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Recycling Matters
    Earth Day 1998

Features:

At the U, Everyday is EARTH DAY!
April 22nd will be the 28th anniversary of Earth Day.
Eco-Tips!
Some easy ways to reduce and conserve.
From the Coordinators Desk
The latest word from the new Recycling Coordinator, Sarah Archer.
Frequently Asked Questions
And their answers...
Stop Junk Mail!
Tired of junk mail? Find out how to stop getting it.
MRF Update:#3 PVC No Longer Recyclable
Discover why #3 Plastics can no longer be recycled.
Phantom Plastics: What's Hiding Behind Your Copy Paper Wrappers?
Are the wrappers recyclable?
Plastic Fun Facts
Some benefits of recycling plastics.
Keep Recycling Those Transparencies!
The Recycling Office and 3M collaborate. Find out all about it, and what you can do to help.
The Exchange Files
We are bringing the Exchange Files back to life.
On the Horizon
An web-based newsletter service is coming soon...
A Recycling Review
Test your knowledge of University Recycling procedures.
It's Move-Out Time!
The school year is just about over, so find out where to put your waste!

At the U, Everyday is Earth Day!

Wednesday, April 22 will mark the 28th anniversary of Earth Day. The history of the Earth Day movement can be traced right back to Ann Arbor where rallies, teach-ins, and talks flourished during the first Earth Day in 1970. Although the recent celebrations honoring Earth Day here at U-M have not reached the magnitude of the first Earth Day, the efforts of student groups on campus have kept the tradition going strong. Earth Day events scheduled at the University this year will take place April 13th through the 18th to accommodate class schedules. Please visit the Environmental Theme Semester web page for additional information and a schedule of Earth Week events at the University: http://www.umich.edu/~envsem/.

At Waste Management Services, we try to provide the infrastructure and information necessary for members of the campus community to do their part in making every day Earth Day. Waste Management Services strives to educate the community on how to reduce waste, reuse and recycle materials, and stimulate markets for products made with recycled material. With the cooperation and participation of the entire community, the University can boast that over 30 percent of the waste it produces is recovered for recycling.

Although our recycling efforts have proved successful, we must also consider the large volume of waste produced by the University that is still sent to the landfill. Each year over 10,000 tons of trash is generated by the Ann Arbor campus (not including medical facilities). This is enough trash to fill a U-M bus 960 times! This Earth Day consider what you could do to reduce the amount of trash you generate in the office, the classroom, and at home. Think twice about your next purchase, ask yourself "Do I really need this?".

- Jon Kazmierski

ECO-TIPS!

Reduce Waste

Conserve Energy

Conserve Water

"The earth will continue to regenerate its life sources only as long as we and all the peoples of the world do our part to conserve its natural resources. It is a responsibility which every human being shares. Through voluntary action, each of us can join in building a productive land in harmony with nature."

- President Gerald Ford
Proclaiming March 21st as Earth Day

From the Coordinators Desk

My first four months here at the University have been absolutely great! Everyone I have come in contact with have been enthusiastic and supportive of the recycling program. I have also received some welcome feedback for improving the best university recycling program in the state. Please continue offering your ideas and suggestions via Recycling (get address) (38.107.191.118) or call me at 763-5539. Your participation is what keeps recycling and waste reduction working, your ideas help us to evaluate and refine.

I have been so impressed by the hard work and dedication of the people in this department that keep the recycling program running smoothly. When you call in to our office you will be greeted by the pleasant voice of Paulette Grobbel, she keeps us all connected. Jane Reading-Boyd and her crew, Greg Boone, Harold Brown, Dale Bucholz and Tino Villarreal keep collection of recycling and waste running like clockwork. Kristin Miller compiles all the numbers we use in reporting back to you. Alan Tepley is our data entry specialist. Recycling Interns, Leslie Witter, Betsy Axley and Aaron DeLong have been conducting building audits as well as delivering containers and desk-side recycling boxes and have been available to pitch in on other projects. Matt Kazmierski, another recycling intern, is working with Plant Division's Web master, Mike Skora to revitalize our web site. Recycling Assistant Jon Kazmierski has been working in this office for over a year, and his experience and knowledge have been a tremendous asset. Jon organized the housing waste sort, is working on the Ecolympics project, move-out and this newsletter. These people are champions of recycling!

In these past months I've learned The University is abound with recycling champions. From custodian to building facility manager to administrator, from recycling contact to recycling participant, from students to staff and faculty we are all here, with a common goal, to reduce waste and make the best possible use of our resources. It is my goal to bring us together to keep waste reduction and recycling in the forefront. I'm counting on the support of all you to help teach those we work and learn with to join us as we strive to make every day Earth Day.

Get ready for a Recycling Revolution!

Sarah Archer

Frequently Asked Questions:

Phone books:

If you've lived in Ann Arbor for any length of time you probably are well aware of the numerous phone books printed and distributed every year. If you're tired of letting those old phone books accumulate, recycle them! That's right, phone books are recyclable. Waste Management Services asks that you do not place phone books in paper recycling bins. Too many phone books will make the bins excessively heavy and difficult to empty. Please place phone books next to paper bins in stacks.

Hardcover bound books:

Several people have asked us what they can do with their hardcover books other than throw them in the trash. Hardcover books are not accepted in the University's standard paper recycling. However, Waste Management Services has made arrangements with Recycle Ann Arbor to recycle hardcover bound books. If you have a substantial quantity of hardcover books that you would like to recycle, please contact Waste Management Services at 764-2663.

- Jon Kazmierski

Stop Junk Mail!!!

Are you tired of junk mail? How many catalogs do you receive a week that advertise products that are absolutely useless to you? How many credit card applications do you get in the mail every year?

North Americans receive approximately 2 million tons of junk mail each year. That averages to about 1.5 trees per household! 250,000 homes could be heated with one day's supply of junk mail! So junk mail is not just a nuisance but a serious environmental concern. Almost half of the junk mail received isn't even opened or read. Fortunately, most junk mail is recyclable. Keep in mind that any type of office paper, newsprint, envelopes (even with the [plastic] windows) and catalogs or magazines can be recycled. Most junk mail falls into one of these categories and can therefore be put in with the recycling.

	Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Assoc.
	11 West 42nd Street P.O. Box 9008
 	Farmingdale, NY 11735

MRF Update: #3 PVC No Longer Recyclable:

As of March 1, 1998 the Ann Arbor Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) terminated the collection of #3 PVC plastic bottles. This includes rigid vegetable oil and water bottles made from poly-vinyl chloride. The main reason for this change is the absence of a market for PVC materials.

In 1989 Occidental Chemical Company (Oxy Chem), a large producer of PVC bottles, initiated a recycling program. This was partially an attempt by Oxy Chemical to improve its public image since the production and use of PVC is known to be environmentally harmful. Several years later, the recycling program was transferred to a separate company. When Oxy Chem stopped buying back the recycled PVC, the market collapsed. Resource Recovery Systems Inc. (RRSI), the operator of the MRF and other organizations were unsuccessful in searches for alternative markets. Fortunately, RRSI says this plastic makes up only 0.2% of the recyclable material collected at the MRF.

Besides the fact that #3 PVC is no longer recyclable, there are other reasons to avoid this material. The production, use, disposal, and incineration of PVC, as well as the chlorine bleaching process used at some paper mills, are major causes of dioxin fallout. Dioxin is an extremely toxic chemical which accumulates in the food chain. Humans receive dioxin mostly through meat and dairy products, and human breast milk. Studies have shown this chemical to cause cancer, reproductive defects, developmental problems, immune system damage, and interfere with regulatory hormones.

While dioxin is known to be dangerous, industry has a large investment in PVC production technology. This makes the phase-out of PVC difficult. #1 PET and #2 HDPE plastics are more common in beverage containers, but the rigid PVC is frequently used in building materials. These include water pipes, flooring, electrical insulation, and sheet goods.

Dioxin production and the lack of markets for recycled PVC are two good reasons to favor alternative materials. By avoiding PVC products consumers can affect market patterns and influence manufacturers to change their ways. At the same time it is important to buy products made from post-consumer #1 and #2 plastics and continue to recycle these materials.

#1 PET and #2 HDPE small mouth plastic bottles are still collected at the MRF. However, plastic bottle caps are not recyclable and should be removed and discarded. Metal caps will be recycled if they are unscrewed from the plastic bottle. Your participation in the recycling process helps conserve resources and reduce pollution. Keep making a difference!

- Leslie Witter

Phantom Plastics: What's Hiding Behind Your Copy Paper Wrappers?

We all know that looks can be deceiving. So next time you are ready to throw your copy paper wrapper in the paper recycling bin take a closer look. If you wet the wrapper and rub off the top layer of paper you will discover a thin plastic film. This makes the wrappers non-recyclable. In fact they are a contaminant in paper recycling. So keep on recycling copy paper, but throw the wrapper in the trash.

- Leslie Witter

Plastic Fun Facts

Seem like plastics have been getting the bad rap in this issue? Well, here are some facts to remind you of the benefits of plastic recycling:

Keep Recycling Those Transparencies!

The transparency recycling program that began a year ago is continuing to prove to be successful through your great efforts. Latest estimates indicate that the University has sent over 500 pounds of transparencies to be recycled since January of 1998, bringing the grand total to over 1500 pounds since the program began! Way to go!

If you are not familiar with the transparency recycling program, the following information will help you start a program in your office or department:

Ship or mail transparencies direct for recycling to:

3M Recycle Program
c/o Gemark
99 Stevens Lane
Exeter, PA 18643

Or campus mail them to us and we'll consolidate for mailing:

Transparency Recycling
c/o Grounds & Waste Management
1110 East Huron - 1631

- Jon Kazmierski

The eXchange Files

With this issue, we are bringing The exchange Files back to life to promote the reuse and exchange of small office supplies among University departments. We are developing an exchange program on our web page that should be ready for trial sometime this summer. Waste Management Services does not guarantee the condition or availability of items listed for exchange. Submissions for future issues of Recycling Matters should be sent to: Recycling (get address) (38.107.191.118) or call 763-5539.

50 sets (20 sheets per set, 8 tags per sheet) of perforated name tag sheets. Not the holders, just the tags. White on light card stock. Contact Pattie Postel, Executive Education - Materials Manager. 763-9466

- Leslie Witter

M-FEST!

A PARTY FOR THE PLANET!

Ice Baby! That's right, get ready for one heck of a show right here in our own- backyard! It's the first annual M-Fest!

A group of ambitious students have been working on putting together an end of the year musical celebration to close the Environmental Theme Semester. Among several other sponsors, including UAC, LS&A, SNRE, the Office of Academic Affairs, and the Michigan Student Assembly, Waste Management Services will be sponsoring M-Fest and promoting campus recycling during the festivities. University Housing will be providing a meal served on frisbees made from recycled plastic and rumor has it that Joan Baez will be speaking and perhaps play a couple of short songs. Come out and join the party on Saturday, April 18, 2:00pm 7:00pm, on Palmer Field (the running track next to the Hill Area Residence Halls).

- Jon Kazmierski

On the Horizon

Programs and events to look for in the weeks to come:

In an effort to reduce waste coming out of our office, we will be instituting an electronic newsletter service this summer. Look for forthcoming information containing instructions on how to subscribe. If you choose to do so, you will receive E-mail updates informing you when a new edition of the newsletter has been posted on our web page. We ask offices that currently circulate their newsletter extensively or leave it on coffee tables for casual reading not to cancel their hard copy subscription. Or otherwise, go electronic and reduce waste!

Stay tuned! "The eXchange Files" will be coming to our web page soon.

- Leslie Witter

A Recycling Review

How familiar are you with the University Recycling program? Do you know what is and what isn't recyclable? How about those hard-to-figure-out materials that stump us all? Well here's your chance to test yourself.

  1. Copy paper wrappers are recyclable at U-M. (True) (False)
  2. Frozen food containers are net recyclable at U-M. (True) (False)
  3. Which of the following materials do not belong in the paper recycling dumpsters at U-M?
    1. corrugated cardboard
    2. foam peanuts
    3. box board
    4. bathroom paper
    5. office paper
    6. newspaper
  4. Why is it so important to break down cardboard boxes before putting them in the paper recycling dumpsters?
    1. unbroken-down boxes take up too much room in the dumpster and result in increased service of the dumpster which increases the cost of running a recycling program
    2. unbroken-down boxes cause the dumpster lid to remain open leaving the recycled paper exposed to rain and snow (wet paper is not recyclable!)
    3. it's the law
    4. both (a) and (b)
  5. Phone books can be recycled in the paper recycling at U-M. (True) (False)
  6. Hardcover bound books can be recycled in the paper recycling at U-M. (True) (False)
  7. Transparency film can be recycled at the University by:
    1. depositing it in the paper bins
    2. depositing it in the container bins
    3. sending it to the Gemark Corporation
    4. sending it to Grounds and Waste Management Services
    5. both (c) and (d)
  8. Which of the following materials cannot be recycled in the container recycling at U-M?
    1. ceramic mugs
    2. light bulbs
    3. pop cans
    4. #I, #2 plastics
    5. #3 plastics
    6. empty aerosol cans
    7. batteries
    8. electrical appliances
  9. Laser/Toner cartridges are recyclable at U-M. (True) (False)
  10. Photographs can be recycled in the paper recycling at U-M. (True) (False)

ANSWERS:

  1. False
  2. True
  3. b & d
  4. d
  5. True
  6. False - hardcover bound books can be recycled through special arrangements made with Waste Management Services (see page 2 of this newsletter)
  7. e
  8. b (light bulbs are NOT recyclable), g (batteries cannot be recycled with containers, OSHA has a special battery collection, for information call 763-4568), & h (electrical appliances should never be put in with the container recycling)
  9. True - Laser Cartridges can be recycled through a special program offered by U-M Stores. Call M-Stores at 998-7070 for more information or visit our web site at http://www.recycle.umich.edu.
  10. False-photographs should never be placed in paper recycling.

It's Move-Out Time!

When students move-out at the end of the year, they DON'T take everything with them. Clothes, appliances, household goods, food, bedding, and many other re-usable' goods get left behind. Students also generate excessive amounts of waste during move-out, including loft-wood, carpet, recyclable paper and recyclable containers. These materials used to get taken to the landfill until Waste Management Services recognized this problem and started a move-out program in the residence halls. Waste Management Services Collects materials from residence halls and transfers them to a garage on North Campus where local charities pick-up the materials. Waste Management Services also promotes a take-it or leave-it program where anyone interested can take materials such as loft-wood or carpet from loading docks during move-out. Last year, the move-out program captured over 5 tons of reusable materials and kept an unknown amount of loft-wood and carpet from going to the landfill.

This year, a student group called Michigan Recycles has put together an off-campus move-out program. The group has worked closely with Recycle Ann Arbor; the City of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, and Waste Management Services to put together an excellent program. Michigan Recycles will have three drop-off locations open on Saturday, April 25. They will be accepting furniture, clothing building materials, house-hold items and audio/video equipment. Materials must be in useable condition. Please drop off any of these materials on April 25 between 1 & 5 pm at the following locations:


Content modified: August 6, 2001