THE C:t\C\5. W3 Pl wi WASTE STREAM JOURNAL :l./; A Waste Reduction Newsletter ofthe Georgia Department of Community Affairs * * * VOL. II NO. 1 FALL 1997 **** IT'S ON US Winners' Circle GCB Earns National Award l 1 Talkin' Trash- * * * * * * The Public Sector The Private Sector A Day to Recycle Ga. Recycles With America The Cate Road Landfill As an occupation, Local Affiliates Also Recognized Georgia Clean and Beautiful (GCB) was awarded second place in the 1997 Keep America Beautiful State SYSTEM Awards program. A national panel of judges representing government, industry and citizen groups selected GCB from numerous state affiliates competing for these annual awards. The awards program honors KAB state affiliates that support the growth and maintenance of the KAB system and establish leadership and networking opportunities for KAB affiliates in their respective states. It also recognizes the use of public-private partnerships to prevent litter and improve waste handling practices in communities across the affiliate's state. "Without the assistance, endorsement and advocacy of our sponsors and partners, none of this would be possible," said Lynn Cobb, GCB coordinator. "We're also indebted to the local KAB affiliates for their support and enthusiastic participation in all of tlie programs we coordinate." in Glynn County is hog heaven for a group of wild pigs that drops by regularly to root up the daily cover in search of food. The landfill is scheduled to close soon, and officials worry that damage caused by the hogs will increase closure costs. After some locals protested a plari to have landfill workers shoot the . swine because of the landfill's proximity to residences, the Glynn County Commission approved a plan to have archery hunters take care of the hogs. * * * Ready to boost PET recycling in your community? The National Association for Plastic Container Recovery (NAPCOR) has developed "PETE's Big Bin," a clear green, bottle-shaped receptacle that holds up to ten cases of single-serve PET beverage bottles. According to Resource Recycling, NAPCOR is giving away a thousand free bins to local non-profit and government organizations. The bins, made from recycled PET, can also be purchased. For information, call (704) 358-8882. * * * See PUBLIC on page 9: u:w "dumpster diving" does not come without its hazards. According to a study published in The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the most common ailments reported by garbage scavengers at free health clinics are infections from lacerations. The research, spurred by the number of injuries scavengers report at the clinics, surveyed 96 people who made an average of $13.21 per day by recycling their finds. * * * The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons Island will serve as GHEP's pilot hotel in the Southern Colonial Coast region. With GHEP assistance, the King and Prince launched a waste reduction, buy recycled and environmental concerns program in September. In the first phase, program participants are collecting newspaper, office paper, corrugated cardboard and aluminum .cans for recycling and are using recycled~content containers to do so. The resort will add other materials in future phases. * * * See PRIVATE on page 9: u:w In This Issue Local Awards Georgia's local affiliates were also well represented on KAB's awards list. Five programs in Georgia received SEE GCB on page 4: u:w New State Solid Waste Management Plan adopted by DCA and DNR Boards. See page 2. What do all those random letters mean? Check out our commonly used. acronyms on page 3. 1997 General Assembly Session promises excitement in the solid waste area~ See page 9. Residents Pledge To Increase Recycling Hope to Win Dream House More than 200 Georgia organizations participated in Georgia Recycles Day this fall. Georgia's program was part of the first annual America Recycles Day (ARD), a national event that encouraged people all over the country to pledge to recycle more and increase their purchases of recycled products. The participating organizations, which included nonprofits, businesses, local governments and State agencies, sponsored events to increase awareness of recycling and waste reduction issues and encourage people to sign and return pledges. In Athens-Clark County, for example, organizers planned a recycling awareness expo-with games (such as bowling with PET bottles) and recycled-materials craftsand a "Clean Out Your Files Day" for local businesses. The community also kicked off a new aerosol can recycling program. Rome-Floyd County sponsored an aluminum can recycling drive to benefit the local humane society. The pledge cards they collected were entered in a drawing for SEE ARD on page 6: u:w THEWASTESTREAMJOURNALFALL1997 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ NEW PLAN SETS COURSE FOR SWM EFFORTS A new Georgia Solid Waste local governments in the SWJ\1 l\1anagementPlan,adoptedthis field and the resultant changing fall by the Board of Com- need for State assistance; the munity Affairs and the Board State's expandin_g ability to of Natural Resources, will work with the commercial and guide the State's SWJ\1 efforts industrial sectors on waste over the next five years. reduction; and improved The new plan, which is the methods for monitoring, first revision of the 1990 plan, reporting and tracking waste reflects lessons learned during reduction progress. the past seven years. Three The shift in emphasis does major shifts in direction form not change the overall intent its basis: the evolving role of of the original plan-to reduce generation and disposal of waste in Georgia and to ensure that the remaining waste is managed in an environmentally and economically sound manner. The revised plan examines issues that have led to changes in the State's SWJ\1 policy. It lists goals and objectives that will give the State direction for addressing these issues and specific actions that comprise the scope of work to be carried out by the various State agencies during the next five years (see table for summary). GOAL 1: To reduce the amount of solid waste generated and disposed. Objective 1: To encourage the reduction of solid waste generated by the general public. Objective 2: To encourage the reduction of solid waste generated by the manufacturing sector. Objective 3: To encourage the reduction of solid waste generated by the commercial and institutional sectors. Objective 4: To encourage the reduction of solid waste generated by the agricultural sector. Objective 5: To encourage reuse and recycling by the general public. Objective 6: To encourage reuse and recycling in state government. Objective 7: To encourage reuse and recycling in the commercial, institutional, and industrial sectors. Objective 8: To encourage reuse and recycling in the agricultural sector. Objective 9: To maintain current, comprehensive information on recycling markets in Georgia and to assist public and private interests in establishing, enhancing, and utilizing these markets. Objective 10:To ensure an environmentally sound permitting process for solid waste handling facilities that does not adversely affect waste reduction efforts. GOAL 2: To manage solid waste in an Objective 4: To ensure that on-site industrial solid waste environmentally sound manner. handling.facilities are permitted and operated in an environmentally sound manner in accordance Objective 1: To encourage local governments to provide. for with regulatory and statutory standards. effective and efficient solid waste disposal services. Objective 5: To ensure ten years of disposal capacity within the state. Objective 2: To ensure that all newly permitted solid waste facilities meet stringent, environmentally pro- Objective 6: To identify and clean up all scrap tire piles. tective siting, design, construction, operation, Objective 7: To conduct acomprehensive compliance reporting and closure standards. and monitoring program of solid waste handling Objective 3: To ensure that all existing municipal solid waste facilities. landfills meet environmentally. protective Objective 8: To establish arisk-based corrective action program operation standards or close, and that vertical for municipal solid waste landfills. and horizontal expansions of existing municipal solid waste landfills meet environmentally protective design and construction standards. GOAL 3: To promote fiscally sound solid waste management practices supported by ongoing planning and performance tracking. Objective 1: To obtain and effectively utilize funds to implement solid waste management activities. Objective 2: To seek sources of funding to facilitate applied research and commercialization of waste reduction technologies by the private sector. Objective 3: To ensure that the reporting requirements of the Act are met. Objective 4: To determine the effectiveness of the State's solid waste management programs and activities. Objective 5: To encourage effective solid waste management planning and plan implementation by local governments. Objective 6: To encourage local governments to develop financing mechanisms for solid waste management programs. Objective 7: To encourage local governments to establish programs targeted at effectively reducing waste and providing efficient solid waste management services. Objective 8: To encourage local governments to provide for effective and efficient collection of solid waste, recyclables, and yard trimmings. DCA, EPD and P2AD developed the plan during the last year, with assistance and input from GEFA, the Department of Administrative Services, the Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Building Authority, local governments, the University System of Georgia, private businesses, environmental organizations and the general public. Issues and needs were identified through surveys and studies conducted by DCA and DNR, including a recycling rate survey and a household hazardous waste and recycling survey. A series of focus groups brought input from local governments, solid waste and recycling professionals, environmental. organizations, large waste generators, DCA's Waste Reduction Advisory Council and State agency staff. Dr. Jim Kundell of UGA's Carl Vinson Institute of Government compiled the input received through these efforts. Dr. Kundell is also the author ofthe original plan. The draft plan was presented at three public information meetings in September and _October and adjusted to reflect public comment. "The planning process has been open and inclusive from the beginning," said Paul Radford, director of DCA's Planning, Information and l\1anagement Division. "The plan lays out the steps we need to take in the next five years to ensure that Georgia has a sound system of solid waste management, not just a sound recycling or disposal or pollution prevention program." When finalized, an executive summary and complete copy of the plan will be posted on DCA's web site (www.dca.state.ga.us) . You may also call Berenice Thomas at (404) 679-3142 to request a copy or e-mail her at bthomas@dca.state.ga.us. 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS Re-Center Opens in Gainesville The Reusable Resource government on its board. Network of Georgia opened While there are only about 15 the state's first Re-Center similar centers nationwide, in October. The Gainesville there are already plans to open facility is accepting overruns, another center in Marietta. At rejects and scraps from local least two other Georgia industries for use by teachers, communities have also ex- parents and non-profit pressed interest in opening organizations. centers. The scraps received In Hall County, the solid usually are non-recyclable, so waste management plan calls materials are being diverted for the establishment of a from the waste stream. "We reuse center. As a result, the should have a. net [waste] Network was able to work reduction, but whether it will through th~local government be measurable is difficult to to receive about $90,000 in say," said Hall County Natural grant funding from EPA and Resources Coordinator Rick GEFA. Though Southeast Foote, "We won't know if Recycling Corporation has reduction is from this or from made space available for a other County programs." facility in Marietta, funding Housed in the hundred- is not yet available to open year-old company store one there. building of a defunct textile So far, the Re-Center's mill, the center will be staffed inventory includes burlap, full time by the Reusable parac;hute fabric, papercones, Resource Network. The non- plastic strapping, plastic. profit organization, an affiliate sleeves, yarn, coated paper and . of the Institute for Self-Active mat board, as well as other Education in Boston, has materials. For a small statewide representation from membership fee, schools, day- business, schools and local care centers, home schoolers Reusable Resource Network board members and children alike enjoyed playing with industrial scraps at the opening of the Re-Center or non-profit organizations dealing with children can pick up materials for use in art, science or other projects. So, is the Re-Center's main purpose to divert waste from landfills or to support schools and youth? "It's a toss up," says Phyllis Wiritter, codirector of the center. While the Re-Center does divert waste, it also provides a valuable service for educators. A needs assessment sponsored by the Network found that more than 30 percent of Gainesville's teachers spend more than $150 out-of-pocket to purchase classroom materials each year. According to information provided by the Re-Center, scraps from manufacturing can be used for "self active" education, in which students learn through playful experimentation. With materials from the Re-Center, students can practice skills such as counting, grouping and categorizing to learn math or comparing, contrasting and experimenting to learn science. Wintter said teachers from as far away as East Point and Birmingham, Ala., have expressed interest in memberships. "Our biggest fear is running out of stuff," said Foote, also a Network board member. "The center has already had calls from teachers all overthe state. We're going to get deluged with requests." ----------------------'---~+ ~~~~~~~~~--~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GCB Ready to Judge ACRONYMS COMMONLY USED IN Annual Award Nominations THE WASTE STREAM JOURNAL By now you may have received your nomination for GCB's C&D Construction and Demolition annual awards: Completed applications must be returned to GCB by January 20, 1998. Awards will be presented at a luncheon at the World Congress Center in Atlanta on March 12, 1998. As in the past, organizations and individuals will be DCA Georgia Department bf Community Affairs DNR Georgia Department of Natural Resources EPA U.S. Environrriental Protection Agency recognized for outstanding waste reduction and environmental improvement efforts. For the second year, the student of the year will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation. EPD Georgia Environmental Protection Division (DNR) GCB Georgia Clean and Beautiful (DCA) GEFA Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority . Award categories include man, woman, public works employee and student of the year; community, business and industry, and home composting; environmental improvement and recycling by civic organizations, business and industry, GHEP Georgia Hospitality Environmental Partnership (DCA) KAB Keep America Beautiful, Inc. MRF Materials Recovery Facility government, schools, and youth groups; buy recycled programs; and KAB Systems. If you or someone you know needs a nomination form, please call Rhonda Koplin at (404) 679-3152. You can also print a copy MSW Municipal Solid Waste P2AD Georgia Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (DNR) RDC Regional Development Center from DCA's web page (www.state.dca.ga.us). SWM Solid Waste Management 3 GCBand Local KABs Win during the 1997 KAB Month Chairman of Excellence Awards, while Frank Adams was selected to receive the National Awards 1997 Chairperson of Not many chairmen of ~ GCB from page 1 Excellence Award for his work local KAB affiliates are with Smyrna Clean and willing to give up a long-held, Beautiful (see article at right better paying job. to manage 1997 KAB SYSTEM Awards for more information). the community's recycling (see table below). These "Georgia KAB affiliates center, so it's not surprising awards honor community cnnsistently win national that Frank Adams stands out affiliates working to prevent littering, improve waste awards because they are so dedicated to waste hand- in the crowd. Adams was named KAB's 1997 Chair- handling practices in their ling education in their person of Excellence for his communities and preserve the natural beauty and environment at the grass roots level across the country. Southeast Georgia Clean communities," said DCA Commissioner Jim Higdon. "We are particularly proud of Georgia Clean and Beautiful because their work helps the commitment to Smyrna Clean and Beautiful (SCB) since its inception in 1984. To Adams, the 1995 move wasn't a sacrifice, but the Frank Adams, KAB 's 1997 Chairperson of Excellence, works at a luncheon honoring the City ofSmyrna's workers. and Beautiful's Distinguished local affiliates thrive." opportunity to work full-time Recycling Center. Service Citation was the first Winners will accept their for something he really cares Adams' strong involve- time a regional program has awards at KAB 's "Honoring about. It has allowed him to ment did not begin with his ever received a KAB award. the Alliance" Awards improve the City's recycling takeover of the center, rather Albany-Dougherty's affiliate Luncheon on Saturday, efforts by expanding markets, it culminated in it. He was a also received first place for December 6, 1997, in improving record-keeping and mei;n_ber. of S THAT NEED MONEY ecycling companies expand their sales and ' seeking capital are operations. The house is a three bedroom home to be constructed on t.he invited to attend the Third Lawrenceville-based site of the winner's choosing. It features an energy-efficient Annual Southeastern Re- Waste Tire Management design and incorporates as many recycled-content products as cycling Investment Forum merged with Republic possible, such as car- in Charleston, S.C. on Industries after a previous peting made from February 23, 1998. The forum. As United Rubber recycled plastic soda Forum will provide Recycling, the firm bottles and reprocessed recycling businesses an introduced its product paint. Al.I of the opportunity to meet and Perma-MulchTM in retail materials and labor for present business plans to stores across the Southeast the American Green potential investors and during November. Dream House were financiers. To be eligible Recycling investment donated by companies to participate, companies forums also serve to educate committed to recycling must submit business plans investors about the money- and the environment. The electrical wire and cable products donated by Southwire Company contain re- With 1995 sales of $1.9 billion, Southwire is the largest producer of electrical copper and aluminum rod, wire and cable in the U.S. by December 1. Nearly 200 investors, economic developers and entrepreneurs heard business plan presentations by making opportunities that exist within the recycling industry niche. "The investment forum provides a real service to recycling entre- cycled copper and 24 recycling companies preneurs and investors brass. The company is combining the products with a cash from Georgia, North and alike," said Rick Defieux of donation for a total contribution of $10,000 toward the project. South Carolina, Florida, Edison Venture Fund. "We support this effoi:t because at the core of our business, Tennessee an.d Maryland at Southeastern recycling we believe recycling works and it is an integral. part of our the first two forums. The companies seeking expan- company," said Roy Long, vice president of Southwire's copper forums gave many of these sion capital should submit division. companies the business business plans to the South Though the America Recycles Day theme emphasizes the training and investment and Carolina Recycling Market need to purchase products made with recycled content, buying economic development Development Council by recycled is not an issue for Southwire. contacts they needed to December 1. "Ironically, the need to 'buy recycled' is not the problem in the scrap copper market," said Phil Tuggle, one of Southwire's scrap copper buyers. "Strong demand, especially from overseas, Registration Ted Campbell, (803) 737-0477 or Information tcampbell@commerce.state.sc.us. is making scrap copper more expensive. If anything, we wish Americans could find more copper for us to recycle;" Presenter Paula Longo at (404) 679-3161 or Applications plongo@dca.state.ga.us. ~~~~~~----''----~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ L__~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.......J Buy Recycled Vendor Show A Success When you're the host, the comments received after the recent Buy Recycled Procurement Conference and Exposition are just the kind you want to hear: "Enlightening; well worth the time." "Informative presentations; great speakers." "Great representation from business and industry." "Plenty of time with the vendors." "The food and snacks were good." Well, good food is important. Government and industry purchasers attended the conference to learn the advantages ofbuying products made from recycled materials. More than 30 exhibits featuring products ranging from compost to plastic lumber gave the 165 attendees anoppor. tunity to see the quality and availability of the products firsthand. Nationally recognized speakers, including Joel Ma:kower, editor of The Green Business Letter, and Fran McPoland, federal environmental executive, addressed the group. For future efforts, conference organizers are looking at ways to encourage . professional purchasing organizations, such as the National Association of Purchasing Managers, to integrate buy recycled messages and priorities into their programs and procedures. For more information on buyingrecycled, contact Paula Longo at: (404) 679-3161 or plongo@dca.state.ga. us. 7 THEWASTESTREAMJOURNALFALL1997-------,-------------- EPD Announces Georgia EPD will WHAT DO administer the Community Environmental You Do? Environmental Excellence Excellence Program program with input from other State agencies, including DCA, GEFA and P2AD. Local governments can industrial, agricultural and (pretreatment, erosion, Participation by local take the lead in addressing environmental issues and get rewards from State agencies through EPD's new Georgia Community Environmental Excellence Program. The environmental issues forestry); (2) mobile and area-wide air emissions (cars, mowers, solvents usage); (3) excessive amounts of solid wastes; and (4) litter. sedimentation, etc.); Comply with all envir- onmental planning requirements, including implementation (Georgia Planning Act, watershed protection, wellhead pro- governments is a voluntary two step process. The first step is a community decision (resolution) to pursue environinental excellence status. Environmental conditions differ and solutions facing Georgia The solutions to these tection, Georgia Solid Waste from community to today are very different from problems are .not simply Management Act); and community, and the actions to those of previous decades. regulatory programs. The Proceed beyond compliance achieve a quality environment The past sources of pollution solutions include and will to establish local programs in one community will differ to the air, water and land that heavily rely upon cities and to address nonpoint sources from those in another. dominated the impact on counties working with their of pollution and to Therefore, a community enter- Georgia's environment were citizens and industries to implement innovative ing the program will determine, specific and well-defined: address land use; litter, environmental enhancement in consultation with EPD and open dumps, uncontrolled stormwater controls, waste programs (litter control, others, the actions needed to ,,. smokestacks and untreated reduction, pollution pre- waste reduction, pollution achieve a quality environment municipal and industrial vention, and many other prevention, environmental and will set forth a strategy to sewage. For the most part, environmental initiatives. courts, etc.). meet that goal. these sources have been The Georgia Community "Waste management, The second step is to cleaned up and are now highly Environmental Excellence including waste reduction arid achieve and maintain environ- controlled. Program is one element of this litter, is just one of the mental compliance and to The sources of pollution solution. The program is elements for communities to achieve the other goals that now dominate Georgia's designed to assist and address when they're pursuing beyond compliance as environment are not as spe- encourage cities and counties Environmental Excellence identified in the strategy. cific, defined or controlled by to accomplish the following: designation," said Leamon Formal recognition as a facility-specific environ- Achieve and maintain Scott, director of DCA's Office Georgia Environmental mental regulatory problems. compliance with all of Waste Management. Excellence Community will These sources include: environmental permits DCA is working with its be awarded when a (1) nonpoint water pollution (wastewater, drinking water, Waste Reduction Advisory community meets the second (stormwater runoff from landfills, etc.); Council on ideas to recognize step requirements. various land use activities, Excel in running delegated such as construction, environmental programs Happy Birthday, GCBEDA! Judy Bowles and Joan Ellars blow out ten candles to celebrate the Georgia Clean and Beautiful Executive Directors Association's 10th birthday. The cake, held by Henry County Clean and Beautiful Executive Director Jim Menegos, was part of the celebration at GCB s annual Executive Directors Conference held at Red Top Mountain Lodge in September. Bowles directs the Albany/Dougherty Clean Community Commission and Ellars heads up the Marietta Clean City Commission. communities for achieving certain levels of excellence in solid waste management. These achievements could then satisfy the waste management component of the Environmental Excellence program if the community wanted to address other areas, too. Information on the solid waste management recognition program will be announced in The Waste Stream Journal after plans have been finalized. If your city or county is interested in this program, please contact David Word at EPD at (404) 656-4713. WHAT Do F?~mal reco.gv G ? mt10n will .1. OU ET. result in var- ious rewards to local govern- ments, including: Recognition and bragging rights; Time expanded environ- mental compliance schedules (if necessary); Reduced environmental reporting and monitoring frequencies; EPD technical assistance;. Priority for grants and reduced interest rates for water, sewer and solid waste loans. 8 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS SOLID WASTE INITIATIVES WILL EPD formed a Solid Waste Ad Hoc Committee with repre- BE STRONG IN 1998 GENERAL ASSEMBLY sentatives of the retail tire industry, the solid waste The Georgia General Reduction Fund, initiatives are industry, local governments, Assembly promises to make while Senate Bill s p o n s o r e d and environmental organ- life interesting for the solid 63 creates a special by James, other izations. The Committee has waste community this winter. recycling license legislation could met twice, and members are Severalbillsthatstalledduring plate to generate also be recon- still working toward a the 1997 Session will be eli- revenue for the sidered. For exam- consensus. According to gible for reconsideration in fund. ple, two competing EPD's Mark Smith, .their January. James' other bills relating to general direction seems to be The bill that has received initiatives include a scrap tires and the toward using funds for the most publicity is SB 191, the state purchasing solid waste trust research irito beneficial uses of "bottle bill." Introduced by bill that sets furid are pending in scrap tires. Senator Donzella James (D- minimumrecycled. the House. Spon- Other pending bills include College Park), the proposed content standards sored by several an effort to require payment to legislation calls for a 10 and other specifi- representatives, the secure a permit for certain deposit on all beverage cations for state agency paper bills both aim to change the environmental services; a containers (except milk) as an purchases and printing and a sunset date for the trust fund, move to exempt certain items effort to increase recycling and resolution that creates a Senate one to move it up from 2000 from state sales tax (aimed at reduce litter. Recycling and Economic to 1998 and the other to move Crisp County's new solid According to a recent Development Study it back to 2005. waste and recovery facility); article in the Atlanta Journal- Committee. In response to the and an attempt to have Constitution, 26 groups, Though most solid introductionofthesescraptire cigarette butts specifically including the Sierra Club and waste-related, carry-over bills during the last session, identified as litter. the Athens-based rock b a n d + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - R.E.M, have endorsed the bill. The issue has also drawn media attention, largely due to rallies around the state, most recently in Athens, Brunswick and Atlanta. Opponents of the bill say that it burdens not only consumers and retailers, but also local governments. Beverage containers generate 73 percent of curbside recycling program revenues, according to the Georgia Soft Drink Association. Other types of .local recycling programs, such as drop-off collection centers, may also rely on revenues from. beverage containers. Senator James has Talkin' Trash, Public language arts and computer expects to continue operating as rJ:F PUBLIC from page 1 When you're making your holiday wish list this season, think of things your community needs to help reduce its waste. GEFA will science and can be adapted for Tomahawk did, primarily middle school use. For accepting cardboard and plastics information, call (202) 463- for recycling. 2475 or visittheAssociation's web site at www.plt.org. * * * *** Rock-Tenn Company of Atlanta entered into a joint distribute another million Here is still another way venture with Sonoco Products .dollars in recycling and waste local governments can reduce Co., of Hartsville, S.C., to form reduction grants and will begin waste and expenses at the RTS Packaging. According to accepting applications some same time. Universal Waste News, the new Atlanta- time during the first quarter of Detailing Service in Cumming based company will bring 1998. Look for an announce- resurfaces emergency light together the current partition ment with complete details lenses for public safety businesses of the two firms and after the holidays. Call vehicles at about one-third the will involve units that had about GEFA's James Thompson at cost of purchasing new lenses. $150 million in sales last year. (404) 656-0938 for more For more information, call Thepartitionsareprimarilyused information. * * * (770) 888-0317. to cushion glass during shipping. *** sponsored five other bills and resolutions that could be reconsidered in 1998. Senate Bill 98, the "zero waste bill," establishes countywide, per capita waste reduction goals, increasing incrementally to reach 100% reduction by 2020. Senate Resolution 56 calls for creation of a Recyclirig and Solid Waste The American Forest Association's Project Learning Tree has released a new high school curriculum that highlights the complexities of waste management and the positive impact students can make. Exploring Environmental Issues: Municipal Solid Waste incorporates science, math, history, Talkin' Trash, Private rJ:F PRIVATE from page 1 Smyrna-based USA Waste Services of Georgia, a division of the third largest waste compa'.ny in the U.S., purchased Tomahawk Recycling in September. The acquisition gives USA Waste a MRF in Forsyth County. The company Fort Howard and 1ames River Corporation recently merged to form Fort James. The new company, which has a strong presence in Georgia, is the largest tissue manufacturer in North America and the second largest in the world. The company uses nearly 2.4 million tons ofrecovered papereach year in its products. 9 THEWASTESTREAMJOURNALFALL1997...,..-_- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - THE WASTE STREAM JOURNAL DCA Solid Waste Assistance is a quarterly publication of the Paul Radford, Director, Planning, Information & Management Division ......................... (404) 679-4934 Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Funding for this publication is provided Leamon Scott, Director, Office of Waste Management...................................................... (404) 679-4816 Lynn Cobb, Georgia Clean and Beautiful Coordinator ...................................................... (404) 679-4910 by the Georgia Solid Waste Patty Mcintosh, Waste Reduction and Government Assistance Manager .......................... (404) 679-4853 Trust Fund. Mark Bryant, Consultant .................................................................................................... (404) 679-4998 We welcome any comments, criticisms or suggestions for future editions. News releases Solid Waste Management Technical Assistance (Full Cost Accounting, Ordinances, Variable Rates, etc.), Solid Waste Planning Jeff Darrow, Project Manager, Georgia Hospitality Environmental Partnership .............. (404) 679-1598 are welcome. We cannot Waste Reduction Assistance for Hospitality Industry guarantee we will publish all Renita Davis, Consultant .............................,..... ;................................................................ (404) 679-4922 releases, but we do wish to report Solid Waste Management Technical Assistance (Yard Trimmings Diversion), I significant waste reduction news Solid Waste Public Information, Solid Waste Annual Report, The Waste Stream Journal from the state and the region. Please send releases and Bonnie Fryer, Research Assistant ....................................................................................... (404) 982-3462 correspondence to: Rhonda Koplin, Consultant:'"' ........ (404) 679-3152 Editor Education Training, Georgia Clean and Beautiful The Waste Stream Journal Paula Longo, State Recycling Coordinator ........................................................................ (404) 679-3161 :_i Georgia Department of Solid Waste Management Technical Assistance (Recycling, Variable Rates, Buy Recycled, etc.) I Community Affairs 60 Executive Park South, NE David Smith, Consultant' (404) 679-3144 Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 Special Projects (Christmas Tree Recycling, Statewide Litter Reduction Campaign, (404) 679-4922 Home Composting), Georgia Clean and Beautiful (404) 679-0572 (fax) Berenice Thomas, Secretary ..............:..............................................:................................. (404) 679-3142 Look for The Waste Stream Journal on DCA's web site at www.dca.state.ga.us. Patrick Vickers, Senior Information Specialist, Office of Research and Analysis ............. (404) 679-3151 Solid Waste Management Survey and Full Cost Report COMMUNITY NEWS ... . . . well, what we could find of it. Trapnell expects a lot of burning. "I don't know how many individuals will go to the little extra effort [to compost]," Trapnell- :' In the last issue, we asked you to tell us about your community's successes, solid waste issues and upcoming events told the Herald. "We're going to have more smoke, andI suffer from it as much as anyone." for a new section devoted exclusively to local programs. To be honest, we didn't hear from any of you. Here are a few items. wefound, but we'd really like to know what you think is important in your community. Please send your brief submissions (100 words or less) to: Editor, The Waste Stream Journal, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, 60 Executive Park South, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329-2231. If that's not convenient, faxthem to us at (404) 679-0572. If faxing is a hassle, try e-mailing us at rdavis@dca.state.ga.us. If writing is a hassle, call us at (404) 679-4922-we'll write it! The deadline for the next issue is January 15. Rockdale County The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently profiled Chuck Boelkins, head of the Rockdale Recycling and Transfer Station, i1;1 its "Extraordinary People" column. Boelkins has gone the extra mile to find homes for usable throw-aways that have come through his facility. Two tons of ice cream cones whose expiration date had passed became chicken feed after a search turned up an Atlanta company that could use them. "Gallons and gallons" of unopened paint-along with bricks, concrete blocks, a storm door and a water heaterare now part of houses built by Habitat for Humanity. Open since 1993, the recycling center not only offers City ofMetter residents a place to bring their recyclables and reusables, but According to the Statesboro Herald, residents of Metter are facing a smoky autumn since the City has stopped collecting yard trimmings. When Candler County closed its inert landfill it also gives them a source of free mulch and compost. Residents may also bring a saw and take firewood from trees and limbs picked up by County crews. in September, the City was left without a place to legally dispose of the debris. Residents are being required to handle their yard trimmings themselves. The City is encouraging home composting, but Mayor Billy All Around the State The Fall 1997 Phone Book Roundup, a newsletter published by BellSouthAdvertising & Publishing, describes phone book 10 t: LllW - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS Linking Agriculture with Industrial Waste Reduction Using industrial byproducts in agriculture or through composting could provide opportunities to help Georgia's farmers, cut disposal costs for industries and reduce waste at the same time. To explore this possibility, P2AD has established an agricultural waste reduction and pollution prevention program in cooperation with UGA's Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department and Cooperative Extension Service. Several projects currently sponsored or supported by P2AD's agricultural program will serve as demonstration projects for others in the state. AGRICULTURAL TEST PLOTS The use of by-product soil amendments such as sewage sludge, poultry litter, wallboard, mulched yard waste, various compost mixes, and pulp and paper byproducts is being tested on crops such as cotton, peanuts, com and soybeans. Test plots are used to evaluate environmental effects, soil quality enhancements and plant growth characteristic effects associated with use of the by-product amendments. Results will be used to show farmers how the use of municipal, agricultural and industrial by-products can help their crop production. SUMTER COUNTY CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL This project is demonstrating the benefits of diverting demolished building wallboard for use as a soil amendment on peanut farms. Results to date indicate that its use provides an economical alternative to disposal. Just as important, it provides a source of calcium, which is beneficial to the production of peanuts and other crops. CITY OF DOUGLAS This biomass composting project is testing the effectiveness of composting agricultural and urban waste materials with municipal wastewater sludge. Various mixture.s of biosolids, cotton gin trash and mulched yard debris are being tested at the UGA Bioconversion Research and Demonstration Center to determine which mixes compost most rapidly and emit the least odor. The results of this study will be used to implement a full-scale pilot project to demonstrate the benefits of composting these by-products. G1LMER!P1CKENS COUNTY POULTRY INDUSTRY PROJECT Records indicate that in 1995, over 3,000 tons of poultry waste were disposed of in one landfill in north Georgia. Over 6,000 tons of dead birds are produced each year by the poultry industry located in these two counties alone. The identification of alternatives to disposal of poultry waste is important to the stability an,d growth of the industry and to statewide waste reduction efforts. Viable opportunities have been identified. Local government officials, solid waste managers and poultry industry representatives are working to identify the issues and barriers associated with the implementation of these opportunities. For more information about any of these projects, contact Dr. Mark Risse, agriculture pollution prevention specialist at UGA, at (706) 542-2154. ,-1111-1.1" n11-1- 1L_.n.c-1-_1nn1',-''.--'-.1 1'-'1-'1r11c1i n ,- nn11-.J r 1 www.dca.state.ga.us You'll find: l8f' What's New at DCA l8f' Past Issues of The Waste Stream Journal [@" GCB Award Nomination Form CALENDAR OF EVENTS DECEMBER 15 National Drawing for ARD 15 Presentation of State ARD Prizes Washington, DC Atlanta JANUARY ... COMMUNITY NEWS recycling success stories in. several Georgia communities: The Athens program collected 42 tons of old telephone directories (OTD) from Clarke, Oconee and Madison counties, primarily through the schools... Augusta's program used drop-off locations throughout the city...Brunswick's program is being revived and will cover all of Glynn County... Cobb County was expecting to boost recovery of OTD through a new school program...Gwinnett County has collected 129.5 tons to date, a 20% increase over last year...Henry County's collection more than doubled over last year after Henry Clean & Beautiful instituted a school program and agressively promoted it in the community...Macon complemented limited curbside pick up of OTD ~ith drop-off collection sites at fire stations and city recreation centers and a special directory recycling night at a Macon Braves game...Roswell collected 240 tons, or 35.8 percent of available old phone books...Woodstock collected 60.7 tons, almost double last year's figure, representing 12.9% of total directories in circulation there. 3 7 19-22 20 Christmas Tree Recycling Waste Reduction Advisory Council Meeting GA SWANA Landfill Operators Certification Training Workshop GCB Award Nominations due Statewide Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Macon Southern Tech, Marietta FEBRUARY 2-6 KAB Institute for Executive Directors 23 Recycling Investment Forum Athens Charleston, SC MARCH 1-4 Southeast Recycling Conference & Trade Show 2-4 North Carolina Recycling Coalition Annual Meeting 12 Georgia Clean & Beautiful Annual Awards Luncheon 20-21 Georgia Conservancy's Annual Meeting 22-25 EPA Region 4 Lead-Based Paint Conference Perdido Beach, AL Greensboro, NC Atlanta Savannah Jekyll Island 11 THE WASTE STREAM JOURNAL FALL1997 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Georgians Pledge to Recycle and Buy Recycled From the ambitious overhauling of buying habits to the one small step toward making a difference, the pledges made for America Recycles Day are as varied as the Georgians who made them. Below are a few entered in the drawings. Although it's too late to qualify for a prize, it's never too late to change your habits. What will you and your community do? I am already recycling cardboard and plastic at home. I will add cans and bottles. I will also begin to buy larger quantity (bulk) items and refills of household cleaners. MARIETTA (Cobb County) I will use _a recycling box for paper in my classroom. CLERMONT (Hall County) My husband and I will recycle all motor oil and filters for our cars. We will buy recycled products and look at labels to make sure the products that we buy are recyclable. MACON (Bibb County) I pledge to purchase environ- We recycle everything-all #1- mentally friendly packaged 5 plastics, newspapers, junk products; encourage my mail, plastic bags, cans, glass, -retailers to provide recycled magazines, etc. We've been products as alternatives to doing this for ten years. My destructively made and four kids are quite used to it. packaged products; gladly In fact, when they'relooking celebrate the efforts of _for something, they'll often recycling. ask if I've recycled it. Only ~~~~~~~~- once did I recycle a_ (rather ATHENS (Clarke County) large) check...but I was able We buy recycled products. We have a two-year old son who is totally disabled and we recycle everything from paper to retrieve it in time! We're planning to start a compost pile. ~~~~~~~~~- SuwANEE (Forsyth County) to plastic. We are going to propose a recycling program I have been recycling all my to our neighborhood watch life. I will teach kids to recycle group. and not waste anything. ~~~~~~~~~- LITHONIA (DeKalb County) CLEVELAND (White County) G'ORG\t. [I will] buy more recycled items; support and participate in recycling events; teach classes for youth through 4-H clubs, scouts, and classroom. Continue my strict household recycling program in effect since 1981. I believe! MONROE (Walton County) I commit to buy recycled at home and work; think before I buy; encourage the use of recycled-content products at work; and recycle my used motor oil. All in all, reduce, -reuse, recycle. ATLANTA (Fulton County) THE WASTE STREAM JOURNAL Georgia Department of Community Affairs 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, GA 30329-2231 An Equal Opportunity Employer If you are disabled and would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please contact the Georgia Department of Community Affairs at (404) 679-4915 or 1 (800) 736-1155 (TDD). If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please call us or return the mailing label to have your name removed from our mailing list. Thanks! 12 *Printed on Recycled Paper