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 2007:

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WasteCap News

Lincoln Computer Collection

WasteCap Nebraska is planning a computer collection for Lincoln households and businesses to be held June 13th, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at State Fair Park. We will be accepting computer monitors and peripherals, CPUs, faxes, printers, televisions, and fluorescent light bulbs. Your first monitor and 50 lbs. of peripherals will be taken free of charge, with a fee of $10 per monitor and $0.35 per pound of peripherals and electronics after that. Fluorescent bulbs will be accepted at $0.40 for bulbs up to 4 ft. and $0.60 for bulbs over 4 ft. Discounts will be given to WasteCap members, and toner cartridges and cell phones will be taken free of charge. For more information on the collection, please call the WasteCap offices at (402) 434-7376. We are also in need of volunteers for the collection. If you would like to join us for any portion of the day, please contact us to get the necessary information. Food and drink as well as a lot of fun will be provided for all volunteers!

WasteCap Welcomes Two New Board Members

WasteCap Nebraska is pleased to welcome two new board members.

Jeff Burg

Jeff Burg is the Director of Materials Management / Environmental Services at BryanLGH Medical Center and has been employed there since 2002.  He has worked in the health care management field for 29 years and has been responsible for support service and clinical department functions.  Jeff is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a BS in Business Administration and an MS in Health Services Administration.

Patti Wubbels

Patti Wubbels is the Sales and Service Training Manager for Liberty First Credit Union in Lincoln.  She also currently serves as the Vice President of Education and Research for the Lincoln chapter of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD-Lincoln) and is working on her Master's degree in Management with an emphasis in Leadership from Doane College, Lincoln. Patti received her Bachelor's in Business with an emphasis in Marketing from Doane-Lincoln in 1999.

Welcome Jeff and Patti, we look forward to working with you!

Upcoming Events

WasteCap Nebraska Summer Lecture Series Webcasts

With funding from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) and a partnership with US EPA Region VII, WasteCap Nebraska will be hosting a summer lecture series including four webcast presentations.  Topics will include Electronic Waste Confidential Information Chain of Custody, Resource Management and Solid Waste Contracting, Hazardous and Universal Waste Regulations, and Zero Waste.  Each presentation will also include an overview of the US EPA voluntary program WasteWise and its benefits.  Watch in the next couple of weeks for specific dates and times for each lecture and for registration information.

Nebraska Battery Recycling Project

Public Health Solutions is holding a battery recycling collection throughout different areas of Nebraska. They will be accepting disposable or rechargeable batteries. Below are the dates and locations where collection boxes will be placed.

Crete Farm Safety Day 
 June 6th
Ziggety Day @ Geneva Fairgrounds
 June 21st
Fillmore County Fair
 July
Gage County Fair
 July
Jefferson County Fair
 July
Thayer County Fair
 July
Saline County Fair 
 August

Boxes will also be set up at the following locations until supplies are exhausted (August or September)
Beatrice: WalMart photo area, Radio Shack
Crete: Foodmart, Radio Shack, PHS Office
Deshler: C-Stop
Diller: Diode Communications Office
Fairbury: Choice Communications (Radio Shack)
Friend: Yokel’s Hardware, Warren Memorial Hospital/Zimmer Medical                    Clinic
Geneva: County Extension Office
Hebron: County Extension Office, True Value
Strang: Bubba’s Anytime Café
Wilber: County Extension Office

Visit the Public Health Solutions website for more information.   

Recycling Today Upcoming Conferences

The Recycling Today Media Group will be offering three program sessions at the 2007 Paper Recycling Conference and the Electronics Recycling Conference, June 10-12, 2007 in Orlando, FL.

The sessions will be included in the Paper Recycling Conference & Tradeshow, the Electronics Recycling Conference & Tradeshow, and Recycling Today’s Plastics Recycling Conference & Tradeshow. For event and registration information, visit www.recyclingtodayevents.com.

WasteCap Across Nebraska

Omaha and Norfolk Collections a Success

WasteCap has held two computer collections in the past month, one in Omaha on April 25th and one in Norfolk on May 5th.
The Omaha Collection, held by WasteCap Nebraska, The City of Omaha, The Nebraska Environmental Trust, and the Nebraska State Recycling Association, brought in 103 cars, 394 monitors, and 18,345 pounds of peripheral and electronic equipment!
The Norfolk Collection, held by WasteCap Nebraska, The Nebraska Environmental Trust, and the Nucor Corporation, brought in 34,488 pounds of equipment!
Thanks to everyone for all of their help!

2007 Clean Your Files Week and Shred Day

Shred DayAlong with Clean Your Files Week, WasteCap, with the help of the City of Lincoln Recycling Office, Midland Recycling, Recycling Enterprises, and Shredding Solutions, held their first ever Shred Day. The week is over, and the results are in! The business winners for Clean Your Files week are:
Ameritas for most overall, with 24,508 lbs. and
League Association of Risk Management for most per employee, with 102 lbs. per employee.

Shred Day was also a success. We ended up with 239 cars and 12,924 lbs. of shredded material that will be recycled.  Thank you to our shredding companies for making this day possible.

Electronics Update

Vermont Senator Introduces Bill to Cut Power Plant Emissions

Senator Bernie Sanders, from Vermont, has recently introduced a bill that plans to cut power plant emissions. His plan is that while we should focus on all sectors of pollution, we should look at getting a handle on the number one producer of global warming pollution first. The Clean Power Act of 2007 would call for greater reductions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and mercury.
Source: www.sanders.senate.gov

Dell Moves Away From CRTs

Dell has announced that they will begin moving away from producing CRTs, and increasingly produce flat screened display monitors. This comes with hopes of eliminating around 20 million pounds of lead from the environment, possibly making Dell the largest reduced of hazardous chemicals in the U.S. More information on environmental programs within the Dell Corporation can be found on their website.
Source: www.resource-recycling.com

Is There An International Solution for E-Waste?

With the growing problem of electronic waste being discarded on the shores of China, India, and other developing countries, organizations are looking for a dramatic solution. It is becoming more apparent that not only are we ruining the environment of these countries, and providing hazardous and dangerous sites, but many elements, in addition to the gold and silver, found within the waste could be valuable for reuse. Organizations, such as the German group Solving the E-Waste Problem (StEP), are attempting to standardize the e-waste problem globally. Other organizations, such as Greenpeace International, disagree, stating that what we need is stronger enforcement of the rules already in place.
View full article…
Source: www.greenbiz.com

In the News

Save Money by Saving the Planet

MSNBC news has compiled a list of the top 10 ways to be environmentally friendly, while saving money at the same time. All are simple things that everyone can do daily to help make an impact. Below are the top 10, but please visit the website for a more in depth description of each.

  1. Adjust your water heater
  2. Upgrade cooling and heating systems
  3. Buy a programmable thermostat for your home
  4. Don’t drive so fast
  5. Watch that idle time
  6. Map out your errands
  7. Take a break from driving
  8. Mow your lawn with care
  9. Do laundry efficiently
  10. Think about your refrigerator
Source: www.msnbc.com

EPA’s New Website Provides Tips for Environmental Stewardship

On May 2nd, the EPA launched a new website dedicated to helping businesses, organizations, and individuals make environmentally smart choices. The website will assist users in finding necessary organizations, pick up helpful tips, and answer recycling and environmental questions. See the new site at www.epa.gov/stewardship.
Source: www.p2ric.org

Running the Numbers: An American Self-Portrait

Artist Chris Jordan has recently completed a series of digital images which place a visual element to certain statistics of consumption in the United States. While most of these statistics are astonishing to hear, such as 2.5 million plastic bottles used each hour, they are dramatically put into perspective with the images. http://www.chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php?id

Market Corner

  May – Chicago Region

Mixed Paper

$60-65 (-10)

Boxboard Cuttings

$80-85 (0)

News

$80-85 (-5)

OCC

$95-100 (-10)

SOP

$150-160 (0)

Sorted White Ledger

$240-250 (0)
Material Abbreviations
OCC: Old Corrugated Cardboard
SOP: Sorted Office Paper		 Source: Official Board Markets