E-Newsletter
February 2006

Waste Reduction at WasteCap... In an effort to reduce office paper waste at your office and ours, WasteCap utilizes an electronic newsletter. Past e-newsletters can be found on our website under the "E-Newsletters" tab. Check out our website at www.wastecapne.org for the latest events, publications, and new member listings for WasteCap Nebraska.

What's New for February 2006:

WasteCap News

Strategic Planning Process

Based on the results of last year's survey, WasteCap is setting new goals and objectives through a Strategic Planning Process that will be implemented over the next 6 months. During this time, we will be holding several meetings to discuss this process, including a meeting of our stakeholders. We are looking for participants for this meeting, and in the coming weeks someone from WasteCap may contact you to ask if you are willing to join us for the meeting. If you are interested in being involved, you can also contact Carrie Hakenkamp at (402) 436-2384.

New Employees

WasteCap welcomed two new employees in January, Lydia Fiedler and Jeffrey Gerard.

Lydia has joined the WasteCap team as the Marketing and Education Coordinator. She is a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies. Lydia is excited to be working in the environmental field and is looking forward to working with our WasteCap members. Lydia will be coordinating events for WasteCap as well as updating WasteCap's publications. If you would like to speak with Lydia about upcoming events or publications such as the Service Provider Guidebook, please call her at (402) 434-7375 or email [email protected].

Jeffrey Gerard comes to WasteCap as the new webmaster for our website . He will be posting new material and announcements on the web site and making sure the design is easy to navigate. Originally from Omaha, he will be graduating in May with a degree in computer science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). He has been active in UNL's student group Ecology Now for three years, working closely with the school's administration to increase campus recycling efforts. In this respect, he has a great appreciation for WasteCap's mission.

Annual Report in Progress

WasteCap is in the process of compiling your 2005 Member Recycling Volume Reports to include in our annual report. If you have not yet returned your report, please complete and return the survey at your earliest convenience. These reports also allow for a more adequate description of your business's complete recycling program (including some commonly missed items such as pallets, toner cartridges, refuse generation totals, and recycled content purchasing efforts.) The compiled annual recycling volume will allow us to compare recycling efforts to past years and gauge the recycling progress of the WasteCap members as a whole. Please contact our office at (402) 436-2383 or [email protected] with any questions. Thank you for your cooperation!

Upcoming Events

Retrofit Recycling Pick-Up Dates

WasteCap Nebraska members receive discounted fluorescent lamp, ballast, electronic and battery recycling services through Retrofit Recycling (800-274-1309) and Environmental Compliance Enterprises (466-2268). Please let us know if you need an updated price sheet. Pick up dates are subject to change, please call 7-10 business days ahead of time if you wish to schedule additional pick ups. The February pick-up date is filling fast, so Retrofit may add another date in March. Call Retrofit or check next month's newsletter for additional dates.

Lincoln-Lancaster Environmental Awards Seeks Nominees

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department is seeking nominations for its 2006 Environmental Awards. According to Mayor Colleen Seng, "The environmental awards program is an opportunity to thank individuals, businesses, youth groups and other organizations for their efforts to protect our environment and the public's health." Awards are available in several categories including Waste Reduction & Recycling and Residential & Commercial Development. To nominate an individual, organization, or business, or to learn more about the awards, visit the city's website.

Midwest Healthy Indoor Environment Symposium Coming in March

Radon health effects, energy efficient equipment, and mitigation and new construction techniques are just some of the topics to be addressed at the Midwest Healthy Indoor Environment Symposium to be held March 7, 2006 at the Holiday Inn Central in Omaha. Speakers for the event entitled "Radon, Indoor Air Quality, and Energy Efficiency" will include Dr. Joseph Lstiburek, Dr. Thomas Heine, and Doug Walters. A vendor show will be held in conjunction with the seminars. The fee for the symposium is $40.00 which includes lunch and break refreshments. The event is coordinated by Nebraska Health and Human Services, UN-L Extension, Douglas County Health Department, Sarpy/Cass Department of Health and Wellness, the Nebraska Energy Office, ALA of Nebraska, and cooperating business sponsors.

For more information, please contact Sara Morgan at 402-471-8320 or [email protected].

Seventh Annual "Clean Your Files Week" Coming Soon!

Mark your calendars for the 2006 edition of "Clean Your Files Week" set for April 17th-21st. As many of you know, this is a fabulous opportunity for businesses to support Earth Day and increase recycling awareness while purging your workplace of old and outdated files. We want to increase WasteCap member competitiveness this year and encourage you to start early in planning your strategy to have the most recycled computer paper, letterhead, legal paper, phone books, and envelopes per capita of any business in Lincoln. Watch future editions of the WasteCap Nebraska e-newsletter for more information.

Trivia Corner

Last Month's Trivia

Last month's trivia questions were "How many e-waste bills were introduced in the U.S. last year? How many in Nebraska?"

The correct answers are: Five (5) dozen e-waste bills introduced in total and 2 in Nebraska. (Answer from the November 2005 Newsletter)

The winning answer was submitted by Bob Perry with the League Association of Risk Management, who received a $20 gift certificate to Lazlo's or Fireworks.

February Trivia Question

The February Trivia Question is sponsored by Braeda Fresh Express Café. You can have a chance to win this month's prize by answering the following question:
How many projects were given grants by NDEQ in the 2006 Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant Round and what was the combined total dollar amount of these grants?

The answer can be found in last month's newsletter. Please send your responses to Lydia Fiedler . Correct responses will be included in a drawing for Dinner for Two at Braeda Fresh Express Café! Please submit your answers by March 1st for a chance at the drawing. Good Luck!

WasteCap Across Nebraska

WasteCap Begins Expansion in Columbus

On February 8th, WasteCap director Carrie Hakenkamp traveled to Columbus to present the findings of the 2005 Needs Assessment Survey for that community and begin the planning process with a local committee. At the meeting, Hakenkamp spoke with businesses, the press, the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and environmental organizations concerning the recycling needs expressed in the survey. The findings presented by Hakenkamp show that recycling efforts can be expanded in Columbus and other communities around the state. The meeting was preceded by a press conference, with the resulting storyfeatured on the front page of the Columbus Telegram the following day.

This meeting was a step in the statewide expansion of WasteCap that is proposed for the following year and beyond. WasteCap is developing a local working group of businesses in Columbus to study and expand recycling programs in the community. The local committee, consisting of members of the business community is in the process of developing a focus and mission statement for the group as well as recruiting additional businesses to participate. A similar process will also be undertaken in Grand Island beginning in March. After nearly one year as an independent non-profit organization, WasteCap is looking forward to expanding its services statewide.

Electronics Update

Computer Export Certification Offered

Recycling Today reports that the World Reuse Repair and Recycling Association (WR3A) is sponsoring a new certification program for used computer transactions. WR3A tries to match used computers and computer waste to recyclers that are capable of handling the waste. Recycle.net is sponsoring a website for WR3A to achieve this goal. WR3A says this is a necessary step because organizations that collect reusable computers often "get un-repairable junk sent as 'toxics along for the ride,'" which they cannot process properly. Proper disposal of this dangerous waste must be guaranteed by matching waste generators with the right recycler.

To read the article visit the Recycling Today website or learn more about certification at WR3A.org.

In the News

Maine Touts Recycling Computer Monitors

In January, Maine became the first state to require makers of televisions and computer monitors to pay for safe disposal of their products at the end of their use. This regulation bills producers to directly cover the cost of disposing of the harmful lead and mercury in their products. The new law reduces the cost to consumers to only $2 per piece of equipment. Legislators hope that the law will keep more of the hazardous wastes out of landfills. See the AP article at Recycles.org.

A similar bill has been introduced to the Nebraska Legislature this year. Senator Preister's Bill, LB 1031, would create a similar program in Nebraska, with the goal of creating uniformity throughout the country, making it easier for businesses, localities, regulators and manufacturers to comply with regulatory requirements for managing e-waste.

WasteCap Connections

Piqua Baler for Sale

A WasteCap Nebraska member has a Piqua series 30/60 HD, Style 2200 Baler for sale. The product description is as follows: Please contact Sue Ellen Pegg at 402-436-2383 or [email protected] if you are interested in the baler.