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 September and October 2007:

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WasteCap News

WasteCap Welcomes New Staff Member

WasteCap Nebraska welcomes our new P3 intern, Ben Stewart. Ben is currently a senior Civil Engineering student at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He has experience in the engineering consulting field, and plans to pursue a career in Environmental Engineering. Welcome Ben!

WasteCap Nebraska Awards Luncheon

The WasteCap Nebraska Annual Awards Luncheon and Membership Meeting will be held October 23rd, 2007. This year’s luncheon will feature key-note speaker, John Ikerd, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics at the University of Missouri and nationally known expert in sustainable agriculture. The meeting will also focus on upcoming WasteCap Nebraska events and will recognize member businesses that have excelled in their recycling efforts. The event will be held at Windsor Stables in Lincoln from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at a cost of only $15.00/person.  To reserve your spot, please contact WasteCap at (402) 436-2383 by October 12.

Upcoming Events

E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues

WasteCap Nebraska has reserved 20 tickets for the remaining 5 lectures of the E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues. The Forum is a series of lectures covering various topics related to the “Changing Nature” theme. The next lecture will be Monday, October 15 and is entitled “Ethanol: Fueling Debate.”  Speakers for this lecture are Douglas Durante of the Clean Fuels Development Coalition and Jerry Taylor from the Cato Institute.  All lectures are at 7 p.m. at the Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln. To learn more about the Forum, see http://www.unl.edu/ucomm/enthompson/.

We will distribute the tickets on a first come, first served basis so contact Sue Ellen Pegg at 436-2383 if you are interested in this great opportunity to see world class speakers.

Lincoln Green By Design Seminar

Lincoln Green by Design will be hosting a seminar titled, “Energy Efficiency: Your Home & Business” on October 25th, with Lincoln Electric System’s Vice President for Consumer Services, Todd Hall, scheduled to speak. The seminar, which is free of charge, will be held at the Great Plains Art Museum at 1155 Q Street in Lincoln from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please view the LGbD flyer for more information.

E-Scrap 2007

The North American Electronics Recycling Conference is set for October 24th and 25th in Atlanta, GA. This year’s event will feature industry assessments, e-scrap collection issues, recycling market factors, and legislative policy considerations. Events will also include a tradeshow showcasing upcoming innovations and services. For registration, hotel, and travel information, or to read more on the conference, please visit the e-scrap news website.

Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators Collection

A hazardous waste collection for conditionally exempt small quantity generators in Lancaster County will be held November 2.  This is a voluntary collection for qualifying businesses that generate less than 100 kilograms (27 gallons or 220 pounds) of hazardous waste and less than 2.2 pounds of acutely hazardous waste per month.  Interested businesses should contact the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department at 441-8021 to receive the proper paperwork.  Once this paperwork is submitted and approved, the business will be contacted to arrange a time to drop off their waste at the collection site. 

Envisioning Nebraska Fall Conference

Lincoln Green by Design is co-sponsoring the Envisioning Nebraska Fall Conference entitled “Building Resource Efficient Communities.”   The event will be held on November 15 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Quarry Oaks near Ashland.  The featured speaker will be noted architect and community planner Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk.  For more information, contact Katie Torpy at 402-595-1902 or visit www.ecospheres.com.

EcoStores Nebraska Fall Appreciation Sale and Giveaway

EcoStores Nebraska, Lincoln’s non-profit reuse building materials store, is having a fall appreciation sale to celebrate the generosity of Lincoln donors.  Their warehouses and yard are overstocked with new and used building materials so they are offering the following sales:
October 20-30: all items reduced by the same rate as the date (20%-30%).
October 31-November 2: all remaining items will be 40% off with selected items offered at $1.00 per arm load.
November 3: selected items from each department will be FREE.

For more information, contact EcoStores Nebraska at 477-3606.

WasteCap Across Nebraska

Retrofit Recycling Schedule

Retrofit Recycling will be picking up in Nebraska on October 22nd. The deadline for reservations for pickup is October 12th; please contact Marie Magadan at 1-800-274-1309, or [email protected] to reserve a time.

Electronics Update

Sony Teams Up With Waste Management

Sony is teaming up with Waste Management of Houston to create a national e-scrap recycling program. The Sony Take Back Recycling Program allows consumers to return Sony brand used electronics to one of 79 sites, free of charge, for recycling. The program hopes to increase the number of drop off sites to 150 within the year. With the project, the Sony Company hopes to balance out production by recycling one pound of e-scrap for every one pound of new product sold. In response to e-scrap exportation fears, Bobby Farris, director of electronics recycling for Waste Management stated, "[The equipment] will be processed domestically by WM Recycle America dismantling locations and service partners according to our published environmental standards. Bulk export or prison labor will not be utilized by any of our locations”.
Source: Waste Management

How Eco-Friendly is Technology?

With the buzzing machines, the well lit work stations, and the consistent, year-round air conditioned work environment, just how eco-friendly are the “green” technology companies? Environmental stewardship is a hot topic seen in news sources daily, so it’s only natural for these companies to take to the trend. The EPA has recently released a report laying out the easiest, most cost effective way to maximize efficiency. The report offers simple changes to software, layout, and air-conditioning usage.
Source: MSNBC

Dell Goes Carbon Neutral

Dell Computer Company has become the first computer manufacturer to neutralize their carbon impact. The company has introduced a new program, called “Plant a Forest for Me”, which invites organizations to join Dell in creating sustainably managed reforestation projects, as a continuation of the consumer project, “Plant a Tree for Me”. The company will also take inventory of their greenhouse gases, then further aim to aggressively lower those emissions. “Never before in the history of business have we seen such a critical need to build a worldwide community dedicated to improving the environment” stated Michael Dell, the company’s chairman and CEO.  He added “Leadership starts at home, which is why we are going carbon-neutral, but this should only be the beginning of building long-term partnerships with customers, stakeholders and suppliers of all sizes to team up and make a difference for the Earth we all share”.
Source: Dell

In the News

Recycled Fashion

EcoGIR, a label of Bagir Ltd., is coming out with three new men’s suits made from 100% organic cotton and post consumer waste. By doing this, the company will help to reduce landfill waste and CO2 emissions. The line will feature three suits: EcoGIR Organic will feature suits made from 100% organic fiber, EcoGIR Recycled will be made of 100% post consumer waste, and EcoGIR Hybrid will be 55% post consumer waste. In the future, the company hopes to implement EcoGIR Closed Loop, which will be a voluntary return program, to continue renewal of men’s suits.
Source: American Recycler

U.S. Congress Takes Another Step Toward Climate Change

Many states are already implementing programs to lower Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, and the U.S. Congress is following suit. In the coming months, they will begin to consider legislation to address the issue. With a growth in public interest, and the efforts of the recycling community, climate change issues could have heightened awareness in the political view.
Source: National Recycling Coalition

Market Corner

 

October – Chicago Region

Mixed Paper

$80-85 (0)

Boxboard Cuttings

$90-95 (0)

News

$70-75 (0)

OCC

$105-115 (0)

SOP

$175-185 (0)

Sorted White Ledger

$270-280 (0)
Material Abbreviations
OCC: Old Corrugated Cardboard
SOP: Sorted Office Paper		 Source: Official Board Markets