P.O. Box 20444 Indianapolis, IN 46220-0444 Not-For-Profit Corporation Phone & Fax: 317-283-6226 e-mail address: [email protected] July/August 1998   Newsletter Co-Editors: Diane Mellinger, Jeff Myers, and Rudy Osenbaugh

Buy Recycled at State Fair Booth Did you ever think you could do your shopping at the Post Consumer Mall on Buy Recycled Boulevard? Well, this years state fair-goers will have the opportunity to see, firsthand, the myriad of recycled content products available to consumers. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and the Indiana Recycling Coalition (IRC) are again co-sponsoring a booth at the Indiana State Fair, August 12-23, 1998, to be located in the Department of Natural Resources Building. The Booth Committee has designed a series of storefront widows to display the many recycled content products that are manufactured and available for purchase. This buy recycled storefront is being made possible by a generous donation from Faerber's Bee Windows, Inc. Faerber's is loaning several windows to be used to create the display. Fair attendees will be able to window shop in the mall in such stores as: Builder's Triangle, Clothes the Loop Boutique, Office Eco-Depot, Looper's Superstore, and the Bin There, Done That Gift Shop. These storefronts will display hardware, lawn and garden, automotive, building supplies, clothing, shoes, accessories, school and office supplies, food and beverage/grocery items, gift items and greeting cards, and many other recycled content products that are available to consumers. The hope is to send the message to the thousands of fair attendees that recycled content products are available and convenient to buy. The booth is designed to parallel the activities and efforts of the America Recycles Day Committee and the Buy Recycled Taskforce. Both groups promotional materials will be displayed at the booth, and America Recycles Day Pledge Cards will be available. Booth Signage will be provided by the Department of Commerce, and IDEM will provide several thousand buy recycled fact sheets, bumper stickers, brochures, and posters to be distributed during the fair. It is truly a cooperative approach to spreading the buy recycled message to Indiana's residents. If you are interested in volunteering to help staff the booth during this years state fair, please contact Al Melvin, IDEM, Office of Pollution Prevention and Technical Assistance at 317-232-8172. Two free state fair admission tickets are given to all volunteers. If you want to donate a recycled content product to the booth, contact Cathy Bastin, West Central SWMD, at 317-745-2491. Give Cathy and Al a call today, and please stop and window shop at the booth during your visit at the Indiana State Fair.

Also in this issue....  News Briefs Electronics Reuse/Recycling Directory Waste Management Website Pollution Prevention Case Studies New Recyling Website for Kids NRC News NRC Corner Rural Recycling Council Info Sheets Mercury is Hazardous - Become Aware HHW Training in Indy Measuring Recycling: EPA's Voluntary Standard Method Wanted: A Few Good Men & Women... IRC Board Member Presents in Taiwan Recycling Cost Efficiency by Bob Gedert America Recycles Day IRC Membership Form IRC Board of Directors Calendar of Events

by Stephanie Biehn, Project Director of the Household Hazardous Waste Taskforce

We all know that mercury is a shiny metal that is liquid at room temperature. It performs many useful functions in our workplace and our homes. Yet, mercury is toxic and can impair the way we see, hear, and function. When released into the environment, mercury can contaminate our lakes and rivers, and seep into our groundwater.

When mercury enters a body of water, it can be converted to methyl mercury by bacteria in the water. Methyl mercury is one of the most toxic forms of mercury and is easily accumulated in the tissues of fish, wildlife and the humans that eat them. Mercury contamination persists in Indiana's lakes and streams (99% of all fish sampled in Indiana have mercury in their tissue).

Mercury poisoning attacks the central nervous system of all humans. Children, in particular, are more susceptible to mercury poisoning. The natural barrier between the brain and central nervous system is poorly formed in children prior to the age of six. This void in the body's defense mechanism puts these young children at a higher risk for mercury related illnesses. In 1996, Indiana had 398 reported cases of mercury poisoning from thermometers alone that involved children.

How can we balance mercury's benefits and detriments? Some household products need mercury to function properly. It is important to recognize that most mercury containing products do not harm us when properly used, and care must be taken to ensure that the mercury is properly disposed when the time comes. Most mercury can be recycled for use in other products. We can minimize mercury contamination risks by reducing our use of mercury containing products and by properly diverting mercury from landfills and incinerators to recycling facilities.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has teamed up with local solid waste management districts, health departments, and natural resource managers to help reduce mercury contamination in waste water and solid waste. The statewide Mercury Awareness Program kicks off in October. The program will support collections for household mercury-containing items in every county of the State, provide educational information to Indiana residents explaining the dangers of improper use and disposal of mercury, and stress the importance of recycling mercury-containing items. Help protect Indiana's children and environment! Call your Solid Waste Management District or the Household Hazardous Waste Task Force (812-349-2115) for more information on program details and how you can get involved.

by Jeff Myers, Co-Chair of the Regional HHW Taskforce

Many fortunate Hoosiers may soon have expanded hazardous household waste (HHW) services available in their community. Thirty-four employees from solid waste districts and municipalities throughout Indiana recently completed three days of training for "managing hazardous household wastes".

Conducted at the Environmental Management Institute in Indianapolis, the sessions were led by Jack Leonard of EMI and David E.B. Nightingale of Emcon, Inc., from Portland, Oregon. Grant funds from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) enabled the low tuition rate. Attendance was good and the training appears to have produced the intended results of encouraging expanded HHW services in Indiana.

The training followed the new Indiana Guidebook for HHW Facility Managers and a compendium of regulations, lists and handling rules. These documents contain all the basics of relevant regulatory background. DOT, OSHA, Consumer Product Safety Commission and Fire Code regulations for HHW facility design and operation were reviewed. Identification and interpretation of hazard warnings, placards and labels preceded training on the physical and health hazards of household chemicals and how to protect a facility and its personnel from the risks of HHW collection.

Sessions on HHW facility operating procedures demonstrated how to identify, safely handle, sort, label, store, and ship HHW materials. Major components also included considerations of planning, siting, design, facility construction, and management.

Numerous useful references were provided including model policies and procedures, record keeping forms, and worker safety checklists. Equipment for processing and personal protection, and supplies information was studied. Exercises on facility planning, long range projections, and budgeting were conducted and existing HHW programs were reviewed and examined.

Comments overheard among attendees were revealing. All agreed the training was worthwhile. Several said they learned their fears and misconceptions about handling HHW were unfounded. During interactive discussions, people with established HHW programs in their area were heavily queried by those who were new to the topic. Many said, "now I want some hands-on training". Most attendees departed with declarations of reaffirmed intent to start or enhance HHW services in their area. Even the few skeptics had notably moved towards new attitudes about the need and "do-ability" of HHW pollution prevention, collection and recycling programs.

Future HHW training to include "handling" is being discussed and this "background session" may be repeated if sufficient interest exists. If you have questions or comments on this training and other HHW issues, or need information on grants for HHW programs, contact Stephen Boggs at 800-451-6027. The "guidebook" is an excellent reference, get one! If you are still unsure whether your District or town will be participating in the important upcoming statewide Mercury Awareness Program and Collection, call Paula Smith at IDEM, or Stephanie Biehn, the regional HHW Taskforce Project Coordinator, at 812-349-2115. Just ask yourself ... where is the mercury and HHW in my community going now?

by Melinda Antell, IRC President

On Wednesday, June 3, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsored a satellite forum on recycling measurement. The purpose was to help states and local governments fairly compare their recycling rate with other states or municipalities and calculate a recycling rate that is accurate and useful for planning and market development purposes.

The program, entitled Weighing in on Recycling Measurement...EPA's Standard Method featured a panel of recycling measurement experts from across the country. Panelists included Ernie Stall representing the Ohio EPA; Carl Hursh, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; Esther Bowring, Montgomery County, Maryland; Kip Eagles, Washington State Department of Ecology; and Hope Pillsbury, EPA's Office of Solid Waste.

The purpose of the conference was to discuss how to use a new method defined by EPA to standardize recycling measurement rates across the United States. Currently methods used to calculate a recycling rate are different from one area to another and from one state to another. This makes it difficult to compare the effectiveness of recycling programs.

The video conference outlined the six core elements of EPA's method.

1. Include only the standard scope of M.S.W.: In order to achieve uniformity and address wide variation in what is counted as M.S.W. and recycling, EPA selected as the scope their historical definition of M.S.W. as contained in the EPA report, Characterization of M.S.W. in the United States. Therefore, various items, including construction and demolition debris, biosolids, used oil, ash, auto hulks, manufacturing waste, and overissue newspapers (to name a few wastes) are excluded from the scope.
2. Include only standard recycling activities: The standard scope does include offsite composting of leaves and mulching old pallets into wood chips, but does not include activities such as backyard composting and reuse.
3. Use the standard equation for calculating a recycling rate: According to the EPA's method, the M.S.W. recycling rate is calculated by dividing the total amount of M.S.W. recycled (including offsite composting) in the previous calendar year by the total amount of M.S.W. generated. M.S.W. generation is equal to the total amount of M.S.W. recycled plus the total amount of M.S.W. disposed of, in tons.
4. Account for imports and exports of M.S.W. and recyclables: The standard methodology requires that your recycling rate include only materials generated in your state or locality. Any recyclable materials that were exported from your state or locality should be added to the total, and any recyclables that were imported subtracted. Likewise, any M.S.W. that was exported from your jurisdiction should be added to the total, and any M.S.W. imported should be subtracted.
5. Obtain data on a calendar year basis: The standard methodology requires collection of data for the previous calendar year (January to December).
6. Report data in tons: Data sources are asked to report quantities in tons and to use conversion factors if the tonnage is not available. Volume to weight conversion factors are provided in a guidance document. (Ordering information below.)

EPA explains the methodology in detail in its guidance document, "Measuring Recycling: A Guide for State and Local Governments". In addition to detailed information on the core elements, the Guide addresses some of the more challenging recycling measurement issues, such as working with the private sector to obtain data, and learning how to save time and money. To order, call the RCRA Hotline at 800-424-9346 and ask for publication EPA530-R-97-011, "Measuring Recycling: A Guide for State and Local Governments" or visit their web site at www.epa.gov/recycle.measure.

The Indiana Recycling Coalition is just that: a Coalition of business people, policy makers, environmentalists, and interested citizens who want to see waste reduction and recycling move forward in Indiana. To reach that goal, Coalition members volunteer to help with projects related to that mission. A working Board of Directors, voted in by the full membership, meets monthly along with members to oversee progress on individual projects and make funding and policy decisions.

The Recycling Coalition needs current and future members to join this working Board and help us make recycling work in Indiana. A diverse Board of Directors strengthens our organization by exposing members to a wide variety of viewpoints and bringing in additional creative energies.

The Articles of Incorporation of the Indiana Recycling Coalition enumerate that a full Board of Directors consists of six members from each sector (business, government and not-for-profit/citizen group) and three "at large" members, for a total of 21 Directors. Directors are voted in annually for staggered two year terms. We currently have only 17 of the 21 Board of Director spaces filled. The 17 current Directors are listed on the front of this newsletter.

There is one vacant business sector seat, and three not-for-profit/citizen group seats open. There are no current vacancies in the at-large or government sectors. The Board has an option to appoint "fill-in" board members that will serve until the next annual meeting, by a vote of the other board members in the same category that the nominee is in. That appointed board member would then be eligible to run for election at the next annual meeting, which will take place in Evansville, Indiana in conjunction with our 10th Annual Conference.

In addition to the current Board vacancies, which will be filled by appointment, we are also seeking Board of Director candidates in all categories for the next election. If you belong to the IRC in one of these categories, submit your nomination now for the new Board year that will begin in June of 1999. Again, a diverse slate makes for a strong organization.

Potential board candidates, both for the "fill-in" appointments and for next year's Board, need to be a member in good standing and submit a short nomination form. Call the IRC at 317-283-6226 and Executive Director Janet Fox Neltner will mail, fax, or e-mail you the nomination form. Janet can also answer questions about your member standing. Good member standing means that you have paid your dues. Dues must be paid in the sector in which you intend to hold your Directorship. For example, if someone is running for a business sector seat on the Board, that business needs to be an IRC member. If individuals run for the board and don't have an organizational affiliation, then they run at-large.

Please consider this opportunity to serve. Turn in your nomination form at your earliest convenience. "Fill-in" appointments will be made in August or September. If you wish to run for office at the next Annual meeting, nominations are due by mid-April of 1999.

by Diane Mellinger, IRC Board Member

The questions were the same! How do I place a listing? What about liability issues? How do I negotiate transportation costs? How do I convince my superiors that the Exchange is a viable idea? How will this help my company's bottom line?...But the place was very different-Taipei, Taiwan!

The Indiana Materials Exchange and OMEx: Ohio's Materials Exchange were privileged to present a case study at the Industrial Waste Exchange and Reuse and Transportable Incineration Workshop held June 17 and 18 in Taipei, Taiwan. The conference was sponsored by US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), US-Asia Environmental Partnership (USAEP), Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency (TEPA) and the China Waste Minimization Association (CWMA). The Indiana and Ohio case study was presented by Diane Mellinger of Waste Alternatives, Inc., the contractor for both state programs. In addition to this case study, presentations were made by Gene Jones of the Southern Waste Information Exchange (SWIX); Calvin Brunner of Incinerator Consultants Incorporated; Dr. J. Houng of TEPA; C.H. Cheng of Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI); Ms. M. Lee of World Resources Company and John McCarroll, Kevin Wong and Jessica Gaylord of USEPA Region 9. There were 250 attendees representing Taiwan business and governmental sectors.

Prior to the workshop, the United States delegates spent two days meeting with their Taiwan counterparts. The first day of meetings included a tour and discussion at ITRI providing information about the Waste Exchange Information Center in Taiwan, the goals of the National Center for Cleaner Production (NCCP), and background on the relationships between these organizations and TEPA. Following the ITRI visit, delegates toured cyanide waste and chrome waste treatment demonstration sites and reviewed the building site of an incineration demonstration project. The second day brought together the delegates, representatives from the previous day's organizations and employees of Taiwan's EPA for a half-day discussion of issues and concerns.

Potential future projects and discussions could include a collaborative program to facilitate recycling of computers and other electronics. (Taiwan has 40,000 companies manufacturing electronic products. These companies belong to an association that is charged, among other things, with the task of organizing recycling and/or reuse of their by-products.)

Participants agreed that the exchange of information, and discussion of issues was mutually beneficial and fascinating! For more details and/or a list of participants, contact Diane Mellinger at 740-397-7652 or at [email protected]

by Bob Gedert, Recycling Branch Chief, OPPTA/IDEM

"Recycling costs too much, landfilling is cheaper." Have you ever considered how best to respond to this statement?

If curbside recycling services are analyzed considering the costs to residents and comparing these costs to waste collection, then in nearly every situation, recycling will prove to be more cost effective than landfilling as a waste management tool.

Consider the costs to the resident through a dollar per month per household study. The range for waste collection and disposal in Indiana is between $5 and $15 per month per household. The range for curbside recycling collection is between $2 to $5 per month per household. Recycling appears lower in costs; however, billed charges don't always reflect the full cost of a program. Additional costs may be buried in governmental subsidies. Calculations need to include these hidden subsidies.

A better method would mirror a practice of the private recycling industry. For example, the cost efficiency of a material recycling processing facility (MRF) compares overall costs per out-going ton versus revenues per ton. MRF out-going tons can range from $40 to $210: depending on operations, equipment, and management style. Revenues, from two main sources: market sales and contract fees, range from $80 to $200 per ton.

However, most communities do not measure collection costs making this useful calculation impossible. Drop-off and curbside recycling programs need to be evaluated for their costs. By evaluating each cost component of the system, not only can the question of cost effectiveness be addressed, but you can identify hidden program decisions. Is it better to offer co-mingled collection or curb-separated collection? What are the incremental added costs incurred by adding plastic containers to the collection program? By changing equipment, glass breakage can be reduced; but will it save money? The answers to these questions should be based on a full cost analysis.

A cost efficiency study might challenge you to consider these component decisions:

Which tools are available for you to use in considering cost efficiencies? Cities and towns hire accountants to assess program overhead; recycling program services can be assessed in this analysis as well. Solid waste management districts may have a program specialist. University interns are looking for study projects. Software packages can assist in organizing your numbers and charting your costs.

There are over 160 curbside recycling programs in the state and over 600 dropoff locations - visit another recycling program for new ideas and better ways to provide service. Network with other program managers at conferences and workshops. Whatever you try, dig into those accounting ledgers and track your program costs throughout the entire system of collection, transportation and processing.

Cathy Bastin and Bobbi Steiff, America Recycles Day co-chairs, are extremely excited about this year's rapidly progressing plans for Indiana's second America Recycles Day Celebration. "The most exciting big change this year," says Cathy Bastin of the West Central SWMD, "is the greatly extended timeline for declaring official ARD events by states participating in this year's national Buy Recycled campaign."

City, county, and state agencies/organizations and Indiana businesses and organizations sponsoring or supporting ARD events can begin their campaign efforts as early as July and August. Any county or state fair booth with a buy recycled focus in July or August can be counted as an official ARD event. "Last year only the week of November 15 was counted. But this year any buy recycled event occurring before November 15 will be counted," says Bastin.

Indiana's ARD Committee hopes to have pledge cards, the buy recycled planning guide, and some other promotional materials available in July for distribution throughout Indiana. Other exciting happenings to take place during Indiana's ARD campaign include:

Details for many of these activities will be forthcoming in the September/October IRC newsletter. If interested in becoming involved, call Cathy Bastin: 317-745-2491 or Bobbi Steiff: 317-233-5622.

July 21	1:00 - 3:00 p.m.	Statewide Multi-Media Campaign Meeting, IDEM's OPPTA Conference Room 703, Indiana State Teacher's Assoc., Bldg. Contact Deam Smith for details: 765-640-2535.
July 22	9:30 a.m.	Buy Recycled Taskforce Meeting, IDoC, 6th Floor Conference Room, One North Capitol, Indpls. Contact Sarah Carney, [email protected] or 317-232-8944
August 4	10:00 a.m.	NIRI Paper Mill Tour and Bimonthly NIRI Meeting. A free tour of the Jefferson-Smurfit paper recycling mill in Wabash, IN is planned with Lunch and NIRI meeting immediately following. Contact Rob Whitacre if interested: 765-456-2774.
August 12-23	All Day Everyday	IRC State Fair 'Buy Recycled Storefronts' Booth. Booth will be located in the Department of Natural Resource Bldg. on north side of fairgrounds. ARD and Buy Recycled Taskforce activities will also be featured. Call Janet Fox Neltner: 317-283-6226.
August 20 & September 17	5:30 p.m.	IRC Monthly Board Meeting, Environmental Management Institute, (EMI), Contact Melinda Antell: 317-738-2546
Sept. 13-16	All Day	NRC Annual Congress, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Contact: NRC, 1727 King Street Suite 105, Alexandria, VA 22314-2720. 703-683-9025. Registrations not accepted via Fax.