GreenYes Digest V98 #81

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Fri, 22 Jan 1999 17:31:52 -0500


GreenYes Digest Wed, 1 Apr 98 Volume 98 : Issue 81

Today's Topics:
Alternative funding sources for state recycling program
Out of state waste, recycled content laws in Wisconsin (2 msgs)
Plasma Torch

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Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 09:57:31 -0600 (CST)
From: Rod McCormick <Rod_McCormick@Environment.gov.MB.CA>
Subject: Alternative funding sources for state recycling program

On Fri, 27 Mar 1998, John Reindl invited discussion on alternative funding
sources for recycling:

One of the criteria mentioned was:

> - should discourage out-of-state waste from coming to Wisconsin

What type of waste do you want to discourage? Material going to landfills
and incinerators? "Waste" going to processors or recyclers? Stuff sold
into Wisconsin to consume which then becomes waste?

Does Wisconsin still have a minimum content law for newsprint?

Rod McCormick
On holidays....

On Fri, 27 Mar 1998, John Reindl wrote:

> Dear List Members -
>
> Wisconsin is currently developing recommendations for sources of
> funding for its state recycling program, including state cost-
> sharing of local recycling program costs; funding for market
> development efforts, including grants and loans; and funding for
> state agency staff, including public education, technical assistance
> and enforcement programs.
>
>
Our statewide recycling association is planning to provide comment
> on preferred sources of funding. First, however, it is developing a
> list of criteria to be used to evaluate alternative funding sources.
>
> I would appreciate any comments that people might have on the
> following criteria to be used to evaluate alternative sources of
> state funding, or other criteria that might be used:
>
> - should be relatively easy to administer
> - should encourage waste reduction and recovery
> - should incorporate the "polluter pays" principle
> - should discourage out-of-state waste from coming to Wisconsin
> - should be a reliable source of income
>
> Thanks much!!
>
> John Reindl
> Legislative Committee
> Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin
>
> reindl@co.dane.wi.us
> (608)267-1533 - fax
> (608)267-8815 - phone
>

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 11:20:59 -0600
From: "John Reindl" <reindl@co.dane.wi.us>
Subject: Out of state waste, recycled content laws in Wisconsin

Hi Rod -

I think people would like to discourage waste coming to our
landfills. We have a relatively easy landfill siting law (the state
can override local approvals), while our neighboring states have
very tough siting processes, including allowing local governments to
deny landfill sites. As a result, Wisconsin is becoming a dumping
ground for a lot of out-of-state waste, especially from Illinois. We
are not trying to restrict recyclables from coming into our state --
Wisconsin is one of the leading states in making recycled paper
products, typically being the first or second in the country.

We do have a minimum recycled content law for newsprint. This year
the requirement is 40%, although there is legislation to
dramatically weaken it, a fight that the recyclers are deeply
involved in. A particularly nasty part of the legislative proposal
is to give newspaper mills a 'recycled content credit' for the
amount of scrap paper that they purchase from Wisconsin at the rate
of 1/2% for every 1,000 tons of scrap paper. For example, Avenor
makes 25% recycled content. Because they buy 70,000 tons of scrap
paper from Wisconsin, they can also claim credits of 35%, and sell
their paper as being 60% recycled content. Four attorneys have told
me that this violates the commerce clause of the US Constitution by
having a state provide preferences for purchases of products from
that state, but the proponents don't seem to care and it could pass
our legislature.

Also, we have a minimum recycled content law for plastic
containers, with an exemption for certain food and cosmetic
containers if the FDA hasn't approved recycled content. This law is
has not had the controversy of the recycled content in newsprint
law.

Let me know if you would like any details on the above.

John

>
> On Fri, 27 Mar 1998, John Reindl invited discussion on alternative
> funding sources for recycling:
>
> One of the criteria mentioned was:
>
> > - should discourage out-of-state waste from coming to
> > Wisconsin
>
> What type of waste do you want to discourage? Material going to
> landfills and incinerators? "Waste" going to processors or
> recyclers? Stuff sold into Wisconsin to consume which then becomes
> waste?
>
> Does Wisconsin still have a minimum content law for newsprint?

>
> Rod McCormick
> On holidays....
>
> On Fri, 27 Mar 1998, John Reindl wrote:
>
> > Dear List Members -
> >
> > Wisconsin is currently developing recommendations for sources of
> > funding for its state recycling program, including state cost-
> > sharing of local recycling program costs; funding for market
> > development efforts, including grants and loans; and funding for
> > state agency staff, including public education, technical assistance
> > and enforcement programs.
> >
> >
> Our statewide recycling association is planning to provide comment
> > on preferred sources of funding. First, however, it is developing a
> > list of criteria to be used to evaluate alternative funding sources.
> >
> > I would appreciate any comments that people might have on the
> > following criteria to be used to evaluate alternative sources of
> > state funding, or other criteria that might be used:
> >
> > - should be relatively easy to administer
> > - should encourage waste reduction and recovery
> > - should incorporate the "polluter pays" principle
> > - should discourage out-of-state waste from coming to Wisconsin
> > - should be a reliable source of income
> >
> > Thanks much!!
> >
> > John Reindl
> > Legislative Committee
> > Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin
> >
> > reindl@co.dane.wi.us
> > (608)267-1533 - fax
> > (608)267-8815 - phone
> >

reindl@co.dane.wi.us
(608)267-1533 - fax
(608)267-8815 - phone

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 11:20:59 -0600
From: "John Reindl" <reindl@co.dane.wi.us>
Subject: Out of state waste, recycled content laws in Wisconsin

Hi Rod -

I think people would like to discourage waste coming to our
landfills. We have a relatively easy landfill siting law (the state
can override local approvals), while our neighboring states have
very tough siting processes, including allowing local governments to
deny landfill sites. As a result, Wisconsin is becoming a dumping
ground for a lot of out-of-state waste, especially from Illinois. We
are not trying to restrict recyclables from coming into our state --
Wisconsin is one of the leading states in making recycled paper
products, typically being the first or second in the country.

We do have a minimum recycled content law for newsprint. This year
the requirement is 40%, although there is legislation to
dramatically weaken it, a fight that the recyclers are deeply
involved in. A particularly nasty part of the legislative proposal
is to give newspaper mills a 'recycled content credit' for the
amount of scrap paper that they purchase from Wisconsin at the rate
of 1/2% for every 1,000 tons of scrap paper. For example, Avenor
makes 25% recycled content. Because they buy 70,000 tons of scrap
paper from Wisconsin, they can also claim credits of 35%, and sell
their paper as being 60% recycled content. Four attorneys have told
me that this violates the commerce clause of the US Constitution by
having a state provide preferences for purchases of products from
that state, but the proponents don't seem to care and it could pass
our legislature.

Also, we have a minimum recycled content law for plastic
containers, with an exemption for certain food and cosmetic
containers if the FDA hasn't approved recycled content. This law is
has not had the controversy of the recycled content in newsprint
law.

Let me know if you would like any details on the above.

John

>
> On Fri, 27 Mar 1998, John Reindl invited discussion on alternative
> funding sources for recycling:
>
> One of the criteria mentioned was:
>
> > - should discourage out-of-state waste from coming to
> > Wisconsin
>
> What type of waste do you want to discourage? Material going to
> landfills and incinerators? "Waste" going to processors or
> recyclers? Stuff sold into Wisconsin to consume which then becomes
> waste?
>
> Does Wisconsin still have a minimum content law for newsprint?

>
> Rod McCormick
> On holidays....
>
> On Fri, 27 Mar 1998, John Reindl wrote:
>
> > Dear List Members -
> >
> > Wisconsin is currently developing recommendations for sources of
> > funding for its state recycling program, including state cost-
> > sharing of local recycling program costs; funding for market
> > development efforts, including grants and loans; and funding for
> > state agency staff, including public education, technical assistance
> > and enforcement programs.
> >
> >
> Our statewide recycling association is planning to provide comment
> > on preferred sources of funding. First, however, it is developing a
> > list of criteria to be used to evaluate alternative funding sources.
> >
> > I would appreciate any comments that people might have on the
> > following criteria to be used to evaluate alternative sources of
> > state funding, or other criteria that might be used:
> >
> > - should be relatively easy to administer
> > - should encourage waste reduction and recovery
> > - should incorporate the "polluter pays" principle
> > - should discourage out-of-state waste from coming to Wisconsin
> > - should be a reliable source of income
> >
> > Thanks much!!
> >
> > John Reindl
> > Legislative Committee
> > Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin
> >
> > reindl@co.dane.wi.us
> > (608)267-1533 - fax
> > (608)267-8815 - phone
> >

reindl@co.dane.wi.us
(608)267-1533 - fax
(608)267-8815 - phone

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 08:48:43 EST
From: Bnartist <Bnartist@aol.com>
Subject: Plasma Torch

It's an entirely different scale but having used a metalworker's plasma torch
that cuts through steel like a red hot knife through butter I can only imagine
that the waste is vaporized at an extremely high energy cost.

Greg Flynn

------------------------------

End of GreenYes Digest V98 #81
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