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Recycling Bulletin

Bulletin Archive: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

October 28, 1999
Bulletin #7
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In this Bulletin: 1. CU Recycling Director’s Report
2. Local Recycling Info: BCRCA Grants
3. Industry News: Colorado Mountain Town Waste
4. Frightening Fact: Neon Paper "Kills"
5. Glimmer of Hope: CU Discouraging Bright Paper Use
6. Get Involved / Upcoming Events: Adopt a Building; "Buy Recycled" Presentation Nov. 9; America Recycles Day Nov. 15

1. *************** CU Recycling Director’s Report ***************

By Jack DeBell Director, University of Colorado Recycling Services

With the first three months of our fiscal year accounted for, I am able to report on CU Recycling’s progress to date. On one hand we have excellent participation and collection activity to report, On the other hand though, we continue to be affected by low market prices paid for our materials. Thus far CU Recycling has collected, processed, and shipped 270 tons of recyclable materials from the Boulder campus. This is a ten ton increase over the preceeding year’s first quarter and reflects a record level of recycling during dormitory move-in. On the revenue side, CU Recycling earned $500 or 4 percent less than the same period last year. This decline is attributed to sluggish domestic and international markets for post consumer fiber. We anticipate the new contract we negotiated with Eco-Cycle will have a positive effect starting in the second quarter of the year and continue to plan on making our revenue projection of $38,000 by year’s end. One important note about revenues is worth making here. Many are aware of the recent switch we made back to white ledger paper as a separate grade in about 30 locations on campus. That change, along with our student crews sorting large amounts of white paper out of office pak, has really buffered the price drops we otherwise would have encountered. My thanks to those of you who are recycling white paper separately again. If your office generates mostly white paper and you’re not separting it as a grade, please contact us. Thanks also to the hearty student recycling crews who, like the thousands of people who recycle regularly on campus, are making a difference.

2. *************** Local Recycling Info ***************

Boulder County Recycling and Composting Authority’s Grant Program

The BCRCA has offered another round of grants for education and infrastructure development in Boulder County. CU Recycling has received funding in previous rounds for such things as recycling containers and the creation of this listserver. Over the next two weeks, CU Recycling will prioritize its funding needs in preparation for the upcoming November 16th deadline and wants to hear from you.

What improvements in recycling outreach or operations are most needed on Campus?

In light of the fact that CU-Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and has a student population which lives predomominantly off campus, how can the University’s recycling program best complement the County’s efforts? If you have thoughts about these questions and can provide input to our grant requests, we’d like to hear from you. Contact Jack DeBell, Director of CU Recycling, by email: debell@spot.colorado.edu

3. *************** Industry News ***************

Solid Waste Management in Colorado Mountain Towns Analyzed

In a recently released report by CU Recycling, several mountain towns and resort areas were found to encounter significant obstacles to recycling. Research students and staff interviewed recycling and solid waste management representatives in Aspen, Dillon, Grand County, Summit County, Steamboat Springs, and Vail. These interviews, along with printed reports, indicate an unfavorable climate for recycling and difficulties for individual recycling programs in Colorado mountain towns.

Among the findings:

- some of the lowest landfill rates in the country make it difficult for recycling to compete;
- few opportunities for converting recyclables into new materials exist locally, requiring costly shipping from mountain towns to recycling mills. - a predominance of private haulers offer far less recycling service than other states;

The U.S. average for diverting materials from landfills is 31 percent. Colorado is ranked 38th in the nation with approximately 18 percent recovery. Mountain towns on the other hand, divert less than ten percent of their trash through recycling. A set of recommendations for improving recycling and solid waste management was included in the report. Most important was the need for private waste companies to provide more recycling service and local governments to enact more control over their waste streams. For a copy of the report, contact CU Recycling.

4. *************** Frightening Fact ***************

Why Neon Paper Kills:

- It contaminates the recycling process (killing paper)
- It leaches toxins into the groundwater and rivers (killing fish)
- It is difficult and costly to recycle (killing us)

source: University of Oregon Neon Kills campaign
Although bright and neon papers are eye-catching, these papers are no longer accepted for recycling by most paper mills. The dyes in bright papers are made with toxic heavy metals (cadmium, arsenic, and others), making these papers much more resource intensive and costly to recycle. The toxic dyes contaminate the environment by leaching into watersources. CU Recycling’s paper buyer will not accept neon or bright papers. Students who staff CU’s campus recycling facility must sort out these papers by hand. Since bright papers can’t be recycled, they end up in landfills, where their toxic dyes may one day contaminate water and soil.

5. *************** Glimmer of Hope ***************

CU Discourages Bright Paper Use
Many University of Colorado offices and departments have taken steps to reduce bright paper usage on the Boulder campus. The CU Bookstore, Printing and Copy Services, and CU’s Distribution Center have discontinued stocking neon colors. The University of Colorado Student Union requires groups using student fee money to use only recyclable paper (no brights), and the University Memorial Center does not allow posting of materials on bright or neon colors. In a University memo in February 1998, the Vice Chancellor for Administration’s office strongly encouraged campus offices to discontinue use of brights papers and use pastels instead whenever non-white paper is needed. Please choose light and pastel recyclable colors when you buy paper on and off campus. If you have questions about the recyclablility of certain colors, CU Recycling staff are glad to help if you call 492-8307 or email cure@stripe.colorado.edu. Thank you for choosing recyclable paper!

6. *************** Get Involved / Upcoming Events***************

ADOPT A BUILDING:
CU Recycling’s Adopt-A-Building program is an important and rewarding extension of the campus recycling outreach program. As a "building adoptor", you can serve as the eyes and ears for recycling, keeping track of recycling station maintenance, and promoting proper recycling in a residence hall or academic building of your choice. Your duties would include monitoring, improving, and making suggestions concerning individual recycling stations, reporting on the recycling success and participation in your building, and increasing awareness and incentive to recycle. The time commitment is only 1-5 hours/ month depending on the building. If you are interested, we need adopters for the following buildings: Academic Buildings: Macky Auditorium, Mathematics, Norlin, Old Main, Wardenburg Residence Halls: Aden, Arnett, Buckingham, Cockerell, Crosman/Reed, Kittredge Commons, Smith, Stearns (W) You can also co-adopt buildings that are already adopted by recycling staff and volunteers for this semester. Other Available Academic Buildings: Education, Engineering, Geology, Hale, Ketchum, Muenzinger, Recreation Center, Regent, Stadium Offices, Theatre, Willard, Chemistry. Additionally, if you work in a campus building not listed and would like to adopt it, please let us know. To choose a building or for further information, please contact Alicia Faulkner or Alexis Scott, CU Recycling Adopt-a-Building Coordinators, at 492-8307 or cure@stripe.colorado.edu. Thanks!!

"BUY RECYCLED" PRESENTATION NOV. 9 "Buying Recycled: The Real Story about Cost, Availability, and Quality" is an interactive program designed to provide CU departments, businesses, governments, and other organizations with insights on ways to purchase quality, competitively-priced recycled products. CU Recycling and the Boulder County Recycling and Composting Authority are sponsoring the satellite downlink on the CU Boulder campus on Tuesday, November 9, from 9 - 11 am in Stadium room 360. To reserve a space or for more information, call 492-8307 or email cure@stripe.colorado.edu.

AMERICA RECYCLES DAY NOV. 15 November 15 is the third annual America Recycles Day. On the Boulder Campus, you can participate by visiting with the Solid Waste Advisory Board during our annual planning meeting. Stay tuned for meeting information to learn how you can become more involved in recycling and solid waste issues at CU.

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About University of Colorado at Boulder Recycling

The University of Colorado's recycling program is a non-profit, campus-based organization whose mission is to instill awareness of the benefits of waste reduction and recycling.  CU Recycling is widely regarded as one of the nation's leading campus programs. Awards have been given by such groups as the EPA, National Recycling Coalition, and the Office of Federal Environmental Executive, who in 2000, announced CU Recycling the model campus program in the United States.

The university community is encouraged to get involved in CU Recycling's many activities.  For more information, call (303)492-8307 or visit http://www.colorado.edu/recycle

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