Monthly Archives: October 2012

A Beautiful Landfill For Hawaii

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Wondering how to get residents and businesses to recycle more in your community? Take a lesson from government officials on the big island of Hawaii and spruce up your transfer station! Hawaiians says their newly re-designed transfer station is one of the most beautiful place on the island and as a result, there has been an increase in recycling efforts.

The landfill re-design was part of an effort to instill a sense of pride and community well-being as curb-side pick-up is not offered on the main island. Residents must bring trash and recyclables to one of 21 facilities where the materials are self-sorted – if the resident does not sort, then all materials are sent to the landfill.

The facilities were originally build in the 1970s and have suffered much wear and tear. Five years ago, officials decided to begin the re-modeling process so that residents would enjoy bringing their waste in and staying to properly sort the recyclables.The facilities are now drive-up in design and provide large bins for various types of waste, making it easy for residents to know what is accepted and where to put it. Some of the facilities also have taken advantage of renewable energy such as solar electricity and rainwater harvesting – thus cutting down on expenses. As a result, an increase of 15% has been seen in the waste recycling rate.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: What does your community transfer station look like? When a space is clean and well cared for, people are more likely to respect it and work to keep it that way. Can a little housekeeping increase the waste recycling rate in your town? It certainly did in Hawaii!

 

The Global Market For Recycled Plastics

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China’s Environmental Protection ministry is investigating policies that could change the market for recycled plastics and has recyclers in China and abroad concerned.

The biggest concern regards a potential regulation that would make the import of unwashed post-consumer plastics illegal. In best practice, plastics should be sorted, wash and ground at the same stage to preserve the highest quality. The concern with recyclers is that plastics washed before importing may have increased water-weight thus inflating the cost per ton. There are also concerns about the stage in which granulation of materials should take place and which materials should be subjected to it.

In addition, the draft policy creates enhanced criteria for import licenses and facility inspections and businesses that manufacturer ultra-thin bags, food-contact products, medical products and construction supplies may find themselves looking for export relationships elsewhere.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: China is a global player in the waste recycling marketplace and it pays to stay up-to-date on regulations and policies that might impact your business. Be sure you’re doing all you can to minimize your risk by diversifying your exports – and don’t forget to look for opportunities in your home state or community – you might be surprised by what you’ll find!

More Bans For Polystyrene

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San Rafael, California is ready to become the fifty-seventh community in that state to pass a city-wide polystyrene ban for food take-out containers. The city is home to approximately two hundred and fifty businesses and a population of fifty-five thousand that will be impacted by the ban.

The new rule, which begins October 1 of next year, requires a final vote that will take place this month. The initial vote passed 3-0, with two members not voting, and is expected to clear the final vote. Currently, there are fifty-two California cities having polystyrene restaurant packaging rules, and the number increases every year. Most of the affected businesses and consumers live in the proximity of five urban areas: Oakland, San Francisco, Fremont, Salinas, and Hayward. Over ninety percent of California residents still have access to and can use this form of food packaging.

The San Rafael ruling will apply to one-time use polystyrene containers such as plates, bowls, trays, cups, lids, and hinged containers. Meat packaging, coolers and ice chests, and food prepackaged outside of city limits, and certain utensils are exempt from the ruling.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: If you’re in the food or restaurant business, it pays to look at alternatives to polystyrene packaging. With more cities adopting rules against this product, it’s in your best interest to identify cost-effective alternatives, ways to increase your waste recycling efforts, and how to decrease your waste disposal charges!