LinkUp Blog

RFP - incentives for container recycling

posted by: Kris Beatty on Apr. 30, 2007

The Washington State Beverage Container Recycling Initiative Funding Program is requesting proposals for projects “to implement and evaluate the most effective method(s) for increasing container recovery through the use of incentives.” This includes glass, metal and plastic containers. The Initiative, involving the Washington Beverage Association, Washington Food Industry, Northwest Grocery Association, US EPA, Northwest Product Stewardship Council, and Washington State Recycling Association, will make multiple awards between $10,000 and $100,000. The goal of the RFP is to “test the use of incentives to increase the collection, recovery and recycling of used beverage containers in Washington State.” Proposals are due May 18; projects must be in Washington State. More details on the RFP are available through the Washington State Recycling Association.


UPDATE: The Washington State Beverage Container Recycling Initiative Funding Program RFP indicated that awards would be made contingent on funding being secured for the Initiative. The fund development was not ultimately successful, so no awards were made.

posted by: Nick Norris on Aug. 27, 2009

A great recycling resource that I use is http://1800recycling.com. They''re not in every state, but they have a huge list of recycling centers.

posted by: Anonymous on Jan. 22, 2009

There are a ton of glass recycling centers that handle glass. I''ve found several in my area and even a few for my mom and dad in my hometown. I found most of them at these sites www.recyclingcenters.org and www.earth911.com.

Glass recycling and Material Recovery Facility Assessment

posted by: Kris Beatty on Feb. 26, 2007

A 2006 King County study quantified and characterized materials collected and sold by four Puget Sound Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) [http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/about/documents/MRF_assessment.pdf]. To give a snapshot of glass recycling in the King County area, the study found that after paper, glass makes up the largest fraction of recovered materials – about 7 percent or 29,000 tons of the materials coming into Puget Sound Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs).[1] Five of the 7 percent is container glass. Of the 29,000 tons of glass, 43 percent goes to high-value uses such as new glass containers, tile and consumer products; and another 43 percent goes to low-value uses such as fill for drainage medium and pipe bedding for construction.[2]

The report examines the amounts and types of contaminants in incoming materials and outgoing products, as well as potentially valuable recyclables that are lost to recycling markets. It also assesses the performance of these MRFs and documents actual market-driven specifications, or lack thereof in some cases, for recycled products.

According to the consultant report, MRF operators have called glass their "number one issue." Domestic mills and plastic processors cited glass as a significant problem, as well. Glass shards contaminate the paper material streams and "sandblast" processing equipment, causing increased operational costs. The report found that the Puget Sound MRF’s have favorable residual rates compared to national averages and are ranked highly by off-shore brokers for material quality.

King County will be exploring options with MRF operators, hauling companies, secondary processors and end users for addressing these glass issues. The county is interested in changes that will result in more recycled glass going to high-value end-uses, such as making new glass containers.

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[1] Cascadia Consulting, Material Recovery Facility (MRF) Assessment, 2006, pp 6. http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/about/documents/MRF_assessment.pdf

[2] Cascadia Consulting, Material Recovery Facility (MRF) Assessment, 2006, pp 20. http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/about/documents/MRF_assessment.pdf

Recovery 1 to increase gypsum recycling

posted by: Kris Beatty on Feb. 21, 2007

There is exciting news on the recycling of gypsum wallboard in western Washington. Tacoma-based Recovery 1, Inc. [http://www.recovery1.com/] has developed a new way to process pre- and post-consumer gypsum wallboard waste. It is now producing recycled gypsum that can be used in Portland cement, and later made into concrete. This will help to increase the amount of gypsum wallboard that is being recycled in King County. You can read more about Recovery 1’s efforts in the latest edition of eNewsLink [http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/linkup_new/eNewslink/current.asp], LinkUp’s quarterly newsletter.

AASHTO hot mix asphalt specification

posted by: Kris Beatty on Feb. 21, 2007

The use of recycled asphalt shingles in hot mix asphalt is of increasing interest to state departments of transportation, and the Association of American State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) [http://www.transportation.org/] has taken notice.

AASHTO has developed a provisional standard for the use of tear-off asphalt shingles in hot mix asphalt that states are using to develop standards of their own. States that are testing the use of recycled tear-off shingles include Minnesota [http://www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/market/shingles.cfm], Texas [http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/general_services/recycling/shingles_in_hotmix.htm] and California [http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/ConDemo/Shingles/Pavement.htm].

posted by: Erick Mcguire on Nov. 14, 2009

There is an excellent site on recycling asphalt shingles at http://www.shinglerecycling.org/. We strongly encourage all our construction contractor clients to recycle their C&D materials, including shingles.

regards,

Erick Mcguire

Welcome to the LinkUp gypsum wallboard blog

posted by: Kris Beatty on Feb. 20, 2007

Welcome to the LinkUp gypsum wallboard blog. LinkUp put this together as a way to keep you up-to-date and in the loop on what is happening with recycling of gypsum wallboard in King County. We want to hear from you! Send us your ideas for blog entries, participate in a discussion or share information that you think would be helpful to others who are working to recycle more and find new markets for recycled gypsum wallboard – in King County and beyond. Use the “Post a Comment’ button below to add your blog entry and be sure to check back regularly to see what others have to say.

Welcome to the LinkUp Urban Wood blog

posted by: Kris Beatty on Feb. 20, 2007

Welcome to the LinkUp urban wood blog. LinkUp put this together as a way to keep you up-to-date and in the loop on what is happening with recycling of urban wood in King County. We want to hear from you! Send us your ideas for blog entries, participate in a discussion, or share information that you think would be helpful to others who are working to recycle more and find new markets for recycled urban wood – in King County and beyond. Use the “Post a Comment’ button below to add your own blog entry and be sure to check back regularly to see what others have to say.

Welcome to the LinkUp asphalt shingle blog

posted by: Kris Beatty on Feb. 20, 2007

Welcome to the LinkUp asphalt shingles blog. LinkUp put this together as a way to keep you up-to-date and in the loop on what is happening with recycling of asphalt shingles in King County. We want to hear from you! Send us your ideas for blog entries, participate in a discussion or share information that you think would be helpful to others who are working to recycle more asphalt shingles and find new markets for this material in King County and beyond. Use the “Post a Comment’ button below to add your blog entry and be sure to check back regularly to see what others have to say.

Welcome to the LinkUp container glass blog

posted by: Kris Beatty on Feb. 20, 2007

Welcome to the LinkUp container glass blog. LinkUp put this together as a way to keep you up-to-date and in the loop on what is happening with recycling of container glass in King County. We want to hear from you! Send us your ideas for blog entries, participate in a discussion or share information that you think would be helpful to others who are working to recycle more container glass and find new markets for this material in King County and beyond. Use the “Post a Comment” button below to add your blog entry and be sure to check back regularly to see what others have to say.