Recycling Matters
Earth Day 1999
Features:
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Events at U of M and in Washtenaw County supporting Earth Day. A little history to Earth Day. The music of nature. Plus ways you can help protect the earth. |
News from around U of M. Newsbriefs on Waste Reduction around the Nation |
Download this issue of Recycling Matters in Adobe Acrobat format. (952 K)
Earth DayApril 22, 1999
"We are the Earth, through the plants and animals that nourish us. We are the rains and the oceans that flow through our veins. We are the breath of the forests of the land, the plants of the sea...Linked in a web of community, we are all interconnected." ~ David Suzuki, from "The Declaration of Interdependence" |
Earth Week EventsEarth Week at the University (April 12-18)All Week: Activities on the Diag from 12-1pm Mon-Fri. Also, EnAct's release of local green business ratings for 199. Find them at the following activities or on their web page April 12, noon:Kick-off speeches on the Diag, featuring Loren Finklestein of Free the Planet and Representative Liz Brater. April 12, 7:30 p.m.:Talk by Captain Paul Watson, one of the founders of Greenpeace who later went on to start the Sea Shepards Conservation Society. Pendelton Room in the Union. April 13, 4-6 and 7:30-10pm:Environmental activist training by Free the Planet. Anderson Rooms C and D at the Union. To register contact EnAct at EnAct Recycled Notebook Project (get address). April 14, 8pm:Religious forum on the environment. Location to be announced. April 15, 5:30pm:"Critical Mass" bike ride starting at the Diag. April 16:Talk by the authors of "Use Less Stuff". Location to be announced. April 17:Fourth annual "Hands on the Planet" environmental service day. Begins at 10am at various locations. Register at events throughout the week or email EnAct Recycled Notebook Project (get address). * For more info on events at U of M email Environmental Issues Commission (get address). Earth Week in Washtenaw County (April 9-24):April 19: Busch's grocery stores begin a week-long sale of environmentally preferable products. Also, grand opening of the En-House at Recycle Ann Arbor's Reuse Center (call (734) 662-6288 for info). April 22 (Earth Day):1999 WasteKnot awards ceremony recognizing environmentally conscious businesses (by invitation only). April 24, 9am-4:30pm:"Living Lightly on the Land: Exploring Personal Choices and Civic Responsibility" workshops hosted by Michigan Friends Center. $20 per adult, $5 per child. Call (734) 475-9976 to register. April 24, 10am:Slideshow on "Landscape Gardening by the Books and Beyond" by Barbara Black at Matthai Botanical Gardens Library. Call (734) 453-0750 to register. April 24: Book signing by Bob Lilienfeld, author of "Use Less Stuff", at Busch's on South Main. Also, compost bin sales at Pioneer high School, Ypsilanti Farmer's Market, and Home Toxics Collection Center. April 25, 1-4pm: Earth Day Festival at Leslie Science Center. Call (734) 662-7802 for more info. |
Earth Day: How It All Got Started
~Leslie Witter
"Earth Day is the first holy day ... and is devoted to the harmony of nature ... The celebration
offends no historical calendar, yet it transcends them all."
~ Margaret Mead
Back in the 1960's, Senator Gaylord Nelson wanted to find a way to make the environment a national political issue. His first idea, a presidential conservation tour, caught President Kennedy's attention. Kennedy's five-day tour in 1963, however, did not generate the hoped for reaction. Several years later, Nelson was inspired by "teach-ins" protesting the Vietnam War. With the help of Denis Hayes and other college students of Environmental Action Inc., Nelson's idea of a widely supported environmental teach-in soon became a reality.
On April 22, 1970, over 20 million Americans, 10% of the U.S. population at the time, participated in a variety of Earth Day activities. At the University of Washington, students invited onlookers to dip their hands in a bucket of oil to see what it felt like to be trapped in an oil spill. Berkley students marched a 500 mile "Survival Walk", inspecting pollution and encouraging citizens to get involved. In Chicago, environmentalists collected stockholder proxies in order to have enough votes to change Commonwealth Edison Co.'s polluter policies. Earth Day was an opportunity to commit to a healthy environment and sustainable communities.
Since that day in 1970, Earth Day has become an annual phenomenon and, as Nelson hoped, politicians have responded to the outpouring of public sentiment. Congress has passed at least 40 major environmental laws in the past 29 years. In addition, over 80% of Americans regard themselves as environmentalists. In 1990, Earth Day gained international support when it was celebrated in 141 countries. However, despite increased public awareness and progress on several environmental issues, many threats to the health of our planet remain. April 22, 1999 is a chance for us to recognize how our individual and collective actions influence the quality of the environment and to work towards a more sustainable future. We need to keep this commitment not only on Earth Day, but everyday!
![[ Image, Landscape ]](/grounds/recycle/graphics/RMN_ED99_Earthspiration.GIF) |
EARTHSPIRATION" THIS SONG OF THE WATERS IS AUDIBLE TO EVERY EAR, BUT THERE IS OTHER MUSIC IN THESE HILLS, BY NO MEANS AUDIBLE TO ALL. TO HEAR EVEN A FEW NOTES, YOU MUST FIRST LIVE HERE FOR A LONG TIME, AND YOU MUST KNOW THE SPEECH OF HILLS AND RIVERS. THEN, ON A STILL NIGHT, WHEN THE CAMPFIRE IS LOW AND THE PLEIADES HAVE CLIMBED OVER RIMROCK, SIT QUIETLY AND LISTEN FOR A WOLF TO HOWL, AND THINK HARD OF EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SEEN AND TRIED TO UNDERSTAND. THEN YOU MAY HEAR IT -- A VAST PULSING HARMONY -- ITS SCORE INSCRIBED ON A THOUSAND HILLS, ITS NOTES THE LIVES AND DEATHS OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS, ITS RHYTHMS SPANNING THE SECONDS AND THE CENTURIES." ~ALDO LEOPOLD |
Earth Day Issues
~Leslie Witter
Air Quality*:
Air quality in the U.S. has improved significantly over the past decades. Since the 1970 amendments to the Clean Air Act, the combined emissions of 6 criteria pollutants (carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, and particulates) have dropped by 32%, even though the population grew 29%, people drove over twice as much, and the economy more than doubled (1996 figures). Many areas around the world, however, continue to experience unhealthy levels of air pollution.
Another problem is global warming. As evidenced by the debate surrounding the Kyoto Protocol, global warming is still a controversial issue. Nonetheless, most of the international scientific community believes that the human-caused build up of gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, CFC's, halons, and nitrous oxides, will ultimately lead to warming. Carbon dioxide is the most influential and its atmospheric concentration has risen by 25% since pre-industrial times.
Other air quality issues include stratospheric ozone depletion , acid rain, smog, and particulate matter.
* www.cleanairprogress.org/docs/getfacts.html
* www.rona.unep.org/action/09f.htm
Water Quality*:
Due to governmental and non-profit initiatives over 1 billion people gained access to clean water during the 1980's. Unfortunately, over 70% of the world's population is without clean water and an estimated 25,000 people die each day as a result of poor water management. Polluted waters also harm wildlife. Governments, businesses and communities need to continue to work together to effectively manage freshwater resources, the small 0.008% of the planet's water available for human consumption.
* www.rona.unep.org/action/11f.htm
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Take Action! "The environmental problems we face in the future will be more complex...We can work together to address these... today, or we can handle them as expensive crises tomorrow." ~ Carol Browner, EPA |
Save Water:
- Take short showers and shallow baths.
- Turn off the water while shaving, brushing, soaping, or shampooing.
- Install low flow showerheads and toilets, or ask your landlord about these options.
- Put a brick or plastic bottle full of water in your toilet tank to reduce water use.
- When using the washer, dryer, or dishwasher make sure to do a full load.
- Repair leaky faucets, pipes, and toilets.
- Practice outdoor water conservation.
Energy*:
It is predicted that over the next 30 years the world demand for energy will grow by 50-60%. Most energy use is unsustainable, relying on non-renewable resources like coal, oil, and natural gas. The burning of these fossil fuels is the biggest contributor to localized air quality problems and global warming. Michigan is no exception to the trend of dependence on fossil fuels: 65% of our electricity is produced using coal, 32% nuclear, 2% hydropower, and less than 1% oil and natural gas. Fortunately, we can take action to reverse this trend. First of all, energy efficiency can result in considerable savings. For example, the amount of energy wasted due to poorly insulated windows and doors is about as much as the U.S. gets annually from the Alaskan pipeline. Renewable and sustainable energy sources, such as wind, geothermal, and solar power, are becoming more reliable and cost-effective too. Some areas are already taking action: wind power in California generates enough electricity per year to meet the needs of a city the size of San Francisco and another 7% of California's electricity needs are met through geothermal power.
*www.eia.doe.gov/environment.html
*solstice.crest.org/index.shtml
*www.rona.unep.org/action/07f.htm
Waste*:
Industrialized countries generate over half the world's municipal waste and 90% of toxic and hazardous waste. The EPA estimates that the average American produces over .75 tons of trash per year. Fortunately, alternatives to disposal are spreading. In 1997, 30% of the municipal solid waste generated in the U.S. was recycled or composted. However, work remains to be done. The other two components of the 3 R's, reduce and reuse, need to receive more attention. Also, society must take on a "cradle to grave" perspective, analyzing the entire production process from raw material extraction through disposal for ways to reduce waste.
*www.rona.unep.org/action/08f.htm
*April 1998 issue of BioCycle
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Take Action! " Resolving the global environmental crisis starts at home, in our own consciousness and lifestyles, our own backyards and our own communities." ~ Amy Belanger ED 1997 Pensacola, Florida |
Conserve Energy:
- Take advantage of natural lighting!
- Turn off the lights when you leave the room.
- Use energy saving lights.
- Keep thermostats set low.
- Use air conditioning only when necessary.
- Make sure your home is well insulated.
- Turn off the computer if you won't be using it for 16 minutes or more.
- When buying appliances, check for the EPA Energy Star rating.
- Make sure your refrigerator door shuts tightly, and keep it shut as much as possible.
- Position refrigerator and stove away from each other.
Agriculture and Land Use*:
Nearly 20% of the world's cultivable land is degraded and no longer fit for crops. At the same time, the population continues to grow. This begs the question of how we will solve food production and distribution issues in the future. Past use of artificial inputs has resulted in temporary gains in productivity, but is not sustainable in the long run. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides often harm the environment and farm workers. Plants grown with such inputs may lack natural resistance, resulting in a vicious cycle of increasing chemical use. Fortunately, farmers around the world are becoming aware of some of the downfalls of the "Green Revolution" inventions and are searching for new methods. For example, the Kenya Institute of Organic Farming (KIOF) was created in 1986 after the realization that intensive agriculture systems were too costly for the developing country, and in addition contributed to soil degradation and a loss of plant diversity. KIOF workers visit farmers in the field and teach them new techniques. Later on, these farmers often serve as paid promoters to spread the word.
*www.rona.unep.org/action/14f.htm
Forests*:
Worldwide, an area of forest equal to 20 football fields is lost every minute. This is due to a variety of causes including population growth, logging, conversion to agricultural land, and cattle grazing. Destruction of forests creates many environmental problems, altering local rainfall patterns, accelerating erosion, flooding rivers, disrupting the global carbon cycle, and threatening millions of species. While the majority of forest loss occurs in tropical countries, this is mainly because industrialized countries have already mined a large proportion of their forest resources. Also, consumption patterns in developed countries contribute to forest clearance across the globe. While the problem of deforestation is nowhere near being solved, many people are devoted to working towards solutions. Programs encouraging companies to use only sustainably harvested wood, initiatives to give poor people alternative incomes through the sustainable use of forest resources, and incentives for responsible governmental management are attempts to turn the tide of destruction.
*www.rona.unep.org/action/13f.htm
Food:
- Buy local and organic.
- Buy foods in season to reduce refrigeration and transport costs.
- Avoid buying meats produced on factory farms.
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Take Action! " We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to." ~ Terri Swearingen |
Transportation:
- Use alternative transportation: walk, bike, rollerblade, carpool, or take the bus.
- Combine trips and errands when driving.
- Keep your car well-tuned and tires properly inflated to increase fuel efficiency.
- Drive at a uniform speed and avoid quick acceleration.
- Turn off your car if you are stopping for more than one minute.
- Make wise new car purchases.
Desertification*:
Desertification is the degradation of previously stable drylands due to erosion, overgrazing, over-cropping, poor irrigation practices, and deforestation. Currently, desertification is occurring on 70% of all drylands, 25% of earth's total land area. Fortunately, action is being taken worldwide. In 1992, over 100 countries signed the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, pledging to establish programs to counter degradation and involve local people in a bottom-up approach.
*www.rona.unep.org/action/default.htm
Biodiversity*:
Many scientists suspect we are in the midst of a human-induced mass extinction. It is estimated that 150-200 species go extinct every day. This is mainly due to overhunting, habitat loss and degradation, and the spread of non-native species. But, perhaps we can turn the tide. People are working on the local to international level to protect species and habitats. See http://conbio.rice.edu/vl/ for info on what's been done and how you can get involved.
*www.rona.unep.org/action/10.htm
Oceans*:
Oceans play many important roles: they regulate climate, provide habitat for 90% of the world's living biomass, and provide 3.5 million people with their primary source of food. These vital functions are threatened by runoff pollution, the dumping of medical and other wastes, oil spills, overfishing, and the sedimentation, mining, and dynamiting of coral reefs. Fortunately, people have begun to take notice of this threat. The U.N. declared 1998 the International Year of the Ocean to promote education, and many fishing nations have adopted a Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing. In conjunction with this, the Costeau Society has launched a project to catalog the hazards that exist in the oceans.
*www.rona.unep.org/action/12f.htm
*www.yoto98.noaa.gov/
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Take Action! " 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." ~ President Gerald Ford |
Reduce Waste:
- Avoid disposables and products with excessive packaging.
- Carry a reusable mug and cloth shopping bag.
- Avoid buying toxic products. If you do, be sure to dispose of them properly.
- Buy products that are durable and won't go out of style quickly.
- Avoid overconsumerism _ buy only what you need.
- Recycle and buy-recycled.
- Reduce junk mail.
- Use electronic communication whenever possible.
- Use print preview and edit on screen.
- Single-space and double-side documents.
- Reuse single-sided paper.
- Reuse.
- Compost.
Population Growth and Consumption*:
There is good news on the population front: the fertility rate of developing countries has declined over the past 40 years and that of developed countries averages below the population replacement level. This is largely due to an increase in the incomes of poor households, reduced child mortality, increasing educational and employment opportunities for women, and access to family planning. In many areas of the world, however, these issues remain inadequately addressed, and the global population is still growing at a rate of 1.5% per year. Because of past population growth a large proportion of today's population consists of people of childbearing age. Thus, even if couples began having an average of two children, population growth would continue well into the next century.
While over 90% of population growth occurs in developing countries, inhabitants of industrial nations consume a disproportionate share of the world's resources: 75% of all energy used, 79% of all commercial fuels, 85% of all wood products, and 72% of all steel products. As developing countries raise their standards of living the pressure on the Earth's resources will be even greater. The necessity to adopt more sustainable methods of production and consumption is great.
*www.populationaction.org/test.shtml
*www.rona.unep.org/action/06f.htm
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Take Action! " Our ideals, laws, and customs should be based on the proposition that each generation becomes the custodian rather than the absolute owner of our resources and each generation has the obligation to pass this inheritance on to the future." ~ Charles A. Lindbergh |
Get Involved:
- Keep informed.
- Write to the government and newspapers.
- Write to companies and ask them to use environmentally friendly business practices.
- Support environmental initiatives.
- Vote on important issues.
- Be involved in your community.
- Talk with and educate others about environmental issues.
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Recycled Product Spotlight: C-Line Recycled Toppers The next time you're buying office supplies consider these top-loading sheet protectors made from 70% recycled polypropylene (#5 plastic). Although they do not contain post-consumer material, they are made from scraps from the manufacture of other items that would otherwise be discarded. The toppers are available through Boise Cascade Office Supply, but are not listed in the catalog. So, the next time you or someone in your department makes an order, ask for stock #05127 and be sure to reiterate that these are the recycled sheet protectors. Call Boise Cascade at 1-800-264-7370 for more info or to place an order. Remember Your Mail at Move-Out! If you are a student going home for the summer, remember to pick up a forwarding address card from the Post Office. By filling out this card you ensure that your first class mail will be forwarded. In order to have magazines forwarded you must indicate on the card that you are willing to pay additional postage. However, it is a better idea to simply call the magazine company and indicate your address change. Do this early so that you do not have a disruption in your service. By taking these easy steps you not only get continuous mail service, but also reduce the waste from mail sent to an incorrect address. For more tips and a complete student's guide to move-out check out our website: www.recycle.umich.edu M-VIRONMENT Add Ink Jet Cartridges to Your Recycling Repertoire ~Leslie Witter On April 1, 1999, the new `EnviroSmart' Ink Jet Cartridge Recycling Program will be up and running. Bring your cartridges to the following campus computing sites: Angell, Dana, School of Information, Media Union, Alice Lloyd, Bursley, East Quad, Mary Markley, Mosher-Jordon, South Quad, and West Quad. At these locations place your cartridge in one of the plastic bags provided and drop it into the labeled box. These cartridges will be refilled and resold. Help do your part for the environment, recycle your ink jet cartridges! Get Your 100% Recycled Paper Today! It was over a year ago when Hammermill's Unity DP, the 100% recycled paper purchased through M-Stores, was discontinued. Finally, a replacement has been found! Eureka 100, a chlorine-free and 100% post-consumer recycled content paper is now available. Its performance is guaranteed in high-speed copiers, laser and inkjet printers, offset duplicators, and plain paper faxes. Currently available in standard 8 ½" x 11" letter size, other standard sizes may be added as demand dictates. So, let M-Stores know if you are interested in a larger size or would like to make a special multi-case purchase. To place your orders simply submit an M-Stores Requisition. Buy recycled to complete the loop and contribute to sustainable solutions! Michigan Recycling Coalition![[ Image, MRC Logo ]](/grounds/recycle/graphics/MRC_Logo.GIF){kind=logo}
17th Annual Conference & For more information, please contact the Michigan Recycling Coalition at (517)-371-7073. The eXchange FilesThe eXchange Files promote the re-use and exchange of small office supplies among University departments. Waste Management Services does not guarantee the condition or availability of items listed. Send submissions to Recycling (get address) or call 763-5539. **The eXchange Files are now on the web. |
M-VIRONMENT Move-Out Time Again!It's hard to believe, but another year has flown by! The end of the semester is almost here and that means it's Move-Out time again. Every year U of M's Housing Division and Grounds and Waste Management Services team up to collect items the students no longer want. Here's a behind the scenes look at what happens. Before finals week, staff put up posters throughout the residence halls and table tents in the dining areas that describe the move-out process. Housing also distributes its "Guide to Winter Term Closing". Then, in the days before the rush, Waste Management staff outfit dumpsters, lobby areas, and waste closets with informational posters and provide yellow boxes to Housing. Facilities staff set up these boxes in lobby and loading dock areas for the collection of clothing, shoes, food, toiletries, and household items for donation to local charities. Blue push carts are available for mixed paper recycling. Next, it's the students' turn. Even with all the hustle and bustle of move-out, most students are willing to cooperate and stash materials in the appropriate collection boxes. As the lobby containers are filled, Housing Facilities staff bring the bagged contents to the loading docks. From here they are picked up by Waste Management drivers who judiciously maneuver through move-out traffic jams to keep waste and recyclable collection going smoothly. Recyclables are carted to the MRF (Ann Arbor Materials Recovery Facility) as usual, and donations are taken to Waste Management's North Campus garage. At the garage, Waste Management staff and interns like myself get involved. Plastic bags full of donations cover the floor. We dig into the pile, sort, and rebag items to prepare them for pick up by local charities. University staff and the entire Ann Arbor community have a chance to turn trash into treasure too. Students place furniture, carpet, and loft wood at "Take It Or Leave It" areas outside the dorms. These items are free for the taking. At the end of move-out, the remaining loft wood is taken to Mr. Rubbish where it is burned for boiler fuel or composted. Unfortunately, furniture and carpet that are not scavenged are trashed. We hope to find an outlet for recycling these items in the future. The participation of the entire University community is what makes move-out such a success. Last year was a record breaker with 10.1 tons of clothing, 1.1 tons of food and toiletries, and .75 tons of household items collected for donation. In addition, the total volume of waste disposed of was down from 1,087 compacted cubic yards in 1997 to 867 cubic yards. Let's make this year even better! New Releases:Recycling Flick Gets Two Big Thumbs Up! After months in the making, "Recycling Is Easy: Make It Second Nature", a product of the collaboration of the City of Ann Arbor Solid Waste Department and U of M Grounds and Waste Management Services and University Housing Division is opening for an exclusive engagement. This captivating film follows the life of recycled materials from the recycling bin to remanufacturing plant and reveals how you help determine their fate. Special appearances by our own Recycling Coordinator Sarah Archer, Coordinator of Facilities Management Systems Jeff Schroeder, and U of M Housing Facilities Staff. This is a must see! Call 763-5539 to schedule your own special screening. ( This film will be used in our educational program focusing on the basics of recycling. Other presentations, including a paper-making workshop, vermicomposting presentation, and sustainable living talk, are available. Call our office at 763-5539 and ask for Sarah Archer to schedule a program or receive additional information.) Guide Tells How to Go Green at Work Our new "Working Green: A Guidebook of Earth-friendly Office Practices" is coming soon to a University department near you! It will be released during Earth Week (April 12-18). This guide features an office audit, ideas for move out, products made of recycled material, and an A to Z index of what and where to recycle on campus. If you would like one for your office, please call 763-5539 and ask for a copy of "Working Green"! New Quarterly Publication Tracks Recycling Progress at U of M "On Track", our new quarterly report to recycling contacts at academic units and building facilities managers is hot off the press. This publication details recycling and waste generation rates at buildings across campus. This information will also be available on our web page by the end of the summer. In the meantime, if your department does not have a recycling contact and would like to receive a progress report, contact the U of M Recycling Office at 763-5539 or via e-mail at Recycling (get address). Out with the Old, in with the New: Computer Recycling at U of M Replacing old computers? Read on! As with all University owned property, departments must contact Property Disposition for handling of old computers, monitors and keyboards. At Property Disposition the computers are put out for resale to employees and the general public. CPU units that are extremely outdated, damaged or determined to be of no value are sent to a local scrap metal dealer. The State of Michigan, Department of Environmental Quality classifies computer monitors as a special waste because of the lead content in the screens. In compliance with the State of Michigan, the University of Michigan, Occupational Safety and Environmental Health department handles all monitors that cannot be sold through Property Disposition. The monitors are shipped to an electronics company in New Hampshire where they are disassembled for recycling. As new computers come in, boxes and packaging go out. Remember to recycle the boxes at the loading dock in the blue paper recycling dumpster. Remove all packing material and flatten the boxes before recycling them to conserve space and reduce the number of pickups required. All foam packing material should be put into the trash. Some computer makers have minimized the use of foam in their packaging by using spongy blocks glued to cardboard. However, unless the spongy blocks are removed from the cardboard, the packing material remains unrecyclable. If your department is planning a large computer replacement project contact Grounds & Waste Management Services to discuss collection options. Stadium Recycling Receives ARD RecognitionOn Sunday, November 15, 1998 U of M celebrated America Recycles Day through an event at the Michigan Stadium (see Winter 1999). U of M student volunteers and the Gabriel Richard High School clean up crew handpicked and bagged recyclable materials before the stands were swept clean of debris from the previous day's game. 19,800 plastic souvenir cups (1,320 pounds) and 620 pounds of other recyclable containers were collected. Added to the 2,860 pounds of cardboard collected from venders during Saturday's game, this made a grand total of 2.4 tons! The National ARD Committee recently recognized U of M's Stadium Recycling Event as one of the top ten ARD activities in the country. Nearly 5,000 events were held across the U.S. Congrats to all who participated! |
UPS Introduces "Eco-Friendly Express"UPS is planning to increase the amount of post-consumer recycled content in its packaging by 22%. The percentage in letter envelopes will be increased to 80%, the amount in boxes doubled, and plastic envelopes will use post-consumer resin for the first time. UPS has also vowed to stop using bleached paper in its products. These changes will be added to a packaging program that includes delivery envelopes and Next Day Air and 2nd Day Air letter envelopes with recycled content, and 100% recycled reusable express envelopes. Although intended to help the environment, UPS's initiatives have also been economically beneficial. It is predicted that over $1 million will be saved each year by cutting energy costs and reducing the amount of material used. * From December 14, 1998 Recycling Times. RECYCLING IN THE WILDERNESS*In 1994, 80% of National Park Service (NPS) units were recycling. Despite this success, NPS enacted further waste reduction goals in 1996, requiring each park to develop a waste management plan to decrease both the solid waste and recyclables generated by 57% by 2000. A collective 40% compost rate by the turn of the century was also mandated. This year NPS began to extensively monitor the recycling efforts at all parks to track their progress. Dedication by the NPS is helping to solve waste management challenges in these remote areas. * From the Dec.14, 1998 Recycling Times. |
Re-U.S.A. Gore Issues `Recycling Challenge'"Working together, Americans have increased recycling by nearly 70 percent in six years... Today, there is even more that we can do. I am challenging everyone in our communities and all sectors of the economy to join with us in new partnerships to promote recycling and to buy and use recycled products." With these words, Vice President Gore initiated the 'National Recycling Challenge' as part of America Recycles Day on November 15, 1998. The Administration hopes to strengthen the national recycling effort by working with industry, businesses, universities, and other institutions. * From the January 1999 Green Office and December 1998 Resource Recycling. FDA Approves Recycled PET for Food Contact*After 3 years of study, the FDA okayed recycled #1 PET plastic flakes for use in containers holding food. This opens up a new market for these flakes that were previously used mainly in fiber applications. The flakes will likely be used to make 2-liter bottles, completely closing the loop! * From the December 1998 Waste Age. Recyclers and Auto Industry Turn Used Carpet into Cars*United Recycling Inc. (a carpet recycler in Minnesota), Wellman Inc. (a plastic dealer), and Ford Motor Co. are combining efforts to enlarge the market for recycled carpet. United separates and cleans the carpet fiber. This is sent to Wellman where the fiber is converted to a pelletized form that can be used in auto manufacturing. Finally, Ford uses the pellets to make air cleaner housings, engine fans, and shrouds. Two new processes will soon allow the auto industry to use recycled carpet fibers in even more applications. Depolymerization gives the pellets the properties of virgin plastic, allowing use in appearance areas of cars, such as dashboards, where mold and color techniques are used. Co-injection will allow auto parts to be made with a recycled content core and a virgin exterior. * From December 14, 1998 Recycling Times. |
Recycling Matters is produced by Grounds & Waste Management Services, a division of Plant Operations at U of M. Its purpose is to inform University staff, faculty and students of recycling, waste reduction and waste management issues that affect the campus community. Editors: Sarah Archer and Leslie Witter. Waste Management Staff: Doug Fasing, Dept. Manager. Mike Gaubatz, Asst. Manager. Sarah Archer, Recycling Coordinator. Mike De Graaf, Robin Deutsch, Brianne Haven, Joel Hoffman, Matt Kazmierski, Leslie Witter, Recycling Interns. Jane Reading-Boyd, Operations Foreman. Kristin Miller, Administrative Assistant. Debbie Oliver, Support Staff. Mike Skora, Technology Information Specialist. Dale Bucholz, Greg Boone, Harold Brown, and Tino Villarreal, Truck Operators. UM Waste Management Services, 1110 E. Huron Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104-1631. Phone (734) 763-5539; fax (734) 764-9390; Recycling (get address) |
Content modified: August 6, 2001
Please direct questions and comments to Recycling (get address). |
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