United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Administration and
Resources Management
(3204)
EPA202-N-92-005
March/April 1994
&EPA Recycling
Update
IN THIS ISSUE
President Strengthens Recycling Effort 1
Coordinators Corner 2
Environmental Product Guide 2
Carol Browner on the Executive Order . 3
EPA's Environmental Executive .... 3
Buy Recycled Display 4
Pollution Prevention Conference .... 4
The Greening of EPA Facilities .... 5-7
For Your Information 8
Region 10 9
Recycling Containers 10
The Challenge" 10
EPA-LV Earth Day Activities 10
MU2000 11
Recycling Contacts 12
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed with Soy/Canda Ink on paper that
contains at least 50% post-consumer recycled liber
President Strengthens
Federal Recycling Effort
On October 20, 1993, President Clinton signed a bold executive order
promoting recycling. The order promises to reduce solid waste, build markets
for recycled products, encourage new technologies and protect the
environment by requiring federal agencies to use recycled paper and other
recycled products.
President Clinton, who also has signed executive orders on the federal
purchases of energy-efficient computers, reporting of toxic emissions from
federal facilities, how federal regulations are reviewed, and creating the
President's Council on Sustainable Development, praised the recycling
executive order when he signed it.
"Families, businesses and communities all across America know that recycling
makes sense, it saves money and it protects the environment. It's time for the
government to set an example and provide real leadership that will help create
jobs and protect the environment, encouraging new markets for recycled
products and new technologies," President Clinton said.
The Executive Order requires that all federal purchases of printing and writing
paper contain 20 percent post-consumer material by the end of 1994 and 30
percent post-consumer materials by the end of 1998. In addition, in order to
further reduce the burden on landfills, paper made with 50 percent recovered
by-products from the production of goods other than paper or textiles may be
purchased, provided that this waste would otherwise end up in a landfill.
Paper accounts for 40 percent of all solid waste and 77 percent of government
office waste. Local governments spend more than $11 billion a year to dispose
of it and a number of cities and states already purchase paper that contains
20 percent post-consumer material. The U.S. government uses 300,000 tons
per year of printing and writing paper, approximately 2 percent of the market.
"This executive order will create a strong market for the paper now being
collected by more than 5,500 community recycling programs all across our
country, programs that involve more than one-third of all Americans. It will spur
investment in recycling technologies and it will create needed jobs, primarily
in the recycling sector and in cities," said Vice President Al Gore. "We can gain
by harvesting a valuable resource that had been considered waste."
Continued on Page 3
-------
Coordinators Corner
Earth Day is on the horizon and that means Spring is just around the corner!
And I'm sure that we all agree — the crocuses can't bloom soon enough!!
FY '94 is shaping-up to be a landmark year for Federal waste prevention
and recycling efforts. President Clinton's Executive Order #12873 signals
a new season for government waste reduction programs. The President's
action provides a real boost to all of us who have worked so hard to make
EPA's waste prevention and recycling program a model effort.
This Update's focus is the Executive Order (EO) and the Agency's initiatives
to implement its requirements. The Agency Paper-Less Office Campaign,
to be launched on Earth Day, will aggressively tackle the largest component
of our waste stream — paper. In addition, programs like Region 9's
"Closed-Loop Project;" Region 10's Recycle Week '93 and Region 3's new
"green" Public Environmental Education Center, exemplify the scope of the
Agency's implementation effort.
The Envipco automated recycling system to be "premiered" at
Headquarters shows "green" technology in action. The project also
represents a viable public/private sector collaboration in support of
community-based recycling efforts.
Another key initiative is the EPA Affirmative Procurement Action Team
(APAT) which has been established by the Office of Administration and
Resources Management (OARM). The team will develop a comprehensive
strategy to implement the affirmative procurement mandates of the Order.
APAT is a truly collaborative effort, with members from OARM, the Office
of Solid Waste and the Office of Pollution Prevention. Kathy Aterno, OARM
Deputy Assistant Administrator, sees the team as an opportunity for EPA
"to continue to set-the-pace for the Federal waste reduction and
buy-recycled programs."
However, the key to our current and future success is the contribution of
each and every employee. We share an environmental ethic which compels
us to "lead by example" and your personal commitment is a credit to the
Agency! With your help, we will surely achieve our 15% paper reduction
goal.
Til next issue, Happy Earth Day and St. Patrick's Day!
This promises to be a very "green" Spring!
Recycling Yours,
ike O'Reilly
Agency Waste Prevention
Recycling Coordinator
Recycling Update
A Quarterly Publication of the Agency
Recycling Program, Facilities Management
and Services Division, Office of
Administration and Resources
Management.
Michael O'Reilly . . Agency Recycling Coord.
Delorise P. Forrest Editor
Randy Bacon Printing Officer
Send your comments, articles or
suggestions to:
Recycling Update
(3204)
401 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20460
Environmental
Product Guide
The new GSA Environmental Product
Guide is scheduled for distribution in
late March, 1994. It will replace the
Recycled Products Guide and will
carry information on the whole range
of environmentally oriented items. In
addition to the items in the stock
program, the Guide will contain
information on items available from
the Schedules Program and
Customer Supply Centers. If you
were not on the distribution list for the
Recycled Products Guide, contact
the GSA Centralized Mailing List
Service on (817) 334-5215 and get
your FREE copy of the Environmental
Products Guide and any other
publication that you may need.
Contacts: Tom Daily or Alberta
Messier, (703)305-5812
Recycling Update
-------
Carol M. Browner on the Executive Order on Recycling
For the first time ever, the federal government is requiring that a substantial portion of
writing paper will be made from previously used, recycled materials. As the largest user
of paper in the world, the government's purchasing will unlock needed demands and
markets for recycled paper products, and help make economically viable recycling a
reality. As the President promised in his Earth Day '93 speech, the federal government
will generate less waste, collect more recyclables, and buy more recycled products. The
Order will also commit EPA to seek out other kinds of recycled and
environmentally-preferable products for the government to purchase. This will bring new,
environmentally sound products to the market, as well as help to relieve the amount of
wastes now put into landfills or incinerated. I encourage all American businesses,
consumers and all levels of government to follow the Administration's lead and buy more
recycled paper and other recycled products.
President Strengthens
Federal Recycling Effort
Continued from Page 1
To stimulate the market immediately,
federal agencies are directed to
begin seeking bids for recycled paper
now, well in advance of the
purchasing requirements.
And, the order directs the General
Services Administration to revise
paper specifications that currently
prevent the purchase of paper made
through the most environmentally
sound processes. According to some
studies, harmful by-products from
paper production include chlorinated
substances that can cause
environmental damage including an
increased risk of cancer. This order
allows agencies to purchase paper
that does not pose these problems.
The executive order also requires
federal agencies to replace motor oil
with re-refined oil and to replace
virgin tires with retread tires. It
requires every agency to designate a
seniorofficial to take responsibility for
implementation of the order and to
ensure purchasing of recycled and
environmentally preferable goods.
The order requires agencies to
comply with sections of the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act that
cover federal procurement of
recycled products. The order also
streamlines the process by which
EPA issues content standards for
recycled products and designated
criteria for the purchase of
environmentally preferable products.
Under the order, all federal agencies
must revise their specifications and
standards so that recovered
materials can be used to produce the
products they purchase.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
10/20/93
Appointment of
EPA's
Environmental
Executive
Jonathan Z. Cannon, Assistant
Administrator for Administration and
Resources Management, has been
appointed to serve as EPA's
Environmental Executive in
accordance with the requirements of
the Executive Order 12873.
Administrator Carol Browner stated
that "Jon Cannon's distinguished
career at EPA and his position as the
Agency's senior resource and
procurement manager, uniquely
qualify him to lead the Agency's
implementation of the Order."
Jon Cannon will work closely with the
new Federal Environmental
Executive and our colleagues in
other Federal agencies to channel
the resources of the entire Federal
government in support of the Federal
waste reduction effort.
The Agency Environmental
Executive will be responsible for:
(a) coordinating all environmental
programs in the areas of
procurement and acquisition,
standards and specification
review, facilities management,
waste prevention and recycling
and logistics;
(b) participating in the interagency
development of a Federal plan to:
(1) create an awareness and
outreach program for the private
sector to facilitate markets for
environmentally preferable and
recycled products and services,
promote new technologies,
improve awareness about
federal efforts in this area, and
expedite agency efforts to
procure new products identified
under this order;
(2) establish incentives, provide
guidance and coordinate
appropriate educational
programs for agency
employees; and
March/April 1994
-------
(3) coordinate the development
of standard agency reports
required by this order; and
(c) reviewing agency programs
and acquisitions to ensure
compliance with the order.
Buy Recycled
Products Display:
On the Road Again
by Cheryl L. Chance
Department of the Army
EPA has crafted three displays for
loan to Federal agencies to help
promote their programs to recycle
and buy recycled products. One of
these displays was recently
borrowed by the US Postal Service
(USPS) and journeyed half way
around the world.
From October 9-14, 1993 the
Universal Postal Union of the United
Nations hosted an international
symposium entitled "The Post and
the Environment" in Berne,
Switzerland. Dr. Kevin Ferguson,
Environmental Program Analyst and
Recycling Coordinator with USPS in
Washington, DC, was instrumental in
getting the exhibit for the Switzerland
trip.
The display, entitled Buy Recycled
Products, received high visibility with
countries all over the world. The
Universal Postal Union of the United
Nations is a 121-year old
organization consisting of 186
countries—from Albania to
Zimbabwe. Nearly 200
representatives from 90 countries
attended the October session. Six
countries, including the USA, gave
presentations during the symposium,
and the Buy Recycled Products
display was a part of the USA
exposition. According to Dr.
Ferguson, "the display drew a lot of
attention and illustrated many of the
recycled office products available to
Postal Administrations globally.
The display contains samples of
Affirmative Procurement Guideline
items (paper and paper products,
re-refined oil, retread tires, building
insulation, and cement and concrete
containing fly ash) as well as other
products made with recycled
content. In addition to these items,
the exhibit can be personalized with
products containing recycled
materials used by the borrowing
agency.
The display is an 8'x 10' freestanding
wall that travels easily in three cases.
It contains shelves and lights and
comes with an assembly video.
We have three complete displays to
circulate among Federal agencies.
If you are interested in borrowing a
display, please contact the EPA
Waste Prevention and Recycling Of-
fice at 202-260-2541.
DOE Announces
Pollution
Prevention
Conference
The Department of Energy (DOE)
announces its Pollution Prevention
Conference X. DOE and its contrac-
tors involved in waste minimiza-
tion/pollution prevention programs
will exchange information and pro-
grams progress. Representatives
from the Environmental Protection
Agency, Department of Defense, and
General Services Administration will
be invited to participate. In addition,
speakers from state agencies and
the private sector will present their
experiences. The conference will
take place May 3-5,1994, in Denver,
Colorado. The conference will focus
on the theme of Pollution Prevention
Policy, Implementation, and Partner-
ships. To show an exhibit, please
contact Janet Ventola (301-601-
5381). To present a paper or partici-
pate as an attendee, please contact
Linda Jo McDonald (615-435-3415)
or Linda Malinauskas (615-435-
3507).
first prevent-
then recycle
Recycling Update
-------
The Greening of EPA Facilities
a continuing series about EPA's internal pollution prevention and waste reduction efforts...
Agency Targets
15% Reduction
in Paper
Consumption
What is the Paper-less
Office Campaign All
About?
Did you know that as a nation we
throw away more paper than any
other type of waste material? Paper
makes up about 38 percent of the
total amount of municipal solid waste
generated in the United States.
Office paper is the third largest
category of paper waste, after
corrugated cardboard and
newspapers. Paper used for
photocopying and laser printing
(often referred to as "copy" paper or
"copier" paper), accounts for almost
half of the office paper used in the
United States, and that use is
growing rapidly.
EPA is no different than any other
office in terms of the amount of waste
we generate. For example, at
Headquarters alone, we generate
about 17 tons of office paper waste a
week! Although we can be very proud
of our recycling accomplishments, as
an agency we are still consuming too
much paper. It would be better to
have less paper waste to manage in
the first place. Not only would this
help the environment, but it would
also save money by reducing our
purchasing, recycling, and disposal
costs. For these reasons, the
Paper-Less Office Campaign
focuses on reducing EPA's use of
office paper. In addition, the
campaign will encourage the use of
electronic communication systems
like E-Mail and LANs.
PAPER CHAIN
Paper-Less Office
Campaign Goals
The overall goal of the Paper-Less
Office Campaign for 1994 is to
reduce the amount of paper used
Agency-wide. Although it would be
impossible to totally eliminate paper
use in our offices we can all commit
to using less paper. The campaign
encourages the wise and selective
use of paper by changing habits,
working smarter, and adopting
policies that will prevent the
generation of paper waste.
EPA Administrator, Carol Browner
will launch the campaign on Earth
Day, April 22, 1994, and it will run
through the end of the year. This
year's results will serve as a baseline
for multi-year paper reduction efforts.
The three major components of the
Paper-Less Office Campaign are:
Obtain pledges from EPA
employees to generate less
paper. Each Headquarters and
Regional office will ask their
employees to commit to
generating less paper waste.
While the overall aim of the
campaign is to obtain pledges
from at least 80 percent of
Agency employees, each
individual office is encouraged to
use its creativity and enthusiasm
to obtain pledges from 100
percent of its employees!
Promote less photocopying
waste. A major target of the
campaign is a 15% reduction in
the use of copier paper. This is a
critical focus of the campaign
since xerographic paper
accounts for an estimated 70% of
the paper we use at work.
Implement at least one specific
"Paper-less" strategy in each
Headquarters and Regional
office. Each office will select,
implement, and evaluate at least
one strategy to significantly
reduce paper waste within that
office. This aspect of the
campaign will give you the
chance to demonstrate your
creativity, resourcefulness, and
leadership. We will publicize your
office's accomplishments
Agencywide!
The Paper-Less
Work Group Is
Here to Help You!
While the challenge may sound
daunting, fear not. You will have
support and assistance from the
Paper-Less Work Group and
Campaign Co-Chairs. The
Campaign Co-Chairs, Mia Zmud, of
the Office of Solid Waste, and Mike
O'Reilly, of the Office of
Administration, will provide you with
technical assistance. They can also
help you choose your Paper-Less
strategy and enlist the help of other
Paper-Less Campaign Work Group
members for special assistance, as
required. Contact the campaign
managers and other work group
members by telephone or by E-mail.
March/April 1994
-------
Paper-Less Campaign
Work Group
Campaign Co-Chair-OSW
MiaZmud 202-260-3512
Campaign Co-Chair-OA
Mike O'Reilly 202-260-2541
Printing, photo-copying, paper purchases
Bob Kelly 202-260-3135
Randy Bacon 202-260-2128
Chris Thomas 202-260-2040
Agency computer networks, electronics
Christine Bradbury 919-541-2499
General Inquiries
Kym Burke 202-260-0336
Jennifer Barker 202-260-1451
JohnHebert 703-305-5419
The Tri-Agency
Model Closed
Loop Project
Leading by Doing
in Region 9
By Dave Duncan
EPA Region 9 continues to "lead by
doing" as the planning and
coordinating agency for Region 9's
Model Closed Loop Project. "Closing
the Loop" refers to reducing solid
waste generation, recycling solid
wastes, and increasing purchases of
products made from recycled
materials. The project reflects EPA's
commitment to developing
partnerships when reducing or
eliminating pollutantsgenerated from
federal operations.
The Closed Loop Project team
completed its data gathering phase
in Fiscal Year 1993. A formal waste
stream analysis generated
information on what recyclables were
being diverted from the waste stream
in the space shared by EPA, the
Social Security Administration
(SSA), and the Health Care
Financing Administration (HCFA).
The findings allowed Project team
members to develop options for
changing recycling and waste
prevention behaviors of the regional
staffs.
EPA team members completed an
inventory of the supply center. The
process and results allowed EPA to
work with SSA and HCFA to address
the procurement of
environmentally-sound supplies.
Data showed that EPA Region 9
procured the following from the
General Services Administration in
FY93:
14 paper products with 50%
waste paper content
• 4 paper products with 50% post
consumer content
• 5 paper products with 75%
recovered content
As a building-wide effort, the Model
Closed Loop Project requires
consistent, determined coordination
among Region 9's Solid Waste
Section, the Facilities and Properties
Section, volunteers from across the
region and volunteers from other
federal agencies.
Specific FY 93 project
accomplishments include the
following:
• The project team conducted
outreach to the 1600 employees
within EPA, SSA, and HCFA from
May through October 1993. The
outreach addressed how
employees could reduce, reuse,
recycle, and buy recycled
whenever practicable. Data
showed a combined recycling
recovery rate of 75 percent for
office papers.
• The project team coordinated the
development of waste
prevention programs for EPA,
SSA, and HCFA. The team will
refine and implement waste
prevention efforts during FY 94.
The effort includes training
employees to use the
double-sided printing feature of
personal computers.
• The project team expanded the
recycling program to include the
building cafeteria. The building
day care and fitness centers will
be considered for inclusion in the
program.
• During FY 94 team members
continue to address the
procurement of recycled office
products. A Project procurement
ad-hoc committee, coordinated
by Rebecca Jamison, is focusing
on recycled product
procurement.
Throughout the year, the project
team will continue to address the
management of office garbage. The
tools that are developed will be
transferrable and available to the
federal community. In addition, a
workshop is planned for June, 1994
in San Francisco. For promotional
materials or information about the
Model Closed Loop Project and the
workshop, please contact David
Duncan, Team Leader at (415)
744-2095.
Recycling Update
-------
Recycled Copier
Paper Test
Starting February 7th, Printing and
Photocopy Management began
testing a new brand of copier paper.
The test is being conducted at the
Headquarters Printing Plant and the
S-310 Copy Center. In addition,
Region 1, Region 3, Region 5, and
Region 9 will perform a limited test.
The paper being tested has recently
been approved for use by the Joint
Committee on Printing (JCP) and
contains 100% recovered materials,
including a 50% post-consumer
content. This paper also exceeds the
minimum requirements called for in
the Executive Order 12873 and is
more economical than the recycled
copier paper currently being used.
Region 3 Goes
Green Lights
The 8th floor reception area,
conference room, and the front office
area have been upgraded with
several types of energy-efficient
lighting products based on
recommendations from the Green
Lights technical support program.
As a result of the upgrade, the sav-
ings are projected at $2,000, and
11,817 kilowatt-hours a year. Annual
pollution prevented is estimated to be
19,270 pounds of carbon dioxide,
193 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 57
pounds of nitrogen oxides.
The Green Lights project has not only
produced energy savings and
pollution reductions, but it has also
resulted in more well-lit areas and
higher quality working environments.
The new Public Environmental
Education Center (PEEC) has been
constructed with many recycled and
"green" buildings products. The
energy-efficient lighting is also based
on the Green Lights technical
support program.
If you would like additional
information on the Region 3 Green
Lights program contact Ellen
Jacobs-Fisherman at 215-597-0717.
Region 3
"Designs for the
Environment"
by Sherry Rexroad
\Y/ / EPA
/ / / ^^""^
iwCjreen
Lights
The newly-constructed Public
Environmental Education Center
(PEEC), located in the lobby of the
841 Chestnut Building, Philadelphia,
PA. officially opened to the public in
December 1993. The Center, hosted
an open house for EPA employees,
containing several exhibits, videos,
films, and literary materials
describing both the environment and
EPA's many activities to protect it.
The project was developed by staff
teams from the Facilities
Management and Services Branch,
the Information Resources
Management Branch and the Office
of External Affairs. PEEC
demonstrates a "Design for the
Environment" conceptjncorporating
an assortment of pollution prevention
techniques.
LJ The lighting complies with the
EPA Greenlights initiative and
includes high efficiency
tri-phosphor bulbs and energy
saving electronic ballasts
controlled (in some cases) by
motion detector switches to
eliminate unnecessary lighting
use.
I I A new type of drywall and
acoustical ceiling tile are
manufactured with 25% recycled
paper products.
CH The particle board contains a
non-formaldehyde phenolic resin
for low emissions to the indoor
air. Also, all adhesives used emit
minimal amounts of volatile
organic compounds (VOC's).
LJ The carpet in the main exhibit
area includes an anti-microbial
property to reduce long-term
development of bacteria, which
can lead to indoor air quality
(IAQ) problems. The carpet is
made of tiles which require
minimal use of adhesives.
CH The handicap-accessible toilet is
a water-efficient model.
We hope that a variety of users will
be drawn to the Center: parents,
children, students, business, and
community groups. The first floor
contains an environmental bulletin
board, a number of exhibits,
informational pamphlets, and two
touch-screen systems that provide
additional environmental information
and videos. Located on the second
floor is an audio-visual theater which
can be scheduled for films, slide
presentations or computer graphic
shows. Several personal computers,
which can access information
through databases, CD-ROM, or
bulletin boards are available.
For more information about the
PEEC, contact Therese Fisher,
Office of External Affairs (OEA), at
215-597-2176. suggestions.
March/April 1994
-------
For Your Information
by: Dr. Rosalie Green — Senior Recycling Specialist
Fort Fairfield, Maine— Acidic
potato waste has a herbicide
effect on seedlings. When 3%
woodashes alkalinity is added to
potato waste windrows,
temperatures start rising and
composting of the windrows is
possible. Also, woolen mill-waste
mixed with sawdust and manure
resulted in a quality compost at
the Robinson Manufacturing Co.
in South Davis Maine.
Contact: Bill Brinton,
207-293-2457.
Environmentally friendly
soldering developed by Sandia
National Laboratory eliminates
the need for ozone-depleting
solvents. Fluxless soldering
cleans metal with heated atomic
hydrogen gas which reduces
oxide on copper, but avoids
melting the plastic on printed
circuit boards. The new process
can also be used to clean and
restore heavily corroded
archaeological artifacts. The
process is more cost-effective
than conventional soldering
systems and is harmless to the
atmosphere because the
reaction chamber contains only
2% hydrogen. For more
information contact: Janda
Panitz, 505/845-8604.
Environmental Corporation
(EC) of Miami, Florida reports
landfill mining that is reputed to
reclaim up to 80% of landfill
capacity. The system extracts
recyclable materials, upgrades
the cells and installs front-end
recovery equipment. The
company says about 1/2 of the
reclaimed volume is sent to
markets for glass, plastic, paper
and metals.
For more information contact:
Jeffrey Nolan, President,
305/262-7636.
D In New York City, the
Partnership for Waste
Prevention reported a small step
that saved 600 tons of paper in
the latest (NYNEX) yellow pages.
The directories are switching to
20 pound paper stock from 22.5
pound stock for the White Pages
and reducing yellow and white
borders by 1/16 of an inch per
year. Savings are accompanied
by a consumer Waste Disposal
Tips Section.
For more information contact:
Ruban Memishi, SW
301/587-6300.
CH "The Check Gallery" prints
checks on recycled paper (40%
pre-consumer and 10%
post-consumer) featuring the
recycling "chasing-arrows" and a
choice of a endangered eagle,
dolphin, Giant panda bear and
rain forest fern, and are printed
with soy-based inks.
Write to: "The Check Gallery"
P.O. Box 17400, Baltimore, Md.
CH In 1992, the Federal Reserve
System (FRS) shredded and
trashed $96.7 billion of paper
currency and sent the 15 million
pounds of paper bills to landfills.
The FRS requested that its paper
bill supplier, Crane Co.,
recommend a solution to their
paper waste problem. The
Massachusetts paper
manufacturer developed a new
stationary line made of shredded
U.S. currency which includes
thank-you notes, boxed
stationary and memo pads in a
green color. Washington Home,
July 15, 1993, pg 5.
LJ The Association of Foam
Packaging Recyclers (AFPR)
released a video "Recycling
Expanded Polystyrene Foam —
Its Your Part of the Package" that
shows collection programs that
highlight two original equipment
manufacturers and community
collection programs. The
manufacturers, Xerox
Corporation and
Hewlett-Packard Corporation,
share their expanded
polystyrene foam recycling
experiences.
For more information, call
1-800-944-8448.
[_] The colored cup-shaped plastic
caps from aerosol cans has been
used for school sweet-treat cups,
cookie dough cutters, seedling
cups, on-a-string rattles and in
assorted collages. Reuse!!
LJ New recycled shoes "Junkyard
Dogs," are being marketed by
The Early Winters Company of
Portland, Oregon. Wool and
polyester felt uppers are made of
post-consumer clothing,
blankets and mill broke yarn;
molded rubber parts and outsole
are made of tire rubber,
polystyrene coffee cups and
polypropylene diaper scrap.
Neoprene cushioning is made
from post-consumer wetsuits;
foam in the collar and tongue
from chairs and seat cushions;
and twill lining from recycled
cotton canvas. Interfacing is
made from plastic soda pop
bottles and milk jugs and the
lasting and shank boards are
made from coffee filters, file
folders, grocery bags and
cardboard.
NOTE:
Products, processes and viewpoints men-
tioned in this section are not to be consid-
ered endorsements by EPA or the Federal
Government. They are provided solely for
your information.
Recycling Update
-------
Measuring the Federal Waste Stream
In 1993, the Metropolitan
Washington Council of
Governments (COG) conducted a
study of the Federal waste stream.
COG performed "waste sorts" in
various facilities, including the
General Services Regional Office
Building, the Pentagon, and
Bethesda Naval Hospital. What
COG found was that most of what
is being discarded from Federal
buildings is paper, despite the fact
that most buildings studied have
paper recycling programs in place.
Organics, which are largely yard
and food wastes, are the second
largest component in the waste
stream, followed by plastic and
metals. The chart shows the
breakdown by category of the
annual Federal waste stream in the
Washington, DC metropolitan area.
FEDERAL WASTE STREAM
TOTAL: 275,740 TONS
180000
160000
140000 -
120000
100000
80000
60000 i
40000
20000
0
Percentage of Paper In the Federal Government's Waste Stream
Combined D.C. Federal Agencies 61.4%
EPA Headquarters 77.0%
EPA Region 9 60.0%
We will publish complete data for all
EPA offices once this campaign gets underway.
The study also found that the overall Federal recycling rate is 18%.
For Federal recyclers, the message is obvious: We must do more. If we are to recycle 50% of our waste stream by
1996, a goal many think is possible, then we must go after those items which are still being sent to the landfills.
Colored paper, cardboard, books, and file stock can be recycled on GSA contracts, as long as these items are kept
separate from the high grade paper. For more information on how you can minimize your waste stream and maximize
your recyclables output, contact the GSA National Capitol Region Recycling Program on 202-708-6948. For more
information on the COG study call Joan Rohlfs at 202-962-3358.
Region 10
Recycle Week '93
by Inge Theisen
Oregon's "Recycling Awareness
Week" in early October was heralded
with a Governor's Proclamation.
Lobby displays in the Edith Green
Federal Building featured recycled
content products and the recycling of
construction and demolition debris.
The exhibit was arranged with the
cooperative efforts of Portland Metro,
the General Services Administration
(Portland) and Region 10 EPA.
Portland Metro conducted two
brown-bag talks on
"closing-the-loop."
A meeting of the Environmental
Building Suppliers (distributor/
dealer/retailer of building supplies
manufactured with recycled content),
GSA and Portland Metro established
a major link-up of federal, regional
and private sector representatives.
Washington State's "Recycle Week
"93" was kicked-off with a Governor's
Proclamation. EPA and GSA
scheduled a presentation of the
controversial topic "Recycling: Does
It Make Economic Sense?" by David
Dougherty, Director of the Clean
Washington Center, a division of the
Washington Department of Trade
and Economic Development.
Attendance included representatives
from local, county, state and federal
governments, elected officials, and
the private sector.
Federal employees and visitors to the
Jackson Federal Building had a
"down-to earth", hands-on
opportunity to feel and smell yard
waste compost and worm bin food
scrap compost and to receive
"how-to" answers from a staff
volunteer from King County Master
Composters/ Recyclers. EPA staffed
its "Buy Recycled" exhibit during the
week of October 18-22. Some
perceptive visitors noted examples of
new regional recycled products.
The week ended with the
presentation of Outstanding
Achievement Awards for
accomplishments by schools, cities,
organizations, non-profits and
individuals presented by the King
County Solid Waste Division.
March/April 1994
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Cooperation is alive and well in
Region 10! Once again, Recycle
Week '93 demonstrated the
effectiveness of a collaborative effort
between federal, state, and local
governments, public education,
non-profits and the private sector.
Recycling
Containers: Up
Front in the Fight
Against Waste
There's a new
weapon popping
up on military
bases across the
country. But it's
used to fight a
different kind of
enemy: Garbage. Dome-shaped
Igloos, made by Kosmos
Recycling, Lake Mary, Fla., have
become part of recycling programs at
54 U.S. military bases. "We chose the
Igloo containers for our recycling
program because of their obvious
visible difference from trash
dumpsters," said Theresa Morley,
environmental engineer at Naval
Station San Diego, Calif. Igloos greet
incoming ships on each of the base's
14 piers. The 6-by 6-ft.,4.3-cu.-yd.
bins are "fed" materials from 60
home-port ships, Coast Guard
cutters, and vessels from Canada,
Greece, Japan, Korea, and Russia.
Some of the bases have developed
incentives to spur participation,
including spending the proceeds
from collected materials on new
recreational programs. The bins
have earned nicknames such as
"scrubbing bubbles." What are the
black containers custom-made for
steel cans called? "Stealth Igloos."
Source: Government Product News
(GPN) October 1993/pg. 53
[At EPA Headquarters', Igloos are also "on duty"
collecting glass and plastics. However, the
nick-name at Waterside Mall is "Iggy." So far,
EPA Headquarters' employees and our S.W.
Community Neighbors have recycled over 1.3
tons of plastic since November '93!]
.95
2.5 Million
"Challenge9
Participants to
Recycle at Work
The National Office Paper Recycling
Project's Challenge to the nation to
triple the amount of paper recycled in
the workplace is catching on; at least
2.5 million workers from California to
Maine have collectively taken a
stand: "One out of every 27 office
workers in America is enrolled in The
Challenge program," states Chris
Denniston, Director of the Project.
'Those numbers speak loudly about
the determination that people feel
when it comes to keeping 12 million
tons of wastepaper out of our nation's
landfills. Now we must make sure
they have the resources to follow
through."
The Challenge program got a major
boost last September when EPA
Administrator, Carol Browner, wrote
to the CEO's of the Fortune 500
asking each to accept The Challenge
and reduce waste in the workplace.
Thus far 140 companies have
responded to the Administrator's
letter by enlisting employees in The
Challenge to triple office paper
recycling by 1995. The
overwhelming response affirms
corporate America's commitment to
changing the environment at work by
reducing waste and saving money.
"We see substantial progress in the
numberof businesses participating in
office recycling programs across the
country," notes Joe Kempler,
Manager, Environmental Initiatives
at Lexmark International, a founding
member of the National Office Paper
Recycling Project. "The Challenge
program helps measure the nation's
gains."
Lyle McGlothlin of James River
Corporation agrees: 'The Challenge
program guarantees a supply of
paper as well as a demand for
NATIONAL
OFFICE PAPER
RECYCLING
PROJECT
recycled paper products. Both are
necessary in order for recycling to be
successful."
Consider just how sweeping the
office paper recycling movement is
across the country: 140 of the
registered 405 businesses are
Fortune 500 companies, including
the First Virginia Banks, Prudential
Insurance, Dow Jones, Continental
Airlines, and Bank America
Corporation.
Nevada
Association for the
Handicapped
Participates in
Earth Day 1994
by Marianne Carpenter
Dancing over Disabilities, a
performing arts troupe of persons
with and without disabilities, will
perform again at the EPA-LV Earth
Day celebration in April. The Dancing
over Disabilities troup includes
persons who sing, dance, act and
grow together in a therapeutic and
caring environment to develop
self-esteem, and confidence under
the direction of experienced
professionals. At the Nevada
Association for the Handicapped,
persons with severe and profound
developmental disabilities are
helping the environment while
learning valuable work skills. For
example, an aluminum can recycling
corner is set up where trainees place
cans into a wall-mounted can
crusher. The trainees are paid
according to how many cans they
process. Everyone benefits from this
cooperative effort.
10
Recycling Update
-------
The MU 2000 Automated Recycling System
Premiers at Headquarters'
On Earth Day 1994, EPA Headquarters' will begin a demonstration of
a new "green technology," the Envipco automated recycling system.
The demonstration project is a collaborative effort among the Envipco
Corp, Town Center Management, EPA, and the Southwest D.C.
community.
The Envipco MU 2000 contains a laser-scaner which automatically
sorts cans, glass and plastic. Once sorted, the containers are
compacted and stored in internal silos. The equipment's operating
mechanism and silos are located inside an enclosure. The system can
process more than 40 containers per minute. Customers are also
presented with both video messages and coupon receipts.
The MU 2000 electronically notifies a collection vehicle dispatcher
when the storage silos at a site approach full. Cost optimizing
procedures are used in routing collection vehicles to these sites. Each collection vehicle has a vacuum unit and
multiple commodity collection compartments to keep the material types segregated. Materials are moved from their
storage silos into the vehicle commodity compartments at a vacuum speed of about 60 miles per hour.
During a route, the vehicle collects from several store sites. When full, the vehicle returns to a processing yard where
its compartmented materials are automatically unloaded. Unloading operations take just a few minutes per
commodity type. Collection vehicles can complete several routes each day. This system eliminates the need for
distributors to be involved in pickup, hauling or processing of collected containers.
Proceeds from the sale of materials collected by the MU 2000 will go to support community programs and the EPA
Day Care Center.
COPYING PRINTING COPYING FAXING
March/Apr! 11994
11
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EPA Recycling Contacts
EPA
Recycling Coordinator
Michael O'Reilly
202-260-2541
Collection Services
(WSM, FC, CS) 260-6389
Headquarters Recycling
Coordinators
OA
Betty Wonkovich 260-7960
OAR
Peter Cosier 260-7755
OARM
DannyGogal 260-0392
Fairchild
Dan Levesque 260-9945
Crystal City
JohnHebert 305-5419
Crystal Station
Tom Luminello 308-8075
FranKlacik 308-8808
OCLA
Doug Parsons 260-5660
OCPA
Regina Langton 260-2051
OE
Charlie Garlow 260-1088
OGC
Anne Ryan 260-4139
OIA
Brian Muehling 260-8646
OIG
Melissa Garcia 260-5629
OPPE
Robert Parry 260-2876
OPTS
Martha Price 260-3473
ORO
LoisRiley 260-9139
OSWER
Terry Grist 260-9718
OW
Gloria Posey 260-3983
REG. OPER.
Chris Zawlocki 260-0244
Regional Recycling Contacts
Region 1
BillHolbrook 617-565-3396
Mairtny Clements 617-565-4900
Region 2
Stanley Siegel 212-265-3384
Lorraine Graves 212-264-9638
Region 3
Lillian Smith 215-597-6153
Theresa Martin 215-597-7936
Region 4
Gary White 404-347-3814
Region 5
Rich Hoffman 312-886-6116
Steve Butch 312-886-1183
Region 6
DianeTaheri 214-655-7460
Region 7
David Treece 913-551-7043
Region 8
AyneSchmit 303-293-1845
Region 9
Dave Duncan 415-744-2095
Region 10
IngeTheisen 206-553-8204
EPA Labs
Montgomery, AL
Charles Petko 205-270-3411
Gulf Breeze, FL
Jimmy Stokes 904-934-9250
Athens, GA
Sandy Bird 706-546-3372
Lexington, MA
Cheryl O'Halloran 617-860-4633
Ann Arbor, Ml
Kitty Walsh 313-668-4205
SueCooke 313-668-4435
Duluth, MN
Rodney Booth 218-720-5579
Stennis Space Ctr., MS
Joseph Ferrario 601-688-3171
Helena, MT
Debbie Clevenger 406-585-5432
RTP, NC
Nancy Rhue 919-541-5069
Edison, NJ
John S. Farlow 908-321-6635
Las Vegas, NV
Marianne Carpenter 702-798-2168
Cincinnati, OH
Elsie Croley 513-569-7264
Ada, OK
Garmon Smith 405-332-8800
Corvallis, OR
Betty Livingstone 503-757-4502
Newport, OR
Steve Klein 503-867-4044
Narrangansett, Rl
RickLapan 401-782-3009
Warrenton, VA (Vint Hill)
Pat Dick 703-341-7500
Wheeling, WV
Lillian Smith (Reg.3) 215-597-6153
Manchester, WA
Carolyn Gangmark 206-871-4072
For changes or additions contact
Delorise P. Forrest
Editor, Recycling Update
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
About The Distribution of
"Recycling Update"
As a means of source reduction within EPA, the distribution of the "Recycling Update"has been modified. We are now sending copies to Regional Managers
and Supervisors and 10 copies to each Headquarters mail stop. Additional copies are also furnished to the regional Recycling Coordinators. (All employee
distribution is made to the small field locations without a recycling coordinator.) After reading this issue of the "Update"tie encourage you to pass it
along to someone else in your office.
ROUTE TO:
PAPECIJAIN
12
Recycling Update
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