| GRN Recycle Talk FAQ Answer |
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 09:47:25 -0400 (EDT) From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman) Subject: Re: Recycling of oil cans (Julie Chadburn)
August 4, 1999
Dear Julie Chadburn,
Both oil cans and oil filters, once fully drained of their oily contents, may be recycled by a scrap metals recycler, many of whom already take them.
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Mon, 6 Dec 1999 15:16:32 -0500 (EST)
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 15:16:32 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: In-vessel composting (Patrick Bastrow) Dec. 6, 1999
Dear Patrick Bastrow,
Examples of invessel composting of organics in the US:Dartmouth College and the Town of
Hanover, NH have a 25 ton per day facility going for over a year.According to Biocycle
Magazine there were 25 invessel operations of all feedstocks in 1996. But did not name
them.Lower East Side Ecology Center, NY, NY has one invessel project and has received a
development grant from NYS Dept. of Economic Development.Whidbey Island Naval Air Station,
Oak Harbor, WA will have completed its year long pilot assessment of this in 1999.Kelly
Green Environmental, Exeter, NH has designed and installed several such systems, one of
which was at Bermuda Compost Systems, Intl, on the island of Bermuda.Also, check out
http://enviro.nfesc.navy.mil/p2library7-15_896.html, which I'm not certain how to describe
to you except that it also is a US military composting facility.Now, in exchange, we would
like to see your finished report/dissertation when completed. Plese send it to:Research
Library for RCRAUS-EPA New England (SPP)1 Congress St.Boston, MA 02114USA
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Mon, 6 Dec 1999 15:19:45 -0500 (EST)
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 15:19:45 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Ideas of recycling microfiche (Siu Min Yu) Dec. 6, 1999
Dear Siu Min Yu,
You recycle microfiche by adding it to other recyclables of the
same resin type (I think it is polypropylene but am not certain of this), and recycle it.
Many commercial recyclers will probably take it, since there is no contamination possible.
-Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Mon, 6 Dec 1999 15:29:52 -0500 (EST)
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 15:29:52 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Operational costs of a tire shredder (Chris) Dec. 6, 1999
Dear Chris,
One full report that includes operational costs involes crumb rubber
for asphalt additive and can be found at: Final Report: Tire Recycling Process
Demonstration and Economic Analysis by HRI, Inc, Princeton, NJ, for The State of NJ, DEP,
Office of Innovative Technologies, Trenton, NJ, in June, 1997.
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Mon, 6 Dec 1999 15:34:17 -0500 (EST)
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 15:34:17 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Have you heard of closed circle product (Jaeyoon Lim) Dec. 6, 1999
Dear Jaeyoon Lim,
Yes, you are on the right track. However, not fully. I believe that a closed circle
prroduct is one where the wastes are taken back by the company to make new products, fully.
And apart from preconsumer waste alone, I don't think that really exists in the US yet.
At best, some reclamation of former production is recycled, but not all of it, by e.g.
firms
that do take back of packaging in Germany or Belgium or France, battery makers in the US,
auto parts makers in the US or Sweden.Life Cycle Analysis is the first step. Manifesting
it
in reality is the hard part.
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Mon, 6 Dec 1999 15:41:57 -0500 (EST)
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 15:41:57 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: RE: OCC Price Trends (John Henney) Dec. 6, 1999
Dear John Henney,
Try:Waste News by Crain Communications, Akron, OH 330-836-9180. They have a weekly price
chart of commodities including OCC. Also try Paper Stock Report , Cleveland OH or Fibre
Market News also published by the same Cleveland firm, which I think is GIE Publishing.You
might also go directly to the mills and ask them via Papermatcher a directory of current
paper mills using recycled, published by the AF PA (American Forest Paper Assn.).
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Mon, 13 Dec 1999 11:35:26 -0500 (EST)
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 11:35:26 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Recycling costs Dec. 13, 1999
Roughly, recycling costs between 25% and 65% of the costs of making common
commodities from virgin materials. This must be emphasized to be a very rough estimate.
-Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Mon, 13 Dec 1999 11:48:11 -0500 (EST)
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 11:48:11 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Nylon fabric vs. polyester fabric (Nona Barker) Dec. 13, 1999
Dear Nona Barker,
The chief problem with the manufacture of either is air emissions, not wastes. According
to
the literature that we possess - and understand that we are not experts about air pollution
- nylon is worse because its emissions to air damage the atmosphere by emitting a
disproportionate share of global warming greenhouse gasses.Methanol and ethylene glycol,
the
two most troublesome waste toxics in polyester manufacturing, can evidently be eliminated
by
changing the manufacturing process.I'm not sure of what you are asking about preconsumer
nylon wastes.
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Mon, 13 Dec 1999 12:03:03 -0500 (EST)
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 12:03:03 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: RE: Recycling of Denim (Georges Ballouz) Dec. 13, 1999
Dear Georges Ballouz,
Jeans recycling, relatively high demand, high grade textile recycling, creates fibre for
new
jeans manufactures.Japan, for example, will import millions of tons of denim for
remanufacturing from secondary fiber. Most textiles when recycled go into lower grade
uses,
such as wiping cloths. This is far below the value of denim.
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Thu, 16 Dec 1999 11:31:25 -0500 (EST)
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 11:31:25 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Curb side recycling costs (Scott) Dec. 16, 1999
Dear Scott,
Studies of costs include:
Curbside separation a winner (this time) by J J Burgiel and P.A. Kennedy in Solid Waste
Power, Dec, 1991.
The costs of curbside recycling by R. W. Powers in Solid Waste Technologies,
May/June, 1995.
Containing collection costs by Dave Block in Biocycle, Dec, 1997.
Kerbside collection: does the blue box have a future by David Birley, in WARMER
Bulletin, Feb, 1993.
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Thu, 16 Dec 1999 11:46:37 -0500 (EST)
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 11:46:37 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Recyclable drop off dumpsters (Alyssa Cook) Dec. 16, 1999
Dear Alyssa Cook,
I can't go through catalogues looking for this. I can tell you the directories where you
are most likely to be successful in doing this yourself:
1999 Source Guide, by Waste Dynamics of the Northeast, 603-624-1442
Waste Age Magazine Equipment Buyer's Guide, Subscription Director: 770-618-0211
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Thu, 16 Dec 1999 11:55:21 -0500 (EST)
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 11:55:21 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Recycling polyurethane foam (Brian Lindsey) Dec. 16, 1999
Dear Brian Lindsey,
Yes, polyurethane foam is recyclable; one large market for it is the transportation
industries: motor vehicles, etc. I don't know about the dust though.
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Tue, 28 Dec 1999 12:39:27 -0500 (EST)
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 1999 12:39:27 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Is there anything called biodegradable shopping bags (Abdullah Shafeeg) Dec.
28, 1999
Dear Abdullah Shafeeg,Yes, there are biodegradable plastics including those
being manufactured into shopping bags. A recent development, this was first tried in the
early 1970s with bad results. The idea then and now is to impregnate plastics with starch
or to make plastics to make them from cottonseed, cornstarch, and other materials, getting
rid of plastics entirely.Some of the firms involved in one or the other of these two
approaches are:
Biocorp, Inc., California
Novon International, Tonawanda,
NYEcoplastics, Willowdale, Ontario, Canada
Comprehensive Environmental Solution, Inc., Chicopee, MA (FAX:413-533-0747)
Petoskey Plastics, Michigan
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Wed, 29 Dec 1999 09:45:42 -0500 (EST)
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 09:45:42 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Help me [to] design a low tech(nology) MRF Dec 29, 1999
Low tech MRFs are difficult ventures; this can't be done on the cheap without
inexhaustible amounts of human energy and optimism. For one thing, you have no business
separating different resin plastics on the cheap end of technology: mixed plastics is all
that is worthwhile unless you are dealing with source separated collection protocols. In
terms of what you ought to think about in planning, read the following two government
documents (and, yes, do buy them from NTIS):
Handbook: Material Recovery Facilities for Municipal Solid Waste, by US EPA Office of
Research Development, EPA/625/6-91/031, Sept.,1991
Environmental, Economic and Energy Impacts of Material Recovery Facilities: A MITE
Program Evaluation, by Ibid.., EPA/600-R-95/125, Aug, 1995.
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Thu, 13 Jan 2000 12:55:53 -0500 (EST)
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 12:55:53 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Waxes and calcium carbonate (Michelle) January 13, 2000
Dear Michelle,
Your best bet is to list each item on regional Industrial Waste Exchanges in your region.
A
now somewhat dated listing of these can be obtained from the National Technical Information
Service under the following title:Review of Industrial Waste Exchanges, by US EPA OSWER,
EPA-530-K-94-003, Sept., 1994.There are other ways to get a list. The Northeast Industrial
Waste Exchange lists some in the US and one leads to more. This one can be contacted in
Syracuse, NY at 315-422-6572.
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Tue, 1 Feb 2000 09:11:54 -0500 (EST)
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 09:11:54 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Partnerships/Joint Ventures. . . (Meita Harahap) Feb. 1, 2000
Dear Meita Harahap,
The most famous public/private partnership in recycling was between McDonalds Corp. and the
Environmental Defense Fund which played consultant to help McDonalds reduce and recycle
waste..Many governments are typical of working with haulers who also are or become
recyclers; many MRFs have public or private partners. And example of the former from 1992
is Prince William County, VA working with several private haulers who then set up an MRF.
Montclair, VA for example worked with a hauler, Charlie and Sons to do the same thing in
microcosm. This was written up in Waste Age 4/92.If you want more recent examples, look
to
the MRFs of your area and see how they got started and to contracts they had/have.
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Tue, 1 Feb 2000 09:15:47 -0500 (EST)
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 09:15:47 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Is recycling worth the effort? (Jake Jordan) Feb. 1, 2000
Dear Jake Jordan,
The answer to your question is yes. In general and specific environmental and economic
terms, yes, recycling contributes to social health. To the economy. To mitigating global
warming, air pollution, etc. To decreasing reliance on nonrenewable resources. It doesn't
make sense everywhere, all the time in economic terms. But it IS worth the effort!
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Tue, 1 Feb 2000 09:30:19 -0500 (EST)
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 09:30:19 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: One question welcome (Waldemar Adamski) Feb. 1, 2000
Dear Waldemar Adamski,
If I understand, you are seeking sources of plastic granulators for recycling:
- Alsteele Div., Entoleter, Inc., 251 Welton St., Hamden, CT 06517
- Polymer Systems, Inc., 63 Fuller Way, Berlin, CT 06037
- Granutec, Inc., PO Box 537, East Douglas, MA 01516 tel: 508-476-3801
These are only 3 examples from a directory put out by the American Plastics Council.
- Research Library for RCRA
Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Thu, 3 Feb 2000 10:19:18 -0500 (EST)
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 10:19:18 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: To start a retail store of recycled consumer goods (Mi Ae Kim) Feb 3, 2000
Dear Ms. Kim,
Many retail businesses sell recycled goods: Home Depot, Radio Shack,
anyone selling polar fleece clothing, etc. The market is huge and not definable without
resort to a consultant. In New England one such consultant that has done this is Friedom
Research (fried124@world.std.com).Consumer preference for recycled is more theoretical than
real. Only when forced to buy recycled do consumers, businesses, government procurement
officers buy recycled. The new is always the barrier. There are studies showing
preferences both ways. But basically, the sales don't turn on consumer preference, but on
mandatory or unheralded inclusion in commodities.It is unrealistic to believe that you get
the average consumer to buy recycled by advertising it as recycled.There are many
directories of consumer goods wholesalers. One of the best is The Official RPG (contact
800-267-=0707 for further information about obtaining it). In California, there are
several
good ones too. Contact the Integrated Waste Management Board in Sacramento for some of
these.
Good luck
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Thu, 3 Feb 2000 11:51:12 -0500 (EST)
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 11:51:12 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Demolition construction specifications (Debbie Hanon) Feb. 3, 2000
Dear Debbie Hanon,
Standards for Construction products (recycled green) sources:
- Architects for Social Responsibility (Boston Society of Architects) at
http://www.architects.org
- Clean Washington Center aka CWC at http://www.cwc.org
- Database of Recycled Commodities by NASPO at
http://www.fcn.state.fl.us/bpsr/drc_notice.html
- National Assn. of Home Builder's Research Center at http://www.nahbrc.org
See also the Asn. for Standards and Testing of Materials (ASTM).
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Thu, 3 Feb 2000 11:58:22 -0500 (EST)
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 11:58:22 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Hardcover book recycling (Brigid Callahan) Feb. 3, 2000
Dear Brigid Callahan,
There is no problem in cutting paper out of books and
recycling it along with other recyclable paper. Some paperboard and
corrugated and textile recyclers will even take hardcover spines, though this is more
sporadically the case. The US Book Exchange may know more, though they are a
Reuse organization and can be located at:2969 W 25 St., Cleveland, OH 44113 or
216-241-6960.American Library Assn. should know something as well, but don't count on it.
-Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Thu, 3 Feb 2000 12:25:50 -0500 (EST)
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 12:25:50 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Market demand and risks in recycling ventures (Noa Bar-Chaim) Feb. 3, 2000
Dear Noa Bar-Chaim,
Your questions are obviously complex and no one size will fit all of the situations which
you encounter. However, there are answers rooted in geography, time, and market forces.I
will answer for New England and for the US in 1998:
1.Most appropriate product(s) for a nonprofit to recycle:high grade paper, newspaper, all
metals, glass, and plastics which are usually what there are markets for consistently.
2.Most stable recyclable(s)New England - metals, computers, oil, newsprintNational -
metals,
high grade paper, oil
3.Pricing trendsAll recyclables follow the commodities markets. Paper is down in recent
years. Plastics are stable but low. Metals are pretty stable, but slowly downwards.
These
are trends over 5 years in New England and nationally.
4.Which are most profitable? Exporting paper, plastics and metals to Asia in the recent
past. Recycling motor vehicles too.
5.What are the risks?The risks are too many to list. Recycling is very
risky. See many earlier posts here by me.
6.Subsidies available?Sometimes, but only to 501c3s and from private and community
foundations. Subsidies are mde to States by the Federal government.
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Thu, 3 Feb 2000 15:23:33 -0500 (EST)
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 15:23:33 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Waste separating equipment Feb. 3, 2000
This responds to a question about grant funds available from European sources.
I am mostly aware of many American sources. Those American sources that might fund Europe
or the UK are:
Ford Foundation
John D. Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Toyota Foundation
Jennifer Altman Foundation
Nathan Cummings Foundation
Turner Foundation, Inc.
Wallace Global Fund, Inc.
CS Fund
Rockefeller Brothers Fund
I'm also uunder the impression that OECD sometimes gives grants, but to whom I don't know.I
would ask the same question of the folks at WARMER Bulletin.
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Tue, 8 Feb 2000 15:23:22 -0500 (EST)
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 15:23:22 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Is there such a place to recycle light bulbs (Wilma) Feb. 8, 2000
Dear Wilma,
Fluorescent light bulb recycling is not well developed; at most there
are one or two recyclers of them in each state and province. But I haven't encountered any
in Nova Scotia.Contact the Mercury Refining Co, Inc., Albany, NY at 518-459-0820 and ask
them your question. Also ask it of the Recycling Council of Ontario at 416-960-1025 ext.
10.
- Research Library for RCRA
From Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV) Wed, 9 Feb 2000 12:44:44 -0500 (EST)
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 12:44:44 -0500 (EST)
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: What's the correct way to purchase recycl[ed] paper? (Ray) Feb. 9, 2000
Dear Ray,
It is unclear what your situation is vis a vis recycled newsprint. If you are a newspaper
publisher seeking supplies of recycled newsprint, the organization to help you is the
American Newspaper Publishers Assn., now I believe known as the Newspaper Assn. of America.
A good way to get in touch with them and with sources of newsprint supply is through the
Northeast Recycling Council, (contact: Mike Alexander at 802-254-3636).If you are a paper
broker, it depends upon where you are for us to be able to help you or not.If you are a
remanufacturer, there is no substitute for inspections of recycled lots at irregular
intervals.
There are many ways to access such lists of paper exporters:
http://www.export.web.com for TradeBank
http://www.ita.doc.gov for International Trade Admin.
202-482-5777 for the US Dept. of Commerce to find its Export Assistance Center
nearest to you.
- Research Library for RCRA
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Efficacy of recycling (Struggling People)
Content-Length: 1006
Feb. 24, 2000
Dear Struggling People,
Assuming that your question is about the ethics of recycling as a philosophical question, the answer is obvious. Most ethical traditions have ideas about waste and wastefulness. The Puritains certainly did, as did the ancient Hebrews, the Calvinists, Buddhism does, etc. Recycling, reuse and waste reduction can be seen as alternatives to wastefulness and as such, reason and intuitive sense, and common sense, from Locke to Marx to Mill to Russell have something to say on the subject, as will the great pragmatists . But from an alternate perspective so will the apologists for e.g. economic systems such as Herbert Spencer and the St. Simonians (e.g. Auguste Comte). I believe that there is also one journal that you should look at multiple issues of:
Sorry, its two: Resources Conservation and Recycling published by Elsevier Science Publishers; and Environment and Behavior published by Sage Publications.
- Fred Friedman, RLRCRA