P.O. Box 20444 Indianapolis, IN 46220-0444 Not-For-Profit Corporation Phone & Fax: 317-283-6226 e-mail address: [email protected] November/December 1997 Newsletter Co-Editors: David J. Wintz and Julie L. Rhodes

Have a Jolly, Holly, QUALITY Holiday Season

As we prepare to enter that special time of year, let's make a concerted effort to recycle only the good stuff. We must remember that giving a low-quality item to your recycler is often worse than trashing it. Contaminated items cause big problems down the line.

For instance, how many of us have picked up a dirty, muddy bottle or can from a street or road? Unless you take the item home and thoroughly wash it, it's probably better to throw it away. An aluminum can weighs less than 1 ounce - if it has 3 ounces of mud on it, it's worthless. I can hear gasps of disbelief - this kind of talk is blasphemy!

Maybe, but we must remember that if a dirty, muddy glass bottle contaminates 2000 pounds of glass cullet, what good have we done by recycling it? We've done more harm to the environment than if we had thrown it away.

Of course, there will always be arguments on the costs and benefits of recycling. Should we use a bunch of water to wash one aluminum can or glass bottle? These are decisions we all have to make with our own consciences.

What are the big contamination issues? I'll discuss some of the main concerns. Caveat - every program is different - please stay in touch with your recycling program managers to find out what materials are accepted and how much contamination is allowed.

If you are a recycling program manager, education is the key! Put flyers in curbside bins. Make sure signage at drop-off sites is maintained properly. Consider direct mail and billboards. Consider rewarding the good players with freebies or other gifts. Be creative - quality matters!

	ALUMINUM CANS

Every pound of dirt in a semi-load of aluminum cans generates 2 pounds of skim - the material that gets skimmed off the top of the molten metal. Wow! How many loads of aluminum cans don't have any dirt in them?

Lead fishing sinkers, nails and other weighty items continue to be a problem with aluminum cans, but mostly in the buy-back arena. Buy-back customers put these items in the cans to make them heavy, so they get paid more for their cans. Curbside and drop-off programs usually don't have this problem.

Dirt, broken glass, paper, plastic and moisture are major concerns. Glass bottles will get crushed in an aluminum can flattener/blower system. Plastic materials cause huge problems when melting the aluminum. Plastic will catch fire in the melting process and can cause explosions - huge worker safety issues!

	GLASS CONTAINERS

If it's not a glass bottle or jar, don't try to recycle it in a municipal program designed for consumer glass only. Glass is not glass! Window glass, light bulbs, ovenware and other kinds of glass are not the same as container glass.

Ceramic materials continue to be a problem for glass processors. One coffee cup contaminates a semi-trailer load of glass! Also, try to take all lids and rings off of bottles and jars, including lead collars on wine bottles.

	PAPER

This is a tough one. There are hundreds of grades of paper. Each grade has different requirements and tolerances for contaminants.

Most local programs accept newspapers with everything that originally came with the paper, such as coupons and other slick flyers. Some programs cannot accept the slick paper because it is a different grade of paper.

Office paper recycling programs are all over the map. Some programs have chosen to go with a low grade of paper to boost recovery numbers. A good goal, but in weak market conditions, the low grades of paper do not pay much. High- grade programs usually accept white bond-type paper. Recovery rates are lower, but prices paid for the material are significantly higher. Here again, we struggle with the environment/conscience/money/viability issue.

	PLASTICS

Mixing plastics causes huge problems for end processors. Even if the material has the same number inside the chasing arrows, it may be a different type of plastic. It may be blow molded, injection molded, or thermoformed. A PETE 2-liter bottle is very different from a PETE microwavable plate.

The chemical processes that turn the old material into new feedstock are very dependent on such things as density and melt temperature. Each material has different chemical properties and it is important to know what is accepted in each recycling program.

All plastic containers must be clean and free of food residue. Remove lids and trim rings. Labels can stay on containers. Step on bottles to reduce volume.

	STEEL CONTAINERS

Each program is different - be sure to check with your program managers to see which steel materials are accepted. In general, all steel food cans are acceptable, including such items as coffee cans. Cans should be clean and dry and paper labels do not have to be removed. Put the lid in the can and crimp it closed to reduce processing problems associated with lids. Aerosol cans must be empty. Take all plastic lids off of the cans. Paint cans must be empty - a very thin dry layer of paint inside the can is OK.

Think "Green" this Holiday Season

During the holiday, we buy and wrap gifts, go to parties, send greeting cards and decorate trees. This year, by following the three R's - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle - we can lessen the impact of the holidays on our environment.

BUYING A TREE

Buy a living tree that can be replanted in your yard after the holidays. While a living tree requires a commitment of time and effort, it can have positive effects on air quality, global warming and wildlife habitat. Make sure to dig your hole now before the ground is too hard.

If you opt for a cut tree, call your solid waste management district to find out whether tree mulching or composting is available in your area. You can also place cut trees in a field for wildlife cover (with permission of the property owner) or donate them to a pond or lake owner for fish structure building.

SHOPPING FOR GIFTS

Take reusable string or canvas shopping bags with you when you shop. If you buy only one item, ask the clerk not to put it in a bag.

Buy gifts that are unpackaged or minimally packaged. Consider purchasing gift certificates, movie passes, tickets to theater or sporting events, lessons, or memberships. A donation to a charitable organization is a nice thought for some. You could also give of your time - a promise to do something for someone - you could paint a room or cook a meal.

Buy products with recyclable packaging.

Purchase durable products. Examples include refillable pens/pencils, rechargeable batteries, solar-powered calculators, razor blades, lunch boxes, canvas shopping bags and cloth or gold-plated coffee filters.

Office Gifts - talk to your supervisor about making a donation to a non-profit organization. Suggest purchasing company gifts from stores that donate a portion of the proceeds to a non-profit group. Suggest ceramic mugs as a way to show your company's commitment to reducing trash.

Write to or call the manufacturers of products you like and tell them you'd like these items in returnable, recyclable or less wasteful packaging.

WRAPPING YOUR GIFTS

Find alternatives to store-bought wrapping paper. Unique, creative alternatives include Sunday comics, colorful magazine ads, old maps, posters or pictures from old calendars.

Use alternatives to traditional ribbons and bows such as scarves, ties or belts. If you buy new wrapping paper, choose paper made from post-consumer, chlorine-free recycled fibers.

Save your used wrapping paper to make book covers and thank you notes or to wrap other items. You could also use it to line shelves. Reuse ribbons, bows and boxes.

To ship gifts, reuse packing peanuts and other packing materials.

SENDING GREETING CARDS

Save postage and paper by using postcard-size greeting cards. Buy cards made with post-consumer recycled content.

Reuse greeting cards by cutting them into postcards, gift tags or note cards.

Recycle your Christmas cards by sending them to a worthy cause. St. Jude's Ranch for Children, a non-profit, non-sectarian facility for homeless children, cuts up the cards and pastes them onto new card backs and sells them. If you can't recycle your cards locally, please send them to St. Jude's Ranch for Children, 100 St. Jude's Street, Boulder City, NV 89006-0100.

HOLDING SOCIAL EVENTS AND PARTIES

For holiday parties at home or at the office, use washable/reusable utensils, plates, cups, cloth napkins and tablecloths. Consider renting reusable party supplies. Purchase holiday food supplies in recyclable packaging. Compost leftover food scraps. Call your solid waste management district for more information on recycling and composting.