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P.O. Box 20444 |
July/August 1997 Newsletter Co-Editors: |
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Update on Indiana Recycling Grants Programby: Robert GedertAs most of you know, HEA 1339 was signed into law on May 13, 1997. Since then, my staff has been busy holding stakeholder meetings on the effects of the new legislation. Although HEA 1339 is extensive and covers many topics, a small portion of the bill directly affects IDEM's recycling grants program. As noted in previous IRC newsletters, IDEM is charged with developing new grant policies that require the formal consideration of private sector displacement and economic need issues.We held public forum meetings in Central Indiana (Indianapolis), Northern Indiana (Merrillville), and Southern Indiana (Montgomery). We also held two SWPAC Grants Advisory Committee meetings to help consolidate and frame the important issues. Over 20 people have forwarded written comments, representing solid waste management districts, haulers, cities and private recycling companies. I have also had numerous phone conversations with interested parties. As this newsletter goes to press, IDEM staff is now developing the new grants policy. We are attempting to develop a balanced policy that honors new legislation and does not create excessive government bureaucracy. The public input has been very useful. I have been impressed with the effort and thoughtfulness expressed throughout the state. Our target date for publication in the Indiana Register is August 1, 1997. I feel this is an ambitious target date. If a new policy cannot be developed that quickly, we will delay publication rather than sacrifice the policy's quality. Remember - we are currently accepting recycling grant applications. Traditional, Model, and Regional grant applications can be submitted through September 30 for the next quarterly round. All grant applications will be reviewed within the framework of the new grants policy. |
 Also in this issue....
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Throwing the recyclables into the bin is only the beginning when making the decision to recycle. The process of recycling also includes remanufacturing the material into a new product, and then the ultimate purchase of that product by a consumer....THAT'S RECYCLING! But, where do you look for recycled-content products for the home, business or industry?
The Indiana Departments of Commerce and Administration, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Association of Plastic Container Recovery, Steel Recycling Institute, and U.S. Conference of Mayors, will host a full day buy recycled training workshop on August 26. The training sessions will be held at the Indiana Government Center Conference facility, downtown Indianapolis, from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., and will provide intensive instruction for public and private purchasing officials on how to find, specify and purchase recycled products.
Richard Keller, one of the nation's foremost experts on buying recycled, will top the day amidst other nationally known speakers, presenting information, and recycled products vendors displaying a variety of samples.
Registration is $35 (including lunch). Request a registration brochure from IDOC at 317/232-8940, or contact the U.S. Conference of Mayors at 202/822-9058. The Westin Hotel will offer a $71 rate the night before the conference to those reserving a room until July 25 . Contact the Westin at 317/262-8100, and mention the Buy Recycled Indiana conference.
Recycled product vendor booth registration is $63 (does not include sessions or lunch), and can be reserved by contacting Rosemary Vandiver at 317/233-7312.
The Mission Statement Task Force met on July 10 in response to recommendations that came out of the recent IRC Board retreat. The Board asked the task force to review the mission statement to make certain that it continues to reflect the efforts and intent of the IRC. The task force consists of Terry Duffy, Melinda Antell, Ken Decker, Hartley Holte, Janet Fox Neltner and Julie L. Rhodes.
The committee formulated a revised mission statement based on the original statement developed in 1989. The statement now explicitly includes composting and buying recycled-content products. In addition, we broadened the scope of the audiences to more closely match who we now serve. Over the years, IRC has grown into an organization that provides assistance and outreach to not only its members, but also to the business community, regional efforts (such as the Southern and Northern Indiana Recycling Initiatives), and statewide (such as multi-media campaign).
The IRC Board review the revised mission statement on July 17. Now, we would like to get feedback from our membership. To make comments, please contact me at 317/232-8944 or e-mail me at : [email protected]
Proposed IRC Mission StatementThe Indiana Recycling Coalition is a not-for profit, 501 (c)(3) corporation representing concerned citizens, state and local government officials, business, industry and environmental groups since December of 1989. The mission of the Indiana Recycling Coalition is to support source reduction, reuse, composting, and recycling activities in Indiana. To encourage integrated recycling, the Coalition supports buying recycled-content products, and the collection and remanufacturing of recyclable materials. The goal of this support is to conserve our natural resources, decrease our reliance on final disposal, and encourage environmental responsibility. The Coalition provides this support by:
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"Are there any recycling options for outdated microfiche film in Indiana?" "I am looking for information about recycling carbonless copy paper forms." "Currently, it costs more to recycle [fluorescent lamps] than they cost new. Anyone have a reasonably priced disposal option?"
These are examples of messages already posted on THE RECYCLE FORUM, a new place on the internet to share information about recycling. THE RECYCLE FORUM is not a live "chat" area, nor is it a mailing list format that gets delivered to your email in box. It is a new web-based message forum on the internet at http://papertrail.com/forum.
The forum is hosted by Brook Edwards, [email protected] , who saw a need for an open forum for internet users to discuss recycling issues. Though based in Indiana, the forum is open to anyone. Cyberville Webworks worked with Brook to launch this new service.
When you log on to THE RECYCLE FORUM, you will be directed to a web page showing current messages, arranged by date so you see newer messages first. Messages posted on the same day are flagged with a green "new" icon while yesterday's messages are yellow to make it easy to identify new postings. The list is "threaded" so that replies to earlier messages are kept with the original. This page lists subjects and authors. Each item is a hyperlink to the complete message which has "back" and "next" buttons to view others messages on the list. Replies are made on the same page or you can begin your own thread by posting a new entry with a unique subject line. When posting you may include your email or web page address. Older messages will be archived and made available from the forum's main page. You can even include your own picture or perhaps include a photo of an object pertinent to your message. If the image already exists on the internet, you just need to provide the image URL ("uniform resource locator") web address.
Messages are stored in a database and are, of course, publicly available. If you post a message, you will need to return to see any discussion on your topic. It is important to realize that what is posted here is available to millions of people, not just in Indiana, but around the planet. Realistically, hundreds of people will visit the website daily. You may be surprised where the answer to your question might come from or who might benefit from your unique knowledge or experience. While no advertising is permitted in posted messages, forum sponsorship is available through banner advertising.
THE RECYCLE FORUM has the potential to provide another avenue to promote recycling and to help businesses and individuals find answers to specific questions. If you have internet access, please stop by THE RECYCLE FORUM and join the discussion.
The Northern Indiana Recycling Initiative (NIRI) is working on improving scrap paper recycling infrastructure in northern Indiana. Three meetings were held April 8 - 10 in Valparaiso, Plymouth and Fort Wayne where generators of paper, processors, brokers, government, and end users attended. Approximately 130 people attended in all.
The sessions included presentations about paper markets and recovery options as well as roundtable discussions which generated ideas to improve paper recovery and the use of recycled content papers and products. Speakers for end markets included Greenstone Industries and Rock-Tenn. Collection and processing presenters included; Mark Loughmiller from Lake County Illinois commercial collection pilots, Mike Finn from Midwest Fiber Supply, Sandra Miller, Heimco Recycling, Randy Aumsbaugh, Indiana Fiber Supply, Dave Gritter, Weyerhauser Recycling, Brook Edwards of Paper Trail, Inc., and Bill Bean from Care, Inc.
The final activity in each session was to have participants indicate their most promising ideas generated during the morning. The three most prominent ideas were:
Phase one of this project is being funded by a Regional Recyling Grant from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management with matching funds provided by NIRI participating members.
August 6-17: Indiana State Fair, Visit the IRC booth in the DNR Building at the State Fairgrounds. This year's booth highlights recycled-content products and the statewide multi-media campaign. For more information contact IRC office at 317/283-6226
August 14: IRC Buy Recycled Subcommittee meeting, Indiana Dept of Commerce, One N. Capitol Ave, 1st floor conference room 9:30a.m. - noon. For more information contact Julie L. Rhodes at 317/22-8944.
August 14: IRC Bylaws Subcommittee meeting, Indiana Government Center South, 4th Floor, 12 - 2 p.m. For more information contact Melinda Antell at 317/738-2546
August 20: Foundry Sand Reuse Workshop, Indianapolis, in conjunction with the American Foundrymen's Association Annual meeting. For more information, contact AFS at 800/537-4237.
August 21: IRC Board of Directors meeting, 5:30 7:30 p.m., Environmental Management Institute, 5610 Crawfordsville Rd, Suite 15 on Indianapolis' westside. For more information contact IRC office at 317/283-6226.
August 26: Buy Recycled Training Institute, (Conference and Trade Show) 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Indiana Government Conference Center. Sponsored by Indiana Departments of Commerce and Administration, US Conference of Mayors, NAPCOR and Steel Recycling Institute. Nationally known buy recycled expert, Richard Keller, to speak. NAPCOR lunchtime fashion show. Space is limited. For more information contact Julie L. Rhodes at 317/22-8944.
September (TBA): IRC Recyclers Roundtable, plans currently underway for second of a series of roundtable meetings. September meeting to be held in Northern Indiana. Look for more details in the September/October newsletter.
October 21 - 24: Rubber Expo '97, and 152nd Fall Technical meeting of the American Chemical Society Rubber Division, Cleveland, OH, Cleveland Convention Center, 330/972-7814
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Copyright 1997 by the Indiana Recycling Coalition
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