United States Environmental Protection Agency Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OS-305) EPA/530-SW-91-022 Fall 1991 jUneusable News is the L T\ quarterly newsletter of the EPA Office of Solid Waste's Municipal and Industrial Solid iWaste Division. Reusable News ~ reports on the efforts of EPA =and others to safely and effective- ^ly manage the nation's garbage, hand provides useful information "" about key issues and concerns in MSW managements ^- In This Issue -• EPA's Role in Market Development (p. 1) • Habicht Testifies on Green -_ Marketing Issues (p. 2) • Community Recycling: One . Person Can Make a r Difference (p. 2) • Project ROSE Helps Used Oil Recycling Blossom at — Walt Disney World Co. (P-3) '-•. Seattle Tilth Teaches ""- City-Dwellers to Compost (P- 3) * Wisconsin and Minnesota Team Up for Recycled Paper Purchase (p. 3) • The Power of the Purse: Cities Plan to Invest in Recycled Products (p. 4) * Upcoming Conferences (p. 5) • New Standards Promote Improved MWC Operations (p. 5) EPA's Role in Market Development Last June, Don R. Clay, Assistant Administrator of EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, along with EPA colleague Richard D. Mor- genstern, delivered a joint statement before the Congressional Subcommittee on Transportation and Hazardous Materials. In their testimony, Clay and Mor- genstern described EPA's current activities in developing markets for recycled goods and outlined the federal government's role in this area. Because markets are essential for successful recycling, EPA has focused considerable attention on stimulating the market demand for products made from recycled materials through a three-pronged program that involves: • Establishing procurement guidelines for purchases involving federal funds. • Providing information, guidance, and technical assistance to states and localities to assist them in their planning and implementation efforts. B Providing recycling information to the public so that individuals can incorporate recycling into their daily lives. Procurement Clay and Morgenstern pointed out that since government expenditures on the federal, state, and local levels constitute 20 percent of the Gross National Product, procurement guidelines should have a significant impact on develop- ing strong markets for recycled goods. So far EPA has established guidelines for cement containing fly ash, paper and paper products, lubricating oils, retread tires, and building insulation, and is working on three more procure- ment guidelines. Clay added, however, that government agencies are not required to buy products containing recycled material if the products are not comparable in price and quality to alternative goods. Clay reported the most progress in the area of paper purchases. He com- mended the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Government Print- ing Office (GPO) for realigning a large portion of their paper purchasing practices with EPA guidelines by using products with the recommended minimum content standards for recycled paper. EPA is currently working with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in developing a notice for tax information booklets explaining the procurement program and reminding taxpayers to recycle their booklets when possible. According to Clay, suppliers of recycled paper are responding robustly to the guidelines and improving the quality of their ""~\//: product. '•" (Continued on page 8) Reusable News is printed on recycled paper. ------- Habicht Testifies on Green Marketing Issues Deputy Administrator of EPA, F. Henry Habicht II, testified at the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC's) public hearings on environ- mental claims in product labeling and advertising last July. Habicht expressed EPA's belief that provid- ing the public with accurate informa- tion about the environmental attributes of products and providing industry with a common set of guidance for the use of terms have great potential for environmental benefit. In particular, Habicht en- couraged the use of specific claims that give consumers a real basis for comparing environmental attributes of products. Representatives of both EPA and the U.S. Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) participated with FTC in the hearings. The three groups are part of an Interagency Task Force on green product labeling. In his tes- timony, Habicht pledged to provide technical assistance to the FTC, should FTC decide to issue industry guides on environmental labeling. Particularly relevant will be i'nforma- tion received by EPA on its notice describing options for use of the terms recycled and recyclable in product labeling. The hearings were held to help FTC determine whether it should develop industry guidelines on environmental marketing. In order to make this deter- mination, FTC requested information on the types of environmental adver- tising claims being made, the nature and extent of consumers' knowledge and perception about environmental claims, and evolving science and technology relating to environmental claims. In addition, FTC asked for comments on several industry and state petitions for FTC guidelines. Opening remarks for the hearings, which were held at FTC in Washington, DC, were made by FTC chairperson Janet Steiger. In addition, many inter- ested parties from states, industry, environmental and consumer groups, and others spoke at the hearings. Community Recycling: One Person Can Make a Difference Bob Kerlinger, a businessperson from the Chesapeake Bay com- munity of Poquoson, Virginia, recently received a U.S. EPA Administrator's Award in the citizen category for his achievements in recycling. Kerlinger saw a recycling need in his community and filled it. Kerlinger found that in order to recycle his household trash, he had to drive to various drop-off locations for different recyclables. The inefficiency of this type of system prompted Kerlinger's decision to form the Poquoson Recycling Center in his spare time. Since various civic groups in the city were already involved in recy- cling efforts, Kerlinger coordinated with them to move their drop-off sites to a centralized location on a city-owned municipal parking lot. In addition, he broadened the groups' efforts so that many more recyc- lables could be collected. Presently, the Center recycles aluminum (cans and bulk); glass; steel cans; cardboard; paper (newspaper, mixed, computer, and ledger); some plastics; passenger car tires; car and boat batteries; and used oil. Kerlinger's role has evolved from coordinating the establishment of the Center to identifying new markets for recycled materials. The success of the facility has been tremendous. When the Center first opened in January 1990, the original goal was to recycle 250,000 pounds of trash in the first year. This goal was far exceeded; more than 777,600 pounds, or 20 percent, of the city's trash were recycled during that year. This saved the city of Poquoson over $7,000 in landfill fees. In addition, the Center brought in over $6,000 from sales of the collected materials, which was divided among the civic groups who operate the Centertofund community improve- ment projects. According to Kerlinger, the reasons for the success of the Poquoson Recycling Center are threefold. First, the Center is staffed by citizen volun- teers. Also, the city plays a supportive role and picks up the costs for taking collected materials to marketplaces. Finally, all proceeds received from recycled materials are returned to the volunteer groups who work at the Center. These three elements ensure that city officials as well as residents are directly involved and that those who perform the work see the benefits of the financial savings first-hand. Kerlinger is aware of a growing in- terest in recycling, particularly in the youth of the community. In order to take advantage of that interest, plans are being made to further encourage recycling through a "block captain" program. This program would desig- nate individuals as block captains, who will be responsible for helping their neighbors recycle and acting as a source of recycling information. Kerlinger also plans to help his community with backyard compost- ing. He will use other successful municipal composting programs, in- cluding the city of Seattle's, as models for his community. (See "Seattle Tilth Teaches City-Dwellers to Compost," pages). Kerlinger is a prime example of how an individual can make a difference. His success in turning trash into treasure for the residents of Poquoson makes him a role model for other concerned citizens throughout the nation. For more information, contact Bob Kerlinger at (804) 868-7199. § ------- Project ROSE Helps Used Oil Recycling Blossom at Walt Disney World Co. "or over 14 years, a trailblazing program in Alabama has worked to stimulate the collection of used automobile oil for recycling. Project ROSE (Recycled Oil Saves Energy) has taken the lead in helping com- munities across the state develop used oil recycling programs tailored to local circumstances. Now, with support from EPA, this nonprofit or- ganization is drawing on its experi- ence to help the Walt Disney World Co. and its governing body, the PROJECT; recycled oil saves energy Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID), start up a used oil recycling program for its 35,000 employees. Project ROSE has built an exten- sive infrastructure for recycling used automobile oil generated by do-it-your- selfers (DlYs) throughout Alabama. The program uses extensive publicity and education to develop the momen- tum to start local used oil recycling programs, and then coordinates the (Continued on page 7) Seattle Tilth Teaches City-Dwellers to Compost Seattle Tilth Association, an urban organic gardening organization, was recently awarded a U.S. EPA Ad- ministrator's Award in the nonprofit category for its Community Compost- ing Education Program. Through this innovative program, trained volunteers teach other city-dwellers how to com- post yard and food wastes. Citizens are learning through Seattle Tilth's pro- gram, and others like it across the coun- try, that kitchen and yard wastes should be viewed as valuable resources, not just garbage. As part of Seattle Tilth's program, volunteer community educators called "Master Composters" are thoroughly trained in basic composting methods, compost biology, system design, trou- bleshooting, and techniques for dealing with the public. After the training and a supervised internship, the Master Com- posters spend a minimum of 40 hours spreading the word about composting. Public outreach activities include slide presentations; displays at fairs, festi- vals, and parades; tours of compost demonstration sites; classroom presentations; and the distribution of how-to brochures and bin design flyers. Approximately 5,300 tons of Seattle's yard waste are being diverted from the waste stream annually as a result (Continued on page 4) Wisconsin and Minnesota Team Up for Recycled Paper Purchase The states of Wisconsin and Min- nesota recently joined forces to pur- chase 4.5 million pounds of recycled paper 1o be used in high-speed copy machines. By working together, the two states were able to request a larger volume of paper than either could sing- ly. This made it economically feasible for paper companies to meet the states' recycled paper needs, while decreas- ing the purchase price of the paper. Governor Tommy Thompson of Wis- consin initiated the effort in the spring of 1990, and the bid was awarded last March. The states were careful to apply very high standards to the quality of paper they were interested in purchas- ing. They prequalif ied the papers based on copy quality, machine jamming, ex- cessive maintenance costs, and paper handling difficulties. In addition, the papers were required to consist of 50 percent recycled paper, including 10 percent postconsumer waste. The successful bid was ap- proximately $225,000 lower than last year's price paid for virgin copy paper. "The new price advantage for recycled paper will help agencies remain within budget guidelines and still make a worthwhile contribution to the state's environmental goals," said Jim Johnson, Wisconsin's Division Ad- ministrator of State Agency Services. According to Dan Wehrman, Procurement Recycling Coordinator in (Continued on page 8) ^S- ------- The Power of the Purse: Cities Plan to Invest in Recycled Products The United States Conference of Mayors, representing over 900 cities, is helping its members find new ways to cut down on solid waste. With many municipal recycling programs having difficul- ty expanding because of the low demand for some recycled goods, the Conference has ral- lied hundreds of cities around a program that uses the purchasing power of local govern- ments to improve the market for these products. Supported by an EPA grant, the Conference launched the national "Buy Recycled" cam- paign over a year ago. This campaign helps communities stimulate demand for recycled products by changing their purchasing habits. Since spending by state and local governments accounts for over 12 percent of the U.S. Gross National Product, this program is able to exercise tremendous leverage, boosting recycling throughout the country. Mayors Announce Recycling Award Winners f, s part of its effort to increase the feasibility of recycling, the f"% Conference of Mayors organized the first annual National Recy- cling Awards Program this year, culminating in the announcement of the Grand Award Winners and the release of the 1991 Recycling Cities Guide at the annual meeting last June. Funded by the H.J. Heinz Company Foundation, the project is aimed at recognizing, encouraging, and publicizing innovative recycling programs in cities across the United States. The awards program solicited applications from both member and non-member cities in late 1990. Over 150 applications were received in two award categories: large and small municipalities. The first-place winners from each category, Minneapolis, MN, and Olympia, WA, received a $20,000 grant to support their programs. Eight other cities were named Special Award Winners for their work: Madison, Wl; Memphis, TN; New York, NY; Seat- tle, WA; Bellingham, WA; Bethlehem, PA; Newton, MA; and Union City, NJ. The Conference of Mayors then compiled a new recycling re- source, the 1991 Recycling Cities Guide, which details the programs of all the applicants. The Conference of Mayors and the Heinz Foundation hope that by publicizing solutions to recycling challenges, municipalities will be able to share their expeirtise arid facilitate program development. For more information about the 1991 National Recycling Awards Program, or to obtain a copy of the 1991 Recycling Cities Guide, contact the Conference of Mayors at (202) 293-7330.:"' The campaign began with the crea- tion of the "Buy Recycled" Technical Assistance Group, which is dedicated to helping cities initiate and sustain a recycled products purchasing program. This advisory group is made up of local officials and leaders in the recycling field. One of the first efforts of the group was the develop- ment of an assistance package for cities inter- ested in structuring a procurement program. The package contains sample programs, guides to purchasing .re- cycled products, and details of EPA's pro- curement guidelines. The campaign also supports new programs by acting as a clearing- house for referrals. The Technical Assistance Group is connected with a nationwide network of experts who can work one-on-one with local officials, helping them resolve procurement issues. Last January, cam- paign organizers issued | an "Earth Day Challenge" i to publicize the program and increase participa- tion. By Earth Day, over 275 municipalities had either begun or were planning to begin a recycled products procurement program. (Continued on page 6) Seattle Tilth Teaches City-Dwellers to Compost (Continued from page 3) of this program. This saves the city an average of $378,000 a year, after sub- trqcting the costs of the education program. Seattle Tilth also staffs a Compost Hotline, which has received over 10,000 questions and requests for in- formation since its inception in 1986. Recently, the association expanded the Hotline's hours of operation to handle the increasing number of incoming calls. Seattle Tilth gets its name from an Old English word for the quality of cultivated soil. The organization's composting program is only part of C its broader gardening efforts, which include the maintenance of gardens and the preparation of workshops. The gardens are set up as demonstrations of how to gar- den organically in small areas, and the workshops cover a variety of issues from creating a backyard wildlife refuge to planning for winter gardening. For more information about the Master Composters' Program, send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your request to Seattle Tilth As- sociation, 4649 Sunnyside Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98103.1 ------- Upcoming Conferences 2nd National MSW Conference 'PA is issuing a call for abstracts for ,its second U.S. MSW conference, entitled "Moving Ahead." The con- ference will be held:June 3 to 5,1992, at the Hyatt Hotel in Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. The abstracts should be 1-page summaries of original work and focus on one of nine major conference topic areas: 1) integrated solid waste planning and management; 2) economics and costs; 3) source reduction and reuse; 4) recycling; 5) composting; 6) combustion; 7) land disposal; 8) involvement, education, and outreach; or 9) special wastes. The first U.S. MSW conference, "Solu- tions for the 90s," was an innovative forum for information exchange on state-of-the-art policies, technologies, and research, as well as future trends and practices. The next conference will continue that tradition. Attendees will also move ahead to discuss implemen- tation of programs. Last year's conference drew over 800 attendees, and the same turnout is ex- pected in 1992. Attendees will include state and local officials, members of citizen interest groups, representatives from industry, and members of the scientific, technical,1 and academic com- munities. : EPA's conference manager is Susan Mann. She can be reached at (202) 260-6263. For more information on sub- mitting abstracts, registration, and con- ference logistics, call Bhawna Agarwal at (301)585-2898. 6th Annual HHW Conference TA's 6th Annual Household Hazard- •ous Waste (HHW) Conference will take place in Seattle, Washington, on December 4 to 6. The conference will educate attendees, about HHW and foster communication on complex HHW management issues. Over 500 people from across the nation are expected to attend. -- This year's conference will also em- phasize source reduction. Other topics to be discussed include battery collec- tion and the management of motor oil. Representatives from state and local governments, environmental interest groups, industry, and academia will'be attending and speaking at the con- ference. For more information, call Tracy Bone of EPA at (202) 260-5649. New Standards Promote Improved MWC Operations To help ensure municipal waste com- bustors (MWCs) are designed and operated safely and effectively, EPA has promulgated new regulations for these facilities. The regulations will mandate proper operation of MWCs by establishing good combustion prac- tices and by re- ducing stack emissions. In addition, under the 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA) Amend- ments, EPA is reviewing and ex- panding these standards to in- clude additional categories of con- trols that will fur- ther minimize potential risk to human health and the environment. MWCs are being used in- creasingly by communities to help them manage their solid waste. To ensure the safe operation of these fa- cilities, EPA promulgated New Source Performance Standards and Emissions Guidelines in February 1991. Currently, these regulations apply to both new and existing MWCs with capacities greater than 250 tons per day. The guidelines specify: • Good combustion practices, includ- ing maximum load level limits, car- bon monoxide limits, flue gas temperature limits, operator certifi- cations, and emissions monitoring. • More stringent paniculate emission limits. H Organic emission limits, measured as dioxins and furans. H Acid gas controls for sulfur dioxide and hydrogen chloride. H Nitrogen oxide emission limits (for new sources only). Now, EPA is reviewing and broad- ening these standards in accordance with the requirements of the CAA Amendments. EPA is required to estab- Incinerators that burn MSW and generate energy, called waste-to-energy combus- tors, have grown rapidly In the United States in number and capacity. Today, there are 130 waste-to-energy facilities in this country that: lish numerical emission limits for lead, mercury, and cadmium, and extend the limits on nitrogen oxide established un- der the New Source Performance Standards to existing facilities as well. In addition, in 1992 these regula- tions will be extended to in- clude smaller MWCs that proc- ess less than 250 tons per day. Are able to handle nearly 100,000 tons per day, or 20 per- cent, of the total MSW generated in the nation. Save the equivalent of over 76,000 bar- rels of crude oil daily (if converted into electricity). Generate enough power to provide the electricity for 1.2 mil- lion homes. While EPA's New Source Performance Standards and Emissions Guidelines are a significant step forward in the safe and effec- tive operations of MWCs, the residual ash generated by combustion must also be ad- dressed. The CAA Amend- ments Of 1990 exempt MWC ash from being regulated as a hazardous waste under RCRA Subtitle C until November 15, 1992. During this 2-year moratorium, MWC ash is subject to (1) current federal regulations in 40 CFR Part 257 governing disposal of solid waste; and (2) state regula- tions, where they exist, govern- ing municipal waste combustion ash management. Currently, EPA is conducting research on MWC ash disposal and utilization methods. Combustion can complement a community's integrated waste management strategy by sub- stantially reducing nonrecyclable waste, thereby preserving limited landfill space. These regulations should assist solid waste decision-makers by making effi- cient combustors a more viable option for their MSW manage- ment plans. For more information, please contact Mike Johnston of the EPA Office of Air at (919) 541- 5604.1 ------- Hot Off the Hotline uestion: I've come across numerous references to ^omething called "life-cycle analysis." What I exactlyl is it, how does it help the environment, and is it something I should be doing? nswer: The phrase "lifel-cycle analysis" often is used in connection with claims concerning a product's "environmental friendliness." Fundamentally, a life-cycle analysis is the identification and evaluation of the environmental impacts of a product, processj, or activity from "cradle-to-grave." Environmental impacts may occur at all stages of the life of a product or process, including raw material acquisition, manufacturing, transportation and distribution, use, recy- cling, and final disposal. ' Life-cycle analyses cain be used to educate consumers, make design/manufacturing decisions, and provide information in support of public policy decisions. However, life-cycle analyses are still in their infancy in terms oi providing complete information; agreed upon methods for how they should be conducted are still being explored. Consumers should know, therefore, that because a variety of methodls are being used to prepare life-cycle analyses, there may be conflicting assessments of a product's environmental impacts. To avoid such conflicts, EPA is preparing a systematic framework for developing life-cycle analyses. i Life-cycle analyses heighten our awareness of the fact that few products are absolutely "environmentally friendly." Virtually all products require energy, use raw materials, release emissions to the air and water, and generate waste as a by-product. Although consumers cannot generally conduct their own life-cycle analyses on products, they cah learn about the products they use, and purchase those that have specific benefits for the environment (e.g., products that create less solid waste or are made with recycled materials). EPA hopes that life-cycle analyses eventually will assist consumers in making more informed choices regarding the products they purchase. However, until the method for conducting life-cycle analyses becomes Standardized, we encourage consumers to exer- cise caution in their reliance 6n life-cycle information. The folldwing publications are available at no charge from the EPA' RCRA/Superfund Hotline. Call (800) 424-9346 Monday;through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST , Environmental Fact Sheet: Yard Waste Composting (EPA/53!0-SW-91-009). Explains what yard wastes are, why they are being banned from some landfills, and why leaf burning is not considered a suitable management practice. The fact sheet also defines composting, explains the composting process, and describes how compost can be used. I Procurement Guidelines for Government Agencies (EPA/530-SW-91 -011). Ex- plains in a four-page fact sheet'what EPA's procurement guidelines are, to whom the guidelines apply, and what requirements must be followed. Recycling in Federal Agenciei;(EPA/530-SW-90-082). Describes in a succinct pamphlet successful and innoyative recycling programs that have been initiated in the federal government, and lists resources available to federal agencies. Used Oil Recycling (EPA/530-J3 W-90-068). Describes successful used oil recy- cling programs around the coujntry, provides statistics on used oil recycling, and lists available informational materials related to used oil recycling. The Power of the Purse: Cities Plan to Invest in Recycled Products (Continued from page 4) To keep the momentum going, the "Buy Recycled" campaign and the city of San Diego organized the first Ven- dor Show for manufacturers of recy- cled products at the Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in San Diego last June. Municipal officials took the opportunity to learn more about the range of products available and to make contacts with these vendors. The next step, according to Richard Kochan, the Coordinator of the nation- al "Buy Recycled" campaign, is to help municipalities institutionalize their programs. The Conference of Mayors is currently surveying participating cit- ies to identify those officials concerned with recycled products procurement. The goal is to encourage these officials to oversee purchases, making sure the program is followed by all depart- ments. The campaign also is helping local governments pass ordinances mandating the purchase of recycled products, so these practices will con- tinue regardless of personnel changes. Another effective way the campaign is helping communities is by negotiat- ing with state governments to allow municipalities to buy recycled goods through state purchasing departments. This increases the purchasing power of the state, while allowing cities to buy at a lower price than they would otherwise receive. Thirty-eight states are now granting municipal governments the opportunity to purchase recycled goods through this system. So how does the campaign build on such success? "Our focus in the com- ing year," said David Gatten, Senior Environmental Advisor at the Con- ference of Mayors, "is to work with those communities that have estab- lished programs to make sure they are able to grow in sophistication and amount of product purchased." For more information on the na- tional "Buy Recycled" campaign, contact Richard Kochan of the U.S. Conference of Mayors at (202)293- 7330, or Daria Willis of EPA at (202) 260-6690.1 ------- Project ROSE Helps Used Oil Recycling Blossom at Walt Disney World Co. (Continued from page 3) efforts of established networks by matching buyers of used oil with collec- tors. This strategy relies heavily on recruiting leaders from local organiza- tions, who then work with Project ROSE to help introduce and support a recycling program in their area. The joint used oil project between Project ROSE and RCID began when environmental coordinators of the two groups recognized that a corporation-based oil collection program could recycle a great deal of employee-generated used oil. Employees find such programs con- venient, since they can bring their used oil to work, and corporations ap- preciate the positive publicity Most importantly, since the program is an established company operation, it is likely to be around for a long time. The idea took off when Project ROSE received a grant from EPA in late 1990 to develop innovative ways to reach out to DlYs, This funding allowed Project ROSE to begin plans for an oil recycling project with RCID, starting with a 3-day pilot program held last May. Since drop-off collections need high visibility to work, Project ROSE helped the Environmental Control Department of the Walt Disney World Co. publicize, the event. The two of- fices conducted a survey of all employees to introduce them to the collection (and estimate the participa- tion rate), and promoted the event in the company newspaper. After this successful pilot program, which collected over 300 gallons of used oil, the organizers looked toward the next step. Project organizers found the employees were very en- thusiastic about the first collection, but recognized that regular collec- tions and continued publicity were needed to increase participation. Many of the survey respondents wrote that they would be more com- mitted to used oil recycling if more frequent collections were planned. To respond to this need, project or- ganizers are scheduling a follow-up survey, followed by more drop-off collections. Janet Graham, the Coordinator of Project ROSE, commended the Walt Disney World Co. on the project, saying "the environmental stewardship displayed by the En- vironmental Control Department has made the program a reality." Project ROSE hopes to use this experience to help other companies develop used oil recycling programs of their own. For more information, write to Project ROSE, P.O. Box 6373, Tus- caloosa, AL 35487-6373, or call (205) 348-4878.1 " ------- Wisconsin and Minnesota Team Up for Recycled Paper Purchase (Continued from page 3) Wisconsin's Bureau of Procurement, successful joint recycled paper bids depend on the ability of the participating states to agree on a variety of issues: • Paper specifications. • Performance standards. • Paper use. • Definitions of key terms, such as "postconsumer content" and "recovered materials." • Practical ordering details, such as delivery quantities. In addition, paper distribution among several states must be considered early in the process since distribution could be constrained by the location and transportation capabilities of the mill. Accordirig to Johnson, the paper in- dustry has responded well to the recycled paper market and will create the supply to meet the demand. In fact, although vendors were given the option to bid less than the total 4.5 million pounds, all offered the full amount. In light of their positive response, the states plan to encourage industry to increase the quantity of postconsumer waste in their paper. The joint effort was so successful that Governor Thompson and Minnesota Governor Ame Carlson plan to invite Iowa and Illinois to participate in the next cycle of paper purchases. For more information, contact Dan Wehrman at (608) 267-6922. @ EPA's Role in Market Development (Continued from page 1) In efforts to stimulate the growth of markets for recycled products, EPAhas initiated outreach programs to in- form manufacturers and govern- ment purchasers (including those at the state and local levels) about the guidelines. Technical Assistance In the area of technical assis- tance, Clay and Morgenstern described how the Agency is helping to bring together buyers and sellers of recyclables through a series of regional hotlines, clearinghouses, and purchasing cooperatives. These cooperatives enable communities to join together to participate in bulk transactions and benefit from lower prices. EPA is also providing state and local officials with technical assis- tance on implementing recycling programs. A peer-matching program has been set up that joins government officials who are trying to implement recycling programs with experienced peers from other communities. Moreover, in order to promote the pur- chase of environmentally sound goods, EPA plans to devise definitions for the terms recycled and recyclable to be used on product labeling. Finally, EPA is actively supporting the Recy- cling Advisory Council, an organiza- tion working to remove barriers in the recycling market. Public Education Clay and Morgenstern emphasized that recycling, unlike many other en- vironmental problems, is an area in which individuals can make a dif- ference through their own actions. And the latest polls indicate that en- thusiasm for recycling is growing throughout the nation. To instill recy- cling habits in individuals, EPA has developed educational materials, recycling publications, and a national advertising campaign. Next Steps Individuals and businesses have taken great strides since the publi- cation of An Agenda for Action in 1989, which established a goal of 25 percent solid waste reduction and recycling by 1992. In the coming years, EPA plans to work even more closely with other federal agencies to encourage and assist in the collection of recyclables and the purchase of recycled products. The Agency will also con- tinue its work with all sectors of society to make recycling a reality.fi The mention of publications, products, or organizations in this newsletter does not constitute endorsement or approval for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Communications Services Branch (OS-305) Office of Solid Waste U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street, SW. Washington, DC 20460 Official Business, Penalty for Private Use $300 ------- |