighten the enforcement of a newly implemented regulation on solid waste import.

The nation´s plastics recycling industry are fearful of a radical shakeup, once the government decides to order all customs across the country to strictly comply with the new regulation.

According to statistics from China´s General Administration of Customs, the first and second quarter this year each saw about 520,000 metric tons of scrap plastics enter China through the Guangzhou customs, but the volume dropped drastically to 240,000 tons during the third quarter, down by 35 percent year on year. Imports in October were only 22,000 tons, down by 82 percent year on year.

The Guangzhou Customs is a gateway that handles a large portion of China´s plastics scrap imports. During the first 10 months, it processed a total of 1,303,000 metrics tons of plastics scrap imports, taking up 20 percent of the nation´s total import volume and ranking first among all customs.

Since Aug. 1, Guangzhou Customs has been a designated pilot site to strictly implement China´s new policy on solid waste imports, causing the recent significant drop.

Beijing issued the new regulation earlier this year, aiming to better control waste imports. Along with solid waste of recycling value, a lot of non-recyclable waste also found its way into China, polluting the environment, said a spokesperson from China´s Ministry of Environmental Protection at the 2011 China Replas in Guangzhou.

Being a major importer of plastics scrap, China relies on imports for half of the plastics scrap it recycles. According to data from the customs, China´s annual imports of scrap plastics increased from 2,460,000 tons in 2002 to 7,400,000 tons in 2010, with an average annual growth rate of 26 percent.

According to officials who spoke at the Replas conference, the new regulation is showing major impact on plastics recycling because: a) it prohibits the borrowing, renting or selling of solid waste import licenses; b) it prohibits the reselling of imported waste materials, and the imported waste must be used as raw materials by the company that is listed on the imported license; c) an importer must conduct the clearance through its local customs, not any customs in the country.

Ding Lisheng, a director from the Guangzhou Customs, said in his speech at the Replas event that the borrowing, renting or selling of plastics scrap import licenses and the reselling of imported waste were "not unusual" in Guangzhou region, due to regulatory loopholes. He said the new regulation can effectively prevent "disordered flow" of solid waste and smuggling.

The new regulation is putting the plastics recycling industry under pressure, as it may significantly reduce imports once the strict enforcement practice is extended to all customs across the country.

Statistics show that China´s total import of plastics scrap felt 11 percent year on year in August, but rebounded by 1 percent in September and 11 percent in October. During the first 10 months, China imported a total of 7,390,000 tons of plastics scrap, up by 5 percent compared to the same period last year.

Toland Lam, president of the China Plastics Processing Industry Association´s recycling committee and owner of recycler T&T Hi-Tech Development Co. Ltd. in Shenzhen, said the new regulation has restricted his company´s operational flexibility in import clearance and increased the costs of imports. He stressed that the industry supports the government´s objective to better regulate the industry but many recyclers are not prepared well enough.

"The impact is strong and we are facing unprecedented difficulties," Lam said, adding that 30 to 40 percent plastics recyclers in Guangdong province have shut down because of the new regulation as well as the gloomy global economy and increasing labor costs.

Chen Zhuhan, vice president of the CPPIA recycling committee and owner of Zhongheng International Trade Co. Ltd., warned that the strict enforcement of the new regulation will soon be extended to the entire country.

"Once the demonstration period in Guangzhou is completed, the practice will soon be rolled out to other customs in Guangdong and across China," said Chen.

"I believe a big reshuffle of the industry is coming, therefore everybody should try to prepare for that," he added. He urged recyclers to transform themselves, devise innovative business strategies, and invest in new technologies.

Paul Yan, chairman of Jiangsu-based Taicang Sicheng Plastics Co. Ltd., also is concerned about the industry´s future. "We talked about the coming thunderstorm at last year´s Replas meeting, and now I should say the typhoon has landed," he said.

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New Member Highlight - Social Enterprise Associates

NMRC is happy to welcome Social Enterprise Associates as its newest Gold level member. Social Enterprise Associates is a New Mexico based consulting firm specializing in sustainability and the ‘triple bottom line’. The company offers affordable professional services to help for-profit, non-profit, and public entities achieve their financial performance, social impact, and environmental sustainability goals. 

They offer more than a decade of work in finding market driven solutions for efforts that make the world a better place.  Their efforts have enabled clients to raise more than $100 million.  The company is the first and only registered “B Corp” in New Mexico – certifying that they use the power of business to create public good. 

Feel free to contact Social Enterprise Associates for assistance with:

• Feasibility studies
• Market research for new product development
• Business & strategic planning
• Financial projections / budgets
• New initiatives for operational implementation
• Raising money:  especially philanthropic funds, ‘impact investing’ & ‘patient capital’

Reach Managing Partner, Drew Tulchin, by email drew@socialenterprise.NET or phone 505-715-6927. For more information, visit www.socialenterprise.net.  

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New Member Highlight - Peabody Energy

NMRC is also pleased to welcome aboard our latest Lifetime Platinum Member – Peabody Energy!

Scrap tires aren’t the only things Peabody Energy’s Lee Ranch and El Segundo mines recycle (see article about Tire Recycling).  They have also recycled over a thousand tons of scrap metal in the past two years.  They have robust used grease and oil recycling programs, with over 500,000 gallons recycled in 2011 between the two mines.  Used grease is burned for heat recovery off-site, while used oil is sent to a re-refinery to be recycled into new motor oil, hydraulic oil, and other useful products.  The mines also recycle all spent batteries and bulbs, used oil and air filters, and a large portion of cardboard and paper waste.  Antifreeze, waste paint, and e-waste from the mines are also recycled.

Lee Ranch and El Segundo mines work hard to stay in compliance with dozens of environmental permits and scads of regulations, and they take a proactive approach to recycling and environmental responsibility in general.  The mines recycle all feasible waste streams in addition to implementing natural and sustainable reclamation practices.  Possibly the biggest resource recycled on-site is water – used wash water is treated and then used for dust control.

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From Official Board Markets - Last month’s huge price drop in OCC was a natural reaction to China’s decision to significantly slow down its OCC purchases because of rising finished goods inventories. Softness in the U.S. OCC market remains and all but one region (the Southeast) saw OCC prices fall a bit further. But the worst is over. This isn’t to say that recovered paper buyers at mills
across the country aren’t still in control after a year of incredibly stable and high OCC prices.

“I’ve never been so popular,” states a mill buyer in the Midwest with a laugh. “We have been inundated with OCC and mixed paper,” emails a purchaser in the East. “Calls have been pouring in
daily from suppliers asking us if we could take extra loads. Of course, we have to refuse
them because we do not have enough storage space.”

Board mills throughout the U.S. ran right through the Thanksgiving holiday and, with the exception of
the last week of December, downtime announcements are rare. A major OCC consumer in the Midwest has been taking some major downtime recently but has not curtailed OCC shipments.

**Starting in November 2011 these prices are from the Official Board Markets for the Southwest region. This includes giving prices for a newspaper seven grade of paper instead of Mixed Paper, which was quoted prior to November 2011. The specs for ONP #7 is baled newspaper are below.

ONP #7 Specifications
ONP will consist of sorted, fresh, newspapers, not sunburned, white blank, pressroom over-issues, containing the normal percentage of rotogravure and colored sections. ONP may include (i) up to 10% or 200 pounds per ton of Magazines, (ii) up to 2% or 40 pounds per ton of Other Papers (as defined below), (iii) up to ¼ of 1% or 5 pounds per ton of Outthrows (as defined below), (iv) up to ¼ of 1% or 5 pounds per ton of Prohibitives (as defined below), and (v) up to 10% moisture content.

OTHER PAPERS: means any of the following: Pamphlets & Brochures Envelopes, Shopping Catalogs Mail, Sorted White Ledger (SWL) Household White Paper, Papers printed with flexographic inks

OUTTHROWS: means any of the following: Unbleached Bags Manila File Folders, Boxboard Chipboard, Telephone Directories,

PROHIBITIVES: means all non-paper items, including, but not limited to: Wood, Glass,
Metal, Rubber, Plastics Styrofoam, Tapes, Photographs, Foil, Laminated Papers, UV Coated Papers,
Asphalt, Treated Papers, Carbon Paper, Spiral or Plastic-bound Medical Waste, Notebooks, Electrocardiogram (EKG), X-rays Hazardous Materials, Food Waste, Wet Strength Papers,
Beater Dyed Papers, Corrugated Containers (OCC), Blueprints, Carrier Stocks, Post-it Notes, Brown Kraft Envelopes

* Only accepting 100 pounds plus of PET #1

**Starting in November these prices are from the Official Board Markets for the Southwest region.

Please note that this is a sample of what is being offered in New Mexico for certain commodities. Purchase prices for OCC and Paper are subject to change based on market fluctuations as reflected in the Southwest Region of the Official Board Markets’ Yellow Sheet. Prices vary according to presentation and quantity. These prices are for partial loads. Full truckloads of any of the materials would be paid at a greater price depending on the pick-up location and destination of the material.

Other resources:

http://www.amm.com/recman/recdata/reccomp.htm for national average commodity prices

http://www.wastenews.com/secondaryfiber/  

http://www.packaging-online.com/

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Recycling Scraps Sponsored By Dex

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Welcome to New Members 2011

Sean Gillespie, GreenPaso Services; Gordon West, Santa Clara Woodworks; Brian Gutierrez, Mr. G's Recycling; Joe McFarlin, EnviroEd, Inc; David Thomas, Rocking V Waterservices Corp; Jo Fanelli, Atlas Pumping Co., Inc.; Daniel Roemer, HaulRite of Four Corners, Inc; Betsy Windisch, McKinley Citizens Recycling Committee; Tara Chisum, Angel Fire Sustainability Committee; David Wentling, GrowRaton!; Connie Grove, Deming Public Schools; Michael Carpenter, Placitas Recycling Assoc.; Brian Gibson, Action Container Solutions; Sandy Blalock, NM Certified Automotive Recyclers Assoc & NM Metal Recyclers Assoc.; Jill Ybarra; Chris Sawyer & Mark Anderson, Philmont Scout Ranch; Devin Whittington, Waste Management; Lisa Merrill, Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency; Drew Tulchin, Social Enterprise Associates; Daniele Berardelli, Rhino Environmental Services, Inc.; Sarah Seigfreid & Mark Hiles, Peabody Energy; E. Byers, New Mexico Disposal Co., LLC; Levi Lementino, Zuni Pueblo

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Regional Round Up

Statewide - Nominate Your Town for Waste & Recycling News Green City Award Do you know a municipality that is setting the example for how cities should be handling recycling and waste? A city that's creative, innovative and getting real results in making the planet a better place? Make sure that town gets the recognition it deserves by nominating it for Waste & Recycling News' Green City Award.   More»

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Social Media & New Mexico Recycling

Many members of NMRC are launching facebook pages or twitter accounts or other creative social marketing campaigns to get the word out about recycling. NMRC will track these updates in this new section of Scraps. If you'd like to send in information about your recycling-related social networking efforts, please email the to Sarah Pierpont at sarah@recyclenewmexico.com

EPA Uses Web-Friendly Tool to Show Recycling-Based Energy Savings - From Resource Recycling The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has introduced a new Web-based tool that displays how much energy is saved by recycling.

The iWARM (the shortened version of the "Individual Waste Reduction Model") is a tool that can be easily installed on a website or blog that helps consumers understand the energy saved by recycling small quantities of household products over landfilling them. The energy savings are displayed in terms of the equivalent amount of electricity to operate a variety of household appliances. The widget is designed to interface with Twitter and Facebook, and can be embedded on a variety of websites.

Angel Fire Sustainability Committee on Facebook - Visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Angel-Fire-Recycles/220029574682414 to see all that's happening on the recycling front in Angel Fire.

Lincoln County Recycles Now on Twitter - The Greentree Solid Waste Authority has joined countless other organizations in posting recycling information on social media, in this case, on Twitter. Go to the www.greentreeswa.org website and click on twitter to receive current information on recycling in Lincoln County.  

Stay current with recycling in Lincoln County by becoming a Twitter follower. For example, a recent‘Tweet’ stated “Used Tire Recycling September 23 & 24 at All-American Park, Ruidoso Downs and Schoolhouse Park, Ruidoso. Fri-8 am-5pm. Sat-8am-Noon. Free!” Other information regarding recyclable materials and recycling locations will be posted weekly.  For more recycling information, contact the Solid Waste Authority office at 378-4697, toll free at 1-877-548-8772 or via email at gswa@greentreeswa.org.

Recycle Santa Fe Art Festival on Facebook - Visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Recycle-Santa-Fe-Art-Festival/205475539519086?ref=ts to learn about the 13th annual festival in Santa Fe.
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Grants, Loans and Jobs

State Loans

NMED Constructions Programs Bureau offers low-interest loans for solid waste projects: http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/cpb/rip.html

Part Time Recycling Coordinator Job in Raton
Learn more at http://www.ratonnm.gov/city-services/current-job-openings. For questions, you may contact Jeff Condrey, City Manager at 575-445-9551, or Human Resources at 575-445-9451.

U.S. EPA Provides Sustainability Grants
The U.S. EPA announced 45 grants to college and university students across the country to fund sustainability projects.  More»

Equipment Mechanic Job in Santa Fe
The Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency is looking for a Heavy Equipment Operator and a Technician to work at their Caja del Rio Landfill and the Buckman Road Recycling and Transfer Station in Santa Fe. See the full job posting at http://www.sfswma.org/about-us/employment/

Bio-Pappel in Albuquerque Hiring
Operations Manager and US Procurement Manager positions are currently open. To get more information or apply, please contact Frank Sanchez at fsanchez@biopappel.com

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Recycling Tidbits

National Parks Can Decide Whether to Ban Bottled Water
National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis informed regional directors Dec. 13 of steps they can take to ban plastic water bottles at their parks despite the disapproval of Coca-Cola Co., a major donor.  More»

Plastics Society Takes Responsibility for Battling Bag Bans
The plastics industry is moving the major responsibility for warding off local efforts to ban or tax plastic bags from the plastics division of the American Chemistry Council to the industry´s main plastics association, the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc.  More»

Massachusetts: Plastic Bag Reduction Effort Working
In the last three years, the use of single use paper and plastic shopping bags distributed in Massachusetts has dropped 33% in stores participating in a joint initiative to reduce bag use with the Massachusetts Food Association, the state's Department of Environmental Protection announced.  More»

Minn. Town Sees Recycling Increase with Bigger Bins
The switch from 22-gallon recycling bins to 95-gallon carts resulted in an uptick in recycling in Worthington, Minn.  More»

Recycling Group: Bottle Deposit States Create More Jobs
Bottle deposit return systems create 11 to 38 times more jobs than curbside recycling systems for beverage containers, a recently released report has found.   More»

Coke Reports Progress in Reimagine Recycling Project
A Coca-Cola initiative designed to boost on-the-go beverage container recycling collected more than 2.3 million containers -- 60% of them PET bottles -- at just three sites in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with the first year of the program nearing completion.  More»

Dell, Goodwill Expand Computer Recycling Initiative
Dell Inc. and Goodwill Industries are expanding their computer equipment recycling program.  More»

Company Refurbishes, Recycles Old iPhones
There is an easy way to recycle those old iPhones.  More»

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Calendar

The NMRC board meets 5 times a year and members are always welcome to attend the meetings. We welcome your input and are always looking for new board members for our September election. We have also started offering a call-in option to board meetings. If you wish to attend any of the meetings, please RSVP ahead of time to english@recyclenewmexico.com.

• January 18 - 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Board Meeting, Albuquerque with optional tour of Soilutions. RSVP to english@recyclenewmexico.com

• March 28 - 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Board Meeting, Las Cruces. RSVP to english@recyclenewmexico.com

• April 24-26, Compost Facility Operators Certification Course, Albuquerque

• May 16 - 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Board Meeting, Albuquerque (tour of conference facility to follow). RSVP to english@recyclenewmexico.com

• May 22-24, Recycling Facility Operators Certification Course, Taos

• June 19-20, NMRC Recycling Conference, Albuquerque. RSVP to english@recyclenewmexico.com

• September 19 - 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Board Meeting, Moriarty. RSVP to english@recyclenewmexico.com

• October 2-4, Compost Facility Operators Certification Course, Ruidoso

• November 1-2, All day both days, Board Retreat, Sevilleta. RSVP to english@recyclenewmexico.com

• November: NM Recycling Awareness Month Activities

• December 4-6 - Recycling Facility Operators Certification Course, T or C

All meetings are posted online at www.recyclenewmexico.com/calendar.htm

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2012 Recycling and Composting Facility Operator Certification

Recycling Facility Operators Certification Courses

*December 6-8, Santa Fe register   Held at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center with a tour of the Buckman Road Recycling and Transfer Station

Compost Facility Operators Certification Courses

*October 4-6, Albuquerque register  

Held at the Fire Academy with a tour of Soilutions & the Soil Amendment Facility.

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If you have questions about any of the above information or have articles for future Recycling Scraps, please e-mail or call

English Bird, Executive Director

New Mexico Recycling Coalition

PO Box 24364, Santa Fe, NM 87502

english@recyclenewmexico.com

(505) 983-4470