Business Recycling in Connecticut

1
Business Recycling in Connecticut

• CBIA Environmental Forum
• Mark Bobman
• Bristol Resource Recovery Facility
• Operating Committee (BRRFOC)?
• info_at_brrfoc.org
• [phone]

2
What is Required?

• Mandatory Materials
• Relevant Public Acts, Statutes, and Regulations
• Universal Waste

3
Mandatory Materials

• Office Paper
• Newspaper Cardboard
• Glass food/beverage containers (bottles, jars)?
• Metal food/beverage containers (soda cans, tin
  cans)?
• Waste Oil
• Batteries
• Scrap metal
• Leaves

DEP HazWaste Regs
4
DEP Web Site Business Recycling Information

• Separating Recyclables from the Waste Stream
• DEP has encountered business recycling programs
  which use a single collection container for all
  their (MSW)
• Businesses have reportedly been told by their
  hauler that the hauler has a permit to separate
  out designated recyclables from the mixed MSW
• Hauler claims are misleading and, consequently,
  businesses using this system for recycling may be
  in violation of state recycling requirements
• Designated recyclables cannot be collected
  together with mixed MSW nor can they be mixed
  with any other material which may contaminate
  them. For example, paper mandated for recycling
  cannot be collected in the same container with
  any wet or putrescible trash, nor can that paper
  be collected mixed together with glass
  containers, because of potential breakage and
  subsequent contamination.
• www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/waste_management_and_dispos
  al/
• solid_waste_management_plan/feb2009/business_recyc
  ling_initiative.pdf
• http//www.cbia.com/green/

5
What is Required?

• Mandatory Materials
• http//www.ct.gov/dep
• Information for Municipalities and State
  AgenciesgtSetting up a Recycling Program at your
  Small Business
• http//www.nerc.org/documents/coop,
  Implementation Guide for Small Business Recycling
  Cooperatives
• small businesses generate small amounts of
  materials
• cumulatively their recyclable generation is both
  significant and under collected
• offices with 100 or more employees generate about
  45 of the total quantity of discarded printing
  and writing paper (office paper)
• about 95 of these offices recycle their paper
• offices with less than 50 employees generate
  nearly 40 of the supply, but only 30 have
  on-site recycling programs.
• Michael Alexander, Northeast Recycling Council,
  Lauren Sharfman of WasteCap of Massachusetts

6
Regulations Statues(partial list)

• P.A. 90-200
• 22a-241b mandatory items
• 22a-241i 500 fine
• 22a-255e
• each retail establishment which offers plastic
  bags to customers shall offer paper bags to
  customers and inform customers that a choice is
  available
• 22a-449(c)-113 Universal Waste
• P.A. 07-189 covered electronic devices

7
Recycling Paper Products

• Office Paper high grade
• Newspaper cardboard
• Value fluctuates with market
• Prices depressed since October 08 but rebounding
• Many processors handle mixed streams

8
Secure Document Destruction

• Required for certain medical, bank, financial
  records
• May be able to recycle provided documents are
  properly shredded
• Certification by National Association for
  Information Destruction, Inc.
• Some firms manage with on-site service, locked
  bins

9
Cardboard Recycling

• Long history of separate handling
• June 08, prices for uncontaminated baled
  cardboard were over 100 per ton and buyers were
  eager to purchase (current price 45)
• Many big box stores maintain balers
• Material is bulky, requires separate roll-off
  container

10
Bottles Cans

• More challenging than paper products to properly
  manage in business setting
• Glass breakage
• Food contamination vermin, pests
• Plastics??
• How many separate containers?
• Centralize storage
• Frequency of collection

11
Practical Considerations

• Quantity recycled may be too low to attract
  competitive price from hauler
• High employee turnover, language barrier may
  complicate training
• Space requirements for stored products
• Zoning, lease provisions may restrict outdoor
  storage

12
Storage
Paper
Compost
ACME Recycling
Secure documents (office paper)
ACME Recycling
Cardboard
13
Waste Audit

• Checklist to identify materials, quantities,
  currently recycled items
• Audit to evaluate sources (within facility),
  quantity, frequency of pickup
• Identify key personnel
• Work with waste hauler, request data needed for
  assessment
• Identify potential savings
• http//www.opala.org/solid_waste/How_to_Conduct_a_
  Waste_Audit.html
• http//www.recyclespot.org/business_tips.asp

14
Sample Questions for Waste Audit

• Own or rent property?
• Trash hauling included with rent?
• Recycling service provided by landlord?
• If not, why?
• Work areas affected
• Cafeteria
• Employee kitchen
• Shipping/receiving
• Copy/print room
• Offices
• Lighting
• Substitute reusable or longer-life products?

15
Existing Practice6 c.y. trash per week
16
Implementation

• Contract with waste hauler
• Utilize town recycling center to the extent
  possible (requires proper transport
  vehicle/insurance, town permit)
• Owner/manager to self-haul
• Training!
• Labeled receptacles
• Informed janitorial staff
• Instructions for substitute workers
• Employee recognition (Green Team)
• Measure before/after impacts

17
Improved Practices4 c.y. trash per week
18
Waste Oil

• Used oil generated by businesses must be managed
  in compliance with DEPs used oil regulations
• DEPs Hazardous Waste Management Regulations
  govern storage, labeling, disposal
• Used oil includes crankcase oil, brake fluid,
  automatic transmission fluid, power steering
  fluid, semi-solid gear, chain, and ball bearing
  lubricants, and hydraulic fluid
• Sec. 22a-449(c)-119 Hazardous Waste Rules
• Unpermitted burning prohibited except for
  self-generated used oil limited to under 0.5
  MMBtu/hr space heaters, provided
• The heater burns only used oil
• The owner or operator generates or used oil
  received from household do-it-yourself used oil
  generators

19
Universal Waste

• Subset of Hazardous Waste Rules
• Mercury-containing lamps
• Mercury-containing thermostats
• Batteries
• Pesticides
• Used electronics
• Streamlined management for items diverted from
  waste stream for recycling

20
Universal Waste Trade Orgs.

• Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. (RBRC)
• rbrc.org
• recycle onsite at your company with Call2Recycle
• Thermostat Recycling Corp.
• nema.org
• TRC is a not-for-profit corporation founded and
  operated by thermostat manufacturing companies
• facilitates nationwide collection of all brands
  of used, wall-mounted mercury-switch thermostats
• Collection takes place through HVAC wholesale
  outlets
• Participating organizations pay only a one-time
  fee of 25 to obtain a collection bin all other
  costs of the program are borne by the TRC

21
Contractors ManagingUniversal Wastes

• Generally special qualifications and regulatory
  requirements
• Due diligence in selecting contractor
• Certificates of recycling/destruction,
  particularly data storage drives
• Caution when there is potential for export

22
Verify your materials go to licensed, permitted
recyclers
Basel Action Network photo of laborers recovering
metals from computer components in a 4 village
area surrounding the Lianjiang River. Guiyu,
China. December 2001.
23
Sustainability Goals

• ISO 14040 Life Cycle Assessment)
• examination of inputs and outputs of materials
  and energy and associated environmental impacts
• ISO 152702008 - guidance for standards and
  specifications covering plastics recovery
• Options for the recovery of plastics waste
  arising from pre-consumer and post-consumer
  sources

24
DEP Business Recycling Checklist
25
DEP Business Recycling Checklist (contd)
26
DEP Business Recycling Checklist
27
CT Legislation

• Proposed H.B. 5474 - On or before October 1,
  2010, DEP to amend regulations adopted to expand
  list of designated recyclable items to add
• 3-gal. or smaller containers made of polyethylene
  terephthalate plastic and high-density
  polyethylene
• Plastic
• Boxboard
• magazines, residential high-grade white paper and
  colored ledger

28
Nirvanathe final emancipation of the soul
from transmigration, and consequently a beatific
enfranchisement from the evils of worldly
existence