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

Message from Returning President Hello IRC Members! Welcome to a new Board year for the Indiana Recycling Coalition. I am absolutely thrilled with the wonderful new Board members and, of course, delighted to have the dedicated, returning Board members. Remember though, the IRC Board is a working Board. While Board members toil to advance the IRC's mission, we also need you. Please make an effort to attend at least a portion of the Recycling Coalition's regularly scheduled monthly meetings. The Coalition meets the third Thursday of every month, beginning June 18th. Meetings run from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. at the Environmental Management Institute (EMI), 5610 Crawfordsville Road, Suite #15, Indianapolis. A dinner of pizza, sandwiches, or the like, is always served at 5:30 p.m. The past year was incredibly exciting with the kickoff of the Statewide Multi-Media Campaign, our first America Recycles Day, and a very successful conference. However, this year promises to be even more titillating. A highlight will be our 10th Annual conference, which for the first time moves from Indianapolis. We'll be in Evansville enjoying the Ohio River, Sustainable Evansville House, and, of course, the casino! I have many ideas for the upcoming year. Priorities including working to make the 1999 conference our most successful to date, increasing membership numbers and maintaining membership diversity, filling the 1999-2000 Board slate with interested and enthusiastic people like YOU!, and continuing work on promoting buying recycled through America Recycles Day, distribution of the new Buy Recycled Indiana! Guide (the product of an IRC task force), and incorporating the theme into other annual projects such as the State Fair. But, to make the IRC valuable to you, I need to know what issues you want the Coalition to focus on this year. Feel free to e-mail or call me at any time with questions, concerns or issues that are important to you; come to a monthly meeting; or attend a task force meeting. (Keep your eye on the calendar of events to determine when groups will meet.) My e-mail is [email protected] and phone is 317-738-2546. Mark your calendars now for the 1999 conference, our 10th Annual, in Evansville, May 10-11, 1999. It's going to be FUN. Recycle on! Melinda Antell

Also in this issue.... 1998 Governor's Awards for Excellence in Recycling Business Source Reduction and Recycling Priority Waste Streams 50 Percent Achievement Award Solid Waste Management Districts Local Governments, Hospitals, and Schools Individuals and Groups Mountain Movers Media, Journalism or Marketing NRC News NRC Corner America Recycles Day Update Recycling is Everybody's Business! Electronics Discards by Hartley O. Holte, Technical Advisor, Monroe County SWMD Join the Coalition's NIRI for a Paper Mill Tour IRC Membership Form IRC Board of Directors Calendar of Events

Thanks to You,

Thanks to everyone who helped with the 1998 conference, which was held on April 28 and 29, 1998. Without your efforts, the conference would not be possible. Many Coalition volunteers helped to plan the conference, from developing sessions, sharing knowledge and experience as a speaker or moderator, helping to compile the binders, helping with set-up of the Recyclers' Auction, inviting exhibitors and sponsors, staffing the registration area, and the many other tasks that are crucial for a successful conference. We thank all of you for your continued support as we work together to further recycling in Indiana.

And, mark your calendars NOW, for the 1999 Conference, to be held at the Holiday Inn Airport in Evansville, on May 10-11, 1999. Coalition members recently received an Evansville pre-announcement brochure, with preliminary conference details and also a "Conference Theme" contest. The winner of the theme contest will be announced later this summer.

On a related note, the new "Buy Recycled Indiana!" guide was unveiled at the conference. This resource publication, available through the Indiana Department of Commerce, is an excellent tool to assist your buy-recycled program. To order your copy, contact Sara Carney or Julie Rhodes at 317-232-8944.

The Indiana Recycling Coalition Conference session on Discards of the Electronics Industry on April 28th provided a networking opportunity for approximately 30 people. Attendees from all over the state expressed an interest in having a collection program for everything from used televisions, to computers, to cell phones. A common discussion theme was, "We are interested in working with these materials, but we don't know the best ways to collect, transport, and dispose."

Jim Parker of Planergy, Inc. talked about potential removal of useful components from various appliances, and about possible District sponsored periodic drop-off programs.

Eric Goldsmith of Goldsmith Recycling Group, discussed issues in processing and repair of used items from a commercial perspective.

Members of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, including Bob Gedert, OPPTA Branch Chief, indicated a strong interest in helping to coordinate state-wide efforts. Input from Stephanie Biehn, Household Hazardous Waste Task Force Coordinator, confirmed that a primary concern for proper disposal of electronics includes knowledge that many such units contain batteries with heavy metal, and possibly mercury contents.

Diane Mellinger of Waste Alternatives, Inc., discussed the listing of electronic discards through the Indiana Materials Exchange program.

It is quite apparent that there is sufficient interest to warrant treating this as yet another 'product area' similar to waste tires, cans, bottles, etc. Because of transportation and distance issues, regional cooperative efforts (either by private industry or through Solid Waste districts) may be appropriate. It is the opinion of this author that a small grant would provide a dedicated labor resource to consolidate information and recommendations to solutions that work in other communities. This resource would be a necessary precursor to helping communities and businesses make considered judgements and investment decisions related to electronics demanufacturing, parts reuse, repair, and materials disposal.

Join the Coalition's NIRI for a Paper Mill Tour

A tour of the Jefferson-Smurfit mill in Wabash, Indiana - a premier paper and paperboard recycling mill - will be held on August 4, 1998, at 10:00 a.m.. The tour will last approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours and will be followed by lunch. This tour will be the site of the bimonthly meeting of the Northern Indiana Recycling Initiative (NIRI), but all Coalition members are invited and welcome. The number that can attend, however, is limited to 25, which is the most the mill can accommodate.

There is no cost to participate, but those who would like to attend will need to provide their own transportation to and from the mill, located at 455 W. Factory Street in Wabash (request a map when you RSVP, if needed). The tour is sponsored by the American Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council and Jefferson-Smurfit. APPEC is a partnership of the American Forest & Paper Association, the Paperboard Packaging Council, and the National Paperbox Association. If you would like to attend, please contact Rob Whitacre at 765-456-2274 before July 1, 1998.

Calendar of Events