New Mexico Recycling Coalition

selling recycling equipment, and creating programs for PET plastic beverage containers. Prior to joining NMED in 2001, Gifford spent almost 14 years with the National Soft Drink Association directing their environmental affairs program. Gifford is a past president of NMRC, the Washington State Recycling Association and that National Recycling Coalition. He chaired the recycling committee for Keep America Beautiful and served on the board of the Council on Packaging in the Environment and America Recycles Day. Congratulations Gifford for being recognized for all your hard work to improve recycling in the U.S.!

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NMRC End of the Year Membership Drive

NMRC is hosting an end-of-the-year membership drive and we need your help! We want to increase our numbers and reach as many individuals, organizations and businesses, as well as ensuring our financial health. Our members are the foundation of our organization and you know what they say about having power in numbers. NMRC currently has 260 members and has set a goal to reach 280 by the end of the year. So put on your thinking cap!

How Can You Help?

If you are already a member, ask a colleague to join! Ask yourself what businesses in your area recycle and rely on that as part of their core practices? Do you have other partners who either handle recycleables or who benefit from the recycling industry? Or do you know individuals who are committed to making a difference in the recycling world who can join or make a donation?

Win Something While You Are At It!

We have several “prizes” for folks who bring in the most new members. So make sure when someone does sign up, that they mention your name! The University of NM is donating 5 “UNM Recycling” baseball caps to the cause. We also have a recycled tin-can night light as well as candle holders for folks who help recruit new members.

Why Join?

The website is the only resource in NM guiding the public to recycling opportunities in their area.
The NM recycling listserve
The monthly e-newsletter gives you all the latest news about recycling around the state, as well as job opportunities, grant announcements and other great recycling tidbits
Education of Professionals: Through our classes, conference and workshops, NMRC aims to keep our professionals in tip top shape.
Public Education: Be it outreach to the general public or to specific industries like the construction or hospitality fields, we aim to be the voice of recycling for NM.
Advocacy: We show up at the legislature to make sure recycling is at the table of our leaders.
Member Logo: For businesses and communities that are dedicated to recycling, they can use our “NMRC Member” logo on printed and web materials so the public knows their commitment.
Tax Donation: All donations are tax-deductible as NMRC is a non-profit entity.
Higher level donors receive logo recognition on our homepage.

Send folks to join to our membership page or encourage them to surf around to learn about our programs! www.recyclenewmexico.com. If you prefer us to make a direct phone call to the interested party, please just let us know the name and number so we can follow through! Email Sarah at sarah@recyclenewmexico.com.

Thanks for your support and dedication to making NMRC the great organization that is has become!

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NMRC is working to locate a recycling champion for as many NM communities as possible. In an effort to engage the grassroots to grow recycling around the state, we wish to locate the average citizen who cares deeply about this issue as a link point to others on our website. We hope then that local folks will work together to educate their elected officials about the importance of recycling. If you know of someone not already listed on the webpage, please let us know!

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NMRC is happy to welcome Freeport-McMoRan Cooper & Gold - Chino Mines Company (FMCGCMC) as its newest Silver-level member. FMCGCMC’s membership includes representation from each of their New Mexico operations, the Freeport-McMoRan Chino Mines in Hurley, Tyrone Mining LLC in Tyrone, and Cobre Mining Company in Hanover.

The Copper Development Association estimates that throughout history about 700 billion pounds of copper have been mined and that a majority of this copper is still in use. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. recycles a variety of copper-containing materials, including copper wire, copper alloys, copper-bearing sludges and soils. The mine states that it is aggressively applying environmental process technology and copper-bearing waste recycling to capture metal value from waste and effluent streams.

Used oil is a common waste stream at the mine’s locations worldwide. The mine has established facilities to produce blasting agents for rock fragmentation from used engine oil. Previously, used engine oil was handled by a hazardous waste disposal firm or returned to the supplier for recycling. By utilizing this used oil, they are currently reducing diesel consumption by approximately 460,000 gallons annually while safely eliminating the same quantity of used oil.

The company recently recycled laboratory equipment from its closed down chemistry lab in Tyrone by donating over $20,000 worth of flasks, beakers, centrifuges, funnels and electronic balances to Western New Mexico University in Silver City. Students studying physical science and forensics are using the materials in their chemistry classes.

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Mining Urban Ore

An educational initiative of Sacred Wind Communication Community Connect (SWCCC). An article submitted by SWCCC.

We have seen some incredible advances in the area of computation and communication in the past ten years. As you know, this has also led to an interesting reuse and recycling challenge. It has brought about initiatives and solutions like manufacturer's 'take back' programs and legislation such as that sponsored by Senator Feldman establishing some ground rules for agencies for responsible disposal of surplus electronics. There have been numerous non-profit initiatives to capture second hand equipment and turn it back into useful life for non-profits and for needy families. Such activities have been, mostly, funded by donations, sponsors, or grants. These 'digital divide' organizations helped set the stage for more formal commercial recycling ventures.

As these private for-profit entities have taken root, and the Internet auctions of second-hand equipment have become logical alternatives, less and less emphasis and less equipment is left over for local reuse. While the economics of resale of equipment helps subsidize the disposal process, in many cases, donation of equipment has been drastically reduced. The irony is that while disposed of computers become more powerful and more usable in training purposes for the needy, these same 'digital divide' organizations have very limited access to this equipment.

We would like the recipients of this newsletter to know of the work that Sacred Wind Communication Community Connect (SWCCC) is doing in conjunction with the Navajo Nation. We are the non-profit affiliate of the new telecommunications provider on the Navajo Reservation, SWCCC having acquired the territory from Quest Communication. An important objective of SWCCC is the provision of digital communication to each subscriber, commercial or residential. SWCCC, in turn, has been charged with the responsibility of helping to set up user training centers which teach local Navajo peoples basic computer applications. Part of SWCCC’s mission is to place a high quality, refurbished computer in low-income Navajo homes.

We would like to encourage NMRC members to assist us in this effort by considering a second outlet for your used electronic equipment. We plan to set up programs that include high schools and community colleges where students can learn about computer repair as a career development alternative. We are engaging students in the process of teaching adults in the use of the Internet. We would like to work with the Navajo, both on and off the Reservation, in developing skills in the use of a life-changing technology.

We look forward to working with some of you and to suggestions from others as to how we can help develop this program and become an integral part of a 'community beneficial' program in New Mexico. If you would like to talk to us at SWCCC about any of this, please contact the Executive Director Janice Badal at (505) 798-1193 or at jcbadal@swctel.com.

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Computer Recycling Event in ABQ - October 18th

Sacred Wind Communications Community Connect in partnership with Enchantment Electronic Recycling will host computer recycling event with the intention to gain re-suable computers for the Navajo Nation program mentioned in the earlier article. The event is scheduled for Saturday, October 18th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Wal-Mart shopping center parking lot, located at 8000 Academy NE (Academy and Wyoming). For more information contact Janice Badal at 505-798-1193 or Nicole or Joel Belding at 505-232-9483.

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In the 2008 Legislative session, Senator Dede Feldman brought in a memorial requesting the secretary of the environment to convene a task force to develop guidelines for environmentally preferable electronic procurement and recycling by state agencies and make recommendations for recycling and disposal. The task force has completed three stakeholder meetings and brought forth the following recommendations:

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The National Recycling Coalition (NRC), the national organization that NMRC is affiliated with, has launched online educational tools to illustrate the connection between recycling and climate change. The resources include fact sheets, frequently asked questions, policy papers and copies of key legislation, which can be accessed through the NRC Web site.

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Need beverage container recycling bins for your local park, school, office or special event? The Coca-Cola/NRC Recycling Bin Grant Program supports local community recycling programs by providing selected grant recipients with containers for the collection of beverage container recyclables in public settings. Grant recipients will receive actual recycling bins instead of funding.

The grant program is open to governments, civic organizations, schools, non-profit groups, and for-profit companies. Eligible activities include but are not limited to establishing or enhancing a recycling collection program. This includes the use of specialized containers at community events or functions, public facilities, and programs or events conducted by applicants.

Grants are distributed twice a year, in the spring and fall. The Fall 2008 grant application is open through October 17. Applicants will be notified whether their proposal has been accepted on or before November 14.

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The NM Environment Department: Solid Waste Bureau has developed an excellent compact fluorescent lightbulb (CFL) recycling web page, that outlines everything you ever wanted to know about this topic. The webpage includes locations where to recycle bulbs throughout the state. Information on CFL recycling locations are also listed in NMRC's Recycling Directory.

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The portable and expandable recycling information booth created for the recent State Fair is available for travel to other community events. Please contact Jill Turner, who works for the Office of the NMED Secretary, at 505-827-1754 or jill.turner@state.nm.us for more information.

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Environmental Educator's Conference To Include School Recycling Information

New Mexico’s Math and Science teachers will team up with the Environmental Education Association of New Mexico to hold a combined conference on October 17 and 18 at the University of New Mexico. Friday, Oct. 17 pre-conference workshops will be offered by 15 groups, from outdoor education experiences to computer tools for teaching. Friday evening’s reception will be a community event, open to the public, in Woodward Hall, UNM from 7-9 PM. The event, titled Education for a Sustainable Future, will feature a panel discussion moderated by Lt. Governor Diane Denish.

All day Saturday sessions will focus on connecting sustainability with math and science education. Sarah Pierpont, NMRC's Deputy Director, is scheduled to talk Saturday morning about how to set-up a school recycling program. For more information and registration forms for the preconference workshops and the Saturday conference sessions, go to http://www.nmsta.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18&Itemid=24

Every November is NM Recycling Awareness Month (NMRAM), held in conjunction with the national America Recycles Day event on November 15. We encourage communities, youth groups, schools, businesses and other organizations to plan a recycling outreach event sometime in the month of November.

Thank you to our NMRAM Sponsors: New Mexico Environment Department: Solid Waste Bureau, Dex, Intel Corporation, SBM Site Services, Waste Management, Sandia National Laboratories, NM Clean and Beautiful, Keep NM Beautiful, Whole Foods, NM Public Education Department

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Register now for the upcoming Recycling and Compost certification courses before the classes start to fill up. Greg Baker is back in the hot seat for the Composting Course with a tour of the Albuquerque Soil Amendments Facility and the Recycling Course will include a field visit to the Santa Fe MRF.

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A new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is highly critical of the US EPA's lack of oversight regarding the exportation of hazardous electronic materials. The GAO report says that the EPA needs to make a bigger effort to "ensure that the larger universe of potentially harmful electronic devices -- is exported in a manner that does not harm health or the environment." The report also said that very few companies actually comply with laws requiring them to notify the agency prior to exporting these wastes. GAO investigators posed as foreign buyers of electronics wastes including old CRTs in Hong Kong, India, Pakistan and other countries and found 43 U.S. companies willing to ignore EPA compliance and reporting rules...Read More »

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The Sustainable Endowments Institute's College Sustainability Report Card 2009 was released on September 24, 2009. The SEI report reviews 300 leading schools: http://www.greenreportcard.org. University of New Mexico and NMSU are both included in the report.

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Plastic Recycling Free Webinars Offered

The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers is hosting a set of three free web-based seminars. Due to popular demand, the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) is repeating its popular workshop series Into the Bin and Back Again with a set of three free, web-based seminars. Please join APR in these one-hour recycling training geared to helping recycling coordinators collect more plastic more efficiently! Each session is offered twice, but you need only attend the session once. Individual registration is required for each session. To register or for more information, please visit http://www.plasticsrecycling.org/webinar/

Session One: Getting to Know You: The Ins and Outs of the Plastics Industry

This free, hour-long web seminar is designed for the recycling program that would like to improve their plastic recycling techniques. Get real tips from the industry to make sure your program is operating free of kinks and at full profit potential. Learn about plastic recycling resources to make your job easier. Leave with a check list of possible program improvements.

Dates: Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 1:00pm – 2:00pm (EST) -or- Wednesday, January 7, 2009, 1:00pm – 2:00pm (EST)

Session Two: Plastic Recycling: Switching to All Bottles Collection

This free, one hour seminar will present a step by step approach on switching to all bottles recycling collection. Participants will learn from case studies and will leave with a to-do for easy implementation. Session will provides definitions, specifications, and sorting tips.

Dates: Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 1:00pm – 2:00pm (EST) -or- Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 1:00pm – 2:00pm (EST)

Session Three: Working With the Middle Man: Tools for Efficient Plastic Recycling

Participants in this web-based workshop will learn how to get the most out of hauler contracts. We'll also discuss when it might be better to market plastic bales directly. Discussion of contract provisions that are beneficial to the community, including reducing contamination, sharing revenue, and monitoring performance.

Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2008, 1:00pm – 2:00pm (EST) -or- Wednesday, January 21, 2009, 1:00pm – 2:00pm (EST)

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.3.9 (Panther®) or newer

Questions about these workshops? Email Keefe Harrison with the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers at postconsumerplastic@gmail.com

To register or for more information: Visit http://www.plasticsrecycling.org/webinar/

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Intel New Mexico Joins EPA's Performance Track

Intel Corporation – New Mexico in Rio Rancho is among the 42 new members setting goals to go above and beyond environmental requirements as part of EPA's National Environmental Performance Track Program. As part of the program, Intel has committed to reduce its air emissions, water use, energy use, and the amount of waste generated at its facility. Both public and private individual facilities may apply for Performance Track membership, with some companies having multiple facilities in the program. Performance Track members represent a wide range of industries, including government, electronics, chemical products, pharmaceuticals, and rubber and plastics.

This latest group of Performance Track members was accepted from applications submitted in Spring 2008. To earn membership, applicants must demonstrate and commit to maintaining a strong record of environmental compliance, set three-year goals for continuous improvements in environmental performance beyond their legal requirements, have internal systems in place to manage environmental impacts, engage in community outreach and consistently report results.

Since the launch of the program in 2000, Performance Track members have set more than 4,000 goals to benefit the environment. As a result, they have reported greenhouse gas reductions of 310,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, reductions in nitrogen oxides of 13,000 tons, and reductions of hazardous waste of 52,000 tons.

Additional information on the Performance Track program and its new members is available at http://epa.gov/performancetrack/.

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Michael Grandjean, GranCor Enterprises; Gib Waide, Bernalillo County; Sheli Keyes, Robert Cohen Sports Surfacing; Amanda Skarsgard and Harold Harrison, Northwind Inc; Peter Wood; Vivian Martinez, City of Santa Fe; Tracy Blackburn; Novella Trujillo, Albuquerque Convention Center and Visitor Bureau; Joe Ramirez, City of Tucumcari; Charles Greenwood, GreenPlanet Recycling; Tom Heck; Alex Aragon; Arlene Clemena, Steven Adams, Taylor Roehl, & Rusty Hiers - Jaynes Corporation; Darin Sand, Goodman Realty Group; Greg Hawrylyshyn & Tim Coughenour, Gerald Martin; Carol Wight, NM Restaurant Association; Hyatt Regency Albuquerque; Bill Greenhalgh, Lockwood Construction; Danford Wadsworth, Hopi Solid Waste Management; Lisa Lee, South Central Solid Waste Authority; Sally Padilla, Santa Fe SW Management Agency; Elizabeth Alongi; Liz Foster, Modulus Design; Sally Rutledge, Beautiful Spaces; Daniel Abram, Village of Tijeras; Kristy Moyer, Build Green New Mexico; Michael and Ed Lingnau, Ed's Recycling Center; Carol Chavez, USFS Sandia Ranger Station; Sharon Marks, High Mountain Homes; Carlsbad SWCD; Patrick Jenkins, Holloman AFB; Dennis Davis, Star Construction; Steven Schwartz, Albuquerque Marriott; Doug McLeod, Catalyst Paper; Johnny Pena, City of Albuquerque; Paul Roszel, RecycleNet; Kariann Sokulsky, Richard Backer & Larry Crotts, Freeport-McMoRan Chino Mines Co.; Gary Estepp, ResourceAD; Pete Grogan and Shawn Tackitt, International Paper; Rudy Rivera, City of Albuquerque

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*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.

Cardboard…………......................$55-$90/ton.

Newspaper……………………….…$35-$80/ton

Sorted Office Paper……..............$45-$155/ton

Mixed paper………………………….$5-$40/ton

Shrink wrap…………………………...$0.05-$0.10/lb

PET bottles (#1)……………………...$0.03-$0.10/lb

Milk Jugs, natural HDPE (#2)………$0.03-$0.06/lb

Single color HDPE…………………..$0.03-$0.06/lb

Aluminum Cans………………………$0.48-$0.60/lb

Clean Stainless Steel…………………$0.48-$0.50/lb

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The City of Truth or Consequences has an opening for the position of Sanitation Director of the Solid Waste Division. Requirements: High School Diploma or equivalent. Must currently hold a valid New Mexico CDL and have a current NM solid waste faculty operator certification as Landfill Operator; have a minimum of six (6) years’ experience in sanitation work, which includes two (2) years landfill management experience; and be familiar with recycling operations. Must successfully pass pre-employment drug testing. Grade: PM-6 pay range $40,248.00 - $60,860,80 depending on qualifications, plus benefits.

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Albuquerque: The Mayor and City Council members have created a "Mayor's Recycling Task Force" to review and provide comment on the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan being developed by Zia Engineering and Environmental Consultants and Gordon Environmental. NMRC is a task force participant.

Farmington: The city of Farmington council has voted to move forward with a curbside recycling program that will be operated by Waste Management of New Mexico.

Las Cruces: The South Central Recycling Partnership (SCRaP) has been created and has hosted meetings dedicated to improving recycling for the region and includes the City of Las Cruces, the South Central Solid Waste Authority, Dona Ana County, NASA, White Sands Missile Range and the district public schools. Concerned citizens have participated as well as NMRC, NM Environment Department and other interested parties. The state's new recycling booth will be landing at the Las Cruces Fair from October 1-5.

Sandia Labs: An excellent resource is the Pollution Prevention website for Sandia National Labs. Check out http://p2.sandia.gov/

Sandoval County: Will host a recycling and illegal dumping workshop in October for elected officials and county administrators to increase awareness about these issues. NMRC will participate as a speaker.

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The US EPA is expected to finalize its contentious rule that exempts a number of hazardous wastes from strict management regulations prescribed under RCRA. The agency has been under pressure to broaden its definition of solid waste (DSW) to include materials that could instead be destined for beneficial reuse. The EPA hopes that the DSW rule will clarify its regulatory framework following a series of appellate court rulings that held the agency had provided too narrow a definition for what should be considered a solid waste, and by extension a hazardous waste. Officials with the Environmental Technology Council (ETC), a group representing hazardous waste recyclers, worry that the new rule could encourage "sham" recycling. Separately, chemical industry officials worry that overly onerous reporting requirements, if adopted, in the law could discourage recycling. EPA estimates the rule would exempt over 3 billion pounds of hazardous waste from over 4,600 facilities in 530 industries...Read More »

Samsung Electronics America, Inc. announced Samsung Recycling Direct — a free take-back and recycling system for all Samsung-branded consumer electronic equipment. The program will feature permanent drop-off locations in all 50 states. Non-Samsung-branded electronics may be dropped off for a nominal, weight-based fee, to be paid at the processor's location. Samsung has partnered with such processors as Sims Recycling Solutions (West Chicago, Illinois), CRT Processing LLC (Janesville, Wisconsin), eco | International LLC (Vestal, New York) and JFRC, LLC (Wheaton, Minnesota). In addition to the permanent drop-off locations, Samsung will sponsor free e-scrap collection events in all 50 states, and allow for free drop-off of Samsung-branded equipment at non-Samsung-sponsored events, as well.

The company says that it will only "utilize recyclers that do not incinerate, landfill, or export toxic waste to developing countries," and that its program can be tracked on the Web site. A full list of participating locations will be available when the program launches on October 1^st.

The Consumer Electronics Association (Arlington, Virginia) issued a release applauding the Samsung Recycling Direct program. "Like other consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers who have adopted similar practices, this program demonstrates the company's commitment to environmental sustainability," said Parker Brugge, CEA's vice president of environmental affairs and industry sustainability.

Lenovo Offers Free Take Back

PC maker Lenovo (Research Triangle Park, North Carolina) has announced a free take-back program for all Lenovo-branded products in partnership with processor ECO International LLC (Vestal, New York). The program accepts all Lenovo, and some IBM-branded products, and will be free-of-charge to consumers, including shipping. If equipment returned has some resale value, participating consumers would receive payment via a pre-paid credit card. "All materials are processed under the e-waste management hierarchy; reuse, resale, parts harvesting, donations and materials commodities management, supporting a zero landfill policy," said Brad Brown, vice president of marketing and sales, ECO International.

The company also recently joined The Climate Group (London), setting a voluntary target of improving its carbon efficiency — its carbon emitted per dollar of revenue — by 10 percent from 2007 to 2012.

Catalyst Paper announced that it will take eight days of downtime at its Snowflake, Ariz., mill, starting Oct. 20. Downtime is expected to remove around 8,000 metric tons of newsprint from the market. Additionally, the downtime will lower the paper mill’s ONP needs by around 10,000 metric tons.

The company said the slowdown in the U.S. economy was a key reason for the decision to take the downtime.

"We are watching demand and inventory levels very closely," said Richard Garneau, president and CEO. "Existing orders and shipments will be managed accordingly to address delivery commitments and maintain efficient operations during the mill downtime."

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**November 6-7, NMRC Board Retreat, Sevilleta, Starts at 10 AM on the 6th and ends at 3 PM on the 7th. RSVP to english@recyclenewmexico.com

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Recycling and Composting Facility Operator Certification Class Schedule for 2008

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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.