Today's Topics:
Tyvek in magazines (2 msgs)
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Loop-Detect: GreenYes:98/6
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Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 11:48:41 -0800
From: Myra Nissen <myracycl@inreach.com>
Subject: Tyvek in magazines
We have possible markets for mixed paper with some tyvek. If any one in
CA is interested in getting rid of loads, give me a call.
Myra Nissen
The Sutta Co.
510-873-8777
Bruce Nordman wrote:
>
> Someone said:
>
> > DuPont has acknowledged that while the Tyvek ad is not recyclable mixed in
> > with paper, Tyvek material by itself is recyclable and they will be glad to
> > do so if people will take a pair of scissors, cut out the ads, and send them
> > to DuPont Tyvek, DMP LR2E5, Box 80705, Wilmington, Delaware 19880-0705.
>
> This is absurd. I don't know how much Tyvek weighs per unit area, but
> supposing that it is twice as heavy as copy paper, then there are
> 100,000 sheets of 8.5x11 Tyvek per ton. Spending $.32 on postage
> (assuming no envelope--a rash assumption) for these implies a cost
> of $32,000/ton for the recycling--assuming no labor costs on either
> end (also ridiculous). I think that anyone can think of better uses
> for $32,000 than to recycle one ton of Tyvek.
>
> Either the DuPont people are clueless or they think that the rest
> of us are.
>
> --Bruce
>
> Bruce Nordman
> BNordman@LBL.gov
> Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
> 510-486-7089; fax: 510-486-4673
> http://eande.lbl.gov/BEA/People/b_nordman.html
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 11:57:38 -0800
From: Myra Nissen <myracycl@inreach.com>
Subject: Tyvek in magazines
Tyvek has paper fibre and plastic mixed together. It is my
understanding that the paper does separate from the plastic during the
traditional methods of pulping. It sheets over screens in the pulping
process, and may cause the mill to shutdown while the screen is cleaned.
Apparantly, Tyvek is recyclable if sent back to DuPont where they have
thier own recycling program. The difficulty is educating people to
recognize the difference in tyvek and similar paper products so that
tyvek doesn't make it into the paper recycling container and convincing
people to collect the tyvek and return it to DuPont. My guess is, and
from my experience as a recycling coordinator in several different
arenas, unless the the tyvek is widely used by a company, a special
tyvek recycling program would be near to impossible to implement.
Myra
Amy Porter wrote:
>
> In the midst of all this discussion on Tyvek in magazines, ironically,
> I received a press release from Dupont touting Tyvek as a material
> used for priority mail envelopes and other purposes that is made from
> 30 percent (?) recycled content and is 100 percent recyclable.
> So what was in the magazines that cannot be recycled?
> Amy Porter
>
> ______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
> Subject: Re: Tyvek in magazines
> Author: reindl@co.dane.wi.us at INTERNET
> Date: 1/9/98 1:04 PM
>
> Interesting calculation, Bruce!
>
> It is absurd, both for the cost, and for DuPont, after causing the
> problem, to put the responsibility to clean up this mess on someone
> else.
>
> But, on the positive side, the feedback to DuPont seems to have
> struck a nerve. Besides the response I got the other day from a
> DuPont official, today I have a good conversation with their PR
> firm, explaining the problems that Tyvek can cause for paper
> recyclers. Part of the discussion included who is really responsible
> for making sure that this problem doesn't happen again. So, we may
> be able to get manufacturers and advertisers to think about their
> impacts on recycling more in the future and have some better
> discussions on manufacturers' responsibility and extended product
> responsibility.
>
> The contact at DuPont is Maryanne McGuire. Her phone number is
> (800)448-9835; fax is (800)203-0013. For the PR firm, the contact is
> Malea Brown. Her phone number is (202)393-5247; fax is
> (202)393-5221. Both are interested in hearing from others on the
> impacts of Tyvek on paper recycling.
>
> John Reindl, Recycling Manager
> Dane County, WI
>
>
> > Date: Thu, 8 Jan 98 13:09:40 PST
> > From: b_nbca@dante.lbl.gov (Bruce Nordman)
> > To: greenyes@UCSD.Edu
> > Subject: Tyvek in magazines
>
> > Someone said:
> >
> > > DuPont has acknowledged that while the Tyvek ad is not recyclable mixed in
> > > with paper, Tyvek material by itself is recyclable and they will be
glad to
> > > do so if people will take a pair of scissors, cut out the ads, and
send them
> > > to DuPont Tyvek, DMP LR2E5, Box 80705, Wilmington, Delaware 19880-0705.
> >
> > This is absurd. I don't know how much Tyvek weighs per unit area, but
> > supposing that it is twice as heavy as copy paper, then there are
> > 100,000 sheets of 8.5x11 Tyvek per ton. Spending $.32 on postage
> > (assuming no envelope--a rash assumption) for these implies a cost
> > of $32,000/ton for the recycling--assuming no labor costs on either
> > end (also ridiculous). I think that anyone can think of better uses
> > for $32,000 than to recycle one ton of Tyvek.
> >
> > Either the DuPont people are clueless or they think that the rest
> > of us are.
> >
> > --Bruce
> >
> > Bruce Nordman
> > BNordman@LBL.gov
> > Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
> > 510-486-7089; fax: 510-486-4673
> > http://eande.lbl.gov/BEA/People/b_nordman.html
> >
>
> reindl@co.dane.wi.us
> (608)267-1533 - fax
> (608)267-8815 - phone
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End of GreenYes Digest V98 #6
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