The Newsletter of Recycle Montana
Winter 2015
In this Issue:
Montana Department of Fish, Parks, & Wildlife drops Christmas trees into Canyon Ferry to promote healthy breeding habitat for perch.
Pines for Perch in Canyon Ferry Unusual use for Christmas trees saves landfill space
Recycle Our Waste Lewistown Gains National Attention America Recycles Day commends subzero heroes
March 24th Legislative Event
Recycle Montana engages citizens at the capitol and much more…
Canyon Ferry Reservoir Pines for Perch Project By Adam Strainer, Helena Area Reservoirs Fisheries Technician
The Pines for Perch project was developed to supplement yellow perch habitat throughout portions of Canyon Ferry reservoir. The project takes discarded Christmas trees from local communities and turns them into yellow perch habitat. Yellow perch provide the foundation to the Canyon Ferry fishery and are the preferred forage for many species in the lake, including walleye, trout, and larger perch. The project was initiated in the mid 1990’s and, to date, approximately 60,000 recycled Christmas trees have been placed in the reservoir since the project’s inception Continued on Page 4
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Recycle Montana.
SAVE THE DATE: March 24TH Legislative Event Montana Recycles Day at the Capitol! By Matthew Elsaesser, Recycle Montana Director
This will be a full day affair starting with exhibits and demonstrations at the Capitol followed by lunch and announcements by Recycle Montana, afternoon workshops and roundtable discussions. Introductions to the Legislature will be made at 1pm. An evening reception will provide the perfect atmosphere for networking and celebrating recent victories for recycling. Email info@RecycleMontana.org to sign up for a booth or for volunteer opportunities throughout the day. If you are unable to attend Montana Recycles Day, we still encourage you to send materials and information to represent recycling in your area.
Letter from the President I am very excited to serve Recycle Montana as the new incoming president and look forward to the future and further development of this worthy non-profit. This year, the directors are restructuring the organization, enhancing and developing broader reaching recycling education, and offering expanded membership opportunities. We strive to educate Montana citizens about waste reduction, offer statewide recycling resources, and provide support to community recycling efforts. But, we need your help. We need to know who the recyclers are in the state from the small youth organizations, rural recycling groups, and recycling services, to the larger recyclers in the communities. Please contact us with your sources and resources and consider joining our progressive movement to make this a truly statewide organization. I can be reached at jslive@itstriangle.com. Be a part of the change! Join today! Membership forms are included in the newsletter.
Board Officers
Candi Zion President, Board of Directors
Recycle Montana is the leading source for recycling education and resources in the state of Montana. Recycle Montana works to increase recycling through education and building coalitions between communities, schools, and recyclers.
RM Board of Directors Board President: Candi Zion, Havre Board Vice President: Kirk Treece, Missoula Board Secretary: Jessie Luther, Helena Board Treasurer: John Hilton, Helena Board Members: Mark Nelson, Ronan Elaine Taylor, Helena Scott Berens, Billings Sherrel Rhys, Helena
Candi Zion, President Candi graduated from Arizona State University (ASU) with a Bachelors degree in History and a Masters degree in Public History/Historic Preservation as well as an Honors degree from ASU Barrett Honor’s College. She has worked in historic preservation for the Navajo Nation, manager/part owner of Great Falls Veterinary Hospital, Rocky Mtn. Front coordinator for Montana Wilderness Assoc, and as a cultural resource consultant. She is a barrel horse trainer and currently ranched with husband Jeff Solomon at Havre and Winifred. Candi has been the director in various rodeo associations, helped create Dine’ Mother Earth Team, currently serves as chair for Havre Hill County Historic Preservation Commission, and is chair of Recycle Hi-Line, which she helped found. She loves the wide open spaces, mountains, geology, history, her horses and dog Wiggles! And of course…recycling!
Kirk Treece, Vice President Kirk is the General Manager of Republic Service of Montana and has over 19 years of experience in the solid waste management and recycling industry. One of Recycle Montana’s newest Board members, he was elected in October 2014 and currently serves on the Education Committee. His interest in recycling stems from a strong desire to do the right thing for the environment. Kirk is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelors of Accountancy from Northern Arizona University.
John Hilton, Treasurer Recycle Montana Staff: Executive Director: Matthew Elsaesser Recycling Educator: Rob Pudner (Energy Corps)
John Hilton is the owner of Helena Recycling, a curbside recycling company in Helena, MT. He has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Montana and was previously employed by US Bank as the Branch Manager. John is married to Tammie Hilton and has two children Samantha (8) and Stella (5). His hobbies include camping, hunting, skiing, and spending time watching his kids play sports.
Jessie Luther, Secretary Jessie is an attorney in Helena, MT The Montana Recycler Winter 2015
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2015 Elections Board of Directors In the first week of January, Recycle Montana rang in the New Year by welcoming new members to the Board of Directors. New Board members include John Hilton of Helena and Scott Berens of Billings. John Hilton, Treasurer John joins Recycle Montana after being a member and friend for many years. See John’s full Bio on Page 2
Events Calendar Pines for Perch:
March 7 @ 8:00 AM
Silos Recreation Area off of Silos Rd, Helena Email astrainer@mt.gov for more information
Legislative Event: March 24 Helena, MT Capitol Rotunda Email info@recyclemontana.org for more information
DEQ Compost Training Scott Berens, Board Member Scott is a native of Shepherd, MT and has a degree in business from MSU – Northern. He started Earth First Aid Curbside Recycling Inc. in Billings in February of 2005.Scott currently serves on the education committee and is excited to help grow recycling in Montana.
10+ Years and Still Serving We’d like to thank Elaine Taylor for helping guide Recycle Montana for more than a decade!
Legislators satisfy their curiosity with an up-close demonstration of hard drive shredding at the 2013 Recycle Montana Day.
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TBD: Stay tuned to RecycleMontana.org
Webinars Recycled Paper and Plastics Industry Update February 17 @ 11:30-12:45PM MST Visit RecycleMontana.org for more information
Animal Mortality Composting April 21 @ 11:30-12:45PM MST This webinar discusses the various composting methods for bovine, swine, poultry and marine mammals. Visit RecycleMontana.org for more information.
Shredded hard drives pile up at the 2013 Recycle Montana Day, ready to be recycled.
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Pines for Perch Continued Christmas trees are collected and transported to the Silos Recreation area from Helena by the City of Helena Transfer Station and from Bozeman via the Gallatin/Madison Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited. Once on site, FWP staff and volunteers drill 1-inch holes in the base of each tree, string the trees together with steel cable and weight each bundle with concrete blocks. Each bundle consists of approximately 100 trees and 20 blocks and the bundles are placed in the reservoir by helicopter post ice off. Perch have been observed using the Christmas tree structures for spawning in the past, and the structures also provide cover for juvenile perch and other species within the reservoir. Individual trees have been monitored the past three years and perch egg masses have been observed. Bottom line, perch are using the “The population has appeared to have Christmas trees. Without continued habitat improvements, perch abundance in Canyon Ferry stabilized and increased, albeit slightly, would likely decline even further, leading to in recent years.” significant impacts of the fishery as a whole. Although Canyon Ferry Reservoir perch populations remain at near record low abundance levels, the population has appeared to have stabilized and increased, albeit slightly, in recent years. Contributors to the project in 2014 were: City of Helena Broadwater County Sanitation Gallatin/ Madison Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited Upper Missouri River Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited Townsend Chamber of Commerce Kanta Products Inc. The Department of Natural Resources Other area volunteers The Canyon Ferry Pines for Perch project would not be possible without generous donations and an army of volunteers. Together we’ve turned a $15,000 annual project into a project that costs approximately $4,000. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks would like to say thank you to each and every person involved in the project, past and present! This project has been a success for almost two decades and FWP hopes tocontinue enhancing yellow perch habitat in Canyon Ferry Reservoir for years to come.
Interested in helping with this year’s project? As long as there is public interest, and trees available, the project will continue in perpetuity. This year they will be constructing habitat structures on March 7th starting at 8 AM. Construction location is at the southern end of the Silos Recreation Area off of Silos Rd. in Helena
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For more information contact: Adam Strainer Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Helena Area Reservoirs Fisheries Technician 930 Custer Ave. W. Helena, MT 59620 (406) 495-3263 astrainer@mt.gov
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ROWL Gains National Attention By Rosemary Kent
When I retired from teaching with DODDS in Germany, I returned to Lewistown with my husband. After practicing mandatory recycling for 12 years, it was very difficult for me to throw my plastic into the trash, since there was no way to recycle it within 120 miles. And that was pretty confusing, too. We have had recycling of other materials except plastic and glass. I researched recycling glass and “We are a viable, found that we just don’t have the reliable program market or means to operate such and getting the a system. I also theorized that, information out since glass is sand, it is less of an consistently in issue with the environment than plastic. So I looked for to the city many different for help, but they felt it wasn’t ways.” possible to support a program of plastic recycling. I checked with Snowy Mt Industries, Pacific Steel and Recycling and Waste Management and none were interested in taking it on. Continued on Page 9
Show Your Support with a Recycle Montana License Plate! Support Recycle Montana’s work to increase recycling, while proudly displaying your values with the Recycle Montana License Plate! This sponsored plate is available at all Montana county motor vehicle offices. The first-time cost of the plate is $35, which includes a manufacturing fee paid to the state, as well as a donation to Recycle Montana. After that the annual renewal cost is $20, all of which goes directly to Recycle Montana. Because we are not able to track license plate sales, we cannot offer a membership for your purchase of a plate.
SMART Schools Challenge Update By Bill Pedersen, SMART Schools Coordinator
The SMART Schools Challenge is a friendly competition among Montana schools that helps schools save money and resources today. The SMART Schools Challenge is divided into three sub-challenges. Schools in the SMART Energy Challenge work to lower their utility bills and protect the environment by conserving energy, SMART Recycling schools save money through waste minimization, and SMART Green Schools implement practices that conserve resources and benefit student health. The top schools in each class (AA, A, B, and C) for each challenge will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize and receive statewide recognition from Lt. Governor Angela McLean. Beyond being a friendly competition, the SMART Schools Challenge is a network that promotes the spread of innovative ideas between Montana schools. This network enables schools from across the state to share their resource conservation stories with one another. Continued on Page 6
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Advertise in Recycle Montana wants to help you spread the word about all recycling matters in your area.
www.facebook.com/RecycleMontana
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For options and pricing, contact Recycle Montana: info@recyclemontana.org
SMART continued
Bill Pedersen, SMART Schools Coordinator and Energy Corps member, shows students at Helena’s Central-Linc Elementary School the amount of trash generated daily by the average American. Photo: Thom Bridge, Independent Record
Schools can learn from their peers’ struggles and triumphs, as schools across Montana inspire one another to implement innovative initiatives that will save money and protect the environment. In this pilot year, the SMART Schools Challenge received almost 80 applications from 47 schools as many schools enrolled in multiple sub-challenges. SMART Recycling has been the most popular Challenge receiving 30 applications. Mere months into the Challenge, SMART Recycling schools have already recycled over 7 tons of waste. As of mid-January, 2015 SMART Schools have recycled:
2,626 pounds of aluminum cans 2,482 pounds of paper 359 pounds of plastics 1,291 pounds of newspapers and magazines 30 pounds of glass 7,214 pounds of co-mingled waste
The SMART Schools Challenge is very thankful for Recycle Montana’s support. Recycle Montana has helped deliver educational presentations, connected schools with recycling resources, answered recycling questions, conducted waste audits, and helped the schools in any way it could. The Montana Recycler Winter 2015
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Commodities Update 1/30/15 By Brian Heuer, Owner of Sage Recycling & Waste Solutions
Recent conversations with two large mill buyers revealed that they are seeing price drops of $10 - $15 next month and possibly more in the OCC and Mixed Paper export markets which will result in similar movement at the domestic mills. This is not great news for markets that are already below comfortable levels. In addition to the poor pricing, most mills are full and have cut way back on tons they are purchasing.
inventories to be used up and things to return to "normal". Plastic prices have continued to drop with the fall of petroleum prices. Mixed plastics are very difficult to move. 1's and 2's still have decent pricing but large inventories have caused allocations to become harder to get. A larger surprise was the recent drop in steel markets. Prices at steel yards for steel/tin cans delivered dropped over $70 per ton on Monday.
It looks like we are headed for some difficult times in The situation at the ports has continued to worsen and recycling ahead -nothing we haven't all been through before but I wanted to keep you current on what is shows no sign of improving in the near future. One happening. Please let me know if you have questions. expert told me that even if the labor disputes were settled tomorrow, it could take 6 - 8 months for
The State of Recycling in MT By Kirk Treece, Recycle Montana Vice President Montana is a unique and wonderful place. The people are independent, resourceful and cherish the unique, rugged nature of this beautiful state. Visitors travel from all over the world to enjoy outdoor activities and experience the breathtaking landscapes which residents enjoy year round. As lucky citizens of “The Last Best Place”, we can all help support efforts to maintain our way of life, minimize impact on the environment and take steps to preserve our pristine state. Thankfully, recycling is one simple, easy way to make a significant impact. Not only does recycling divert materials from our landfills and preserve natural resources, it also supports many well-paying jobs in Montana. According to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc, scrap recycling is a major employer in Montana. “In 2013, 243 jobs were supported by the operation of the recycling industry. An additional 354 jobs were indirectly supported by the scrap recycling industry through suppliers and the induced impact of the industry’s expenditures.” The 243 scrap recycling jobs represented wages totaling $12,246,100 in 2013
“…89% of consumers prefer to buy products in packages they know to be recyclable.” with the additional 354 indirect jobs generating wages of $14,240,700. While our mountains and remote wilderness provide many wonderful benefits, it also presents a variety of challenges when it comes to recycling. Transportation of collected recycled products is necessary as many of the MRFs (Materials Recovery Facility) are located hundreds of miles from Montana. In addition, due to our relatively low population density, it can take time to collect enough of a single recycled material to produce a large enough bundle to transport to the MRF. Single stream recycling, is one way to not only make recycling simple, it can also help to overcome that challenge by collecting all recyclables into one single bundle for transport to the MRFs. Single stream recycling does require more processing as it needs separation and with all collection methods, there continues to be possibility for contamination. Continued on Page 10
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State of Recycling continued Another challenge for companies which gather recyclable materials is the ever fluctuating commodities market which dictates the price paid for recycled products. In 2014, the OCC (corrugated cardboard) open market average price per ton dropped by 17.2% from January to December. Couple that with the ever-changing price of fuel, lubricants, tires, and parts for collection vehicles, bailers, conveyor systems and other necessary equipment, the cost of doing business can often challenge the sustainability of recycling efforts. However, the growing desire to recycle is also driving positive change on many levels. More MRFs are being constructed to process the increasing volumes. Plastic manufacturers are taking steps to develop more clearly defined vocabulary to help consumers distinguish between types of plastic. A recent global study by Tetra Pak reports that 89% of consumers prefer to buy products in packages they know to be recyclable. This information is being used to shift trends in packaging to appeal to consumers’ preferences. Ultimately, recycling in Montana will benefit from all the national changes and while we may still have geographical challenges, recycling in Montana can be successful if we all commit to doing our part.
Gearing up for Recycling Education By Rob Pudner, Recycle Montana Recycling Educator (Energy Corps) Once a habit is established, it can be very difficult to change. My plan is to establish good recycling habits in Montana’s youth and promote a culture of consciousness and responsibility. In the next several months I will be traveling to elementary, middle, and high schools to speak with students about the value of recycling and proper sorting methods. During a presentation at Roberts School in December, I was asked, “Does it even matter? I’m just one person.” This misperception is exactly the reason I am hitting the road and having conversations with The Montana Recycler Winter 2015
CR Anderson Middle School (Helena) cafeteria recycling station
students. The value of recycling to our economy and environment needs to be understood at a young age so we don’t end up burying our future in trash. My presentation schedule currently includes schools in Billings, Laurel, Deer Lodge, and Helena, and I am actively seeking more locations. While visiting schools to deliver presentations, I also tour their recycling operations and offer suggestions for increasing efficiency and participation. Waste Audit resources are available to schools interested in assessing their recycling potential. To schedule an educational presentation, site visit, or request waste audit assistance, please contact me at rob@recyclemontana.org or 406.461.9106 8
ROWL continued I belong to St. James’ Episcopal Church in Lewistown and they became excited about making this their main outreach into the community program. We named it ROWL Recycle Our Waste Lewistown, because we knew it was important for the community to see this as their program. Then I was put in touch with Roger Sicz, formerly with Bozeman waste recycling and Headwaters Recycling. He designed the plan to put the 30” HD Harmony baler, run by a generator, onto a flatbed trailer. That was the beginning and we have grown from there since beginning in Oct. 2013. Roger was the answer to the successful beginning of the program and has been ever since, as Production Manager. We received a grant from the church, and Central Mt. Foundation with donations from the community for another grant to purchase the equipment. It has always been our goal to not only provide a viable plastics recycling program for Central Montana, but also a recycling education program, in order to increase over all awareness of the impact we make on our environment in both positive and negative ways. Our vision statement is, “Preserving God’s creation for the next generation”. We have been conducting monthly community plastic recycling drives ever since, with never a cancellation. We began with accepting only numbers one and two plastic brought to us separated in clear plastic bags. This makes it easier for the volunteers to inspect the bags and to load the plastic into the baler. Starting last summer we began accepting 1 through 7 plastic when the companies agreed to take it.
pounds. We monitor how many cars are coming through the drive each month. Last month 250 cars came through. We expected to see a drop off of attendance during the winter, but that certainly has not been the case as there are more new recyclers each month. We also collect plastic from many businesses in town, as well as at a couple of drop off spots we monitor. Drop off sites are not usually successful so these are monitored by designated volunteers. I believe the increase comes from proving that we are a viable, reliable program and getting the information out consistently in many different ways. We have the curriculum available at each elementary school, have given presentations at many organizations and keep the articles going monthly in the local paper. We are there to answer questions and provide solutions to the public. Banners: Our committee felt we needed more visual exposure to promote the program and get out the message. We already have banners we put up each month on Main St. to remind the community the drive is the next Saturday. I contacted the schools to have the students draw pictures of what recycling represented for them and contracted a local sign company to make the banners. We were given the money for the banners by Central Montana Continued on Page 10
October 2012 we baled 350 pounds of plastic and last month we baled 24,760 Above & Left: ROWL volunteers collect plastics in subzero weather on America Recycles Day .(November 15, 2014).
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ROWL Continued Foundation. Twenty banners went up on the light posts along Main St. for America Recycles Day and will go up again for Earth Day month. 2013 Serve Montana Award. We were nominated for it by a member of the community who is also a very supportive member of our church. She nominated us because she was aware of the all the effort it took to get the program going and thought it was a very creative solution to our problem for recycling plastic. Respectful Revolution Video: Gerard was in Billings looking for stories like ours and someone told him about us. So he came to town and was so impressed he came back and shot the video. I have to say, I wish I had been better prepared. Not something I had ever done before. He has been videoing all kinds of programs across the country that are making a difference. [Watch the video at http://vimeo.com/109307555]
One of several banner designs displayed along Main Street in Lewistown.
At this time, we are working with Anthony Bowden, manager of Pacific Steel and Recycling in Lewistown, to put our operation in their facility during their business hours. We will continue to run it with volunteers as ROWL. Pacific doesn’t see it as profitable enough for him to run at the low price we are getting for plastic at this time; 7 to 10 cents a pound. We are making the change in order to make it more convenient for the public to recycle all of their recyclables at the same time, and encouraging others who haven’t tried to begin. It will also provide a place sheltered from the cold weather for the volunteers to work. We don’t know how it will all work out for the volunteers at this point, but know from experience that with a positive attitude we will be successful. We will be applying for a grant to cover the expense of a storage container and other components to make the program work well. We expect it to be in place by sometime in April. Visit the ROWL social media page here: http://on.fb.me/1zGH3nC Read more about ROWL at Enjoy Lewistown: http://stjamesepiscopallewistownmt.com/?page_id=99
Butte Tests Curbside Single Stream By Recycle Montana February 4th marked the launch of Butte-Silver Bow’s curbside recycling pilot program. The city will be providing single stream curbside pickup to select residences through June to evaluate the feasibility of expanding the service to the rest of the city. Accepted materials include plastics (1-2), aluminum and tin cans, cardboard, newspaper, office paper, and magazines. The nonprofit group A.W.A.R.E. Inc. has been contracted to bale collected materials, which are then sold to sorters elsewhere. Recycle Montana will be following the program’s progress and sharing it with our members as information becomes available. Stay tuned! The Montana Recycler Winter 2015
Giao Hoang, Solid Waste & Recycling Coordinator for Butte-Silver Bow Public Works, moves some of the city’s standardized trash and recycling bins. Photo: Walter Hinick, The Montana Standard
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Recycling Policy in Montana By Mark Nelson, Recycle Montana Board Member Legislators from across the state and across the isle have shown great interest in helping to promote the economic, environmental, and community benefits of recycling while serving in the Legislature. This has included work by interim committees, budget discussions and several pieces of legislation. Many ideas to increase recycling have been introduced and debated, here are some of the recent bills that have made it and signed into law by the Governor:
House Bill 555 introduced by Representative Grinde in 2007 Legislature, recognized the challenges of electronic waste and funds a public education program through the Department of Environmental Quality. This bill helped D.E.Q. establish programs that have collected hundreds of tons of electronic waste for recycling across the state.
The 2009 Legislature passed Senate Joint Resolution 28 by Senator Peterson to study recycling in the interim, House Bill 21 by Representative Dickenson to repeal the termination date for recycling incentives, and Senate Bill 424 by Senator Barkus to phase out and establish safe collection to recycle mercury thermostats and related items.
House Bill 594, carried by Representative Jon Sesso in the 2011 Legislature, assures that recycled concrete, asphalt, glass and tires are utilized in state contracts and highway construction when the materials meet specifications for the projects.
In the 2013 Legislature, Representative Jerry Bennet carried House Bill 465 to better address metals theft while working with recyclers and those most affected by such crime.
Montana’s Capitol building in Helena
An important consideration in the current legislative session is the continuation of a host of tax credits and deductions. Newer than most, is the credit for the purchase of recycling equipment, a deduction for the use of recycled material in manufacturing, and a credit for the use of post-consumer glass in concrete. Recyclers will be watching the process of the various bills as they might impact these important recycling incentives.
Look for future legislative and policy updates, in and outside the Capitol by Recycle Montana. Be sure to join recyclers from across the state at Montana Recycles Day at the Capitol this March 24th in Helena!* Mark is the outgoing President of Recycle Montana (and current President of the Montana Recycling Association). Mark has been involved in recycling for more than a dozen years.
*See Page 1 for more information about the 2015 Montana Recycles Day at the Capitol! The Montana Recycler Winter 2015
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Members enjoy networking opportunities, annual updates of programs and services, and voting privileges on matters brought to the meeting by the Recycle Montana Board including voting on Directors.
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