Waste Reduction at WasteCap... In an effort to reduce office paper waste at your office and ours, WasteCap utilizes an electronic newsletter. Past e-newsletters can be found on our website under the "E-Newsletters" tab. Check out our website at www.wastecapne.org for the latest events, publications, and new member listings for WasteCap Nebraska.

What's New for May 2006:

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WasteCap News

WasteCap and NE Environmental Trust Sponsor Norfolk Computer Collection

On May 6th, WasteCap, with funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust, joined Nucor-Vulcraft for their annual Scrap Day recycling collection event. Scrap Day is an annual event in Norfolk which allows households to recycles items such as aluminum cans, refrigerators and other appliances, and scrap metal. This year, though collaboration with WasteCap, Scrap day was able to collect computers, televisions, and other electronics as well.

The electronics collection was a very successful addition to the yearly event. In total, 489 vehicles brought recyclables, and over half of these brought electronics. More than a quarter of the attendees came to the event to recycle electronics only. Each vehicle that brought electronics helped divert an average of 128 pounds of e-waste from a landfill. All together, WasteCap helped collect over 31 thousand pounds of computers and other electronics. After the collection, the waste was processed by CP Recovery. Special thanks go to the Nebraska Environmental Trust for making this event possible.

Upcoming Events

Lunch and Learn in Lincoln, May 23rd

The Lancaster Extension Education Center will host a WasteCap Lunch and Learn on Tuesday, May 23rd. The topic will be electronic waste and toxic trade. The presentation will be in cooperation with the Basel Action Network, an organization which works to prevent the globalization of the toxic chemical crisis. The event will include a catered lunch, two informative videos from the Basel Action Network, and a question and answer session with WasteCap director, Carrie Hakenkamp. Registration is $15 for WasteCap members and members of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. Non-members can register for $20. To find out more about the Lunch and Learn or to register, email Carrie Hakenkamp or call 436-2384. The registration deadline is May 19th.

Lincoln Computer Collections June 21st

On June 21st, WasteCap Nebraska, with funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust, will hold a commercial electronics recycling collection from 9AM to 3PM at State Fair Park in Lincoln. The collection will be held in partnership with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and event sponsor Waldron, Riggs & Lloyd CPAs, PC. Local businesses will be able to dispose of electronic waste, including computer monitors, CPUs, peripherals, other office equipment, fluorescent lighting tubes, cellular phones, and toner cartridges. Each business can recycle one complete system (a monitor and up to 50 lbs of peripherals) for free, after which the cost will be $10 per monitor ($9 for members), $0.35 per pound for peripherals ($0.30 for members) with fluorescent lights priced at $0.40-$0.60 per tube ($0.34-$0.55 for members). Cell phones and toner cartridges will be accepted free of charge. The e-waste collected will be processed by Retrofit Recycling.

Also, WasteCap is looking for help from our members for the computer collection. We need volunteers who are willing to work two-hour shifts collecting equipment and directing participants. If you would like to help, or if you have questions about the computer collection, please call WasteCap at 434-7375 or email Lydia Fiedler at [email protected].

Retrofit Recycling Pick-Up Dates

WasteCap Nebraska members 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. Pick up dates are subject to change, please call 7-10 business days ahead of time if you wish to schedule additional pick ups.

Trivia Corner

May Trivia Question

You can have a chance to win this month's prize by answering the following question: According to the April newsletter, which state recently passed landmark legislation for e-waste? The answer can be found in last month's newsletter. Please send your responses to Lydia Fiedler at [email protected]. Correct responses will be included in a drawing for Dinner for two at Braeda Fresh Express Café! Please submit your answers by June 1st for a chance at the drawing. Good Luck!

Member News

Lincoln Plating names Dickey director

(from Lincoln Plating) — Lincoln Plating's Rick Dickey has been promoted to the position of director of environmental programs according to Tom Christie, vice president of technical services. "Environmental excellence is one of our key success drivers at Lincoln Plating," said Christie, "and Rick has done an outstanding job as the leader of our environmental programs. Since taking over the waste treatment area, Rick and his team have delivered a zero defects performance and unprecedented environmental achievements"

Dickey has also led all aspects of air and solid hazardous waste permit compliance, the company's ISO 14001 registration and regulatory reporting. Recently Dickey has been moving the company toward a "Deep Green" culture, broadening the way Lincoln Plating approaches its environmental responsibilities. Dickey is currently celebrating his 28th year at Lincoln Plating.

Omaha Joins Curbside Value Partnership

The city of Omaha, Neb., has become the 19th city to join the Aluminum Can Council's (ACC) Curbside Value Partnership (CVP). Beginning this summer, the city's public works staff and the ACC will kick off a city-wide campaign to educate residents about the benefits of curbside recycling.

"We have three central goals for this partnership," Steve Thompson, director of recycling initiatives for the ACC, says. "We want to increase participation in curbside recycling throughout the city, we want to see more bins on the street and we want to see residents more diligently recycling the valuable portion of what goes in that bin, including aluminum cans and newspaper. We know the residents of Omaha will respond."

Read the whole article at Recycling Today.

Electronics Update

Circuit City Joins Battery Recycling Network

Circuit City Stores Inc. has formed a partnership with the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) to recycle mobile phones and rechargeable batteries. On May 1st, Circuit City began integrating the RBRC's "Call2Recycle" public education and recycling program in its 627 superstores and other U.S. locations. The program will allow consumers to drop off obsolete cell phones and spent rechargeable batteries to be recycled at no cost. The RBRC partners businesses and communities to recycle rechargeable batteries and mobile phones. It has collection bins in more than 30,000 North American locations. More than 300 companies that manufacture and market portable rechargeable batteries and products fund the RBRC.

For the complete press release, visit the RBRC's website.

Best Buy helps out with e-waste removal in New Orleans

Best Buy, a partner in the Environmental Protection Agency�s Plug-In to eCycling Program, removed 100,000 pounds of hurricane-damaged electronics from New Orleans in a cooperative effort with federal, state and local governments that are cleaning up potentially hazardous household debris in southern Louisiana. In total, the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers have coordinated the collection and recycling of 13 million pounds of storm-related e-waste throughout southern Louisiana since September.

During the past month, Best Buy also delivered $5 million in computer donations to schools damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in the New Orleans area and in Mississippi, and teamed up with the EPA to assist in the safe recycling of storm-damaged electronics in both Louisiana and Mississippi.

Read the whole article at Waste News.

In the News

EPA Releases Sector Strategies Performance Report

On May 1st, the EPA released a performance report highlighting several environmental trends in various sectors. For example, steel recycling has reached a 20-year high; the number of buildings meeting green building standards doubled last year; and paint and coating manufacturers now reclaim 97 percent of all waste solvents. The EPA partnered with more than 20 national trade associations representing 12 major sectors of the U.S. economy to compile the information. The 2006 Sector Strategies Performance Report provides a 10-year portrait of environmental performance for each sector. It tracks reductions in water discharges, air emissions, waste generation, toxic chemicals released and accomplishments in recycling and energy and water efficiency.

The entire report is available for download online at the EPA's website.

Non-Ferrous Metals Still to Going Strong

Markets for scrap non-ferrous metals are still booming in North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. Continued growth is encouraged by production deficits and by emerging markets, like China, India, and Russia. World growth is expected to reach 5% this year, as prices reach record highs and continue to climb.

For more information, visit Recycling Today.

Nebraska DEQ Awards More than $1 Million for Tire Recycling Projects

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Director Mike Linder announced that the state is awarding $1,158, 805 to support 91 tire recycling and cleanup projects across the state. It is expected that the grant money will allow the state to collect, process and recycle around 670,000 scrap tires. The grants are part of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Grants program, which is administered by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. The grants support both the collection of scrap tires and the purchase of new tire-derived products.

For more information and a complete list of grant recipients, see Recycling Today.

New Study on Demolition Contractor Waste

(from Waste News) — According to a study for the National Demolition Association, demolition contractors generate about 115 million tons of waste each year in the United States. The study, which does not include debris from road and bridge projects, was conducted by Gershman, Brickner & Bratton Inc., a waste management consulting firm based in Fairfax, Va. Association members from more than 40 states took part in the survey. The survey, which uses 2004 data, also indicates that an estimated 73 percent of the material is either reused or recycled by the industry, GBB said.

For more information, visit wastenews.com.

WasteCap Connections

Aerosol Can Recycling System for Sale

A WasteCap Nebraska member has an Aerosolv Model 5000 Aerosol Can Recycling System for sale. The following components are included: The system is in brand-new condition and is still in the original packaging. Please contact Sue Ellen Pegg at (402) 436-2383 or [email protected] if you are interested in the system.