Upcoming
Certification Courses
Register today for the April
18-20 Compost Facility Operator Certification Course! Only 5 seats available.
The Recycling Facility Operator Certification Course is scheduled for May 16-18
in Las Cruces and is filling up fast as well. For certification status
questions, please contact Charles Ferguson at 505-762-3728 or
charles_ferguson@nmenv.state.nm.us
Register online at
www.recyclenewmexico.com/cert_classes.htm
Don't Trash that
Slash Training Successful
The first training for the
NMRC Collaborative Forestry Restoration Project grant on February 27 and 28 was
so well attended that the training space was standing room only. More then 45
participants attended the two day session, coming from around the state, to
receive information about the value of slash material as a compost and mulch.
Participants included composters, forest thinning contractors, forest agency
representatives and municipal programs. The next training is scheduled for the
Fall of 2006, location and date TBA.
Jim Brooks, Soilutions,
shows the benefits of landforming and compost application for roadside
re-seeding and erosion control projects during the "Don't Trash that Slash" Feb
27-28 training that educated on the value of forest slash materials for mulch
and compost projects.
NMRC Board Meetings
The next two board meetings
are open to all NMRC Members. To attend, please RSVP to English Bird at
english@recyclenewmexico.com
1) Friday, March 17, 12-4 PM, Frenchy's Field,
Santa Fe
2) Friday, May 19, 12-4 PM, Albuquerque, Hotel
Albuquerque at Old Town
Recycling-Related
Legislative Updates
Unfortunately no bills that
we tracked and supported were passed by the legislature. You can find details on the bills at
http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/default.asp
1) HB286 - Solid Waste
Facility Grant Fund. $5 million re-charge to grant fund. Did not pass.
2) SB388 - E-waste Pilot
Collection Program requesting $25,000 to support pilot. Did not pass.
3) Senate Memorial 14 -
Support from producers to fund the E-waste Pilot Collection Program ($25,000
match). Did not pass.
4) Santa Fe MRF Capital
Outlay Request (sponsored by Representative Peter Wirth D-Santa Fe). This
capital outlay project was not funded.
Managing Waste
Conference - Call out for Exhibitors and Awards
The "Managing Waste in the
Wide Open Spaces" conference, slated for June 12-15 at the Hotel Albuquerque at
Old Town hotel, is fully underway in the planning process and we thank members
who have lent their support and time. We have several updates:
1)
Call for Abstracts Deadline Extended Again until March 31st. View
abstract guidelines and online submittal form at
www.recyclenewmexico.com/conference_call_for_papers06.htm
2)
Call for Exhibitors. If you would like to
gain excellent exposure not only reaching out to New Mexicans, but to
professionals working in solid waste in recycling in 13 other arid climate
states, give English Bird a call at 505-983-4470 to discuss exhibiting
opportunities. The conference expects about 500 attendees.
3)
New Mexico Recycling Awards: We are currently soliciting
Recycler of the Year award nominations in a number of categories. Please go to
www.recyclenewmexico.com/conferenceawards06.htm
to view past year winners, award categories and to submit a nomination form
online. Nominations are due March 31, 2006. E-mail nominations to
english@recyclenewmexico.com
or call 983-4470 to receive a nomination via fax or mail.
Thank
you to our conference sponsors thus far:
New Mexico Environment Department: Solid Waste
Bureau (co-host)
Roadrunner Chapter of SWANA (co-host)
Weyerhaeuser Recycling, Waste Management New
Mexico
Waste Management Recycle America
Dex Media Recycling
Gordon Environmental
Cascade Engineering
Associated General Contractors of New Mexico
New Mexico Clean and Beautiful
Keep New Mexico Beautiful
Intera Incorporated
Hydro Geo Chem Inc
Grassroots Outreach - Silver City
The Town
of Silver City has formed a Citizen’s Advisory group on recycling. The
group is working out some education and PR strategies:
1.)
A one-page insert on recycling to go out with all utility
bills countywide and which the Utilities Dept. will hand out to new
customers.
2.)
We got the Radio PSA from the NM Environment Department on Recycling and matched it to some video we have to run on cable
access TV.
3.)
We are going to quarterly publish participation and
diversion rates in the paper with a back-up message like “Come on Silver
City you can do better!” I think we will publish participation rates
by “neighborhood” as well as it relates to Residential Curbside.
4.)
Decals for local businesses to put in their windows
that participate in either cardboard or commercial curbside routes.
5.)
Paint the Cardboard sideloader, with hopes to get the local
youth involved thru the Mimbres Art Council.
EPA Approves Compost Blankets,
Filter Berms and Filter Socks as BMPS
As of January, the EPA Office of Waster has
approved the use of compost blankets, filter berms, and filter socks as
Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control Best Management Practices (BMPs).
For complete information, go to:
Compost Blanket
Filter Berm
Filter Sock
EPA Seeks Comment on EPA National
Strategic Plan
EPA is seeking on line comments on the DRAFT 2006-2011
U.S. EPA National Strategic Plan by March 31, 2006. Goal 3.1.1. Relates to waste
reduction and recycling targets. Feel free to comment on any sections.
EPA's Strategic Plan impacts our priority focus areas, funding
resources, and national
measurement investments.
Strategic Plan Link and On Line Comment Link:
http://epa.gov/ocfo/plan/06draftarch.htm
PAGE 13
Objective 3.1: Preserve Land. By 2011, reduce adverse effects to land by
reducing waste generation, increasing recycling, and ensuring proper
waste management of waste and petroleum products at facilities in ways
that prevent releases.
Sub-objective 3.1.1: Decrease Waste Generation and Increase Recycling.
Through 2011, reduce adverse effects to land by diverting materials from
disposal through increased material reuse and recycling.
Strategic Targets:
• By 2011, decrease the total amount of municipal solid waste disposed
at landfills and combustion facilities by xx tons, from XX (tons) in
YYYY (year).
• By 2011, increase recycling of the total annual municipal solid waste
produced to 40% from 30.6% in 2003.
• By 2011, increase reuse and recycling of construction and demolition
debris by XX% from a baseline of YY% in 200X.
• By 2011, increase the use of coal combustion ash to 50% from XX% in
200X.
• By 2011, increase by XX%, from XX% in year YYYY, thee number of Tribes
covered by an integrated waste management plan that has been approved by
an appropriate governing body within the last 5 years.
• By 2011, reduce the number of open dumps on Tribal lands by XX%, from
XX% in year YYYY.
Grants
Rural Development Energy
Grants and Loans
Johanns Announces
Loan Guarantees and Grants for Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency Projects. Last week
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced the availability of $176.5 million in loan
guarantees and almost $11.4 million in grants to support
investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency
improvements by agricultural producers and small businesses.
The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency loan and grant
program was in the 2002 Farm Bill to encourage
agricultural
producers and small rural businesses to create renewable and
energy efficient systems. A total of
435 grants totaling $66.7 million have been awarded in 36
states since the program began and in 2005,
for the first
time, renewable energy loan guarantees were made under the
program. Grants have been
awarded to fund a wide range of
wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and conservation
technologies.
Further information is also available on the web at
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/index.html
Applications for grants must be completed and submitted to
the appropriate USDA Rural
Development state office
postmarked no later than May 12, 2006.
Public Works Program Grants
The Economic Development Administration has announced it is soliciting proposals for
the following programs authorized by the Public Works and Economic
Development Act of 1965 (PWEDA).
· Public Works and Economic Development Investments Program,
· Planning Program
· Local Technical Assistance Program,
· Economic Adjustment Assistance Program.
Funding appropriated under the FY 2006 Science, State, Justice, Commerce and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act is available for the economic development assistance programs
authorized by PWEDA and for the
Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms program authorized under the Trade Act.
Funds in the amount of $250,741,104 have been appropriated for FY 2006 and
shall remain available until expended.
Proposals are accepted on a continuing basis and formal applications are invited and processed as received.
Generally, two months are required for EDA to reach a final decision after receipt of a completed formal
application invited by EDA that meets all requirements.
Pursuant to PWEDA, eligible applicants for and eligible recipients of EDA investment assistance include a
· District Organization;
· an Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes;
· a State,a city or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose
unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or
infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions;
· an institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; or
· a public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with
officials of a political subdivision of a State.
The February 23 FEDERAL REGISTER provides full background, cost sharing and matching
requirements, and the evaluation and selection procedures.
See:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-2545.
Jobs
New Mexico Environment
Department: Solid Waste Bureau
A position
in NMED Outreach Section will open for an Environmental
Specialist.
The job
will be posted on the NMED website by the end of March.
Or call E. Gifford Stack at 505-827-2653 or e-mail
e.gifford.stack@state.nm.us
City or Truth or
Consequences - Sanitation Superintendent
The City of T or C has an
opening for the Sanitation Superintendent of the Solid Waste
Division. Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent.
Must currently hold a valid NM CDL and MOLO certificate;
have a minimum of six (6) years' experience in sanitation
work, which includes two years of landfill management
experience; and be familiar with recycling operations. Must
successfully pass pre-employment drug testing. Grade 16.1
$19.13 hourly plus benefits. Annual: $39,790.40. Application
and job description are available from Human Resources
Office, 523 Broadway, T or C, NM 87901, phone 505-894-0764;
fax 505-894-0703. Deadline for application to be returned to
human resources is 5:00 PM, March 22, 2006. EOE
Recycling Tidbits
Ecological Economics
"Everything
the economic system produces ultimately returns to
the ecosystem as waste."
That idea, which puts
increases in productivity into new prospective,
comes from Joshua Farley, an "ecological economist"
who was interviewed on
WorldChanging.com.
As the interview makes
clear, ecological economics is as complex as the
phenomena it studies. But as the name hints, it puts
heavy emphasis on sustainability, and it introduces
factors into economic analysis that traditionalists
generally ignore — to the peril of all of us,
according to Mr. Farley.
"The dominant economic
paradigm strives for ever-increasing economic
growth," he says. "Not only is this impossible on a
finite planet, but growing evidence suggests that
beyond a certain point, more material consumption
does nothing to make us better off."
Mr. Farley says that
resource scarcity lies at the heart of his
discipline. "Some of the most important issues we
face today are climate change, biodiversity loss,
ozone depletion and other environmental problems
that are completely ignored by market forces. Our
economic system has to evolve to respond to these
new scarcities."
California
Launches Green Building Web Site. Go to
www.green.ca.gov
Outlook shoots for zero waste
Colorado
Daily
Sun, 12 Mar 2006 9:13 PM PST
Zero Waste might be a catchphrase or
a distant goal for some segments of
society, but the Boulder Outlook
Hotel & Suites is trying to make it
a reality.
CMRA reports
finding of C&D recycling rates survey
http://www.recyclingtoday.com/News/news.asp?Id=9262
Pilot Project Investigates Single-Stream
Recycling in Rural Areas
Maine program looks at single-stream drop offs.
http://www.recyclingtoday.com/News/news.asp?Id=9293
Recycling ‘Catches On’ in Kansas
Printed from Recycling Today e-newsletter
The Bureau of Waste
Management at the Kansas Department of Health and
Environment (KDHE) has implemented a new recycling
campaign, “Get Caught Recycling.”
The marketing campaign
includes a series of promotional print and television
ads featuring prominent Kansans “caught” in the act of
recycling.
The first commercial to
play during the campaign rollout was of former Kansas
Gov. Mike Hayden, who was shown lifting a stringer full
of recycled cans and bottles out of his fishing boat
from a Kansas lake.
Other Kansans recruited
for the effort include former University of Kansas
All-American Wayne Simien, now playing with the Miami
Heat and former Kansas State University All-American
Kendra Wecker, now playing with the San Antonio Silver
Spurs.
More information on the
campaign is available on the Web at
www.getcaughtrecycling.org.
Biodegradability Rates
Listed below is the biodegradability rates for
various items in a landfill
as given by the American Plastics Council.
Please note that it requires 40%
moisture for any
of these items to breakdown at all. New Mexico
landfills don't produce much methane because not
much is able to break down.
Cotton Rags: 1-5 months
Paper: 2-5 months
Rope: 3-14 months
Orange Peels: 6 months
Wool socks: 1-5 years
Cigarette butts: 1-12 years
Plastic Coated paper cartons: 5 years
Plastic Bags: 10-20 years
Leather Shoes: 25-40 years
Nylon Fabric: 30-40 years
Tin cans: 50-100 years
Aluminum Cans 80-100 years
Plastic 6-pack holder rings: 450 years
Glass Bottles: 1 million years
Plastic Bottles: Never
Calendar
**March
17, NMRC Board Meeting, Frenchy's Field, Santa Fe. 12-4PM.
All members welcome.
RSVP to English Bird
**May 20, NMRC Board Meeting,
Albuquerque. 12-4PM. All members welcome.
RSVP to English Bird
**June
12-15, 2006 "Managing Waste in
the Wide Open Spaces"; NM Recycling Conference and Arid
Climate Landfill Symposium joint conference, Old Town
Sheraton, Albuquerque
**October
22-25, NRC Congress, Atlanta
If you have questions about any of the
above information or have articles for future Recycling
Scraps, please e-mail or call me.
English Bird
Executive
Director
New Mexico Recycling Coalition
PO Box 24364, Santa Fe, NM 87502
english@recyclenewmexico.com
(505)
983-4470
Fax (505)
466-6266
