Volumne 22, No. 1
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Selected Articles:
Department of Natural Resources Releases Annual Report
International Adopt-A-Highway Conference Held At Galt House In Louisville November 1-3
Who's Who in Recycling Recognizes Private Companies In Recycling In Kentucky
Kentucky Recycling And Marketing Assistance Office Promotes Cooperative Marketing
NAPCOR Announces Grant Projects
New Landfill To Service Bluegrass Area

Department Of Natural Resources Releases Annual Report- IMPRESSIVE FIGURES!

According to the annual Statewide Solid Waste Management Report - 2000 Update, county recycling data shows that the statewide recycling rates of common household items such as glass, aluminum cans, newspaper, mixed and white office paper, cardboard, metal and plastics have increased 388% in the last six years.

Other interesting facts from the 2000 annual report:

• 20,128,254 gallons of used motor oil were recycled.
• 31 counties report some door to door recycling covering a total of 232,304 households.
• 260 drop off recycling centers were reported…139 are public and 121 are private.
• 82.4% of Kentucky households have curbside collection of garbage.
• The 742,398 tons of recyclables collected saved governments and businesses $20,222,922 in tipping fees at landfills.
• The average tipping fee at Kentucky landfills is $27.24 per ton
• The average tipping fee in bordering states is $34.00 per ton.
• Statewide contained landfill capacity is estimated to be 15.2 years.
• Six bordering states levied an average of $2.50 per ton to fund solid waste initiatives.
• 59,053 tons of yard waste were diverted from landfills, saving 1,608,604 in tipping fees at landfills.
• The state has 45 composting facilities.
• The Paper Recycling Program for state government offices in Frankfort recycled 1,540 tons of paper and cardboard.
• The Waste Tire Cleanup Program has removed and recycled more than 8.2 million tires since 1998. After the October 2001 tire amnesty programs are conducted, each county in the state will have participated.
• Since 1993 a total of 16,257 illegal dumps have been cleaned up at a cost of $32.8 million.
• Surveys estimate 10,560 illegal dumps remain with an estimated cleanup cost of $33 million.

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International Adopt-A-Highway Conference Held At Galt House In Louisville November 1-3

The International Adopt a Highway Association held its annual conference at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville from November 1-3. Attendees participated in a full program with exhibitors bringing new ideas and programs for their review.

The group was welcomed by Lieutenant Governor Steve Henry and Secretary of Tourism Ann Latta.

The program consisted of a review of safety training of volunteers, plus a comparison of various state programs.

Comparisons were presented to give coordinators an opportunity to look at what other states are doing. Most states recommend or require a minimum of 2 miles of highway to be adopted. Missouri does allow for ½ mile sections in urban areas while Pennsylvania allows intersections and exchanges. Other items incorporated are beautification projects as well as Oklahoma's roadside park program. California allows adopting plots for tree planting, graffiti removal and week control.

Some states do not allow for multi lane divided highways to be adopted, while others allow practically all routes to be adopted. Virginia has differing age limits for interstate and other high speed highways.

Another area of varying requirements include Oklahoma, California, and Minnesota which allows 11 years old and upward, while Missouri allows 6 year olds and upward. Some do not state an age, only a requirement of adult supervisors for every certain number of children. Kentucky for example, requires for every 3 children under 17 to have an adult supervisor.

All states provide litter bags and vests. California supplies gloves, glasses, litter pickers and hard hats along with bags and vests.

All states reviewed provide the Department of Transportation to pick up the litter bags. Pennsylvania will do so if the applicant notifies the coordinator that they cannot pick up the bags themselves.

Every state requires a 2 year adoption program except for Missouri which requires a 3 year adoption period.

All states provide signs. Logos are not permitted, and California allows the broadest selection of colors.

Some states require a minimum of 4 pickups a year. Minnesota requires 3 pickups and California does not have a minimum requirement.

Safety training varies somewhat between the states. Pennsylvania requires an initial safety training be attended which is put on by the state. Some require the contact person ensure safety training before every pickup, while others only give safety tips. Safety is a primary goal of Adopt a Highway program and needs to be stressed at every opportunity.

Various other facts

• Minnesota allows applicants to keep recyclables
• California allows contracting of adopt a highway locations
• Oklahoma and Minnesota have the most user friendly application form with Pennsylvania close behind.
• Kentucky has the most legalese written and the least user friendly form reviewed.
• Virginia and California have very helpful websites.
• Minnesota has a nice website

The conferees noted that great progress has been made in this program since its inception. One of the most important initiatives you can think of is the adopt a highway program.

Education is a major key to the program, and the Adopt a Highway program is bringing a change in our culture. It is a right and responsible program.

Texas has seen a 72% drop in roadside litter since the inception of their "Don't Mess With Texas Program and the Adopt a Highway program which was begun there in 1985. Florida has counted a 17% drop in roadside litter. Florida's representative noted that recent surveys in that state shows a decrease in all items along roadsides which included smaller items as well as larger items. Their program seems to be working very well.

Some states are adopting a "Adopt a Spot" program for younger children who want to clean up rest stops or parks, but who do not want to be on the highway.

Interestingly, all programs were working aggressively to clean up highways. Some with small budgets, yet none call for the imposition of taxes to pay for the program. They are funded either privately or with appropriations from the various states through their Department of Transportation.
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Who's Who In Recycling Recognizes Private Companies In Recycling In Kentucky

Once again, America Recycles Day conducted a competition among Kentucky firms and public agencies to select outstanding recyclers in the state for recognition. There were a great many entries, from private firms…public entities…schools and so on.

In the private sector, the Kroger Company was recognized for continuing in its efforts to promote recycling. The company has committed its corporate policies to waste reduction…reuse…and recycling in all its operations. The Kroger Company, Louisville Division, oversees 92 stores throughout Kentucky in Lexington, Frankfort, Somerset, Nicholasville, Mt. Sterling, Owensboro, and Louisville. Kroger participates in the Green Outlook Corporate Advisory Panel (GOPAC) working with members of the Solid Waste Management to work on various recycling issues. Kroger was recognized for its efforts and accomplishments in recycling.

The other private firm recognized was the Southwire Company, Kentucky Rod and Cable Plant in Hawesville, KY. The Southwire Company has dedicated itself to source reduction, reuse of resources, and pollution prevention. The company has engaged all of its 220 employees in a concerted effort to recycle all manner of materials. Recycling has enabled the company to reduce landfill type waste. And, all employees are now accountable for waste generation in an environmental recycling program that is the responsibility of every employee. This company and Kroger was recognized in a ceremony in the Capital Rotunda on November 15.

Other participants in the program included the R.C. Bigelow company, the Tri County Recycling Alliance in Henderson, KY., the Woodford County Recycling Center., Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the Jefferson County School System…Whitley County 4-H Clubs, along with many other organizations.

This program will probably become a permanent part of Kentucky's promotion of America Recycles Day each year.
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Kentucky Recycling And Marketing Assistance Office Promotes Cooperative Marketing

According to the Kentucky Recycling and Marketing Authority, rural areas face particular marketing challenges with low populations and long distances to market. In an effort to east issues concerning markets for recovered materials in areas with a small population base, many turn to cooperatives for a solution.

Cooperative marketing enables small recycling centers to enhance profitability of their recovered materials. By participating in larger marketing schemes, small recycling centers can secure the best price for their materials. However, cooperative marketing requires that all satellite recycling centers deliver processed materials that meet specifications.

There are several important things to consider if you are thinking about your recycling center becoming a cooperative marketing center. The first rule of recycling is always to "begin at the end" or put another way, begin with the markets. Contact the end users or mills for each recovered material the center will be handling. Find out what their specifications are and get that information in writing. If any of the mills are relatively close by, visit them in person. Talk to the employee who has the responsibility to receive shipments and accept or reject the bales. Find out exactly what that person is looking for in a mill ready bale. Ask to see examples of rejected bales and find out why they were rejected. Develop a relationship with personnel at the mill.

Find out of the end user or mill uses a price index. If they don't use a price index, ask them to establish one. The Official Board Markets Yellow Sheet, The American Metal Market and The Recycling Manager are used extensively for price indexing. With a price index, prices are not dependent on the whims of any particular buyer. The price you get should be based on the price index for the month that materials are shipped to the mill, not an arbitrary date weeks or even months later. You may even be able to negotiate floor prices. A floor price is the lowest price that you may receive no matter how low prices are in the marketplace.

Try to get a written contract with all your buyers. The contract will stipulate such items as the basis for the price index, material specifications, floor and ceiling prices (if available), transportation of the materials, procedures for rejection and the allowable percent of contamination.

Recovered materials are very freight sensitive. Transportation costs can mean the difference between success and failure. Most mills will transport single commodity truck loads to the mill at no cost to the recycling center. If you transport materials to the mill, the mill will usually give you a transportation allowance.

Recovered materials should be sorted, even if only to remove contaminants. Establish procedures to ensure quality control of all recovered materials. By doing this, you can improve prices you receive for recycled materials.
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NAPCOR Announces Grant Projects
The National Association of PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) located in Asheville, North Carolina announced recipients of its 2001 grants for projects that specifically address the need to increase the collection and recycling of PET plastic.

PET is the type of plastic marked with the #1 resin code on or near the bottom of the container most commonly used to package soft drinks and bottled water. PET plastic containers are increasingly being used at special events, sporting venues, and in vending machines.

Nine grants were awarded for the third funding cycle. Included were:

Morehead State University in Kentucky who received a grant to establish PET bottle recycling on campus. PET recycling will also be added at City Hall, the County Court House, and special events in the town of Morehead and Rowan County.

Other grants included: The University of Virginia in Charlottsville…the City of Roswell, Georgia…Humphreys County, Tennessee Litter Grant and Recycle Committee..Georgia Recycling Coalition…Frederick county Department of Public Works in Winchester, Virginia…Bartow County Department of Solid Waste in Cartersville, Georgia…Athens Clarke County Georgia Solid Waste Department Recycling Division…and the Anderson County South Carolina Department of Solid Waste & Recycling.
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New Landfill To Service Bluegrass Area

Waste Services of the Bluegrass has announced the construction of the new Central Kentucky Landfill in Georgetown. The Construction and Demolition Debris landfill opens in mid December with the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill to open in mid January 2002.

The landfill, located on Double Culvert Road new Georgetown, is approximately 20 miles from Lexington…the closest Municipal Solid Waste landfill in the bluegrass area. The landfill is independently owned and operated and will provide quality service at competitive rates to businesses and residents in Central Kentucky.

For pricing information, or to schedule a site visit, please call (606) 920-9696, extension 230.
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