July 2005 Newsletter
Recycling: Where Does It Go?
RA Board Slate for July 20 Election
Oregon E-Waste Legislation Still in Play
Federal Recycling Tax Incentive Approved by Senate
New Administrator at RA
IRON ARTIST Sculpt-off Competition
A Market for Unused Pills?
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RA co-sponsors film and panel on July 20
In a commingled world we all have questions about where our recyclables
are really going. Join RA and PSU’s Community Environmental Services for a brief
film on the recycling process followed by a panel presentation and discussion
on July 20 from 8:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Portland State University. The
event begins with a mini-documentary called Point of Return. The film,
created by the Northern California Recycling Association, is an engaging and
informative 12-minute video about the choices communities are making about how
and where real recycling is going to happen.
The panel includes Rick Paul of Far West Fibers in Portland; Les Joel, operations supervisor of Blue Heron Paper in Oregon City; and a local hauler (TBA). The panelists offer perspectives on what is really happening to recyclable materials that citizens and business put out for collection. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss issues with the panelists.
“Recycling: Where Does It Go?” will take place at PSU’s Urban Center in Room 250. The Center is located at 506 SW Mill, Portland.
About our co-sponsor
Community Environmental Services is a sub-research unit within the Center for
Urban Studies at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. For over 12
years CES has been conducting research and service projects in the areas of
solid waste, recycling, transportation, program evaluation, and other areas
of environmental resource management. Visit the CES Web site at
http://www.ces.pdx.edu/home.
For more information about the event, contact Recycling Advocates at (503) 777-0909 or info@recyclingadvocates.org.
RA Board Slate for July
20 Election
Come to the RA Annual Meeting!
The nominations are in, and the RA Board is growing again. Katy Daily of the Friends of the Columbia Gorge has agreed to run for election to the RA Board. She brings years of experience in conservation and environmental organizing. Prior to working for the Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Katy was with the Oregon League of Conservation Voters. She recently graduated from the Master Recycler class and is working on completing her volunteer work with that program.
The current Board consists of Rob Guttridge (President), Wayne Rifer (Secretary), Rick Paul (Treasurer), Lori Stole (Vice-President), Rhett Lawrence and Betty Patton (at-large). Rob and Wayne, whose terms are up, are both stepping down from their current positions but running for re-election as at-large board members.
In addition to electing Board members at the annual meeting, RA members will also select the officers. This year’s slate of officers is: Betty Patton – President; Lori Stole – Vice President; Rick Paul – Treasurer; Rhett Lawrence – Secretary. To vote for the board slate, join the RA Board and members at the annual RA meeting on July 20. Members will gather at PSU’s Urban Center in the Gallery Room off of the second floor lobby from 7:00 p.m. until 7:45 p.m. Refreshments will be served. This is time to socialize, meet newcomers to RA, and elect Board members. For directions to the annual meeting or other information about the election, call (503) 777-0909 or e-mail RA at info@recyclingadvocates.org.
Oregon E-Waste Legislation Still in Play
Your calls and e-mails can make a difference
Oregon’s Electronics Product Stewardship bill is still under consideration but
is also in danger of not passing. The bill was referred to the Senate Budget
Committee’s Subcommittee on Natural Resources and is now back in the Senate
Budget Committee. RA members and other conservation-minded citizens can help
by calling members of the Senate Budget Committee.
They are:
• Kurt Schrader, Chair, sen.kurtschrader@state.or.us,
(503) 986-1720
• Margaret Carter, Vice-Chair, sen.margaretcarter@state.or.us,
(503) 986-1722
• Alan C Bates, sen.alanbates@state.or.us,
(503) 986-1703
• Richard Devlin, sen.richarddevlin@state.or.us,
(503) 986-1719
• Avel Gordly, sen.avelgordly@state.or.us,
503) 986-1723
• Betsy Johnson, sen.betsyjohnson@state.or.us,
(503) 986-1716
• Frank Morse, sen.frankmorse@state.or.us,
(503) 986-1708
• David Nelson, sen.davidnelson@state.or.us,
(503) 986-1729
• Ben Westlund, sen.benwestlund@state.or.us,
(503) 986-1727
• Jackie Winters, sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us,
(503) 986-1710.
This bill, which is supported by both industry and consumers, attaches an advanced recycling fee of up to $10 to a short list of electronics products (PCs, monitors, printers, laptops, televisions) at the point of original sale, with the collected fee going to support reuse and recycling throughout Oregon. This infrastructure will create the opportunity for highest and best use of valuable products and will fund environmentally sound management of the recycled commodities.
To learn more, download RA's fact sheet on this legislation. If you have questions about the bill, please call Betty Patton, at-large member of the RA Board, at (503) 230-9513. For the text of the bill, go to http://www.leg.state.or.us/05reg/measpdf/sb0700.dir/sb0740.1sa.pdf.
Recycling Advocates has been working on this issue for several years. We’ve worked too hard to let this bill die. Now is the time to act!
Federal Recycling Tax Incentive Approved by Senate
Jeffords’ amendment makes its way into energy
bill
An amendment authored by U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords, I - Vt., to provide almost
$100 million in tax incentives for recyclers was adopted last month by the Senate
Finance Committee as part of the tax package for the energy bill. The targeted
15 percent tax credit for equipment used in the processing and sorting of recyclable
materials will increase quantity and quality of recyclable materials collected.
The Senate has since passed its energy bill, which differs greatly from the
House version.
Jeffords, a longtime advocate of recycling, said, “By investing in recycling, we can save a significant amount of energy. This national investment also is necessary to reverse the declining recycling rate of many consumer commodities, including aluminum, glass and plastic, which are near historic lows. This amendment will help businesses that rely on recycled feedstock obtain the quality and quantity of recycled materials needed.” “Businesses that rely on recycled feedstock increasingly are finding it difficult to obtain the quality and quantity of recycled materials needed. A tax credit for the purchase of recycling equipment will reduce collecting, sorting and processing costs and thereby bolster the struggling recycling industry. By preserving and expanding the nation’s recycling infrastructure, this amendment will promote energy savings, increase manufacturing, and job growth,” continued Jeffords, a senior member of the Committee.
The amendment is supported by a broad coalition including the paper, glass, plastic, steel and aluminum industries, the US Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, the National Recycling Coalition and Sierra Club. The energy tax package will be merged with the energy bill currently being considered on the Senate floor. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that the Jeffords amendment will provide the recycling industry with tax relief worth $52 million over five years and $99 million over 10 years. The amount of energy lost by throwing away recyclable commodities such as aluminum cans and newspapers is equivalent to the annual output of 15 power plants.
The energy savings applies to all recycling sectors:
- Aluminum -Recycling of aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy required to make
the same amount of aluminum from its virgin source. One ton of recycled aluminum
saves 14,000-kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy, 40 barrels of oil, 238 million
Btu’s of energy, and 10 cubic yards of landfill space.
- Newsprint -One ton of recycled newsprint saves 601 kWh of energy, 1.7 barrels
of oil (71 gallons), 10.2 million Btu’s of energy, 60 pounds of air pollutants
from being released, 7,000 gallons of water, and 4.6 cubic yards of landfill
space.
- Office Paper - One ton of recycled office paper saves 4,100 kWh of energy,
9 barrels of oil, 54 million Btu’s of energy, 60 pounds of air pollutants from
being released, 7,000 gallons of water, and 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
- Plastic - One ton of recycled plastic saves 5,774 kWh of energy, 16.3 barrels
of oil, 98 million Btu’s of energy, and 30 cubic yards of landfill space.
- Steel - One ton of recycled steel saves 642 kWh of energy, 1.8 barrels of
oil, 10.9 million Btu’s of energy, and 4 cubic yards of landfill space.
- Glass - One ton of recycled glass saves 42 kWh of energy, 0.12 barrels of
oil (5 gallons), 714,000 Btu’s of energy, 7.5 pounds of air pollutants from
being released, and 2 cubic yards of landfill space. Over 30% of the raw material
used in glass production now comes from recycled glass.
While more can be done to increase recycling, waste reduction, and product stewardship, Jeffords’ amendment is a first step. Recycling Advocates will keep RA members informed of this amendment as it weaves its way through the House and Senate joint committee.
Sources: http://jeffords.senate.gov/ and Waste Age Wire from June 27, 2005.
Betty McArdle to provide support
Join us in welcoming RA’s new administrator, Betty McArdle. She brings years of experience in environmental organizations, and even remembers back to the days when RA was founded. She is the principle of McArdle Projects, a consulting firm specializing in public involvement, event planning, writing and editing, facilitation, and research.
After nearly three years as RA administrator, Jeffrey White is moving on to continue graduate studies in early childhood education at PSU. The RA Board wishes Jeffrey well in his future pursuits. Both Betty and Jeffrey will be at the annual meeting on July 20. Members can greet RA’s new administrator and learn more about how she will support RA in our efforts to promote reduction, reuse, and recycling.
IRON ARTIST Sculpt-off Competition
Teams of Local Artists Vie for the Coveted Cup
du SCRAP
The School and Community Reuse Action Project (SCRAP) is hosting their 3rd annual sculpture competition and fundraising event on Saturday, July 23, 2005 at the Wonder Ballroom at 128 NE Russell in Portland. This high-energy celebration of creative reuse is a timed three-hour “sculpt-off” where 10 teams of “scrap artistsas” create sculptures from reused materials provided by SCRAP, the ReBuilding Center, Wacky Willy’s and Free Geek. It has been described as one part Iron Chef and one part Junk Yard Wars.
Each team will receive boxes of similar materials and race against the clock to create their masterpiece! A theme for the sculptures will be announced when the competition begins, and in the end, a panel of local celebrity judges will critique the final pieces. Teams show their competitive edge by wearing outrageous costumes. The event is monitored by a raucous team of yellow-flag-throwing referees who hand out bonus points and demerits on a whim.
Come join in on the fun and games
Family-friendly scrappy carnival games and puppet shows will entertain the kiddies
inside, while DJs, March Fourth, and loud-mouthed emcees entertain the crowd
outside. Beer from Lompoc Brewery, wine, and Tazo Tea will be available for
purchase as well as food from Russell Street BBQ. A fabulous raffle featuring
prizes from local businesses such as Yoga in the Pearl, Portland Center Stage,
Wildwood Restaurant, and Higgins will be take place at the awards ceremony.
Price of admission is a sliding scale of $5.00-20.00. All ages are welcome.
Celebrity judges include David Bragdon (Portland Metro Council President), Marjorie Skinner (Coordinating Editor, Portland Mercury), Daria O’Neill (Radio and TV Personality) and Nan Curtis (Pacific Northwest College of Art’s Feldman Gallery Curator).
Event Schedule: Saturday, July 23rd, 2005.
3:30 p.m. – Gates open
4:00 p.m. – Theme is announced and IRON ARTIST begins
7:30 p.m. – Judging Commences
8:00 p.m. – Public viewing of sculptures and voting for People’s Choice
8:30 p.m. – Awards Ceremony, culminating in the presentation of the coveted
Cup du SCRAP to this year’s IRON ARTIST Champion.
The celebration continues with music and dancing until 10:00pm
About SCRAP SCRAP (The School & Community Reuse Action Project) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that collects clean, reusable creative materials from businesses and individuals and provides these materials at low cost to educators, artists, kids, families and community members while promoting creative reuse. The SCRAP reuse center located at 3901A North Williams Avenue combines a retail shop offering an ever- changing variety of materials suitable for art, craft, and school use with a public workshop room, inspirational ideas and instruction. Every year SCRAP diverts over 70,000 pounds of material from the waste stream. SCRAP’s Education Outreach Program provides free inspirational art and environmental curriculum and interactive workshops to 3rd – 8th grade students and teachers. For more information, contact Teri at teri@scrapaction.org or (503) 294-0769.
Safety and privacy concerns may hinder recovery
efforts
The New York Times recently reported on the efforts of several states to permit
the distribution of unused pills, mainly to poor patients. According to the
article, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Ohio have passed such legislation. In Nebraska,
consumers may return unused drugs if they are still in tamper-resistant packaging.
California, Maine, Washington and other states are considering similar legislation
as a means of lowering the cost of prescription drugs.
The Food and Drug Administration forbids the redistribution of consumer purchased drugs, but the agency also appears to let the states experiment with drug recovery programs. Many are skeptical of such programs, citing concerns about the integrity of the unused medications and patient privacy.
Representative Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania suggests that the federal government permit smaller prescription quantities of drugs initially to determine whether a patient can use them. According to the Times, monthly or longer prescriptions are encouraged and sometimes even mandated by states and insurers to hold down costs, but this also leads to waste.