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P.O. Box 20444 |
November/December 1997 Newsletter Co-Editors: |
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Keep Recycling Working: Buy Recycled is the theme for the first America Recycles Day. Nationally, thousands of community events will occur to remind us that recycling and buying recycled products are not just a fad, but a way of life. Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon proclaimed November 15,1997, America Recycles Day: Indiana, and like 42 other states across the country, Indiana will join the nation in celebrating the progress we have made towards:
National sponsor are getting the word out, and locally, many corporate and government sponsors are making the commitment to keep recycling working in Indiana by buying recycled products. Statewide sponsors of America Recycles Day: Indiana include:
No matter where you live in Indiana, you can be assured that there is an America Recycles Day event nearby. From the farthest reaches of Northern Indiana, to the tip of Southwestern Indiana, communities all across the state have big plans to educate Hoosiers on the importance of recycling and buying recycled.
This is only a sampling of the many events that will be held across the state. More businesses, communities, and schools are jumping on the bandwagon every day, and committing to sponsoring an America Recycles Day: Indiana event. Contact the IRC or your local solid waste management district to find out how you can get involved locally.
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 Also in this issue....
Press Association Meets With State on Recycled Newsprintby David M. Stamps, Executive Director, Hoosier State Press Association, Inc.Taking a pro-active stance with regard to reaching future targets set for use of recycled newsprint by the state's 200 newspapers, the Hoosier State Press Association sought a meeting last month with Indiana Department of Environmental Management and others to review the situation. Although no specific action was taken at the meeting, all agreed the session provided greater understanding of the issue. The interested parties will continue to meet in the future to explore options for dealing with the recycled newsprint issue. "It is important for Indiana newspapers to take this step," said Ned Bradley, CEO and President of Home News Enterprises, headquartered in Columbus. "Using recycled newsprint is a complex issue with many factors. We needed to inform IDEM of the current state of the newsprint recycling industry and to start a dialogue on future goals," he said. Bradley served as a member of the Indiana Recycled Paper Task Force, formed in 1991 to look at all forms of paper recycling, including newsprint. Bradley also acted as chairman of the HSPA group which met with IDEM. Indiana publishers currently are observing voluntary guidelines adopted in early 1992, calling for the recycled fiber content in newsprint used by the state's newspapers to reach 11 percent by 1993, 23 percent by 1996, 31 percent by 1998 and 40 percent by the year 2000. Attainment of these goals is measured through surveys conducted by HSPA. The next survey will cover operations conducted in 1997, with reporting done in 1998. Surveys done for the calendar years of 1993 and 1995 both showed recycled content usage at 22 percent. Discussion during the meeting focused on potential problems which might hamper reaching the 1998 and 2000 goals. There is a lack of new recycling capacity coming on line in the newsprint industry. The cost of investment in the recycling process versus return on that investment, consolidation and excess capacity in the newsprint production industry, as well as the run-ability and mechanical difficulties of printing on recycled newsprint are all challenges in this industry. Nationwide, newsprint recycling has been a success story. Statistics gathered by the Newspaper Association of America shows newspapers being recycled at a national rate of 63 percent, nosing out aluminum cans at 62 percent. Overall, newspapers have done a good job of gearing up for recycling. By addressing the matter of newsprint recycling targets early here in Indiana, the state's newspapers are showing good faith in the process. |
The 1998 Annual Midwest Waste and Environmental Exposition dates have been set for February 11 and 12. Again this year, IRC will be working with the Departments of Commerce and Environmental Management to plan workshops and organize a cooperative education booth.
The 1998 Indiana Recycling Coalition Annual Conference dates are set, so block your calendars now to be in Indianapolis April 29 and 30. Next year's conference will provide workshops, vendor booths, networking and more.
Get involved in the IRC and join the Board the third Thursday of each month at the Environmental Management Institute, 5610 Crawfordsville Rd, Suite 15 on Indianapolis' westside. Board meetings are open to anyone interested.
November 15: America Recycles Day: Indiana. Statewide nearly 100 events will occur to celebrate America Recycles Day, and to raise awareness about recycling and buying recycled. Join celebrations in your community or the premier event at Indianapolis' Government Center Complex. For more information on where events will be held, or how to get involved in the planning, contact Bob Gedert at 317/232-8172 or Laura M. Dellinger at 317/232-7658.
November 19-20: Commodities Workshops. Learn how to improve the value for the materials being collected by simple adjustments to collection and processing techniques. Join representatives from five different commonly collected recyclable materials in a roundtable discussion. For more information, contact Bob Gedert or Carla Barrett, IDEM-OPPTA, at 317/232-8172.
November 20: 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.
December 9: Northern Indiana Recycling Initiative meeting, Kokomo, IN. For more information contact Rob Whitacre at the Howard County SWMD at 765/456-2274.
April 29-30: Indiana Recycling Coalition Annual Conference, Indianapolis Marriott. Mark your calendars now and look for details in the January/February issue of this newsletter.
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Copyright 1997 by the Indiana Recycling Coalition
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