March 2003 Newsletter
Metro Region Recovery in 2001
A Faith Community Promotes Waste Reduction
Legislative Watch: OCN Lobby Day
RA Seeks Member Volunteers
Small Jars Wanted
If you want to help RA move e-waste legislation...
Thank You to Those Who Contributed Through ESOR
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By Steve Apotheker
Explaining the big increase
At first glance at data released in December, the Metro Region's recovery effort in 2001 seems unexplainable. The Metro Region's 2001 recovery rate jumped more than 4 percentage points to 48.8%. The recovery rate includes recycling, composting and source-separated materials recovered for energy; primarily construction and demolition wood, scrap tires, used motor oil and solvents. The region's recovery rate hasn't jumped this much since the early 1990's when curbside recycling collection and other new programs were rolled out. Progress stalled during the period 1996 to 1999 with the recovery rate hovering around 42.5%. In 2000, the rate surged almost 2 points to 44.6% due primarily to a very successful regional implementation of commingled curbside collection for households.
But what about the four-point jump in the 2001 recovery rate? This jump should really be seen as an anomaly in our progress toward a recovery rate of 56% that we would like to reach by 2005. One-fourth of the increase, or 1.3 percentage points, is due to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) Herculean effort to obtain more complete and accurate reporting from recycling businesses. While most recycling businesses are required by state law to report, scrap metal dealers used their lobbying muscle to gain an exemption. Over the years, DEQ has obtained voluntary reports from most scrap metal dealers. In 2001, they got the last of the big scrap metal dealers to report. DEQ was also successful in gaining new reports from businesses that handle automotive lead-acid batteries, used motor oil and porcelain products. The latter consists of ground up toilets and sinks that are used to make recycled aggregate. Finally, in 2001, DEQ began counting brick as a recycled construction material. These additions netted more than 55,000 recovered tons in 2001 which had not been factored in for the previous year.
The major jump in real recovery came from the construction and demolition materials of wood, roofing and drywall. All three materials benefited from more convenient markets and demand. Soaring energy prices caused several industries to use greater quantities of hog fuel, primarily scrap wood, but also tires, brushy yard debris and used motor oil. While greater volumes of construction and demolition materials were diverted by source separation, the greatest increase came from sorting wood from mixed construction and demolition loads. The rising demand for hog fuel accounted for more than 60,000 tons, representing half of the region's total increase in recovered tons.
While the bellwether materials of paper, plastics and yard trimmings remained fairly flat in a sluggish economy, small gains were registered with food (up 7,500 tons), electronics (up 129 tons) and textiles (up 219 tons). Recovery of athletic shoes contributed to the increase in textile tonnage.
One disconcerting statistic of the 2001 DEQ survey is that residential curbside recycling collection tonnage appeared to decrease relative to the previous year. With the rollout of commingled collection to households in late 1999, reported curbside tonnage had jumped 16% in 2000. However, the 2001 reported curbside tonnage leaves a net increase of only 4% over 1999 pre-commingling baseline tonnage. It is too early to declare a trend based on one year, at least without further analysis. For example, the sluggish economy could easily have caused a decline in the amount of newspapers and direct mail printed and available for recovery. When it comes out next year, the 2002 DEQ recovery data can be more accurately combined with the 2002 DEQ waste composition data to get a better idea of how well our household collection program is responding to commingling.
Another worrisome statistic of the 2001 DEQ survey is the 6,600-ton decrease in glass container recovery, a drop of more than 15% from the previous year. While glass container supply continues to decrease a few percent each year due to substitution by plastics, this does not explain the large drop in recovery registered in 2001. DEQ data suggest that lower volumes were reported both for bottle bill redemption and curbside recycling collection programs.
In anticipation of the need to recover greater volumes of commercial scrap paper to reach a regional recovery goal of 56% and to see how commingled mixes were being handled by processors, Metro convened a one-month study of the region's processing facilities in June 2002. The study found that local processors had more than enough capacity to handle increased tonnage. However, processor disposed residue, of which half was recyclable paper and containers, had increased in the past two years. Also, contamination levels in paper commodities shipped to end markets were beginning to increase over previous levels. A subcommittee of regional stakeholders convened by Metro has prepared draft recommendations to the Metro Solid Waste Advisory Committee, which will be reported on in the April issue of the RA Newsletter.
Going back to the big picture, the region's amount of disposed waste decreased 4.5%, down for the second straight year. While part of that decrease is due to the poor economy, the bulk of the decrease is due to stronger recovery efforts, especially for wood and other construction and demolition materials. In addition, even though 2001- generated discards (recovered and disposed) increased by 70,000 tons, netting out the newly reported recyclables (e.g., scrap metal, etc.) results in a decline in actual per-capita generation for the second year in a row.
Steve Apotheker is a member of Recycling Advocates and senior recycling planner for Metro.
Editor's note: Look for our detailed coverage of the subcommittee recommendations to the Metro Solid Waste Advisory Committee in next month's issue. For data tables on Metro regional recovery visit the DEQ's web site at www.deq.state.or.us/wmc/solwaste/rsw.htm.
A Faith Community Promotes Waste Reduction
Portland Unitarians tackle junk mail problem
RA Member Barbara Ford co-chairs the Seventh Principle Action Group at the First Unitarian Church of Portland. She is passionate about recycling and reducing waste and has taken the lead with her co-chair Rick North to help the congregation stop junk mail. Ford and her fellow Unitarians planned the "Get Rid of Junk Mail Campaign" in a brainstorming session last December. Capitalizing on the desire of many to simplify things after the holidays, the action group introduced the campaign after the beginning of the new year. "It's a simple way to avoid a large amount of waste," said Ford in an interview.
As a master recycler, she knew about Metro's Junk Mail Reduction Kit. She took time to develop additional materials and information for the congregation. The campaign has involved a few easy steps. First, the action group promoted the junk mail reduction program through the church bulletin. Then it provided congregation members with a pledge to take specific steps to eliminate junk mail. Interested members signed pledges through February. The campaign will end with a questionnaire and assessment in April or May.
The results so far have been impressive. On the first day, over 200 people signed pledges. By the end of the month, nearly 400 congregation members were on board. "The pledge process is the basis of the campaign," noted Ford. "We are creating a joining thing," she added. The Unitarian group has developed other campaigns around various issues in the past, but according to Ford, the "Get Rid of Junk Mail Campaign" has generated the most activity and excitement. She attributes the success to the ease and simplicity of the actions required to stop junk mail.
The Seventh Principle Action Group is based on the Seventh Principle of the Unitarian Univeralists to have respect for the interdependent web of all existence. Similar action groups at other congregations tend to focus on environmental issues. The Green Sanctuary Certification program is another such outgrowth of the national Unitiarians' attempt to develop greener practices.
For more information on the national Unitarian Universalist Association's Seventh Principle program visit its web site at www.uuaspp.org.
Barbara Ford can be reached at Bislandview@aol.com for information on the First Unitarian Church of Portland's junk mail campaign.
For more information on stopping junk mail at your home or business, see RA's "Ten Ways to Stop Junk Mail" at www.recyclingadvocates.org/pubs.
Legislative Watch: OCN Lobby Day
OCN offers events and tools for supporting environmental agenda
The Oregon Conservation Network (OCN) is one of the programs offered by a state non-profit called the Oregon League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (OLCV-EF). Created in 1995, the network has grown to include 100 member groups, including Recycling Advocates. It brings these environmental and related groups together to work toward the common goal of protecting Oregon's quality of life. The OCN informs its member groups about environmental issues and policies being considered by the Oregon Legislature, increases their grassroots advocacy skills, and fosters information sharing. The OCN offers the following activities and tools to help us all become more involved in the legislative process.
Lobby Day: The OCN is organizing an environmental lobby day again this year, on Monday, March 24. Join Recycling Advocates and over 100 environmental organizations who will come together in Salem for issue briefings, lobbying training sessions, and appointments with the legislators. This exciting event offers citizens who care about protecting Oregon's environment an unparalleled opportunity to help convince legislators to stand up for important conservation issues. Participants can look forward to in-depth briefings on the hottest issues, training on effective lobbying techniques, meeting concerned citizens from our regions and speaking directly with our Senators and Representatives to talk about conservation issues that are important to environmentalists statewide.
For more information contact the Environmental Lobby Day Coordinator, Maja K. Haium, at (503) 227-8073 or via e-mail at mhaium@olcv.org with any questions.
SalemWatch: This e-mail newsletter is published each Friday during the legislative session, and tracks environmental legislation in Salem, highlighting opportunities for effective citizen involvement. Each week the progression of bills that impact Oregon's ecosystems and communities is compiled into an easy-to-read email newsletter, including bill summaries, committee assignments and contact information. Free advocacy training programs and coordinated lobbying opportunities are publicized.
E-mail Action Network: This service notifies those who have signed up of critical moments in the life of a proposed bill or public comment periods regarding agency actions, and how to take action.
Rapid Response Teams: OCN will form RRTs this year for ten particular issues, such as recycling, energy, and toxics. Members of these groups will be notified about special activity on their issue, provided background info on the issue, and called to action during critical legislative or agency moments.
To learn more or to sign up for any of these activities visit the OCN on the web at www.olcv.org/ocn, or contact them at (503) 227-8073.
Staff RA's table and get a free ticket
ILLAHEE, a forum for environmental innovators, brings the nation's top environmental scientists to Portland for the fourth season of its Environment Matters Evening Lecture Series. Recycling Advocates, along with other environmental organizations, will display educational materials before and after each lecture. In order to do this, we need volunteers to set up and staff our table. Members who volunteer will receive a free ticket to that evening's lecture. To volunteer, please contact Jeffrey White at 503-777-0909 or by e-mail at info@recyclingadvocates.org.
Portland area beekeeper and long-time RA member Glen Andresen seeks jars smaller than a pint. Jam jars work especially well. Baby food jars are too small. Glen will accept jars with or without lids. He is willing to pick up jars in the Portland area. Please contact him with any questions at (503) 282-8844 or glen@pacifier.com.
If you want to help RA move e-waste legislation...
Join RA's Action Alert list
As reported last month, Recycling Advocates has asked Representative Jackie Dingfelder to introduce legislation on electronics product stewardship this session. Members of Recycling Advocates have the opportunity to join our Action Alert e-mail list. If you are not on our list, we invite you again to sign up so you can receive timely notices about what you can do to help further our legislative proposal. Whether you want to call your representatives in Salem to voice support or testify in person, the Action Alert lets you know when your voice is most needed. Members on the list also receive time-sensitive information on regional and local issues affecting recycling in Oregon.
To join the Action Alert list, e-mail Jeffrey White at info@recyclingadvocates.org or call (503) 777-0909.
Thank You to Those Who Contributed Through ESOR
Due to the generous contributions of employees in over 70 Oregon businesses and public agencies, Earth Share of Oregon (ESOR) is able to support organizations working to preserve Oregon's natural heritage and enhance human health. Recycling Advocates, one of 70 non-profit organizations receiving funds from ESOR, directly benefits from such a successful fundraising campaign.
Through ESOR's convenient workplace giving program, you can specify an amount to be withheld from your paycheck, enabling you to spread out your gift over the course of a year. RA is a proud member of ESOR, and we'd like to say "thank you" to those of you who contributed to us through ESOR.
If your workplace is not currently involved in an ESOR giving program, establishing one is easy. ESOR will work with your employer to set up a program that meets your company's needs. Oregon's natural beauty and livability is legendary. With your contribution to ESOR, you can help ensure that it stays that way. For more information, please contact Ron Shoals at ESOR: (503) 223-9015 or rrs@earthshare-oregon.org; or visit www.earthshare-oregon.org.