What's New for June 2006:
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- WasteCap News
- Upcoming Events
- Trivia Corner
- WasteCap Across Nebraska
- Electronics Update
- In the News
- WasteCap Connections
WasteCap News
Mayor honors Clean Your Files Week winners
On Tuesday, June 13th, Mayor Colleen Seng held a press conference and award ceremony for the winners of Clean Your Files Week. The yearly event collected over 37,000 pounds of paper from local businesses, schools, and governmental agencies. WasteCap is proud to recognize the League Association of Risk Managers for recycling 125 pounds of paper per employee during the week and winning the award for private business recycling. WasteCap is also happy to recognize one of our members, Ameritas Life Insurance Corporation, for having the most total recycling volume for the third year in a row. Ameritas collected 14,476 pounds of paper during the week. Congratulations to our winners and thank you to all the businesses that participated in Clean Your Files Week!
 Jerry Petersen, center, accepts Ameritas' award from Gene Hanlon, Lincoln's recycling coordinator, as the mayor looks on. |
 Yvonne Svec, from the League Association of Risk Managers, holds her recycling award. |
Upcoming Events
Lincoln Computer Collection June 21st
On June 21st, WasteCap Nebraska, with funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust, will hold a commercial electronics recycling collection from 9AM to 3PM at State Fair Park in Lincoln. The collection will be held in partnership with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and event sponsor Waldron, Riggs & Lloyd CPAs, PC. Local businesses will be able to dispose of electronic waste, including computer monitors, CPUs, peripherals, other office equipment, fluorescent lighting tubes, cellular phones, and toner cartridges. Each business can recycle one complete system (a monitor and up to 50 lbs of peripherals) for free, after which the cost will be $10 per monitor ($9 for members), $0.35 per pound for peripherals ($0.30 for members) with fluorescent lights priced at $0.40–$0.60 per tube ($0.34–$0.55 for members). Cell phones and toner cartridges will be accepted free of charge. The e-waste collected will be processed by Retrofit Recycling.Also, WasteCap is looking for help from our members for the computer collection. We need volunteers who are willing to work collecting equipment and directing participants. If you would like to help, or if you have questions about the computer collection, please call WasteCap at 434-7375 or email Lydia Fiedler at [email protected].
Retrofit Recycling Pick-Up Dates
On June 21st, WasteCap Nebraska, with funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust, will hold a commercial electronics recycling collection from 9AM to 3PM at State Fair Park in Lincoln. The collection will be held in partnership with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and event sponsor Waldron, Riggs & Lloyd CPAs, PC. Local businesses will be able to dispose of electronic waste, including computer monitors, CPUs, peripherals, other office equipment, fluorescent lighting tubes, cellular phones, and toner cartridges. Each business can recycle one complete system (a monitor and up to 50 lbs of peripherals) for free, after which the cost will be $10 per monitor ($9 for members), $0.35 per pound for peripherals ($0.30 for members) with fluorescent lights priced at $0.40-$0.60 per tube ($0.34-$0.55 for members). Cell phones and toner cartridges will be accepted free of charge. The e-waste collected will be processed by Retrofit Recycling.Also, WasteCap is looking for help from our members for the computer collection. We need volunteers who are willing to work two-hour shifts collecting equipment and directing participants. If you would like to help, or if you have questions about the computer collection, please call WasteCap at 434-7375 or email Lydia Fiedler at [email protected].
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.- Week of June 19th
- Week of July 17th
Trivia Corner
Last Month's Trivia
Last month's trivia question was "According to the April newsletter, which state recently passed landmark legislation for e-waste?"The correct answer is: The State of Washington
The winning answer was submitted by Technical Sergeant Jason Holsten of the Air National Guard, who received dinner for two at Braeda Fresh Express Café.
June Trivia Question
You can have a chance to win this month's prize by answering the following question: How many cars came to the Norfolk Scrap Day on May 6th? The answer can be found in last month's newsletter. Please send your responses to Lydia Fiedler at [email protected]. Correct responses will be included in a drawing for Free Family Admission (2 children and 2 adults) to the LINCOLN CHILDREN'S ZOO along with 4 free train rides and a free zoo CD-ROM. Please submit your answers by July 1st for a chance at the drawing. Good Luck!WasteCap Across Nebraska
WasteCap plans Hastings Electronics Collection
WasteCap Nebraska will host its second computer collection of the season in Hastings on Wednesday, September 13th. WasteCap is pleased to partner with the City of Hastings and the Nebraska Environmental Trust to present this recycling event. The collection will be held at the Adams Country Fairgrounds. Pricing will be the same as for the Lincoln Collection (see Upcoming Events). For more information call WasteCap at 434-7375 or email Lydia Fiedler.WasteCap Statewide Expansion
On June 7th, WasteCap director Carrie Hakenkamp met with businesses in Columbus to work on a peer-to-peer network in that community and to organize future WasteCap events. WasteCap is working with Columbus businesses and the Columbus Chamber of Commerce to organize an e-waste lunch and learn in that community this October. To learn more about the lunch and learn event, please call WasteCap at 434-7375 or email Lydia Fiedler.WasteCap is also working to expand its services in other communities across Nebraska. On July 11th, WasteCap will hold a meeting in Kearney to speak with businesses about developing a cooperative in that area.
Electronics Update
Apple Launches Free Computer Take-Back Program
Apple announced the launch of its free computer take-back program, offering customers in the United States the opportunity to have their old computers recycled when they purchase a new Mac computer. Starting May 31, the Apple Store and Apple retail stores will give U.S. customers the option of recycling their unwanted computers, regardless of the manufacturer.When a customer chooses to participate in the program, Apple will send an email with instructions and a label for free shipping and recycling. Customers simply package their recyclable equipment and attach the label provided. All equipment received by the program is recycled domestically and no hazardous material is shipped overseas. Apple's recycling programs have processed more than 21 million pounds of electronics worldwide since 1994. Apple continues to offer a free iPod recycling program through its U.S. retail stores.
For the complete press release, visit Recycling Today.
Portland Author Tackles E-Waste
In her new book, High Tech Trash: Digital Devices, Hidden Toxics and Human Health, environmental author Elizabeth Grossman explores some of the tough issues surrounding toxic e-waste. She cites computer monitors and flame retardants as particularly harmful to human health and she points a critical eye at the high tech industry.Read Grossman's interview with the Seattle Times.
In the News
Aluminum Can Recycling on the Rise
The Aluminum Association, Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), and Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) released statistics indicating that aluminum can recycling rose for the second year in 2005. Americans recycled 51.4 billion aluminum cans in 2005, for a beverage can recycling rate of 52 percent. This reflects close to a one percent increase over the 2004 rate.Last year, the United States produced 98.9 billion aluminum cans. The 51.4 billion cans that were recycled amount to about 1.5 billion pounds or reusable aluminum. The aluminum beverage can is 100 percent recyclable and can be recycled indefinitely — demonstrating recycling at its finest.
The 2005 recycling rate of 52 percent amounts to more than twice the recycling rate for beverage packages of other materials. Aluminum can recycling is easy and efficient. Recycling 40 aluminum beverage cans has the energy-saving equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. During 2005, Americans recycled enough aluminum cans to conserve the energy equivalent of over 15 million barrels of oil.
Find the related article at Waste News or read the press release from the Aluminum Association.
Nation�s 100th ethanol plant opens in Iowa
The nation's 100th ethanol plant held its grand opening May 25 near Gowrie, Iowa. Frontier Ethanol LLC will consume 21 million bushels of corn and produce 60 million gallons of ethanol per year at the $80 million facility. Broin Companies, based in Sioux Falls, S.D., designed and built the plant."There are no losers with ethanol, only winners, including farmers, consumers, Iowa's environment, Iowa's economy and our national security as we become less reliant on foreign oil," state Sen. Daryl Beall said.
WasteCap Connections
Aerosol Can Recycling System for Sale
A WasteCap Nebraska member has an Aerosolv Model 5000 Aerosol Can Recycling System for sale. The following components are included:- Puncturing Device
- # 6163 Combination Coalescing Activated Carbon Filter
- Anti-Static Wire
- Safety Goggles