Volume 19, No. 2
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Selected Articles:
Container Task Force's Report To Contain No Recommendations
General Assembly Active In Working On Solid Waste
Arkansas Boosts Recycling Through Use of Tipping Fees
Automotive Recycling Messages Reaching American Consumers
Notes On Kentucky Recycling/Reuse
A Day in a PET Recycling Plant
Environmental Hotline
Landfill Fees Fund Kansas Program

Container Task Force Continues to Meet; Report to Contain NO Recommendations
The Container Deposit Task Force continues to meet ... and may meet until November, but without agreement from either of the two factions who have been participating in the study of HB 371. Those who favor container deposit taxes and advance disposal taxes continue to do so, and those who oppose the measures continue to do so. The best the task force will be able to do will be to issue a report cataloging the presentations made by each side during the past year's meetings.

Rep. Greg Stumbo has decided to issue a proposed piece of legislation for the 2000 session of the Kentucky general Assembly which will, among other things, call for universal garbage collection, container deposit taxes, and an advanced disposal tax. Recommendations which have been made which would improve the present program of litter cleanup and which would better coordinate existing programs have been pushed aside.

Since 1980, Kentuckians have, through volunteer programs, been effective in reducing litter in Kentucky by 61 percent. Cans and bottles have been reduced by 85 percent, and Kentucky is listed as being cleaner by 5 percent than the national average. This is a tremendous record and is reflected in the cleaner highways we see now in the state.

This, coupled with the increased efforts of the National Resources Cabinet to clean up illegal dumps has made great strides in a more beautiful Kentucky. And, we all know that as long as we have people, we will have a problem with litter. The goal is to minimize litter, and to do it using existing programs and without imposing costly, inefficient systems overlaid on our present infra structure. And, it should be done without levying additional taxes on Kentuckians.

Unfortunately, the media has chosen to ignore the negatives attached to container deposit taxes and advance disposal taxes. They ignore the fact that the deposit states have a massive problem with fraudulent redemption. Massachusetts, California, Iowa , Michigan .. all have major problems with fraud. With 60 percent of our population living on the border, and with Kentucky surrounded by non deposit states, our problem will be compounded.

This measure is to put yet another tax on Kentuckians, and to overlay another collection system on top of one that is already working so we can pay twice for the same service. BIRP has long championed the voluntary efforts of Kentuckians. We have provided materials to cleanup efforts. Our members have supplied personnel, and funds and soft drinks for the cleanup crews. We have assisted in the establishment of curbside programs, and in the establishment of collection centers.

Our members have participated by collecting and processing recyclables.

We have supported and have been heavily involved in America Recycles Day, and are supportive of Operation PRIDE and the Adopt a Highway Program. We have sponsored seminars for public officials and for private interests to bring together experts in the recycling industry. These efforts have been effective and that is reflected in the Donna Waterman/Dan Syrek study done this year.

With a few minor changes in the law, and with a change in the ethics law, and an appropriation from the General Fund for a promotion/awareness campaign, and with enforcement of existing litter laws, and the continuing efforts to clean up illegal dumps, we can achieve our goals - which is a cleaner Kentucky - without a major new bureaucracy in state government, a tax on groceries, and a major disruption in the Kentucky economy.

The taxes proposed range anywhere from $22 million to as high as $40 to $60 Million. Do Kentuckians really need to have that kind of tax burden imposed on them for what is essentially a very minor problem? Think about it! (Click here to return to top.)

General Assembly Active in Working on Solid Waste
The Kentucky General Assembly has a long history of dealing with the question of solid waste. Legislators have worked on the issue since 1966 when they first authorized the formation of Garbage and Refuse Districts which were local government units primarily focused on the collection of solid waste. These laws were codified in KRS Chapter 109.

The 1978 General Assembly amended KRS Chapter 109 by repealing laws regarding Garbage and Refuse Districts and enacting new legislation setting forth the initial set of public policies for solid waste management in the Commonwealth pursuant to the 1976 Federal legislation entitled the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA, PL 94-580). The state legislation stated that solid waste collection, management and treatment had become a matter of statewide concern, but recognized that the PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY for collection, management, and treatment rests with the counties.

KRS 109 authorized the formation of solid waste management districts by a single county or two or more counties to encourage regionalization. It set forth the powers and duties of counties or solid waste management districts to develop solid waste management plans and programs and to levy taxes for these purposes. These districts are commonly referred to as "109 districts."

The 1978 General Assembly also enacted SB 174 relating to solid and hazardous waste, which among other things created the first statutory definition for recycling. "Recycling means any process by which wastes are transformed into new products, useful material, products, or energy." The legislation also refined solid waste and hazardous waste, designated the Natural resources and Environmental protection Cabinet as the management agency for purposes of the Federal RCRA laws, and required a comprehensive waste management plan. These provisions were codified in KRS Chapter 224.

These new laws enabled the Commonwealth to comply with the basic requirements of federal law. However, there was no associated funding provided for these purposes, either to the state or local governmental entities.

The 1990 General assembly provided the first funds for local solid waste planning by providing General Fund monies of $400,000 each year of the 1990-1992 biennium for a 50-50 matching grant program. Furthermore, a solid waste revolving loan and grant fund was established under the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority available to local government unites to defray capital costs of solid waste projects.

General Fund debt service and boding authority for $16 million in low interest loans and $4 million in grants was provided. The 1996 General Assembly de-authorized funding of $14,529.00 and re-authorized $3 million for loans. At this juncture, all capitalization monies have committed and any available monies for loans comes from loan repayments.

In the first extraordinary session of 1991, the General Assembly enacted a major comprehensive measure with an emergency clause known as SB 2 which dramatically changed the laws regarding solid waste collection, management and treatment. SB 2 amended multiple provisions of KRS Chapters 109 and 224 and created new laws. It revised the definition of recycling to mean any process by which materials, which would otherwise become solid waste are collected, separated, or processed and reused or returned in use in the form of raw materials or products, including refuse derived fuel when processed in accordance with administrative regulations established by the cabinet, but does not include the incineration or combustion of materials for the recovery of energy."

SB 2 also put into Kentucky law a priority system for state policies and funding assistance:

1. Reduction in amount of waste generated.
2. Reuse of solid waste.
3. Waste recycling or yard waste composting.
4. Resource recovery through mixed municipal solid waste composting or incineration.
5. Land disposal in publicly owned landfills.
6. Land disposal in landfills other than publicly owned.

The Commonwealth's goal of reducing by weight the amount of municipal solid waste disposed of at landfills by 25% by July 1, 1997, as compared to 1993 was established.

SB 2 created certain tax preferences, exemptions, and credits as incentives relating to recycling purposes in the Revenue Cabinet. Additionally, a new entity, the Kentucky Recycling Brokerage Authority, was created in February, 1991, and placed under the Economic Development Cabinet to act as a broker for local governments seeking to sell recyclable materials. A three person staff was authorized and funded. The 1994 General Assembly transferred the program to the Natural Resources Cabinet in the Budget Bill. The Governor subsequently signed an Executive Order to move the program and the entity was renamed the Kentucky Recycling and Marketing Assistance Program.

SB 2 also amended KRS 152.052 governing the economic development bond program. That program set a target of a minimum of 20% of the funds available to the bond program for funding projects which create or expand markets for materials recovered or diverted from the solid waste stream.

The 1994 General Assembly enacted SB 268 that established a state Center for Pollution Prevention housed at the Speed Scientific School at the University of Louisville. The Center's primary function is to provide technical assistance to business and industry.

Based on the 1997 Annual Reports from counties there are 111 counties that have drop off recycling centers where citizens can bring in recycled materials. In those counties, a total of 417 locations exist - 236 privately owned and operated drop off centers and 181 publicly owned and operated centers. Curbside recycling exists in 14 of the 120 counties and 29 or the 319 cities in the Commonwealth.

The collection of recyclables is a challenge, but even more problematic is preparing the material for market and finding a suitable market destination where the transportation costs do not out run the value of the material. For economies of scale to work, a population base of 80,000 is cited by professionals as necessary to have sufficient materials generated to process and prepare for markets. Therefore, county cooperation or regionalization is the logical answer to making true recycling work.

Kentucky has some outstanding regional programs including the Adair County Recycling (Cumberland and Taylor counties), Bluegrass Regional Recycling Corporation (34 Central Kentucky counties), Mason County Recycling (Robertson, Bracken, Fleming and Lewis counties), Regional Recycling Corporation (Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall and Trigg counties and the city of Paducah) and Tri County Recycling (Henderson, Webster and Union counties).

A critical need is to develop more Kentucky based businesses that can take the materials and manufacture new products or use the materials in their manufacturing process. This would reduce transportation costs, diversify local economies, create new jobs, and product a value added good within the Commonwealth.

Kentucky's recycling industry is in the process of developing. (Click here to return to top.)

Arkansas Boosts Recycling Through Use of Tipping Fees
Arkansas officials are bragging about the state's recycling rate, which is breaking goals lawmakers set years ago, according to an article in Waste News.

An estimated 836,800 tons of waste was recycled in 1998, the equivalent of 43 percent of the waste produced in 1991.

The 43 percent rate is the best in its region. Other state rates include Texas at 42%; Missouri at 30%; Tennessee at 21%, and Mississippi at 12%. (For the readers' information, Kentucky recycles at a rate of 32%, according to BioCycle magazine.)

The reason for Arkansas' success could be aggressive recycling programs, according to officials. The legislature mandated recycling programs by all public buildings, including city halls, offices and public schools. And the state provides grants to municipalities to start curbside recycling, including composting. The grants are funded by tipping fees. (Click here to return to top.)

Automotive Recycling Messages Reaching American Consumers
The automobile remains at the top of the list of recycled consumer products with the average recycling rate being close to 98 percent for more than ten years. A recent survey indicated that more and more North Americans are beginning to understand that the number one recycled product in commerce today is the automobile.

Bill Heenan, president of the Steel Recycling Institute, explained, "for years, research has indicated that people mistakenly perceived aluminum beverage cans and newspapers as being the most recycled consumer products. It appears as though the automobile is finally getting its due."

Steel is the engine that drives automotive recycling. Most cars reaching the end of their useful lives comprise approximately two thirds steel and iron, with virtually 100 percent being recycled back into new iron and steel products.

The recent study conducted by the Steel Recycling Institute, indicated that approximately one out of five consumers now recognize the automobile as North America's most recycled product, almost doubling from a previous survey in 1997.

Additionally, more people are beginning to understand that what they may have one called a "junkyard" is really part of the automobile recycling and remanufacturing process and one of the "original recyclers" in North America.

In 1998, more than 13.2 million tons of steel were recycled from automobiles. That's enough steel to build more than 12.1 million new, standard sized family vehicles. Must of the recovered steel is recycled into high strength steel sheet, the fastest growing light weight material in the automotive industry. (Click here to return to top.)

Notes On Kentucky Recycling / Reuse
Paducah composts 4,000 tons per year of bio-solids with green trimmings then screens and sells its entire production for $5/yard. The city leads the way for other Kentucky cities in dealing with their yard waste and bio-solids.

Paducah uses the conventional windroing process by blending yard and brush waste with sludge on a 270' by 320' concrete pad. About 4,000 tons of sludge are mixed with leaves and wood chips each year. The bottom line is that Paducah saves about $168,000 per year by composting instead of land-filling their yard, brush and bio-solid, wastes. And, there are annual public sales of compost materials in the amount of $20,000.

The Kentucky Wood Waste Alliance got a $30,000 grant that it will use to assess and document the state's wood waste situation in conjunction with the Kentucky Pollution Prevention center.

Signode Plastics Recycling in Florence, Kentucky, is buying straight green bales of PET. The company also buys mixed PET but prefers straight green. Signode processes 60 million pounds of PET annually, buying material from throughout the United States and Canada. It is the recycling division of ITW that makes green strapping material. The recycling plant was moved to Florence last year. For information on specifications and prices, call John Aidoo at Signode at (606) 727-7412. A Kentucky soft drink bottler has been in touch with Signode regarding plastics that are currently being collected by a small Kentucky city.

Kentucky soft drink bottlers are working in two Kentucky cities to promote curbside collection services. Discussions are underway regarding a regional effort designed to generate enough volume to interest buyers of recyclable materials. Soft drink bottlers are meeting with officials from Campbellsville and Greensburg along with industry experts to assist in the development of a curbside collection program. (Click here to return to top.)

A Day in a PET Recycling Plant
The soft drink industry uses more than 21.3 billion PET bottles annually and consumers across the country recycle more than 7.6 billion PET soft drink packages. The recycling of PET is an interesting process and one that has been developed and perfected in a relatively short time. Here's a look at what happens to a soft drink bottle inside a PET recycling plant.

Wellman, Inc., is the world's largest PET recycler, recovering more than 2.5 billion PET bottles annually in the United States. Wellman purchases both clear and green PET bottles from the 48 contiguous states as well as Canada and Mexico. Its Johnsonville, South Carolina, plant alone recycles an estimated 7 million PET bottles every day on its way to producing, a close to 1 million pounds of recycled polyester fiber. The firm draws its PET feedstock from a variety of sources, including bottle manufacturers, material recovery facilities and curbside collection operations.

PET bottles are shipped to Wellman in PET bales. Wellman's de-baling machine automatically cuts the baling wire and loosens the compacted bales. Using gravity and conveyor belts, the loose bottles move toward a sorting area where employees pick out large contaminants.

From this manual sorting area, the newly separated bottles pass through an automated sporting stage where sophisticated equipment detects and removes PVC and then separates green from clean PET bottles. In this latter step an "eye" detects the green PET and a puff of air blows it out of the stream of more valuable clear PET and onto a separate conveyor.

The PET scrap is then granulated, a process that aids in the removal and separation of labels and caps from the bottles. Water is used to clean the granulated PET and float away the lighter weight label bits and plastic caps. 'Me flake is washed again, then dried, and moved to storage silos near the fiber production plant. From the storage silos, PET flakes segregated by color, are fed into a central silo where ingredients are combined in precise amounts to achieve the desired finished product. The material moves via pipes to the top of the fiber production area where it is continuously fed and melted at about 500 degrees F. With the help of gravity, the melted PET is forced from the holding vat and through spinnerettes to form individual strands of polyester. The spinnerette holes are much smaller-than those of a showerhead, and they can form strands in different shapes such as round and solid, hollow in the center, or with faceted sides.

Most polyester fibers are crimped to give the fiber body or loft. This step is so critical that the plant's lab counts the crimps in finished fiber to make sure that the product has the exact number of crimps specified by the customer. The crankily fiber moves slowly through the heat setting process and then is spun tightly around a finishing toller. Here chemical finishes may be added to the fiber according to customer specifications and the fiber is cut to specific lengths.

Finally, the now crimped, cut and fluffy fiber is compacted into bales weighing about 600 pounds each, then wrapped and labeled with its specifications and a bar code. More than 30 trucks roll out of the Johnsonville plant each day filled with the firm's premium goods spun from yesterdays soft drink bottles.   (Click here to return to top.)

Enviromental Hotline
According to Resource Recovery Report, a network of federal, state and local agencies working with private organizations including Microsoft, Ford, Home Depot, spring and others has created a toll free hotline and Internet connection to access community specific environmental and recycling information nationwide. Callers enter their zip code and receive information on local recycling, used oil collection, HHW collections, and environmental events (800) CLEANUP, www.1800cleanup.org. (Click here to return to top.)

Landfill Fees Fund Kansas Program
The entire Kansas state solid waste program since 1993 has been funded solely by a landfill fee. The rate was originally $1.50 a ton, but was reduced to $1 in 1995 in reaction to a large cash surplus. This according to the Resource Recovery Report. (Click here to return to top.)