Today's Topics:
China / Polystyrene
Earth Day 2000
ENVIRO RECORD AFFECTS REPUTATION + Coke rated tops
Market wanted for chipboard in Pennsylvania
Outside Continental U.S.A. (2 msgs)
RECYCLING: NEW VIEW ACKNOWLEDGES TRADEOFFS, LIMITS
San Diego County Develops Trash Divestiture Plan
Tire re-use
Send Replies or notes for publication to: <greenyes@UCSD.Edu>
Send subscription requests to: <greenyes-Digest-Request@UCSD.Edu>
Problems you can't solve otherwise to postmaster@ucsd.edu.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 97 08:20 EET
From: muna@aztec.co.za
Subject: China / Polystyrene
Just wondered? Could it not form part of a sustainable solution? How
reusable / recyclable are the wood pulp containers, anyway?
Mr. Muna Lakhani
CATALYST
Cellphone:082-416-9160
Cellfax: 082-131-416-9160
e-mail: muna@aztec.co.za
28 Currie Road - Durban - 4001 - South Africa
Phone: +27-31-20-28-291
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 12:20:58 -0700 (PDT)
From: Tedd Ward <ncol0043@telis.org>
Subject: Earth Day 2000
Hi Carolyn!
I regret that we did not get a chance to talk at the GRN conference, but
Alicia Culver and I had an idea for a theme for Earth Day 2000: Zero Cut,
Zero Discharge, Zero Waste, with all the zeroes in "2000" replaced by
recycling symbols. John Young thinks we could put together a killer Zero
Waste Earth Day concert. Whaddya think?
Tedd Ward
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 14:38:07 -0700
From: cdchase@qualcomm.com (Carolyn Chase)
Subject: ENVIRO RECORD AFFECTS REPUTATION + Coke rated tops
Greenwire 4/8/97
SHouldn't GRN contact the Green Business Letter and let them know about the
Coke action....and Coke's broken promises...
*10 GREEN BUSINESS: ENVIRO RECORD AFFECTS REPUTATION -- STUDY
Nine of the 10 companies "most admired" for environmental
responsibility rank in the top 6% in overall reputation,
according to FORTUNE magazine's annual ranking of "America's Most
Admired Companies." Similarly, the ten companies rated the worst
at "responsibility to the community and the environment" ranked
among the bottom 11% in overall reputation.
The survey, published in the 3/3 issue of FORTUNE, ranked
431 companies based on a poll of more than 13,000 senior
executives, outside directors and financial analysts. Results
for the community/environmental responsibility category were not
published in the survey but appeared in the 4/97 issue of the GREEN
BUSINESS LETTER.
The top scorers for environmental responsibility were Coca-
Cola, furniture maker Herman Miller and Corning. The lowest were
Standard Commercial, Archer Daniels Midland and Amerco (GREEN
BUSINESS LETTER, 4/97 issue).
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 14:13:33 -0600
From: "John Reindl 608-267-8815" <reindl@co.dane.wi.us>
Subject: Market wanted for chipboard in Pennsylvania
Dear List Members -
I was recently asked by a private firm to help them locate a market for
chipboard. The firm is in Pennsylvania, and the quantity of material,
while varying substantially in time, can be over 100 tons a month.
If you can help out, would you please email the information directly to
the firm at msedlak@gremlan.org or call them at (814)425-7773 and ask
for Pat Spang.
Thanks much!!
John Reindl, Recycling Manager
Dane County, Wisconsin
reindl@co.dane.wi.us
(608)267-1533 - fax
(608)267-8815 - phone
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 08:55:00 -0500 (CDT)
From: Rod McCormick <Rod_McCormick@Environment.gov.MB.CA>
Subject: Outside Continental U.S.A.
On 9 Apr 1997 horace.morancie@gsa.gov wrote:
You can find some general background information in the Waste
Management chapters of Manitoba's State of Environment Reports. Look in
the "Resource Centre" at our web address:
<http://www.gov.mb.ca/environ/>
Rod McCormick
Waste Reduction and Prevention Officer
Pollution Prevention
Manitoba Environment
> Looking for information and/or sources of information on what's
> happening in Solid Waste Management, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse and
> Compost out side the continental U.S.A.
>
> Horace
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 97 15:23:09 PST
From: roger.diedrich@sfsierra.sierraclub.org
Subject: Outside Continental U.S.A.
Hi folks:
Looking for information and/or sources of information on what's
happening in Solid Waste Management, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse and
Compost out side the continental U.S.A.
e-mail to <horace.morancie@gsa.gov>
Appreciate and many thanks.
Horace
I saw a fair but brief sumary of practices regarding packaging recovery in
other countries in a recent
issue of "Resources Report.". (Issue IV, 1997)
Contact them at RESOURCES REPORT
Avenue Louise 65 Box 11
1050 Brussels, Belgium
Tel +3225357862
RD
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 97 16:27:43 PST
From: roger.diedrich@sfsierra.sierraclub.org
Subject: RECYCLING: NEW VIEW ACKNOWLEDGES TRADEOFFS, LIMITS
Greenwire 4/1/97
*6 RECYCLING: NEW VIEW ACKNOWLEDGES TRADEOFFS, LIMITS
Dave Gatton of the US Conference of Mayors says local
governments "are not debating whether to abandon their programs,"
but "they are debating how to make recycling more effective."
Even the Sierra Club recognizes the limits of recycling; in a
report last summer, the group said: "Recycling is not a panacea
for our environmental problems, nor should it be pursued to the
point of diminished returns or at any cost."
Maybe Bill or the Waste Committee of the SC would care to respond?
--cdc
Carolyn Chase, Editor, San Diego Earth Times, http://www.sdearthtimes.com
Please visit ;-)
_________________________________
A call to the reporter by a DC member of Sierra Club revealed she THOUGHT it
was a Sierra Club report, but discovered it was, in fact, an EDF report.
(you know how those tree huggers are, one group is the same as another)
Our
guy has the report and we wrote a joint letter objecting to the
misinformation and the article in general but, of course, it was not printed.
You too, could expess your outrage.
Roger Diedrich
Sierra Club, Virginia
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 09:32:47 -0700
From: cdchase@qualcomm.com (Carolyn Chase)
Subject: San Diego County Develops Trash Divestiture Plan
OK folks, please send me arguments concerning the privitization of San
Diego County's solid waste system....it's officially on the market.
>From the San Diego Daily Transcript, 4/10/97:
County Develops Trash Divestiture Plan
Includes Sale Of North County Recycling Facility
By THOR KAMBAN BIBERMAN
Daily Transcript Staff Writer
April 9, 1997
County Solid Waste Services has, in conjunction with J.P. Morgan Securities
Inc., developed a trash divestiture plan that includes the planned sale of
the idle North County recycling facility adjacent to the closed San Marcos
Landfill.
Besides the North County Resource Recovery Associates recycling facility in
San Marcos. other assets to be sold include the Sycamore Landfill, the Otay
and the Otay Annex landfills, the Ramona Landfill, the Borrego Landfill,
all owned or leased solid waste bin sites and the lease of the Palomar
Transfer Station.
According to Scott Christopher, JP Morgan vice president, the value of the
trash system ranges between $96 million and $120 million. This figure was
computed before it was known the NCRRA system would be part of the package,
however.
Just how much the recycling plant is worth is anybody's guess. Whoever
bought it would have the option of running the facility, which
theoretically could restart at any time, or dismantling the plant and
selling off its components. The county has about $20 million in debt
remaining on that facility.
Carol Conner, a chief administrative office staff officer, said the "jewel"
of the county's trash system is the Sycamore Landfill in the Santee area.
The footprint of this landfill will have enough capacity for 55 years if
fully built out. Some things would have to happen before that could happen,
however.
For one thing, some San Diego Gas & Electric lines would likely have to be
relocated.
Sycamore, which was opened back in 1962, has a 520-acre footprint.
The Otay and the Otay Annex landfills and Borrego Landfills are also deemed
to be very important assets. The Ramona Landfill is important too, but it,
like the San Marcos Landfill was before it was closed last March, has
become quite controversial. Last month the Regional Water Quality Control
Board ordered the county to clean up contaminated groundwater at the Ramona
Landfill. Whatever
cleanup was not done prior to the sale of the system would have to be
completed by the new owner.
The tentative time schedule calls for the letters of interest being due on
April 29. From May 7 though June 24, due diligence work would proceed. The
binding proposals would be due on the June 24 date. The negotiations and
execution of the purchase and sale agreement are expected to be
completed on Aug. 17 when the Board of Supervisors is slated to approve the
sale.
The board is also scheduled on Tuesday to consider a sales brochure for
prospective bidders.
Several firms that are well acquainted with the trash business have already
expressed an interest in buying the system. Each of these firms appears to
have deep pockets or ready access to monies to finance the purchase of the
solid waste system.
USA Waste is among the interested parties. That firm recently acquired Coast
Waste, which operates the Palomar Transfer Station. Joe Minner, county
Solid Waste Services director, said USA Waste is one of the largest
landfill operators in the country, with more than 100 to its credit.
Other firms said to be interested include the Allied waste disposal firm,
BFI, Norcal, which operated the San Marcos Landfill, a Herzog Corp. entity
and a French firm. Whoever bought the landfill system would be required to
handle all closure, postclosure and any outstanding environmental
obligations.
Herzog was the firm that originally had hoped to build a trash-burning
facility at the San Marcos Landfill. Following a great deal of community
opposition, that idea was dropped, Herzog sold out its interest in the
facility to ThermoElectron and a trash-recycling facility was built
instead. Shortly after that facility began operating, it was shut down,
because it cost more to run than any revenues it could generate.
The county staff in conjunction with J.P. Morgan have deliberately kept
assets that would have a negative value out of the purchase. One of those
is the recently closed San Marcos Landfill. It cost about $40 million to
expand that landfill, and the expanded section operated for about three
years before court rulings spawned by litigation on behalf of the city of
San
Marcos and neighboring landowner San Elijo Ranch forced its closure. The
county had hoped to operate the landfill through the year 2000.
The county has placed $16 million in a closure account for the landfill, but
San Elijo Ranch, among others, has contended the money being budgeted won't
be sufficient. Time will tell.
While the county is selling off the usable assets of its system, it will
still have to deal with maintaining inactive landfills for at least the
next 30 years. That responsibility is projected to cost $70 million to
$90 million. So as you can see, the county will continue to pay for its
inactive landfills for quite some time to come.
Carolyn Chase, Editor, San Diego Earth Times, http://www.sdearthtimes.com
Please visit ;-)
Tel: (619)272-7423 (SDET)
FAX: (619)272-2933
email: earthday@qualcomm.com
P.O. Box 9827 / San Diego CA 92169
'You've got to conserve what you can't replace'
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Every citizen is involved in politics; it's just that some people do
politics, some have it done to them."
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 97 14:52:02 PST
From: roger.diedrich@sfsierra.sierraclub.org
Subject: Tire re-use
Does anyone have any information regarding using tire scrap as
playground surfaces--instead of gravel--to cushion falls, scrapes, and
such? Also, need information on processes, costs, where in use, and so
forth.
I understand that no matter how tires are used they are going to pollute
surface and groundwaters eventually. However, when burned as a fuel,
tires create and release into animal tissue and byproducts (milk,
cheese, ice cream, and such) dioxins and furans, as well as toxic
metals, such as cadmium, and possibly mercury.
We are looking for a safer solution for our children's future.
Cheers,
Susan Snow
_________________________________________________________
There has been a patented process called "Rebound" which is a mixture of
compost and crumb rubber. The Company is JaiTire Industries, Inc. 4591 Ivy
St., Denver, CO 80216 (303) 322-7887 (1994 info).
You also may want to contact the Rubber Pavement Association, 4500 South
Lakeshore Dr. #359, Tempe, AZ 85282 ph. 602-755-1269.
Roger Diedrich
------------------------------
End of GreenYes Digest V97 #75
******************************