Municipal Governments Recognized For E-Waste Efforts

Several state and local governments were awarded honors in the 2012 State Electronics Challenge. This was a national contest geared at municipalities looking to reduce their electronics and find cost effective and environmentally friendly ways to dispose and recycle unwanted and unusable materials and e-waste. The contest was sponsored by the Northeast Recycling Council with financial support from electronics manufacturers such as Panasonic, Samsung, Sims Recycling, and the Consumer Electronics Association.

Top winners in the contest included the City of Providence Public Schools, in Rhode Island; DuPage County municipal offices, in Illinois; Manitou Springs School System, in Colorado; and Regional Technology Cooperative, in State College, Pennsylvania.

Additional awards were issues to the City of La Crosse, in Wisconsin; the Vermont Natural Resources Agency; the City of Tacoma, in Washington; and the Ohio Regional Office of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Through the combined efforts of all participating city and state agencies, the collective amount of hazardous e-waste properly disposed of and recycled exceeded one hundred and fifty tons.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Properly disposing of and recycling electronics waste is important. However, if you’re a business owner, you know how easy it is to “stockpile” outdated equipment in a storage closet because you’re not sure what to do with it! Contact your local or regional environmental and sanitation offices to learn about special e-waste disposal days and give that closet a cleaning!

Recycling Asphalt On The Rise

Indicating that the construction and transportation sectors are looking to cut costs by using recycled materials, it was reported that in 2011 the highest levels to date of warm-mix asphalt had been used in the construction of new pavement for roads, driveways, and parking lot areas. Warm mix is a form of asphalt that is generated using recycled asphalt siding shingles and reclaimed pavement.

It is estimated that almost seventy million tons of recycled asphalt-based waste materials were collected in 2011 as a result of reconstruction and demolition work. The unwanted asphalt is then sold for reuse in the manufacturing of new pavement.

Another benefit of the warm-mix asphalt is that it requires less energy use to produce the same quality level of traditionally manufacture pavements. As a result, businesses save money by using it both in not needing as much in raw materials but also in the energy costs to produce it. Due to the lower production temperature, there are also less emissions that occur during the paving process. Users of the warm mix method claim the product has a high level of performance while helping to make the construction of roads and driveways a bit more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: If your business is responsible for or involved in the construction of roads, parking lots, or driveways, informing your customers about the benefits of recycled asphalt is something they may want to hear. And don’t forget! If you have unwanted or old asphalt materials, don’t pay to dispose of them before you investigate their market value!

 

EPA Strengthens Coastline Waste Monitoring

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching it’s summertime environmental monitoring of coastline areas to safeguard beaches and popular tourist spots to ensure the health and safety of those who use them. The agency will employ helicopter surveillance to check for floating debris as well as water sampling to ensure contaminants and toxins are not present at dangerous levels. This year, as a result of Hurricane Sandy, particular attention will be paid in the New York and New Jersey area to monitor water quality levels and industrial debris that continues to wash onto the shoreline.

The EPA will be working with both state and local environmental agencies and monitoring of the designated locations takes place seven days a week. The agency will also be assessing the potential for toxins and fecal contamination in shellfish beds and coastal waters that are popular for fishing and recreation.

Beaches and the areas surrounding them will also be monitored to ensure that trash and other waste materials are properly disposed of and not being allowed to enter the water. Harbor areas are also included in this category as environmental officials will be monitoring fishing and recreational boats for compliance with safety and hazardous wastes regulations.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: If your business is involved with coastal recreation and leisure activities, you want to make sure that you have a plan in place for handling your waste, recycling, and any hazardous materials such as paint, oil, and pesticides. It’s better to be aware of the regulations and follow them then to be inspected and fined for violations. When you go green you’ll not only save some “green” but you’ll keep your business out of hot water!

More Recycled Plastic Used In Bottles

The Californians Against Waste consumer and environmental advocacy group recently announced that Arrowhead bottle water, manufactured by Nestle Waters, will use fifty percent of recycled PET plastic content in all bottles the company makes.

In addition, the bottle’s shape will be redesigned so that it requires fifteen percent less energy to produce. A considerable amount of the recycled plastic will be sourced regionally by CarbonLITE, a recycling facility located in Riverside, California.

Currently, the state collects close to seventy percent of plastic bottles for recycling. In recent years, in excess of two hundred million pounds of PET plastic has been collected annually and re-sold for manufacturing purposes. The state would like to see that number increase to three hundred million pounds in the coming years.

PET plastic can be recycled and reused many times without impacting quality and is the ideal substance for manufacturing high-grade beverage bottles.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Does your business or facility have designated recycling for plastic bottles? If so, are your employees recycling them or mistakenly disposing of them with the trash? PET Plastic is desirable on the recycling market so every bottle that is put in the trash costs you twice: to acquire it and then to dispose of it. Save green every month on your disposal fees when you “go green” and commit to recycling as much as you can!

Schools Get Benches For Recycling

County administrators in Indiana are offering schools, community groups, and not for profit organizations with the opportunity to acquire new benches in exchange for collecting and recycling plastic caps from beverage bottles.

Lake County, in the northwest corner of the state, has started the project as a way to promote recycling throughout the area. For any group that collects over four hundred pounds of plastic caps, the country will provide a high quality indoor and outdoor use bench made of recycled plastics.

The county has allocated funds to purchase as many as twenty benches from regional manufacturer, Green Tree Plastics in Evansville, Indiana. Benches will be awarded to groups once the redemption of the collected bottle caps begins. It takes nearly four hundred pounds of recycled plastic to make each bench, so the collection of the waste plastic helps to defray the overall cost of the bench. Each community group will be limited to acquiring four benches in the initial round of the recycling program.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Is your town using strategic thinking to promote recycling and green businesses? Collaborating between different groups is a great way to work together and support both community and business needs. If your town isn’t doing something like this, take the first step and ask! You may find more support and interest than you expected!

University Of Florida Wins With Green Construction

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida first place in the large institutions category in the EPA’s Campus RainWorks Challenge. The RainWorks program is designed to motivate engineers, construction firms, campus planners and landscape architects to incorporate environmentally conscious building practices into new or existing structures.

The winning design specifically focused on Reitz Lawn, an eleven-acre grass-covered area, and how to remove stormwater pollutants before reaching Lake Alice, which is part of the Floridian Aquifer. The University of Florida plan includes a campus garden, rain gardens, collection pools, green walls and roofing. The plan also aims to cut water usage to maintain the campus by over three million gallons each year. Unique to this plan was the level of student input and comments that were solicited to determine where members of the campus community saw a need for improvement. The plan was then developed in conjunction with a faculty representative and twelve graduate students from disciplines ranging from landscape architecture, agricultural engineering and environmental and biological engineering.

In the Florida region, stormwater poses a serious challenge to maintaining water quality for the region. When contaminated stormwater reaches rivers and lakes, it pollutes the habitats of wildlife and can contribute to flooding – causing a multitude of problems for residents and businesses.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Green construction and landscaping practices such as green roofs, environmentally friendly building materials and surfaces and landscaping with native plants and rain gardens are some of the most frequent ways to incorporate green infrastructure into a residential or commercial building project. Be sure you incorporate them into the money saving options offered to clients!

Chemical Management Tips From The EPA

If you’re a building owner or facility manager for a school, it’s important to understand the regulations about storage and disposal of chemicals. More than fifty three million children and six million adults spend more than eight hours each day in schools throughout the country and ensuring their health and safety by providing an environment free of toxic and hazardous materials is essential.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides a Toolkit for Safe Chemical Management publication that is designed for school building managers and provides best practices for managing chemicals and the hazards they pose. One of the easiest and most important steps is the chemical materials audit, where outdated, expired, and unusable materials are properly disposed of. Having information about proper disposal and what to do in the event of an emergency is also an essential training element for all employees.

Many schools are in old, outdated buildings and it’s easy to accumulate chemical products over time from one facility manager to the next. It’s might also seem to be cost effective to hold on to chemical that haven’t been used “just in case” there is a need in the future. However, both of those strategies can pose a harm to employees and students. Some older chemical products may actually be considered illegal and have uncertain side effects if left to sit for many years. Using the chemical Toolkit provides and proven and effective way to manage chemical products and waste without causing unnecessary harm to students or the school environment.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: The federal and state regulations for chemical waste are always changing and being updated. Keep you and your employees educated about can and cannot be done with them. Staying informed will not only help to keep everyone safe but also keep you from incurring fines or penalties for illegal and improper storage and disposal practices!

Reducing Waste And Energy At Work

Looking for some ways to cut back on the amount of electricity you use at home or work for operating equipment, cooling, and heating? Here are some tips provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Not only will they help to preserve the environment, but they’ll also results in cost savings!

1. Take control of your office equipment

One of the simplest things you can do to save energy and money at both work and home is to power down your computer and office equipment when not in use. Keeping non-essential computers shut off when not at home or work will result in immediate savings!

2. Invest in ENERGY STAR appliances

ENERGY STAR appliances are available in sixty different product groups ranging from lighting, cooling and heating, commercial equipment and computer and office tools. Spending a little more in up-front cost will save you money every month on your utility bills!

3. Get your building ENERGY STAR approved

Did you know that buildings can also earn an ENERGY STAR-label? Be sure your building’s facilities manager is aware of this program and working on way to attain it!

4. Green Your Transportation

Some popular options can include offering incentives for using carpools, public transportation,, biking, or telecommuting. If your business uses a fleet of cars or trucks, investigate the EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide when it’s time to update for the latest in fuel efficiency.

5. Recycle, reuse, reduce

Another easy solution to implement is buy only what is needed, use what you have as long as is reasonable, and recycle as much waste material as possible.

6. Go Green Power

The EPA’s Green Power Partnership provides information on how to switch to green power sources for both your home and business use.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: There are many tips and strategies that you can use at home and work to make small changes in both your utilities budget and the environment. Trying one or two for a month of two will show you the results!

 

Reducing Waste At Business Events

If your business regularly plans special events for the community, employees, or customers and clients, you’ll want to be aware of some tips and strategies for making these meetings or social hours cost effective and environmentally aware.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers a special guide to help your event planner cut back on the total of municipal solid waste generated at your businesses event. This tool is free and can pertain to any type of meeting, for any employment sector, and for varying number of attendees. Whether you’re gathering at a hotel or in your office’s conference room, there are many things you can do to save green and go green!

Tips from the EPA for business events:

  • If your attendees are coming from out of town, select a location that is easily accessible by public transportation
  • Pick a conference room with many windows and natural light. It’ll help to reduce eye strain and fatigue, eliminate the need for lots of lighting, and keep attendees alert
  • Be sure all paper materials are printed using double-sided or provide downloading files that attendees can view on their laptop or mobile device
  • If you schedule many meetings throughout the year, make sure name-tags are reusable
  • Have coffee, water, beverages, and food served in reusable mugs, glasses, and plates.
  • If holding the event at a hotel, ask if composting food waste is available
  • Always make sure that recycling options are available for paper, glass, and plastic

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Having an environmentally friendly meeting can be fun and enjoyable for all your attendees. The key is to plan and strategize in advance. Set key goals and outcomes and be sure to evaluate not only your green impact but also how much money you’ll be able to save!

 

More Plastic Bag Bans Proposed

Concord, Massachusetts, a suburban town in the metropolitan Boston area, in the latest in a series of many communities to take up the issue of plastic bag bans. Under consideration will be regulations limiting the use of single use plastic bags, restaurant take-out cups and containers, and PET water and drink bottles.

Earlier this year,  the small village of Manchester by the Sea, on the northern coast of the a state, approved a ban on retail single-use plastic bags. The regulation is currently under review by the state’s attorney general and if it is approved, will be official for July 1 of this year. Enforcement of the ban, which has stiff penalties for non-compliance, will fall to the local police department.

Brookline, another Boston suburb, last year banned plastic bag use in retail stores bigger than 2,500 square feet.

In Concord, businesses and residents currently recycle close to fifty percent of the waste stream, and local schools and government buildings have switched from selling bottled water to installing water fountains and re-usable water bottle filling stations to promote less waste.

WasteCare Wants you to Remember: As more and more communities seek alternatives to waste disposal, as a business owner of manager, it pays to always be thinking of ways to reduce your waste stream and boost recycling. Investigating recycling opportunities and environmentally friendly options for packaging may be easier and less expensive than you think!