Recycling

Check out the Ozarks Materials Exchange

The Ozarks Materials Exchange (OME) is a free online materials exchange service that enables businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and artists to create and search online listings of Available and Wanted materials. It works to connect generators or users of difficult to match materials with counterparts who need or have materials.

Recycling in Missouri

Acceptable materials for exchange:

  • Brown goods and accessories
  • Chemicals
  • Construction and demolition
  • Drums
  • Fluorescent lights
  • Glass
  • Liquid waste
  • Metals
  • Miscellaneous
  • Motor vehicle items
  • Organic waste
  • Paper
  • Plastics
  • Rubber
  • Textiles
  • Tires
  • White goods
  • Wood

Got it? Looking for it? Find it on the Ozarks Materials Exchange at ReuseOzarks.org

The OME does not buy, sell, store, or transport materials.

For more information: 417.864.2003

Categories of Waste to Consider When Determining a RCRA Recycling Exclusion From Solid Waste

The definition of a solid waste at 40 CFR 261.2(a)(1) includes any discarded material that is not excluded from regulation by:

  • The conditional exclusions for certain solid waste at §261.4(a).
  • A variance granted under §260.30 and §260.31.
  • A non-waste determination under §260.30 and §260.34

Unless you can find an exclusion from regulation, everything you “throw away” (ie. discard) is a solid waste.  So, what then does it mean to “discard” something?

Pursuant to 40 CFR 261.2(a)(2)(i), a discarded material is anything that is:

If you generate a solid waste – and you know that you do – it may be excluded from regulation if it is recycled in a manner prescribed by USEPA regulation.  Table 1 of 40 CFR 261.2 identifies five categories of solid wastes (two categories – Sludges and By-Products – are further subdivided into two sub-categories each, making a total of seven entries in Table 1) and identifies their regulatory status (solid waste or no solid waste) based on how they are recycled.  Not included in Table 1, but essential to its complete understanding is a Co-Product, which is referenced in the explanation of a By-Product.

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MassDEP Enforces the Massachusetts Landfill Ban With 98 Notices of Non-Compliance in the Past Year

Even those states without authorized hazardous waste programs under RCRA (Iowa, Alaska, & Puerto Rico) are responsible for the management of non-hazardous solid waste within their state.  While regulations for hazardous waste find their authority in Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, non-hazardous wastes are addressed in Subtitle D of RCRA.  It’s in Subtitle D that the USEPA delegates the management of non-hazardous waste to each state.  I have found that the states take a myriad of approaches to the management of non-hazardous waste and in this article we will read of how Massachusetts is enforcing its ban from landfill disposal for certain recyclable materials. (more…)

A Reminder From the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to Recycle Consumer Electronics

This holiday season, many people will receive new TVs and computers, often as replacements for older electronics. DEP reminds Pennsylvanians to recycle unwanted electronics instead of throwing them in the trash. When electronic items are thrown away, they often end up in a landfill where heavy metals within the electronics, such as lead, cadmium, and mercury, pose a threat to the environment.
 
“Recycling is a simple way for all of us to do our part in protecting our environment,” DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. “Let’s make this holiday season a little bit greener by properly recycling our unwanted electronic devices.”
 
On January 24, 2013, Pennsylvania’s Covered Device Recycling Act took effect, banning landfill disposal of certain electronics. Under this law, TVs, desktop and laptop computers, tablets, computer monitors, and printers from residents and small businesses with fewer than 50 employees must be recycled.
 
The law also requires manufacturers to develop systems to recycle certain electronics. This puts the responsibility to recycle on the producer, making recycling easier for consumers.
 
There are several ways consumers can easily recycle electronic items:
  • Some local governments offer curbside electronics recycling. Consumers should first check with their local municipality to see if curbside or drop-off service is provided.
  • Many retail and non-profit outlets recycle most electronic items for free including Best Buy, Goodwill, Salvation Army and Staples. It’s best to call ahead to confirm which electronics are accepted.
  • There are free collection events that take place throughout the year at various locations, which may be organized by county, local governments and non-profit partnerships. The Pennsylvania Recycling Hotline (1-800-346-4242) provides statewide information about recycling services and upcoming events.
  • Consumers can also take their items to permitted electronics recyclers, some of which offer pick-up service.
  • Many waste and recycling hauling companies also collect electronic items destined for recycling.
A list of permitted recyclers and more information is available on DEP’s electronics recycling webpage.

Is a By-Product a Solid Waste When Recycled by Reclamation?

The regulations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) require all generators of hazardous waste to conduct a hazardous waste determination for all waste generated, the purpose of which is to answer the following questions:

  1. Is the material to be discarded?
  2. If yes, is it excluded from regulation as a solid waste?
  3. If no, it remains a solid waste; is it a listed or characteristic hazardous waste?
  4. If yes, is it excluded from regulation as a hazardous waste?
  5. If no, it remains a hazardous waste unless other exclusions exist, eg. universal waste, used oil, recyclable materials, etc.

The purpose of this article is to focus on a specific exclusion in Step 2 of the process:  The exclusion from regulation as a solid waste for by-products that are recycled by reclamation. (more…)

What is the US EPA Program WasteWise?

(Boston, Mass. – Dec. 14, 2011) – Three WasteWise partners in New England were recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for outstanding achievements as 2011 WasteWise award winners. Nationally, there were 29 winners, with awards in categories including business, government, and educational sectors.  You can read the full news release here, but I think I’d be remiss if I didn’t send a shout-out to those three New England companies:

  • Raytheon Company, Mass.
  • Cannon Grange #152 Inc., Conn.
  • Genzyme Corporation (Mass.)

So just what exactly is WasteWise?  You can learn much more about it from its website, or check out this factsheet, but WasteWise – founded in 1994 and with more than 2,700 members – is a US EPA program that encourages a variety of different organizations and businesses to voluntarily commit to waste reduction and recycling goals.  By becoming a member of WasteWise, you obtain access to a variety of tools to help you reach those waste goals and to promote your efforts to your customers, your community, and the world.

Organizations may join WasteWise as either a Partner or an Endorser.  A Partner commits to reduce their own waste production whereas an Endorser is a branch of government or other organization that uses the tools available through WasteWise to convince its members of the benefits of waste reduction and recycling.  Eligible members include but are not limited to all sizes of:  US businesses, State & local governments, non-profit organizations, and trade associations.

As a member, you have access to all of the following:

It’s the third bullet point of the above that you see on display at the top of this article, and on the US EPA website of the 2011 WasteWise Award Winners.  As a member, you have the opportunity to promote your company – and be promoted – as a company that cares about the environment and is doing something about it; this alone might be reason enough to join up.  An additional incentive is having access to the WasteWise Re-TRAC System.  This new data management and reporting system allows you to collect, organize, analyze, and report your waste reduction activities and to generate reports such as the WasteWise Climate Profile report.

If you are considering becoming a member, but don’t know if WasteWise has the resources to assist your specific interests, check out their Targeted Initiatives and see if there is a Challenge or Campaign that directly addresses your waste generation.  And why not involve the office personnel as well?  WasteWise has a tool for determining the carbon footprint of office operations including:  company-owned vehicle transportation; purchased electricity; waste disposal; and leased assets, franchises, and outsourced activities.

Take a look at the information available, determine if WasteWise is a good fit for your operations, and then take it to management and see what they think.  Let me know how it works for you, I’ve never been able to convince a company to voluntarily commit to any US EPA program.  Perhaps you’ll have better luck.