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 July 2007:

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WasteCap News

WasteCap Nebraska Welcomes New Board Member

WasteCap Nebraska is pleased to welcome Russ Baker to the WasteCap Nebraska Board of Directors.  Russ is an Environmental Affairs Administrator with Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) where he has worked for twenty years.  He was hired by OPPD as a chemist at the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station in 1987 following six years with the U.S. Navy nuclear submarine service.  During his career, Russ has supported OPPD’s power plants by performing a variety of activities, including chemistry sampling and analysis, radiation protection, hazardous materials and emergency response, and environmental protection and compliance.  Russ has also worked in OPPD’s Information Technology Division where he assisted in formulating and planning OPPD’s information system architecture and the Business Strategy and Analysis Division.  His current responsibilities focus on legal and regulatory issues affecting the electric utility industry, nuclear and fossil fuel energy production, environmental health and safety, environmental compliance, permitting and auditing.

Russ is active in the United Way Heartland Blueprint Committee, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Water and Ecosystem Council, and the Douglas County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). He is also a member of the OPPD Toastmaster’s Club and National Registry of Radiation Protection Technicians (NRRPT).  He is a past Chairperson of the Nebraska Industrial Council on the Environment (NICE) and is currently the Vice-Chairperson of the Oak Hills Neighborhood Association.  Russ is a graduate of Bellevue University with a BS in Business Information Systems and a MA in Management.

Welcome Russ, we look forward to working with you and are excited to have your expertise and experience on our Board!

WasteCap Nebraska Receives Grants

WasteCap Nebraska, along with Southeast Community College, NDEQ Air Quality Division, Stephenson’s Truck Repair, General Dynamics, and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, has received a $115,000 grant for a VirtualPaint training system. VirtualPaint is a system that uses hands on techniques to train and improve the skill level of industry professionals. The technology used allows professionals to understand, practice, and become proficient with these techniques, without the expense related to traditional paint booth training such as cost of materials, staff hours, hazardous wastes, and safety equipment.

WasteCap Nebraska is also partnering with the University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s Partners in Pollution Prevention (P3) program for source reduction technical assistance. The P3 program plans to spotlight sustainability education for students and businesses, and, along with WasteCap Nebraska, would like to optimize waste reduction assistance to local area businesses.  Through this partnership, WasteCap will manage two students during the academic year that will provide technical assistance to businesses.  In addition, WasteCap will manage two summer interns to be placed in local businesses.  For more information on either of these projects, please contact Sue Ellen Pegg at 402-436-2383.

Upcoming Events

WasteCap Nebraska Environmental Webcast Series Continues in August

Are you literally throwing money in the trash?  How will you be held liable if confidential information is misused during electronics recycling?  There are still two webcasts remaining in the summer lecture series presented by WasteCap Nebraska.  These webcast events are designed to reach a larger geographic area in Nebraska and around the country with important environmental information impacting businesses.  According to Carrie Hakenkamp, Executive Director of WasteCap Nebraska, “using the latest technology allows us to offer this training to businesses throughout the state that would not have otherwise been able to participate.  This allows us to expand our reach in Nebraska without added travel expense and makes it very convenient for businesses to attend the seminars from their own desks.”  This is also a great way to train many employees in the same business for one low price.

Each webcast will be offered on Wednesday afternoons throughout the summer from 1-2:30 p.m. CT.

Resource Management and Solid Waste Contracting for Savings — August 8, 2007
Attend this webcast to learn how to get the most from your waste and recycling contracts by creating performance based contracts that tie financial incentives to measurable goals.  “Resource Management” contracting has been tested and implemented in a variety of settings over the last 8 years.  It is an innovative waste management contract model that is transforming the waste management industry by changing how waste-related companies define the value of their services and the way they generate profit.

Our line-up of speakers include Peggy Harlow with the Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection’s Commercial Waste Reduction Program, Renee Burman, an Environmental Policy Coordinator with Minnesota’s Dakota County Environmental Management and Tom Votta, Deputy Director for that program, the Chemical Strategies Partnership (CSP). 
Business Liability and Identity Theft Protection for Computer Recycling — August 29, 2007
Jaimee Napp is the Executive Director of the Identity Theft Action Council of Nebraska, iTAC is the first nonprofit organization dedicated solely to identity theft issues and assisting victims in Nebraska.  Rich Troia, owner of i-manage, an Omaha-based IT support company and i-recycle, an Omaha-based electronics recycler as well as an Omaha attorney will fill you in on how to protect your business from potential liability.
 
What are the liability issues associated with recycling old computer equipment?  Environmental liability?  Chain of Custody?  How safe is my computer recycler?  Meeting HIPAA and FACTA Compliance?  Identity theft issues?  These and many more questions will be answered in this session related to proper disposition and management of electronics.

With the generous support of NDEQ, WasteCap is able to offer these webcasts at reduced rates.  Registration fees for the webcasts are as follows:
WasteCap members: $69 each webcast
Non-Members: $89 each webcast

Speaker bios, expanded session descriptions and registration information can be found on the WasteCap website at www.wastecapne.org.  Registrations should be received no later than the Friday prior to each webcast.  For any questions or to register for the webcasts, please contact WasteCap at (402) 436-2383 or 888-EWASTE9 or visit our website at www.wastecapne.org.

2007 Conference Events

Although there are many conferences across the nation in the upcoming months, WasteCap Nebraska would like to mention these:

Pioneering the Spirit of Conservation

The Nebraska Alliance for Conservation and Environmental Education is hosting their 2007 conference on current conservation efforts, to be held at the new Trails West YMCA Camp, in the Scottsbluff area. The Platte River Recovery Plan, Pharmacology, and the Nine-Mile Creek Recovery are just a few of the topics that will be covered. For more information please visit the NACEE website.

National Recycling Coalition’s 26th Annual Congress and Exposition

The NRC is holding their 26th Annual Congress and Exposition at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO. Attendees will have the opportunity to network, attend educational seminars, tour cutting edge facilities, and get a closer look at the latest products. WasteCap’s Executive Director, Carrie Hakenkamp, has been asked to present electronics recycling collection event information at this conference.  If you are interested in attending, or would like more information, please visit the conference webpage.

Lincoln Green By Design Seminars

August 23, 2007
The first of the series, titled “Building Green in the Flatwater Metroplex”, will be led by W. Cecil Steward, and will explore topics such as:
  • What will a municipal green building program do for the city of Lincoln?”
  • What have other similar programs accomplished around the country?”
  • How does such a program fit into a regional framework of sustainable design and development?”
  • What are material and site components for a successful green building?”
This seminar, which will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Great Plains Gallery, 12th and P, is free and open to the public with no registration required.
September 27, 2007
“Greening Our Schools” presented by Lincoln Public Schools representatives. Time, location, and further information to be announced.
October 25, 2007
“Alternative Energy Strategies: How to Get Involved” presented by Lincoln Electric System. Time, location, and further information to be announced.

Envisioning Nebraska Conferences

November 15, 2007: “Conserving Our Natural Resources: Strategies for a Sustainable Nebraska,” will feature expert discussions on energy, land use, and water. And will also cover how they relate to and impact material use and consumption, food systems, and health communities.

May 2008: “The Need for Statewide Advocacy,” will focus on the creation of a statewide advocacy group that promotes integrated, coordinated regional land use planning and conservation of the state’s natural resources.
If you are interested in attending either of these conferences, please contact Katie Torpy at 402.595.1902, email: [email protected] or W. Cecil Steward at 402.472.0087, email [email protected]

WasteCap Across Nebraska

Congratulations to NDEQ Grant Recipients

WasteCap Nebraska would like to congratulate the following members who were awarded with Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality grant.

  • Burton Enterprises received $23,433 for four semi-trailers to haul recycled products.
  • CP Recovery, LLC received $31,067 for a horizontal baler
  • i-manage received $10,000 for a shredder for electronics recycling and certified data destruction
  • Lincoln Public Schools received $66,623 towards their recycling program
  • City of Lincoln received $6,550 for a 40-foot Tarpomatic spool for the Bluff Road Landfill, $29,010 towards their recycling public education programs, and $70,611 for a recycling drop-off site
  • City of Omaha received $277,000 towards operational expenses and disposal costs for their household hazardous waste facility
  • Custer County Recycling Center received $21,700 for a forklift

Congratulations on all of your hard work and determination!

Electronics Update

Toxic Jewelry Linked to U.S. Electronic Waste

Dr. Jeffery Weidenhamer, a chemistry professor at Ashland University in Ohio, analyzed imported metal trinkets and jewelry made in China and found large amounts of lead, tin and some copper.  Further investigations showed a link between the manufacture of this jewelry and the recycling of electronic solders from electronic waste and lead acid car batteries in certain areas of China.  Earlier studies conducted by the Basel Action Network highlighted the export of 80% of U.S. electronic waste to Asia where it is processed in an environmentally harmful manner.  Dr. Weidenhamer’s research will be published in two articles in the journal Chemosphere.  For more information, see the Basel Action Network website.

Source: Basel Action Network and Ashland University press release

Canon Electronics Leader in Environmental Excellence

A current list of climate-friendly companies was recently released, with Canon Electronics leading the group. The list, conducted by a non-profit group organized by Clean Air-Cool Planet and Stonyfield Farm, used a 100-point scale to rate 56 companies on how climate friendly their practices are. Although Canon topped out, followed by Nike, there is still room for improvement, as six companies tied for last place with a score of 0. “It’s not enough to recycle paper and change lightbulbs,” stated Gary Hirshberg, Stonyfield Farm’s chief and chair of Climate Counts. For the full article, see the Environmental News Network website.

Source: Environmental News Network

In the News

Minimizing Our Oil Use

While driving less and using alternative fuels are the easily accessible options for keeping oil usage to a minimum, there are other options. With gas prices rising, and carbon emissions and global warming become a bigger issue daily, alternative choices are being made in terms of oil. Although not the best possible solution for some, switching to a smaller, more fuel efficient car is a number one solution. With the addition of hybrids, the choice of driving a “green” car is quickly gaining appeal. Also, consider if the trip you are about to take is necessary. If so, would it be possible to walk, ride you bike, or take public transportation? If driving is your only option, consider the fuel you are using. Carpooling is also an ever-growing option, with carpool lanes and benefits popping up in large cities across the U.S. Please take a minute to view the ‘Five Ways to Kick Your Oil Addiction’ slideshow.

Source: MSNBC

Canadians Composting More Than Ever

Long term goals and household education has Canadians recycling and composting more now than in the past. Dependent on the area, some parts of Canada expect to be re-using, recycling, or composting around 90% of solid waste products within a few years. Currently around 26 percent of Canadian households are recycling, up from 23 percent in 1994. While certain areas are on the upward track, areas such as Montreal and Calgary are straining to recycle one third of their waste. Attempting to raise this rate with a simple solution, waste diversion committee’s plan on arranging a recyclables pick up rate that is twice that of garbage. Click here for the full article
Source: breitbart.com

Market Corner

 

July – Chicago Region

Mixed Paper

$65-70 (+5)

Boxboard Cuttings

$90-95 (+5)

News

$90-100 (+10)

OCC

$105-115 (+15)

SOP

$160-170 (+10)

Sorted White Ledger

$250-260 (+10)
Material Abbreviations
OCC: Old Corrugated Cardboard
SOP: Sorted Office Paper		 Source: Official Board Markets