WasteCap of Lincolns E-NewsletterOctober 2003
Waste Not, Want Not Octobers E-Newsletter focuses some much-needed attention on the spending habits and standards of living in the United States. Read on to see if you are infected with affluenza!
Were full!! The spaces for WasteCaps 2nd training and vendor show are all taken! Check out this months e-newsletter for more information on activities and dignitary appearances! Click here to see last years reviews as well as current listing for sponsors, vendors, training sessions, and an agenda for the 2003 event.
Waste Reduction at WasteCap. In an effort to reduce office paper waste at your office and ours, WasteCap has moved to an electronic newsletter. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to any interested parties, but refrain from printing it out in its entirety. All past e-newsletters can be found on our website under the Archives tab. Thank you!
Check out our website at www.wastecaplnk.org for the latest events, publications, and new member listings for WasteCap of Lincoln.
Whats New for October 2003:Weyerhaeuser Business R & R Event Books Nationally-Recognized Pulp Fashion Show WasteCap Recognized in Grand Island for Statewide Expansion Efforts Business Representatives Enjoy Recycling Program & Ale During Lazlos Talk & Tour California Becomes First State to Pass E-Waste Law Retrofit Recycling Pick-Up Dates New Shopping Disease Infects Every State in the Union Experts Link Obesity to Suburban Sprawl Fossil Fuels: Oil & Gas are Losing Gas Global Warming Claiming 160,000 Lives Annually Sprawl & Construction Blamed for 20% Tree Loss in Cities
WasteCaps New Member ProfileWasteCap of Lincoln is pleased to announce that our membership is growing and now includes some of the service providers that our current members are using. We are happy to welcome them into our membership.
WeyerhaeuserWeyerhaeuser, founded in 1900, is one of the worlds largest forest products companies composed of two core businesses, paper and wood products. Recycling is a component of the Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling Business.
Weyerhaeusers recycling business has grown, since its beginnings in 1974, into the recycling industry leader. Weyerhaeuser - Omaha is one of 22 Weyerhaeuser facilities located throughout the United States. Together, we recover over 6 million tons of wastepaper annually, enough to fill more than 100,000 rail cars. Over 60% of the wastepaper recovered is consumed internally at Weyerhaeuser operated mills to produce corrugated packaging, newsprint, and printing/writing paper. Material not consumed internally is shipped to other domestic and international mills where Weyerhaeuser has strong, long-term supply contracts.
Weyerhaeuser-Omaha is the areas premier multi-material recycler handling all grades of paper and most non-paper grades. In addition to recycling program assistance, Weyerhaeuser provides secured document shredding for your sensitive documents. Containers and equipment ranging from desk side units, to trailers and balers are available for temporary storage and handling of your recycled material. For more information, contact John Svoboda at (402) 453-8755 or john.svoboda@weyerhaeuser.com.
Business R & R Event Books Nationally-Recognized Pulp Fashion ShowThe second Business R & R Event is only two weeks away! This one-day training and vendor show includes several activities focused on money saving waste reduction and recycling techniques for businesses. In addition to the nearly 40 environmental service providers committed for the vendor show, check out the latest events planned for the November 4th Event:
Vendor Hall OpeningGovernor Mike Johanns & Senator Don Preister open the vendor hall @ 10:00
Training SessionsFour information-filled training sessions from green purchasing to electronic recycling & liability, complete with six expert speakers compliment the days other activities. To learn more about the sessions, click here. To register for the training sessions, click here or call (402) 436-2383.
Awards LuncheonMayor Coleen Seng & City Councilman Ken Svoboda will be on hand to recognize environmental excellence in the following WasteCap members. To RSVP for the award luncheon (included with the training registration fee), please call (402) 436-2383 or e-mail wastecap2@alltel.net.
Networking Reception & ARD Kick-Off EventA special thank you to NDEQ and the Target Corporation for their sponsorship to bring the nationally recognized Pulp Fashion show to the Business R & R Event. This fashion show, last performing at the National Recycling Coalition Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, is sure to be a hit! Click here to view the nearly 25 outfits and see the latest reviews for the fashion show.
WasteCap Recognized in Grand Island for Statewide Expansion EffortsThe following article was reprinted with permission by the Grand Island Independent, who has been covering WasteCap of Lincolns expansion into the business community there. The September 7th article, entitled When Dumping isnt an Option: Business Recycling Program in the Works, was authored by Gretchen Fowler (gfowler@theindependent.com).
Grand Island professionals who've been finding themselves buried in stockpiles of outdated or no-longer-useable office equipment may soon have a solution.
A number of players have come together to see if a business recycling program would be feasible for Grand Island. They've found a company to help them get the program off the ground and have learned just how much the need for such a program exists.
"We've had a lot of good initial interest in it. I've been very happy with it," said Tonja Broadwell of the interest in the program and the input from members of the community.
Broadwell chairs the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce's information technology committee -- the vehicle being used to drive the effort. The CEO of KDS Internet Services, Broadwell knows first-hand how things such as computer equipment and bulbs can pile up and how difficult it can be for businesses to dispose of such materials.
Businesses cannot legally dispose of mass quantities of computer monitors and fluorescent light tubes in landfills because of the hazardous materials those items contain. Therefore, said Grand Island's Solid Waste Superintendent Kevin McKennon, many businesses end up stockpiling "e-waste" until they can find some way to get rid of it.
"We have lots of computer equipment here (at KDS Internet Services) we absolutely don't know what to do with," Broadwell said.
She said the company has tried to donate the old computer equipment and in some cases, have scrapped it down to nothing. Knowing the best place for such waste wasn't the landfill, Broadwell began looking for places where businesses in Grand Island could dispose of such materials.
She said she found Lincoln and Omaha were about the closest places to take such waste. She thought it was a shame Central Nebraska didn't have a better option and decided to do something about it.
Broadwell got in touch with WasteCap of Lincoln, a non-profit organization that works with businesses to improve waste reduction and recycling programs internally. She learned WasteCap had received grant funds to extend their services to a community within a 100-mile radius and had not yet chosen a community. Talks began, and Grand Island was chosen as the pilot community to which WasteCap will extend its services.
WasteCap Executive Director Carrie Hakenkamp said her organization will serve as a facilitator, helping to ensure that Grand Island businesses get fair pricing and good quality services from local companies that collect and recycle such products.
Hakenkamp said businesses that choose to sign on to the cooperative marketing agreement will likely receive a discounted price when it comes to disposing of their equipment. And because periodic pick-ups will be established through that agreement, participating business won't have to worry about loading up hundreds of monitors and hauling them to a common drop-off location. "That would be wonderful. It would be of immense assistance," said Sue Burch of the possibility of a local business recycling program.
Burch is the director of technology for the Grand Island Public School District and someone who knows how quickly old computer monitors can pile up. She said the district tries to cycle out old computers at least once a year, which ends up being anywhere from 200 to 300 computers that are typically eight to 10 years old.
Burch said the computers are first offered at public auction, and the ones that don't sell have to be disposed of in some other way. She said even when parts can be salvaged and re-used, they can only be used for so long, then they begin to pile up.
"I believe there's an extremely large need for the business recycling program to get going," McKennon said. "It's going to be an excellent program. It's going to give us a chance to get rid of a lot of the e-waste and florescent light tubes."
In addition to periodic pick-ups, Broadwell said another possibility would be holding an annual hazardous waste collection for businesses, much like ones already offered for households. Broadwell said the program is still in the planning process but is advancing successfully. She said anyone interested in learning more about the future program, or in taking part in the discussion, can contact Carol Owen at the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce.
Business Representatives Enjoy Recycling Program & Ale During Lazlos Talk & TourTwenty business representatives attended WasteCaps third Talk & Tour event at Lazlos on September 22nd, 2003. The event began with a tour highlighting waste reduction and recycling techniques at Lazlos, Telesis, Data Security, FireWorks, and Empyrean Ales. Special attention was given to the recyclable collection process at the wait stations and kitchen areas as well as the conservation measures used in the in-house brewery.
Following the facility tour, attendees gathered in the FireWorks restaurant, where Tony Young, Chief Information Officer, discussed specific details of the waste reduction and recycling program between the five businesses. Highlighted aspects included the recycling guide given to all new employees, an environmental hit list that outlines all waste reduction and recycling guidelines and goals, annual recycling volumes throughout the years, and current restaurant industry hot topics such as greening your restaurant and menu selection consciousness with regard to environmental impact (i.e. harmful effects of overfishing). During the presentation, Mr. Young also noted the importance of having both management and employee support and ownership in a program in order to ensure success.
A complimentary ale tasting was served to all attendees following the completion of the presentation. A brief question and answer period helped Lazlos employees field any remaining questions concerning the waste reduction and recycling program.
An exit survey completed by attendees showed that 100% of those in attendance believed that the event (i.e. cost, length, tour, presentation and overall) was a big success. Attendees expressed at least a slight interest in attending a similar Talk & Tour event in the future. Click here to see photos from the event.
Attendees were extremely positive in their feedback about the waste reduction and recycling program at Lazlos. They indicated learning about, among several other things, water conservation/reuse efforts, extensive recycling program efforts, the need for food composting in the restaurant industry, and that limited space does not need to be a limiting factor. General facts such as how grain waste from the brewery is used for livestock feed by a local farmer, batteries and CDs as miscellaneous recyclable items, and the economic impact of energy-efficient hand dryers and revolving doors were also favorites of the attendees.
This was the third NDEQ Waste Reduction and Recycling grant-funded Talk & Tour hosted by WasteCap. Due to past Talk & Tour successes, as well as the great interest in other potential T & T locations, WasteCap plans to make these events a permanent addition to the calendar. If you have a potential Talk & Tour location in mind, please contact WasteCap at wastecap2@alltel.net.
If you have any questions and/or would like more information about the waste reduction and recycling program at Lazlos, please contact Tony Young at (402) 434-5964 or ayoung@telesis-inc.com.
California Becomes First State to Pass E-Waste LawLast month, Governor Gray Davis made history by signing the California Electronics Waste Recycling Act of 2003, making California the first state to have a statewide electronics recycling law. The new law, which began as Senate Bill 20 sponsored by Sen. Bryon Sher, targets electronic waste from three different angles: speed the recycling of the 6 million discarded computers and televisions within the state; ensure that future tech trash will be less toxic by forcing manufacturers to stop using lead, mercury, and other harmful materials; establish safety standards for dismantling computers in foreign countries.
The bill also aims to assist non-profits, who lose between $25 and $30 for each computer system recycled. Even though the request was made to cease computer donations after computer prices fell a few years ago, people continue to dump unwanted equipment at local non-profits. For Goodwill Southern California, that resulted in over 1,300 pallets of obsolete computer equipment stored at their facility.
A $6 to $10 fee on all new high-tech products (range due to computer monitor and TV screen size) will fund the new law. If manufacturers wont absorb the per-item charge, consumers will - beginning in July 2004. California retailers will impose the fee on all store-bought, mail order and Internet purchases of computer systems and televisions. Revenues will fund payments to authorized waste collectors and recyclers to cover the net costs for operating e-waste programs for the public.
Twenty-nine other states, including Nebraska, have introduced e-waste bills.
Retrofit Recycling Pick-Up DatesReminder that WasteCap of Lincoln members do receive discounted fluorescent lamp, ballast, electronic and battery recycling services through Retrofit Recycling (800-274-1309) and Environmental Compliance Enterprises (466-2268). Please let us know if you need an updated price sheet.
October: 20th & 21st
November: 5th & 6th 17th & 18th
Markets Corner
Reminder that WasteCap/INFORM Members using Midland Recycling are paid $20 under the reported price for loose cardboard (OCC) and $5 under the reported price for baled cardboard in bales weighing over 1,000 pounds.
Material abbreviations: OCC- Old Corrugated Cardboard CPO- Computer Print OutMag- Old MagazinesNews- Old NewspaperSOP Sorted Office Paper
New Shopping Disease Infects Every State in the UnionDid you know that the U.S. has twice as many shopping centers as high schools? How about that we spend more on shoes, jewelry and watches ($80B) than higher education ($65B)? Did you know that the time parents spend with their children has decreased by as much as 40% in the last generation? Read about these and countless other not-so-fun facts in John de Graafs book Affluenza. Click on the link below to test yourself for the shopping disease as well as to see how PBS turned the influential book into the television documentary Escape from Affluenza. For the Complete Story, Visit: http://www.pbs.org/kcts/affluenza/home.html
Experts Link Obesity to Suburban SprawlSuburban sprawl, the spread of isolated subdivisions with large lots, has now officially been linked to the likelihood of being overweight. Studies show that people who live in the most spread-out areas were found to walk less and weigh about six pounds more on average than those in the most densely populated places. Finding causes of and links to the U.S.s weight issue is becoming increasingly important as more than two-thirds of adults are overweight and nearly 1 in 3 is obese. For the Complete Story, Visit:
Fossil Fuels: Oil & Gas are Losing GasGlobal reserves of oil and gas may be as much as 80% smaller than at first estimated. Swedish scientists forecast that oil supplies will peak by 2010, with gas peaking shortly thereafter. They believe reserves amount to 3,500 billion barrels, much less than the 5,000 billion barrels estimated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The airline industry and passenger vehicles are arguably the most intensive fuel users. For the Complete Story, Visit: http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/index.cfm?id=1088622003
Global Warming Claiming 160,000 Lives AnnuallyAn estimated 160,000 people die every year from side effects of global warming ranging from malaria to malnutrition, claim a group of scientists from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. This loss of life, which experts say could almost double by 2020, is especially high in children in developing nations due to the spread of malnutrition, diarrhea, and malaria after increased temperatures and resultant flooding and droughts. For the Complete Story, Visit: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L30616897.htm
Sprawl & Construction Blamed for 20% Tree Loss in CitiesU.S. cities have lost more than 20% of their trees in the last decade due to sprawl and construction projects. This vast tree loss contributes to environmental and health problems totaling $234 billion since trees help preserve water, prevent flooding, remove air pollutants, and cool the environment thereby reducing the need for air conditioning. American Forest, the group releasing this data, urges a 10% replacement of the lost trees totaling some 1.7 billion trees planted over the next 10 years! For the Complete Story, Visit: http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/22281/story.htm |