Recycling Scraps
July 1, 2010

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NMRC Awarded $2.79 Million Federal Stimulus Grant!

As many of you know, the Department of Energy awarded $2.79 million to NMRC as part of a national effort to support energy efficiency and renewable energy programs that reduce energy use by American homes, vehicles, and businesses.

The Rural Recycling Development grant, which was awarded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will support NMRC's efforts to promote recycling across the state. "This far-reaching program aims to build upon several years of strategic planning to assist underserved and rural communities develop their recycling programs so that they are sustainable, readily expandable and can ultimately provide opportunities to recycle for all New Mexicans. I believe this project will change the face of recycling in New Mexico," explained English Bird, NMRC Executive Director. "Recycling is an excellent means to maintain and create jobs as well as reduce big-picture energy and resource consumption."

This project will employ the following programs to meet the proposed objectives : 1) launch of a
statewide recycled materials marketing cooperative, 2) strategic placement of recycling equipment infrastructure using a “hub and spoke” model, and 3) education and assistance to targeted communities regarding the structure of solid waste rates (known as Pay-As-You-Throw) as a tool to incentivize source reduction and waste diversion activities. Both the cooperative entity and the “hub and spoke” model are innovative solutions to rural recycling challenges and will be documented as models for replication.

Last week over 230 individuals working to support recycling in New Mexico gathered in Albuquerque for the New Mexico Recycling Conference. Local experts, as well as speakers from throughout the country discussed important hot-topics in recycling, including zero waste, rural recycling, hub and spoke regional recycling, cooperative marketing of materials, safety, using glass locally, grassroots outreach and full cost analysis, among other topics.

There were a lot of exciting sessions. If you missed one that interested you or if you'd like to have notes from a session that you attended, please visit http://www.recyclenewmexico.com/confpresentations.htm. All conference presentations have been posted online for you to review or share.

If you attended the conference and you haven't yet filled out an online evaluation yet, please fill one out at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WQS2BVK. We count on feedback from attendees to help us make our conferences even better!

Recycler of the Year Bonnie Tafoya accepts her award at the Award Ceremony on June 22

Composter of the Year Walter Dods accepts his award at the Award Ceremony on June 22

Thank you to our Generous Sponsors:

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New Mexico Clean & Beautiful Awards over $550,000 to Communities for FY2011

The following communities were awarded grants from NM Clean & Beatiful. Congratulations!

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U.S. Conference of Mayors Adopts Producer Responsibility Resolution

The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) joined the National League of Cities and National Association of Counties in adopting a resolution calling for state and federal producer responsibility legislation that shifts the costs of managing problematic product and packaging waste away from taxpayers and local governments to producers and the consumers of their products. 

The USCM resolution, adopted at their annual meeting in Oklahoma City on June 14th, is based on a model developed by the Product Policy Institute (PPI) that has been adopted by 96 local jurisdictions and local government associations in California since 2006, as well as by jurisdictions in New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Texas. 

“Product Policy Institute has been working with governments for seven years to find solutions to the mounting burden of product and packaging waste facing communities,” said Product Policy Institute Executive Director Bill Sheehan. “Today the U.S. Conference of Mayors planted their flag in the waste pile and said, “no more.”  They asked product manufacturers to take primary responsibility for their toxic and non-recyclable products.  We’re proud of their leadership on this pressing issue.” 

USCM is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more, promoting effective national urban/suburban policy.  The USCM resolution supports state and federal producer responsibility legislation that levels the playing field for corporations that take “cradle-to-cradle” responsibility for their products and packaging, and urges Congress to support the ability of state governments to establish producer responsibility legislation.

The USCM resolution lead sponsor was Mayor Christopher Cabaldon of West Sacramento, California  - whose city adopted a similar resolution in 2009. The list of signers included five U.S. states:

• The Honorable Christopher Cabaldon, Mayor of West Sacramento, California
• The Honorable Mike McGinn, Mayor of Seattle, Washington
• The Honorable David Maher, Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts
• The Honorable Patrick Hayes, Mayor of North Little Rock, Arkansas
• The Honorable Mark Burroughs, Mayor of Denton, Texas
• The Honorable Kevin Johnson, Mayor of Sacramento, California

“Local governments are in serious financial trouble and can better use resources currently going to manage waste products like batteries, needles and fluorescent lamps to fund police, fire and basic public health services,” said Mayor Cabaldon.  “We need manufacturers to take responsibility for what they make, not leave it to the taxpayers and ratepayers to clean-up the mess at very high costs.

National associations of elected officials representing cities and counties have already adopted producer responsibility resolutions. The National League of Cities and the National Association of Counties both adopted resolutions last year.

The resolutions are part of a movement that calls for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), also known as Product Stewardship.  EPR is a policy approach common in Europe, Japan, Canada and other industrialized nations but relatively new to the United States.  In the US, 22 states now have laws for discarded electronic products that require producers to finance or manage collection and provide responsible recycling.

“We cannot continue to expect government and taxpayers to design, fund and manage every product sold, said Heidi Sanborn, Executive Director of the California Product Stewardship Council.  “Taxpayers and garbage ratepayers have hit their limit and so have our landfills! Requiring producers of problem products like batteries and fluorescent lamps to pay for their recovery, utilizes free-market competitive forces to drive down recycling costs and creates jobs in the private sector, not in the public sector.”

Product Policy Institute has been leading the producer responsibility movement by conducting research and education on product stewardship, and by helping local and state government officials and other stakeholders like national associations work collaboratively towards this policy approach.  PPI helped local governments organize Product Stewardship Councils in California, Texas, New York, Massachusetts and Vermont; the Councils serve as hubs that bring together all stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions based on the clear framework principles.

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Free Pay-As-You-Throw Webinar

Pay As You Throw (PAYT) On the Go:  Practical, Pocketbook Incentives for Recycling / Diversion Success – FREE webinar, July 15 (Thursday), 11am-1:30 Mountain Time.

PAYT can be one of your most effective, cost-effective & flexible methods of increasing recycling and reducing GHG.   Hear the best-known national expert on PAYT and guest speakers discuss PAYT, how it works, impacts, and hear A PANEL OF CITY EXPERTS talk about pros and cons and real-world experience with the key ways to implement PAYT: Ordinance, contract / franchise; municipal; and hear from Muncipal & Hauler perspectives.   PAYT is not just practical in the landfill-costly East coast or in the "green" West Coast, but in all kinds of areas, even the desert / mountain west.  There are PAYT lessons for urban, suburban, rural, and remote areas with all types of collection systems.  Learn about can, bag, sticker, and other options; the pros and cons of PAYT;  and the power of the PAYT incentive.  We have built in time for interactive questions and follow-up opportunities as well. 

Sponsored by:  The Econservation Institute is providing FREE assistance through NATIONWIDE webinars, and through additional services (workshops and FREE “hands-on” consulting) to communities in EPA Region 9.  If your community is interested in finding out about new options for recycling and diversion including PAYT and how they can help you reduce costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase jobs, and help citizens recycle, then this program is for you!  This is being conducted under an EPA grant.

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Hub and Spoke Recycling in the Garden

Recycler Anne McGinley Uses the Hub and Spoke Recycling Model in Many Ways!

Anne built a salvaged wheel fence around her garden and anchored the wheels with landscaping staples. Her local salvage and bike store were more than happy to supply the wheels. Definitely a form of hub and spoke recycling in action.

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Las Cruces Gets Recycling Update

From the Las Cruces Bulletin

As more and more Las Crucens begin to show interest in recycling, the City of Las Cruces Sustainability Program held a forum Wednesday, May 19, to educate and update the public about area efforts being made. Led by city Sustainability Officer Thomas Schuster, the forum discussed recycling progress in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County through the work of the South Central Recycling Partnership (SCRaP) and South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA).

“Approximately two years ago, I was asked to get involved in the recycling issue here in Las Cruces,” said SCSWA Director Patrick Peck. Since its formation 18 months ago, SCRaP, an advisory panel funded by SCSWA, has conducted public outreach, held advisory panels and performed political activism.

“It’s a reinvestment of your trash dollars, the money you pay to get rid of your waste,” Peck said.
Before, Peck said, only select items, such as newspaper, aluminum, cardboard and white office paper, were able to be recycled. Now, thanks to single-stream recycling, other items, including junk mail, colored paper and magazines, can all be recycled at once.

Other new recyclable items include fluorescent lights and electronics, which are being disposed of safely and properly. He added that they have also implemented a rural green waste program. I have a responsibility for not just the City of Las Cruces, but for the entire region,” he said. “We’ve actually reached up to Garfield and Hatch and down into the lower valley. We’ve really stretched out.”

Silver City has also moved to single-stream recycling as more are becoming interested, he said. Peck said the No. 1 question they receive is about curbside recycling coming to Las Cruces.

“I have three proposals from three separate companies right now,” he said, adding that the bid proposals were evaluated by the city Purchasing Department. “I’ve run models on my stuff and from my experience I think it should cost about $2 every time we drive by your house. So if we drive by twice, it should cost $4, and you are already paying $3, so we’re talking a $1, a $1.50 increase, but we’re talking something doable.”

Peck said he believes curbside recycling will be available in the fall. The second-most popular topic, he said, is glass. Since glass is made of sand and is heavy, it is expensive to transport. To have a glass program, there needs to be a use for it. “Brand new today … Target – corporate-wide, nationwide – is accepting glass,” he said.

As of February, Peck said SCSWA has doubled its recycling tonnage. It has also made strides in its Doña Ana County public school pilot-recycling program, which provides recycling containers to elementary schools. The program began in six schools, but is now being conducted in 17.

“Recycling is blooming in Las Cruces,” said SCSWA public point person Suzanne Michaels. “We’re now picking up 80 tons of recyclables every week. Just a few months ago we were picking up 15 tons.”

A big push for recycling programs in Las Cruces has come from those moving to the city from other states. Michael Wise, who came from Dallas, joined SCRaP because he wanted to see more done locally.

“We’re used to seeing it done elsewhere and wonder why it’s not being done here,” he said. “Now it’s being done here. The program is going forth. Now, I think, people want it.”

Schuster said the city has recently applied for a grant to purchase a solar-powered compactor. A demonstration of the compactor, known as “Big Belly,” was held during the Earth Day event at Young Park Saturday, April 17.

“We’ve got funding to purchase one of them,which we will be placing at City Hall,” he said. “The purpose of this, and we’re trying it out to see how well it works, the purpose is that it allows you to have more time in between pickups so you can cut the cost of maintaining receptacles.”

SCRaP’s biggest success to date, however, occurred last November during its first recycle material collection, in which 33 percent of all the state’s recycled material was collected for that day.

“We blew the entire state out of the water that day,” Peck said. “I was stunned,” Michaels said. “Our event was supposed to start at 9 (a.m.), and at 7:30 (a.m.) cars started driving in.”

The next step, Peck said, is to purchase recyclable products and goods. “You’ve got to close the loop,” he said. “You’ve got to start buying this stuff and creating the demand and creating the market, or we’re nothing but a bunch of hypocrites.”

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NMRC Board Meeting Dates

You can register for the 2010 EPA Resource Conservation Challenge Web Academy Solid Waste Management and Recycling Education Series on the web at:

http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/rcc/web-academy/index.htm

July 15:  Recycling & Market Development of Unique Materials

August 19:  Food Waste/Organics Reduction & Recycling

September 16:  Greening University Campuses

October 21:  Sustainable Materials Management                                    

U.S. Recovered Paper Consumption Continues to Rise

From Resource Recycling - June 29, 2010

Total domestic consumption of recovered paper was 2.6 million tons in May — up 1.3 percent from the previous month and 7.1 percent year-over-year. Breaking down the numbers, mixed paper increased 5.8 percent versus May of 2009, newspaper increased 5.2 percent, corrugated increased 11.7 percent and pulp substitutes were up 2.2 percent. High grade deinking was the one standout, with a yearly decline of 14.6 percent.

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2010 Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots Global Youth Leadership Award - Nominations Accepted through July 6

Do you know of an outstanding young person who has demonstrated skillful leadership in making a difference for people, animals and the environment?
If so, send in your nomination for the 2010 Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Award! The Jane Goodall Global Leadership Awards honor organizations and individuals who share Dr. Jane's values, vision and commitment to making a positive difference in the world for all living things.

The awards are given in the categories of Youth Leadership, Excellence in Public Policy, Global Leadership, Corporate Social Responsibility and Responsible Activism in Media and Entertainment.

Nominations are now being accepted!
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2010 Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Award. We encourage you to take this opportunity to nominate an outstanding young person in your community!

Excellent nominees:

• Are current Roots & Shoots members,
• Possess outstanding leadership qualities,
• Are between the ages of 14 and 24, and
• Lead projects that make a positive difference in the world for all living things.

Guidelines:

1. Nominators and nominees should complete the official Award Nomination Form.
2. Nominators should be an adult who is closely acquainted with the nominee.
3. Nomination forms should be filled out by the Nominator and Nominee then submitted together, following the submission instructions on the form.
4. All nominations must be received by 5 p.m. EST, on July 6, 2010.

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Tires Into Asphalt

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Recycling Commodity Prices

The price for OCC in July is going down $5 due to soft demand and increased generation. Price for ONP 8 went down $5 per Ton. Price for other deinking grades remained the same and price for higher grades went down $10 per Ton in general. Price for plastics has been going down during the last weeks and Aluminum cans took a big hit in June with prices going down as much as $ 0.12 per lb.

Please note that prices differ due to different circumstances like presentation, transportation costs, and amounts of materials being picked-up or delivered.

* Only accepting 100 pounds plus of PET #1

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 2010

Tom Rico, City of Roswell; Richard Kerner, 7UP/RC Bottling; Karen Temple Beamish, Albuquerque Academy; Terry Tadano, Socorro Area Chamber of Commerce; Dennis Gallegos, Waste Management Farmington; Hiram Muse; Michael Alexander, Recycle Away; Dwight McDonough, Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority; Evelena McGahey; Sylvia Hewett Schneider, City of Carlsbad; Bill Radosevich, NM Waste Servivces; Wilson Laughter, Navajo Nation; Susan Flores, Keep Tularosa Beautiful; Rob Vezina, Toter; Joseph Godfrey, Recycle Taos; Dave Holtman, Western Metals Recycling; Vicki Andrews, Road Runner Waste Service, Inc.; Jerome Salazar, CH2M Hill; Tim Sisneros, F5 Equipment; Theresa Riedinger, Cargotec USA, Inc; Carrie McChesney, Concept Green LLC; Dan Makens, Trails End Woodworks; Andrew Gough; Edward Cook, ServiceMaster Performance; Michelle Murphy, Gap, Inc; Drew Baker, Green Removal Systems

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Regional Round Up

NEED TO DO newspaper search

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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

Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Authority Job Listing

The position of Buckman Road Recycling and Transfer Station site manager is open until filled. Click here to read job description.

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Recycling Tidbits

WM Acquires Medical Waste Processing Facility in Arizona Waste Management Inc. is acquiring a medical waste processing facility in Phoenix, Ariz.   More»

Florida Governor Vetos Yard Waste/Trimming Ban Repeal Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has vetoed HB 569, a piece of legislation that would have lifted Florida's decades-long ban on landfilling yard waste and trimmings.   More»

Delaware Scuttles Bottle Bill, Enacts "Universal Recycling"
Delaware's beverage container redemption program is being phased out, replaced by "universal curbside" recycling across the First State. Governor Jack Markell yesterday signed Senate Bill 234, which establishes "Universal Recycling" in Delaware, though critics say that it is replacing a weak bottle bill — aluminum was exempt from the overturned program due to attaining collection targets, for example — with the new curbside program.

The new law replaces the nickel bottle deposit, beginning December 1st, with a four cent fee on all non-aluminous beverage containers which will support the recycling program. The curbside service begins September 2011 with municipalities and waste haulers providing the container and the collection. The four cent fee ends by the beginning of 2014 or when the fees total $22 million, whichever comes first. Additionally, the bill sets recycling rate goals — a 50 percent municipal waste recycling goal to be reached by 2015, and 60 percent by 2020.
Residents can still return beverage containers for their deposit until Feb 1, 2011.

California Grocers Support Ban on SIngle Use Carry-out Bags
The California Grocers Association is expressing support for a proposed law in the state legislature that would introduce a state-wide standard for disposable shopping bags.   More»

Sears Launches Campaign to Repalce Older Appliances

Retailer Sears is launching a new campaign that aims to recycle 5 million older appliances and replace them with energy-efficient models.   More»

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Calendar

September 14, 9 AM - 1 PM, Moriarty

November 4-5, Retreat at Sevilleta Research Station, 1 PM to 1 PM

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2010 Recycling and Composting Facility Operator Certification Class Schedule

To register, please go to www.recyclenewmexico.com/cert_classes.htm

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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 me.

English Bird, Executive Director

New Mexico Recycling Coalition

PO Box 24364, Santa Fe, NM 87502

english@recyclenewmexico.com

(505) 983-4470