PROP Recycler Summer 2013

Summer 2013

The OfďŹ cial Publication of the

Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania

The f o NEW look

PROP Practice Management:

SINGLE STREAM

...and its PA relevance

GOING GREEN WITH

CNG

At the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority

Time to take stock...

RECYCLING

E-WASTE

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Contents

Not a membe

JOIN PROP T

r?

Summer 2013

ODAY!

We now acce online payme pt nts

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Retailers, consumers, waste haulers, municipalities, and others affiliated with electronics sales, distribution, collection and recyling continue to seek common ground on envioronmentally sound electronics disposal solutions.

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LCSWMA is going green by replacing their current dieselpowered transfer fleet with trucks powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).

FEATURES

6 10 14 18

Technology

Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority leads the way in PA CNG waste hauling technology

Practice Management Single stream recycling and its relevance in PA

E-Waste

Getting the motherload from motherboards

Legislative Updates

Navigating Act 101

Follow us on Facebook for updates, news & announcements /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

DEPARTMENTS

4 5 28 29

From the Executive Director

Welcome to the new Recycler and more new PROP initiatives

From the President

PROP updates from Bob Watts

Certification Schedule

Classroom and online certification class schedule

Member Spotlight

Showcasing Pittsburgh’s Independent Recycling Services

proprecycles.org I 717.236.0800 112 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania’s mission and purpose is to operate a nonprofit nonpartisan statewide association of recycling professionals dedicated to promoting and enhancing the recycling, organics management, and waste reduction programs in Pennsylvania.

2013-2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Executive Committee Robert Watts President

Brenda Schmidt Vice President

Art Feltes Secretary

Joanne Shafer Treasurer

Charles Raudenbush, Jr. Ex Officio

Board Members Barbara Baker Bob Bylone Michael L. Crist Sally Conklin Lauren Hayman Walt Davenport Ellen Keefe Terry D. Keene, P.E. Matthew Davies Michele Nestor Peter M. Previte Ann Saurman Chris Kaasmann Joy L.Smallwood

The written and visual contents of this magazine are protected by copyright.

Reproduction of articles or images online or in print without first obtaining written permission from Hoffmann Publishing Group, Inc., and/or the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania is strictly forbidden.

Hoffmann Publishing Group, Inc. 610.685.0914 I info@hoffpubs.com 2921 Windmill Road I Sinking Spring, PA

From the Executive Director

Recycling the Recycler...

Dear Friends Dear Friends

T

his is an exciting time for the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania and we welcome you to our new and enhanced magazine, The Recycler.

PROP is proud. The diversity and passion from our membership remains the vitality of our organization; their volunteerism, tireless efforts, vision, and advocacy will continue to evolve the industry throughout the Commonwealth and beyond. Our members are true leaders that provoke positive change within their communities and industry sectors. We hope that The Recycler will encourage you to have the same enthusiasm, so that we can work together to promote healthier communities by fostering useful recycling, organics, and waste reduction programs throughout Pennsylvania.

PROP is leaner and greener. It is without saying that a state organization for recycling would be “green.” Nevertheless, we are continuously taking steps to further reduce our carbon footprint and membership benefits. Our redesigned website is streamlined for convenience and is constantly being improved to provide additional resources and up to date information. New for The Recycler is the offering of an e-zine; an accessible and environmental-friendly way to read our magazine from anywhere, at any time.

PROP is a valuable educational resource.

Our award winning and reputable professional Recycling Certification Program is designed to offer recycling and organics education that promotes high professional standards for the

public and private industry. The program is also a valuable career pathway for new or young professionals.

And, not only do we provide a variety of classroom courses throughout the year all across Pennsylvania – we currently offer five online courses. It is due to our important partnerships with the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection, Penn State Altoona, and Committee that we are able to administer the Certification program. We are also able to develop customizable training programs to suit your specific needs.

Get involved! Know that you have the power to promote change. Our doors are always open for new members, new ideas, and new beginnings. Join us and volunteer with one of our many active Committees. Interact with us at our Annual Recycling & Organics Conference and network with industry colleagues.

Share your voice and experiences.

In closing thought, I would like you to know how I am inspired on a daily basis by the vision and commitment from our Board of Directors, membership, partners, and staff. The success of our organization hinges upon the generosity and volunteerism of our most valuable asset – you! With that said, I personally invite you to join PROP today to share your individual vision and voice.

Together we can make a difference!

With gratitude,

Kelly Megonnel

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p r o p r ecyc l e s .o r g

From the President

Enjoy PROP’s New Magazine

T

he saying goes, “All good things come to those that wait.” Even though I am one of the more “seasoned” PROP members, I too can become impatient for positive change to occur. It became impossible for our limited staff and already overworked volunteers to develop a timely magazine. I think you will agree with me that our new partnership with Hoffmann Publishing Group has produced a print and digital publication that the PROP membership can be proud of.

There have been some growing pains since last Fall as the PROP staff moved to downtown Harrisburg offices that better meet our current needs. I firmly believe that Harrisburg is the right place for PROP’s office and we now we have the appropriate space to accommodate

Summer 2013 The Offi cial Public ation of the

The NEW look of

PROP

staff. At the last PROP board meeting the FY 2014 budget was approved with funds allocated for part-time administrative office help. With Kelly Megonnel’s Staffing Plan we now have the staff in place to better manage our day-to-day needs and plan for the future. The Plan retains two remote employees while allowing for four monthly staff in Harrisburg.

We are planning to aggressively recruit new members and develop new resources during the next fiscal year.

One of the tools we plan to use is in the process of being updated. PROP has been using two separate databases for years; one for membership and one for certification. In July, we are expecting to implement a new, more user friendly database program that will consolidate the two databases into one.

Professio nal Recyc lers of Pen nsylvania

Pr Manage actice ment:

SINGL STREA E M ...and its PA relevanc e

G GREEN OING WITH

CNG

At the Lan caster Co un Manage ty Solid Waste ment Au thority

RECYCL ING E Time to take

stock...

-WASTE

With the new program in place, we plan to reach out to prospects ranging from the smallest municipalities to the largest corporations in the Commonwealth for new members and resources. Join us as we gain momentum, and help us increase the capabilities and membership of PROP!

Bob Watts President

Since 2008, we reduced our carbon footprint by 15.5%.

We’ve recycled 65,309,7000 pounds of waste, and we’ve only just begun...

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technology

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Recycling Tech News, Innovation & Analysis

Going Green with

CNG Kathryn J. Sandoe

Communications Manager, LCSWMA

T

he Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWMA) is undergoing an initiative to reduce the environmental impacts of their waste transfer operations, stabilize their long-term fuel costs, support the Pennsylvania-based natural gas industry and build a cleaner, more sustainable future for the Lancaster County area. LCSWMA is going green by replacing their current diesel-powered transfer fleet with trucks powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).

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L LCSWMA’s transfer fleet hauls municipal solid waste from its Transfer Station Complex to their WTE Facility and Frey Farm Landfill.

LCSWMA is replacing their 14-vehicle fleet with CNG powered trucks.

CSWMA’s daily transfer operations necessitate the use of 14 truck tractors that haul municipal solid waste from their Transfer Station Complex (Lancaster, PA) to either their Waste-to-Energy Facility (Bainbridge, PA) or Frey Farm Landfill (Conestoga, PA). On average, these transfer trucks consume a combined 140,000 gallons of diesel fuel each year.

As their fleet aged and management prepared to buy new trucks, coupled with the volatile prices of diesel fuel, LCSWMA considered the feasibility of retiring its current fleet and purchasing new trucks with CNG engines.

Until recently, the absence of a suitable technology that offered engines powerful enough for each 80,000lb payload of trash was a major obstacle.

For the first time in early 2013, the new 12 liter CNG engine technology became commercially available.

LCSWMA had the opportunity to test drive the new truck several times on their specific transfer routes, ensuring the new engine could stand up to several harsh climbs along LCSWMA’s route while pulling a full weight of trash. The test runs were successful and LCSWMA made the decision to order 14 new CNG trucks.

LCSWMA’s total investment for purchasing the new CNG trucks is approximately $2.2 million.

LCSWMA’s total investment for purchasing the new CNG trucks is approximately $2.2 million. To help offset Continued on page 8

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Technology //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

the incremental difference (37%) of purchasing CNG trucks versus diesel trucks; LCSWMA was awarded a $350,000 grant from Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), as part of their PA Natural Gas Energy Development Program.

Conversion of LCSWMA’s transfer fleet to CNG also requires the installation of CNG fueling infrastructure at their Transfer Station Complex. While LCSWMA will utilize a slow-fill (overnight) fueling system for its fleet, the organization is also installing a fast-fill fueling system for waste haulers and other select fleets. Installing

this combo station will provide LCSWMA with a faster payback on the project, while also allowing their customers to make the switch to CNG more affordable by eliminating the need to build their own CNG fueling stations.

CNG TO FUEL THE FUTURE? Aubrey Bauman Kreider, AMERIgreen Energy

Currently, LCSWMA is working through the procurement process to finalize costs for the new infrastructure, as well as a timeline for construction. The organization hopes the project will be complete by spring/summer of 2014.

For more information contact Kathryn Sandoe of LCSWMA at ksandoe@lcswma.org.

W

ith the growing amount of natural gas entering the pipelines from the Marcellus Shale, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) will become an increasingly larger factor in the commercial transportation fueling picture.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) under pressure remains clear, odorless and non-corrosive. Although vehicles can use natural gas in a liquid form (LNG) or as a gas (CNG), the gaseous form is most common where the gas is compressed to pressures above 3,100 lbs/square inch. CNG has primarily been introduced in a variety of commercial applications.

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The growing use of CNG and LNG across the country has been well documented. Applications include fleet conversions for corporations, utilities, and public transportation, CNG fueling station installations, and car manufacturers incorporating CNG capabilities and conversion options.

Although CNG and LNG vehicles and infrastructure has grown quickly in the past few years, there still remains a large gap due to limitations regarding fueling locations, costs to build the infrastructure, and CNG vehicle availability. Growing public interest in natural gas’s benefits as a clean-burning fuel that is less expense and has higher fuel efficiency has made it an alternative both the commercial and residential sectors have been more interested in exploring. CNG is a great alternative for short or one-day round trip applications and LNG is a good fit for long-haul of 500+ mile applications.

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practice management ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

BMPs that make good business sense & protect the environment

room in their bins by crushing plastic containers, such as milk and water jugs, as well as aluminum cans to remove air, which takes up capacity in the bin.

Ward also highlights recycling-related grants for municipalities to obtain financial assistance through Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The main grant that DEP has available is called the Act 101 Grant, also known as the Recycling Development and Implementation Grants.

“Through the grant program, municipalities and counties in Pennsylvania are eligible for up to 90 percent funding of approved recycling program costs.

Furthermore, municipalities considered financially distressed under the Financial Distressed Communities Act are eligible to receive funding for an additional 10 percent of approved costs,” explains Lisa Kasianowitz, spokesperson for Pennsylvania’s DEP.

Single Stream Recycling and its Relevance in PA

E

By Jessica Whitmore

d Ward, Municipal Contract Manager at Penn Waste, Inc. based in York explains, “Single stream recycling becomes a daily habit.

It becomes a container with layers of recyclables from each day.”

The process simply takes item separation out of the recycling equation for the resident as all recycling materials of plastic, aluminum, steel, glass, cardboard, paper and newspaper can go into one bin. Ward acknowledges single stream recycling makes recycling

10 Recycler I SUMMER I 2013

easier and increases the quantity of recyclables. However, he also sees it leads to residents needing larger recycling containers.

“Folks are recycling more [with single stream], but what happens when the container is at capacity? Does it go into the trash or into another container?” asks Ward. As such, Penn Waste has been focusing on getting larger bins into the hands of residents such as its 64-gallon rolling carts with lids. Ward also suggests residents create more

Additional grant opportunities are posted on the department’s website.

However, not all grants are available for single stream recycling.

For example, the Recycling Program Performance Grant is awarded based on individual sources of recyclable material, which means applicants must know what type of recyclable material is collected and the quantity of the specific materials.

Penn Waste has also been working at educating residents through flyers, inserts and municipality interaction about what is and isn’t acceptable in the recycling containers. “We don’t pick through

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recyclable material, started its “Operation Green Fence” initiative. This program started in February 2013 and runs through November 2013. Through this initiative, China can randomly inspect bales for its 1.5 percent cap on prohibited items or allowed contamination in each bale in an effort to keep “imported waste” out of its country.

If the bales are rejected, the cargo ship must return with the bales, which can be quite costly.

the bin at the curb, but if our guys clearly see something not a recyclable, we will leave the item at the curb with an educational sticker,” explains Ward.

This includes residential attempts to recycle gutters or aluminum chairs as well

as commercial recycling bins containing items such as deer carcasses.

Robert Cougle of Cougle’s Recycling, Inc. in Hamburg also acknowledges the concern with contamination and receiving quality recyclable products through single stream recycling. Contamination can be as simple as wet and soggy materials creating havoc on the system’s equipment and processes. He suggests preventing such contamination is as easy as using a lid with recyclable bins. He has also seen contamination occur because people and businesses won’t take the time to separate garbage from recycling, especially with larger recyclable bins. This includes neglecting to rinse recyclable items such as tomato paste cans and peanut butter jars. Along with garbage in recycling bins, Cougle says he has also found used diapers, pieces of raw chicken, Big Wheel tricycles, garden hoses, and even feminine hygiene products mixed in with the recycling items unloaded at his company.

“We want to see good recyclable products. We don’t want chicken pieces in bales or broken glass pieces in cardboard,” shares Cougle who further explains that the first people in his system separate the recyclables and garbage by hand. This emphasis on quality and contamination is even more important now that China, which imports bales of

One way Cougle is proactive about contamination is that he works with the haulers who unload at his recycling center with the goal to have cleaner recyclables. This includes educating the haulers on what is in their loads. He will take photos of any contamination issues and send those directly to the hauler so they are aware of what the recycling load contains.

He also emphasizes the importance of educating people on recycling beyond just putting the recyclable container at the curb. This includes educational materials, television commercials and working directly with municipalities to get residents to think beyond the recycling bin. “Kids are on top of recycling. They are reinforcing that items don’t get thrown away,” shares Frank Sau, Director of Communications at J.P. Mascaro & Sons based in Audubon, who emphasizes the importance of educating children on recycling.

Seven years ago, J.P. Mascaro & Sons started The Respect Program. It is a free educational program where three teachers on staff at Mascaro present in-school programs on respect, recycling, conservation and preservation to third through fifth graders. The program also provides grants for educational programs geared toward children as well as laptop prizes for its annual poster contest. The program has reached over

Continued on page 12

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“A lot of [publicly traded solid waste companies] already have single stream in their portfolios, but they are looking at the economics of introducing single stream recycling into additional markets,” he adds. In doing such, the companies look at volumes available in the market, the price of the commodities and labor and how the MRFs will perform financially within these considerations. The hardest aspect for the public to understand, according to Bodnar, is the lack of control over the commodity prices for recyclable items.

Overall, Bodnar encourages that “the industry is moving from a landfill business to a materials handling business.”

200,000 elementary school students and has awarded more than $100,000 in grants. “We get asked, ‘Is it okay to have your education program here if we don’t use you as a vendor?’ Yes, you can use this educational program regardless of who your vendor is. It is for the kids,” explains Sau.

“the industry is moving from a landfill business to a materials handling business.”

J.P. Mascaro is also looking to increase its single stream recycling presence in Berks County. The company is building a new Recycling Facility across the road from its current Pioneer Crossing Landfill in Exeter Township. The plant will be operational in 2014 and will include a 73,500 sq. foot recycling center on a 14.2 acre plot with an estimated price tag of $11 million.

The center will process single stream recycling as well as have an area for larger

12 Recycler I SUMMER I 2013

scale items such as recyclable demolition materials. It will initially handle an estimated 150 tons per day of single stream recyclable materials with the potential to handle 300 tons per day. “This is where the market is going, and it is one of the entities we don’t currently have,” explains Sau who says the company currently operates five hauling divisions that individually transport recycling material to third party vendors.

“The business is growing and becoming more stable for other businesses to join,” explains Randy Bodnar, Vice President of Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) headquartered in Pittsburgh with locations nationwide. CEC works with clients in the Solid Waste industry such as solid waste transportation, recycling facilities, transfer stations, collection facilities and materials recovery facilities (MRFs); in addition to landfills, waste processing and business support.

Website Listings

Penn Waste pennwaste.com

PA DEP Grant Information depreportingservices.state.pa.us/ ReportServer/Pages/ReportViewer/ Grants/GrantLoans

Cougle’s Recycling couglesrecycling.com

J.P. Mascaro & Sons jpmascaro.com

CEC, Inc. cecinc.com

P r o f e s s i o n a l R e c yc l e r s o f PA

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Management, Logistics & Output

Getting the Motherload From Motherboards Electronics recycling at a glance...

E

lectronic products constitute one of the fastest growing streams of today’s consumer and commercial waste. Retailers, consumers, waste haulers, municipalities, and others affiliated with electronics sales, distribution, collection and recyling continue to seek common ground on envioronmentally sound electronics disposal solutions. In November of 2010, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed the Covered Device Recyling Act of 2010 (CDRA), which establishes a number of requirements for individuals and entities involved throughout the life cycle of certain “covered” electronic devices. Covered devices include desktop computers, laptop computers, computer monitors, computer peripherals and all types of televisions.

On January 1, 2012, most of the CDRA requirements went into effect, covering activities for manufacturers, retailers and electronics recycling facilities.

Beginning January 24, 2013, a disposal ban on covered devices went into effect for everyone in Pennsylvania. Since there’s always some degree of confusion and misinformation when larger programs are implemented or modified, we thought it would be beneficial to share a general overview of the CDRA as found on the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (PA DEP) website.

These requirements outlined below address the manufacture, sales, and end-of-life collection, management and recycling of covered devices in Pennsylvania.

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Manufacturers of covered devices offered for sale in Pennsylvania • Must annually register their covered device brands with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and affix brand labels to their covered devices.

• Must establish and conduct ongoing recycling programs that offer covered device collection opportunities at no cost to consumers.1 The term “no cost” means no fee may be charged unless a financial incentive, such as a coupon or rebate, of equal or greater value is provided to the consumer. The devices col- lected through these programs must be properly recycled at certified electronics recycling

facilities. The initial recycling plan must be approved by DEP by Jan. 1, 2012, and subsequently, Jan. 30 of each year thereafter.

• Must report annual covered device collection and recycling data to DEP.

Retailers that offer covered devices for sale in Pennsylvania • May only sell covered devices that are labeled with a brand registered with DEP. • Must notify customers of how and where they can recycle their covered devices.

• Are not required to offer covered de- vice collection opportunities; but if they do, they must offer them to consumers at no cost.

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Electronics Recycling Facilities • Whether located in or outside of Pennsylvania, facilities that process or recycle covered devices that are collected from consumers through any electronics collection program in Pennsylvania, whether municipal, manufacturer, retailer, etc., must have achieved and maintained one of the following certifications: - R2 (Responsible Recycling Practices Standard) Certification.

- E-Stewards Certification.

- An internationally accredited third-party environmental management standard for the safe and responsible handling of covered devices.

•

Currently Pennsylvania’s Residual Waste Regulations require electronics processing/recycling facilities located in Pennsyl- vania to obtain a DEP general permit #WMGR081 (regard- ing the processing and beneficial use of electronic equipment and components by sorting, disassembling or mechanical processing) prior to processing any electronic devices or electronic waste.

The Pennsylvania DEP • Will post and maintain a list of registered and non-compli- ant covered device brands on its website for retailers and consumers to access.

• Will also post on its website and make available via its toll- free recycling hotline (1.800.346.4242) an up-to-date list of all covered device collection opportunities offered to consumers, including those offered by manufacturers and retailers.

• Will review manufacturers’ covered device collection and recycling plans, and will oversee the implementation of all approved plans to ensure compliance with the CDRA. • Will encourage the use of existing covered device collection infrastructure to the extent that it is available to at least 85 percent of the commonwealth’s population, is cost effective, and is environmentally sound.

• Will organize and coordinate public education and outreach regarding the recycling of covered devices, including assisting retailers as necessary in the conduct of their public education and outreach efforts.

Beginning Jan. 24, 2013, a disposal ban on covered devices went into effect for everyone in Pennsylvania. From this point Continued on page 16

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forward, no person may dispose of a covered device, or any of its components, with their municipal solid waste.

These devices and their components must be properly recycled and may not be taken to, nor accepted by, landfills or other solid waste disposal facilities for disposal. However, non-hazardous residuals of covered devices that are produced during the recycling of those devices are excluded from the disposal ban. The effects of the full disposal ban are outlined below.

Consumers The CDRA defines a consumer as “an occupant of a single detached dwelling unit or a single unit of a multiple dwelling unit who has used a covered device primarily for personal or small business use. For purposes of this definition, a small business is an entity that is inde-

16 Recycler I SUMMER I 2013

pendently owned or operated, employs 50 or fewer people, has purchased or leased a covered computer device from a computer manufacturer or retailer and, but for the program established under this act, would not otherwise have access to electronic recycling programs.”

•

•

May not dispose of their covered devices with municipal waste.

Must take their covered devices to an electronics collection location for proper recycling, place their covered devices for curbside collection if a specific electronics collection pro- gram is offered or utilize an approved mail-back program to recycle their covered devices.

Businesses • May not dispose of their covered devices with municipal waste.

• Will need to recycle their covered

devices. For businesses, the recy- cling facility that covered devices are transferred to does not need to be certified. If the facility is located in Pennsylvania, it must have a gen- eral permit #WMGR081 from DEP.

Landfills and Resource Recovery Facilities •

•

May not accept covered devices or their components for disposal. How ever, they may accept non-hazardous residuals produced during the recy- cling of covered devices.

Owners and operators of landfills will not be found in violation of the CDRA provided they make a good faith effort to comply with the Act; post, in a conspicuous location at the facility, a sign stating that cov- ered devices and their components will not be accepted; and notify, in

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writing, all collectors registered to deposit solid waste to the facility that covered devices and their components will not be accepted at the facility.

Haulers • May not intentionally accept covered devices for disposal from any source of waste, and may not knowingly commingle covered devices with waste destined for disposal.

• Covered devices that are collected from consumers through electronics collection programs in Pennsylvania must continue to be transferred to certified electronics recycling facilities.

• If a hauler is affiliated with a Manufacturers Recycling plan and/or program they may not charge a consumer for the collection, transportation or recycling of covered devices.

For more information on the CDRA, visit dep.state.pa.us, or contact the Recycling Hotline at 1.800.346.4242.

1 The CDRA defines a consumer as “an occupant of a single detached dwelling unit or a single unit of a multiple dwelling unit who has used a covered device primarily for personal or small business use. For purposes of this definition, a small business is an entity that is independently owned or operated, employs 50 or fewer people, has purchased or leased a covered computer device from a computer manufacturer or retailer and, but for the program established under this act, would not otherwise have access to electronic recycling programs.” Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection www.dep.state.pa.us 2520-FSDEP4324 Rev. 1/2013

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legislative updates ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Policy, regulations & insights that relating to new legislation

Lisa Schaefer Government Relations Manager, County Commissioners Association of PA

C

ounties throughout the commonwealth provide supplemental recycling services to their constituents, including household hazardous waste pickup, recycling of electronics and tires, and recycling dropoff centers. However, a perfect storm of increasing costs, decreasing revenues and economic difficulties over the past eight years has led many counties to curtail, if not outright eliminate, some of these programs for their residents, and without a legislative remedy, this unfortunate trend may well continue.

In more than half of our 67 counties, these services were historically funded by a county administrative fee levied on each ton of trash generated in the county and disposed of in accordance with approved solid waste management plans required under Act 101, the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act. A Commonwealth Court decision in 2005, though, declared that these county administrative fees lacked an adequate statutory base, leaving counties without a dedicated revenue source to fund these programs. Prior to the court ruling, the administrative fee funded program expenses not covered

by Act 101 grant programs.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has since

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issued guidance to counties indicating that they may negotiate administrative fees with local waste collectors as part of their contracts. DEP has approved several county plans with negotiated fees, consistent with this guidance. However, DEP will not approve plans whereby the county requires a waste collector to negotiate a fee, or uses a collector’s unwillingness to negotiate a fee as part of their selection criteria for services, because it has determined such situations are equivalent to requiring a fee in violation of the Commonwealth Court decision. Thus, administrative fees as a source of local funding for county recycling programs is inconsistent throughout the state, dependent on the good will of the waste collectors.

On the state funding side, funding for Act 101 grant programs, which provides assistance to counties for developing their solid waste plans every ten years, for planning and implementation of programs, and for covering the cost of the county recycling coordinator, has been declining as well. Revenues for these grants are generated through a $2 state tipping fee per ton of solid waste processed. In FY 2004-2005, this fee provided $46 million for Act 101 grants, while in FY 2012-2013 the amount was around $35 million.

Factor in the economic downturn of the past five years or so and the

budgetary constraints that have resulted for local governments, as well as a changing market for recyclable materials, and it all adds up to a perfect storm that is putting an increasing number of supplemental recycling programs in jeopardy. Counties are evaluating the services they had been able to provide with the administrative fund revenues, and have considered program consolidation, integrated solid waste management facilities, single stream recycling and public-private partnerships. Even so, many are finding it necessary to scale programs back, foreshadowing negative environmental consequences such as more hazardous waste in landfills and

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This event would have provided another means for Pennsylvania residents to recycle their electronics after the Covered Device Recycling Act took effect in early 2013; landfills can no longer accept covered devices, such as televisions, as of January, although manufacturers must offer collection programs and retailers may do so.

more illegal dumping on public and private lands. Such impacts also have the snowball effect of undermining the public’s other environmental investments.

For instance, in March, Carbon County closed its recycling and solid waste business – which had operated a countywide “blue bin” recycling program, as well as phone book recycling, electronics recycling, tire recycling, school programs and public education efforts. In Blair County, the Intermunicipal Relations Committee Council of Governments assumed a number of responsibilities of the Blair County Department of Solid Waste and Recycling in the fall of 2012.

There, the drop-off recycling program, comprising eight locations that had been available for more than ten years, has been suspended, although two compost facilities remain operational.

Pike County ceased its countywide recycling efforts last fall as well, citing

increasing costs and decreasing state funding over the past four years, as well as economic pressures to other parts of the county’s budget. In the midstate, Juniata County canceled its television collection event scheduled for late June after available funding was exhausted

...it all adds up to a perfect storm that is putting an increasing number of supplemental recycling programs in jeopardy. in April, with no additional funding expected for the remainder of the year.

Clearly, these matters are taking on new urgency at the county level. Although some waste collectors have shown willingness to work with counties on this issue, there is no guarantee that fees can be negotiated, and many counties will not be able to maintain existing programs without a dedicated funding source. To reverse the Court’s ruling, however, would require the General Assembly to amend Act 101 to specifically authorize counties to assess fees to fund county solid waste and recycling programs within the county.

Legislation has been introduced for the past several sessions, as it has again in the 2013-2014 session in the form of Senate Bill 460, introduced by Senator Jay Costa. Senate Bill 460 would allow counties to impose a recycling and solid waste management fee on municipal solid waste generated within its borders, not to exceed $4 per ton and to be used exclusively for recycling and waste management activities.

Similar legislation has not yet been introduced in the House. At the same time, the General Assembly should evaluate the funding support needed to promote the viability of the state’s Act 101 grant programs, assuring a true partnership in promoting recycling and its environmental benefits.

visit CCAP on facebook or pacounties.org

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stewardship //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Sustainability & preservation of natural resources

In its Washington, DC office, KAB’s team of recycling experts partner with the organization’s affiliates as well as state recycling organizations including the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania, government officials, trade associations, other NGO representatives and businesses to identify priorities and further the recycling agenda.

Keep America Beautiful Celebrates 60 Years!

Keep America Beautiful’s offers national programs to advance recycling and is launching a national PSA campaign focused on motivating individuals to recycle more.

By Brenda Pulley, Senior Vice President, Recycling, Keep America Beautiful

2013 marks Keep America Beautiful’s (KAB) 60th anniversary. The impetus six decades ago was to establish an organization to combat litter and build a culture of stewards to prevent litter.

Today, building on that legacy, Keep America Beautiful is best known for its efforts in bringing people together from all over the United States to build and

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sustain vibrant communities through cleaning and restoring public spaces as well as advancing waste reduction and recycling into everyday actions.

KAB and its network of 1,200 affiliates and participating organizations work together to have a direct impact at the grassroots level, community by community.

This July, in partnership with The Ad Council, Keep America Beautiful will launch the first ever national multiyear, multi-media campaign focused on recycling. As a cornerstone program of KAB’s efforts to increase recycling, the campaign is designed to present a compelling reason to believe in recycling by helping individuals conceptualize the impact they can make by recycling.

This new public service advertising campaign titled “I Want to Be Recycled” is a backdrop for a range of other national recycling programs KAB offers.

“We know that to impact recycling rates, we must engage individuals to make recycling an everyday habit,” said Brenda Pulley, KAB senior vice president, recycling. “As a national NGO, we are singularly focused on influencing people’s behavior at work, at school, at home and out and about through awareness-raising campaigns and, most importantly, with approaches designed to inspire action.”

Aligned with this approach, KAB has programs targeted to various audiences and geographic locations. One of its most recent initiatives encourages businesses, municipalities, schools, and other entities to take the “Recycling at Work” pledge to increase workplace recycling of paper, beverage containers and electronics. The initiative is designed to guide businesses and institutions through measurable steps toward increasing recycling. Free tips, tools and other resources will be available on the program’s website (recyclingatwork.org) which is scheduled to go live in late July.

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“Recycling at Work” participants will be invited to report on the actions they take. KAB’s goal is to capture the actions taken and share success stories among pledge takers to encourage others to join in as well as to document the progress being made.

Outside the workplace, KAB has identified community events as another area of opportunity to change habits and increase recycling behavior. As part of its Clinton Global Initiative commitment to increase recycling, KAB, in partnership with the Alcoa Foundation, is providing recycling access and increasing participation at three fairs across the country this summer. Support from the Alcoa Foundation is providing grant funding for bins for the fairs to provide and/or expand their recycling operations. KAB recycling staff will provide technical assistance and build the body of knowledge around recycling and composting at these fairs. The goal is to build on the body of knowledge currently available and identify cost-efficient and effective best practices that

can be adapted for fairs and other community events.

According to Pulley, the environmental impact from recycling is a critical measure of sustainable economies and vibrant communities. Pulley believes that locally-driven campaigns will be critical to reaching a national recycling rate of 50 percent. KAB leaves policy issues to other organizations, and instead, focuses on advocating for individual behavior change to increase recycling.

“Recycling is participatory environmentalism,” Pulley said. “Poll after poll shows that individuals identify the act of recycling as their most immediate, tangible, and visible contribution to a better environment. However, one of the challenges, is how to make it convenient for individuals to participate.”

In an effort to chip away at that barrier Pulley noted that KAB has a series of

recycling bin grant programs. Most recently the organization announced a partnership with the Coca Cola Foundation and the city of Chicago to place recycling carts at 50,000 households over the next five years. Increasing convenience, raising awareness and prompting individuals to recycle are the pathways, habit is the goal. Pulley also noted that in 2012, communities across Pennsylvania received over $50,000 worth of recycling bins from KAB’s various bin grant programs. Here are a few of the communities that received recycling bins: the Borough of Munhall, Cambria County Solid Waste Authority, Borough of Malvern, West Donegal Township, Elizabethtown in addition to several schools such as Cook Wissahickon Elementary School, Philadelphia and the Wyalusing Areas School District of Wyalusing, PA. Keep America Beautiful’s range of programs allows the organization to reach millions of individuals each year. Three other national programs KAB offers are: America Recycles Day is the only nationally-recognized day dedicated to the promotion of recycling in the United States. Over 2,000 events – nearly 100 of which were held in Pennsylvania – are held across the country in November reaching neighbors, friends, colleagues and community leaders and engaging them in recycling.

Each fall, K-12 schools across the nation participate in Recycle-Bowl, a national in-school recycling competition that occurs each fall semester.

Whether a school has an extensive recycling program, or is just launching a basic recycling program, Recycle-Bowl Continued on page 22

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Stewardship //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Keep America Beautiful is the nation’s leading nonprofit that brings people together to build and sustain vibrant communities. With a network of more than 1,200 affiliate and participating organizations including state recycling organizations, we work with millions of volunteers to take action in their communities through programs that deliver sustainable impact. is designed for teachers, student green teams and facility managers to engage students and the community in recycling. In its second year, KAB reached more than 1 million students and the Keystone state recruited 58 schools to participate in the competition. And Riverside Elementary West of Lackawanna County took home the state prize for the second year in a row.

For the college crowd, RecycleMania is a national competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction to their campus communities. KAB, working with the RecycleMania Board of Directors, manages this program that for eight weeks each spring engages hundreds of colleges across the United States and Canada to compete for bragging rights for which campus recycles the most.

Over 40 campuses across the state vie for that title.

Pulley noted that “for our programs to be effective, we rely on our partners to select the program that best suits their local needs.” Pulley added that Pennsylvania serves as a model for its other affiliates and partnering organizations – primarily because of the collaboration between Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and PROP in designing initiatives based on their communities’ needs. “Having the two organizations combine their strengths and together address ways to increase recycling is a win/win for Pennsylvania and Keep America Beautiful,” Pulley added.

For more information on these and other KAB initiatives go to KAB.org.

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WE WANT YOUR RECYCLED & USED CLOTHING We buy recycled clothing and consult recyclers, charities, non-profits, church, and school groups throughout North America. We will visit your facility at no charge to facilitate a collection program. We buy used clothing by the pound and will project your financial return on recycled clothing.

Central States Used Clothing Jon Harvey / 313.279.0234 harvey@centralstatesusedclothing.com

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composting /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Feedstock, Process & Technology

Brush is loaded into Cumberland County’s Vermeer horizontal grinder by Keith Marston of Mechanicsburg’s Highway Department.

Carl Hursh photo

emerging efficiencies in pa composting

part 1 of a series

By Carl Hursh

Containing compost facility costs is an important concern for both the municipal and private sectors. Two south-central Pennsylvania counties have developed composting cost efficiency approaches. A Cumberland County compost equipment sharing program, and several Lebanon County programs that established compost site user fees and access control, are models that could be emulated elsewhere in Pennsylvania.

Cumberland County’s Yard Waste Equipment Program Tom Imphong had a vision: Develop a comprehensive composting equipment sharing system for Cumberland County’s municipalities. His “eureka mo-

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ment” happened during his first year as Executive Director of what is now the Cumberland County Recycling and Waste Authority. While on a 1992 site visit to the Shippensburg Borough composting facility, Tom witnessed a massive brush pile being slowly rendered into wood chips. A Shippens-

Justin Miller photo

South Middleton Township heavy equipment operator Brian Steigleman, loads Cumberland County’s Morbark horizontal grinder at the Township’s composting facility.

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burg Borough crew was hand-feeding branches into a tow-behind wood chipper. The chipping appeared to be effective; however Tom was told that the wood chipper blades required daily sharpening. Tom also questioned the physical effort required and noted safety issues with the process.

Spurred on by his Shippensburg experience, Tom began researching tub grinders and other state-of-the-art compost processing equipment. He observed the efficiency of using a windrow turner at the Camp Hill Borough compost site, where the Borough’s leaves were processed in half the time required to turn them with a front-end loader.

Tom surveyed Cumberland County municipalities about their composting practices and sought support for sharing effective composting equipment. With the approval of his Authority, Tom developed specifications for a tub grinder, a windrow turner, a trommel screen and a compost spreader/top dresser for purchase by the Cumberland County.

The County received Pa. DEP recycling grant funding to offset 90 percent of the equipment cost. Tom also secured recycling technical assistance from Pa. DEP to develop a training program for municipal operators on composting equipment use and preventative maintenance.

The Cumberland County Yard Waste Equipment Program was launched in May 1994 with the goal of improving and increasing organics diversion while reducing the time and costs associated with producing quality compost products. The County’s tub grinder (later replaced with two horizontal grinders), two windrow turners, a trommel screen and the top dresser were made available under user agreements and an annual fee schedule. To further increase the efficiency of the program, the County bought a trailer with electric brakes that could be hooked to municipal dump trucks for transporting the equipment from site to site.

Cumberland County's 2013 Yard Waste Equipment, Users and Rates SCAT Windrow Turners

Retech Trommel Screen

$4700 $3635 $8335

$1500 $2200 $3720

$1650 $1715 $3365

x

x x

x x x x

Morbark/Vermeer Horizontal Grinders

Annual Usage Rate Maintenance Fee Capital Replacement Fee Total Annual Usage Rate Municipality/User Big Springs School District Camp Hill Borough1 Carlisle Borough Defense Distribution East Pennsboro Township Fairview Township Hampden Township Lower Allen Township Mechanicsburg Borough2 Messiah College Middlesex Township3 Newville Borough1,4 North Middleton Township3 Shippensburg Borough Silver Spring Township2 South Middleton Township Upper Allen Township1 West Pennsboro Township1,4

x x x x x

x x x x

Millcreek Top Dresser

$125 $0 $125

x x x x X

x x x x

x x

X

x

x x x

x x

x x x x x x x

x x x

x

1 Has not committed to the 2013 program; 2Joint site, fees are shared; 3Joint site, fees are shared; 4Joint site, fees are shared.

Sixteen municipalities, the Defense Department, Messiah College and the Authority share responsibilities under the current program. The users provide equipment operators, fuel, and the load ing and transportation of the windrow turners and the top dresser. The Authority provides operator training, transportation of the horizontal grinders and the trommel screen, the up-front costs of scheduled and unscheduled equipment maintenance, and replacement parts.

The annual agreement rates for unlimited use of the equipment have been adjusted over time to help balance the Authority’s cost to operate the program.

In 2013, the Authority added a Capital Replacement Fee to build a fund for future equipment needs.

The Mechanicsburg Borough/Silver Spring Township Joint Composting Facility absolutely relies on the County’s horizontal grinders to keep pace with flow of material into the site. Use of the facility increased dramatically following significant wind storms and an October 2011 snow storm that took a heavy toll on area trees. The popularity of the compost site among area residents and their contractors has not let up since then. Ron Adams, Superintendent of the Mechanicsburg Wastewater Department and overseer of the compost site, confirmed the value of the County’s equipment to his operation: “The cost of purchasing, or even renting, similar Continued on page 27

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GOT CEILINGS? Save Disposal Costs

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Composting //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Cumberland County’s SCAT windrow turner rests at the Mechanicsburg/Silver Spring Joint Compost facility.

equipment is not in our budget. We would need to close the site if the County’s grinders were not available.”

Justin Miller, Cumberland County’s Recycling Coordinator, estimates the County’s purchase of composting equipment saved $5.5 million vs. individual purchases by municipalities. With the machines in nearly constant use, municipalities are charged $8,355/year for use of the horizontal grinders compared to a commercial rental charge of $8,000/ week. The popularity of the program has never been greater and the Authority faces increasing demand for the equipment from new users. “Messiah College began screening its compost with the trommel in December 2011,” according to Justin. He added, “We anticipate that Newville Borough and West Pennsboro Township will be consistently participating now that the municipalities have entered into an intermunicipal composting agreement.”

On a site visit to South Middleton Township’s compost facility, Justin was asked about the future of the program. Justin observed, “It would be a huge disappointment to the municipalities if the program would come to a halt.” Tom Imphong reflected, “After 19½ years, the municipalities have come to depend on the use/availability of the equipment and expect it to continue.”

What began as quest for a better way to process a brush pile has grown to a highly efficient yard waste equipment sharing program unlike any other among Pennsylvania counties. Tom Imphong is obviously proud of the program but seems resistant to take credit. Tom concluded, “The program is truly a partnership and works well as a result of the commitment from all of the partners.”

Jeff Bricker of Mechanicsburg’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, uses a remote control to operate Cumberland County’s Vermeer horizontal grinder.

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member spotlight

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Showcasing PROPs most valuable asset–our members

The dedicated team of three says, “We love what we do because our clients are more than customers – they are friends.”

As brokers in the paper and plastic markets IRS strives to find the best possible homes for each specific grade of material, ensuring the best possible prices. With low overhead and a corporate mission of low/minimal risk, IRS is there to serve clients for all of their needs. With clients covering the spectrum; from those with only one load a year, to municipalities, non-profits and large corporations, IRS provides each with individually specific service.

George Jucha Jr., Antoinette Jucha, & George Jucha Sr.

Independent Recycling Services “We love what we do...our clients are more than customers – they are friends.”

T

hough Pittsburgh based Independent Recycling Services (IRS) opened its doors in August 2004, the roots of the company began more than 20 years earlier. The husband and wife team of George and Antoinette Jucha were successful employees in the recycling industry. Antoinette specialized in logistics, customer relations and bookkeeping, while George found the best homes for his customers varying grades of material. His knowledge of paper grades and his relationships with the best mills, combined with Antoinette’s personality ensured that their customers were serviced and paid as well as possible.

As competition and companies changed, their son, George Jr. ended a fifteen year corporate finance career with Kaufmann’s Department Store (a division of the May Department Stores Company). He had been encouraging his parents to start their own company, but the timing had not been right. Finally, George and Antoinette realized that no company could treat their customers as well as they could...thus Independent Recycling Services was born.

Founded on accurate weights, the best pricing, and the support of North American mills, IRS has never looked back.

As a liaison to serve American mills, IRS enjoys the opportunity to ‘work’ with the public and new customers to educate them about the industry, proper practices, and the efficient development and implementation of recycling programs.

Through periodic reporting, the evaluation, enhancement and refining of existing recycling programs is a value added benefit that helps their clients to focus on their primary business needs.

As the past president of the National Association of Paperstock Women, Antoinette enjoys her role as a seasoned veteran in maintaining the outstanding relationships with the mills and customers alike. At the same time George Sr., with over 28 years of procurement experience manages pricing while providing market insight for the OBM, mills and clients, while still playing an active role in procurement and logistics. George Jr., a part time instructor of computer science at the University of Pittsburgh, manages the paperwork, ‘the business behind the scenes’ and enjoys the opportunity to visit both new and existing customers.

“Helping people to make money by recycling what would otherwise be trash is truly a wonderful thing indeed,” says George, Jr. Though many speculate that the role of brokers will eventually diminish, IRS knows there is incredible value to both mills and customers by ensuring that the correct materials and respective volumes go to the most appropriate homes. By managing everything from logistics to payments on the true received weights, their customers know they are valued and the team wants them to succeed – the mills also know that IRS cares about the domestic markets and strives to protect them unequivocally.

IRS has been and always will be a positive force in the recycling world. When the markets dip or trucking is less cooperative, they remain optimistic knowing this is a business of cycles. The IRS teams proudly states, “We are thankful and honored to serve our customers and the mills we have the pleasure of working with.”

Visit independentrecycling.com or call 412.278.0200 Recycler I SUMMER I 2013 29

P r o f e s s i o n a l R e c yc l e r s o f PA

Riverside West Elementary Two-Time Statewide Recycling Competition Champion

G

reensylvania Paper Award is a statewide school paper recycling competition that is sponsored by the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania (PROP). The 2012 challenge was held in conjunction with Keep America Beautiful’s Recycle-Bowl competition and included 36 participating schools from across the Commonwealth.

After all of the paper was collected for recycling, weighed and divided by each school’s population, it was determined that the students of Riverside West Elementary, located in Taylor, Lackawanna County were the champions of the Greensylvania and Recycle-Bowl competitions for the second year in a row. The students at Riverside West Elementary were encouraged by their principal, Paul Brennan and faculty to recycle a total of 9,100 pounds of paper during the 2012

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competition – a whopping 25.2 pounds of paper per person. Riverside West Elementary school received PROP’s traveling trophy made from recycled materials that was previously donated by Armstrong® to display with pride for all to enjoy. The students were also rewarded for their efforts with a performance by The Illusion Maker which was funded by Keep America Beautiful to honor their achievements with the Recycle-Bowl and Greensylvania competitions.

For more information about how your school can participate in the Greensylvania Paper Award competition, contact our office at 717.236.0800.

How Cambridge-Lee went to market faster in Greater Reading. p r o p r ecyc l e s .o r g

When copper tube manufacturer Cambridge-Lee Industries decided to expand operations, they chose to build a new plant in Greater Reading. More than just an affordable, strategic location in southeastern Pennsylvania, Greater Reading gave them access to a skilled workforce, a choice of excellent properties, and a well-connected business community that streamlined the approval process—so they could break ground months ahead of schedule.

Discover greater possibilities. Visit GreaterReading.com.

Be something greater.

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•

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P r o f e s s i o n a l R e c yc l e r s o f PA

making the world a cleaner place, one business at a time.

We’re Advanced Disposal, the largest full-service environmental services company in the area, providing hauling and disposal services in Berks County. Our business is committed to the environment and to leaving cities across the country cleaner and greener than we found them.

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• Commercial Collection • MSW Landfills • Recycling

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Western Berks Landfill

Customer Care