GREEN STAR E-News Vol. 3 No. 9, September 16, 2002

"Recognizing Alaska businesses committed to environmental responsibility."

In this issue:

* Shining Stars
* Alaska State Fair -- It’s Bloomin’ Recycling!
* Electronics Recycling – A New Plan for Anchorage
* Waste Prevention 101: Offices – Beyond Office Paper
* Recycling 101: Toner Cartridges
* Fall Safety Check Should Include Air Quality
* This Month’s Hot Link: National Pollution Prevention Week
* Thank you 2002 Sponsors

Visit http://www.greenstarinc.org for past articles written for E-News, waste prevention tips and enrollment information for Green Star.

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SHINING STARS

Welcome and thank you to our newest enrollees, PARENTS, Inc. and Tikigaq Corporation, both of which are working toward their Green Star awards.

Congratulations to the BP Energy Center and to Nabors Alaska Drilling for achieving the Green Star award. The awards were presented that the Chamber of Commerce “Make It Monday” Forum on September 9th.

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ALASKA STATE FAIR – IT’S BLOOMIN’ RECYCLING!

Another Alaska State Fair has come and gone but the progress made in recycling will live on. During the Fair, several visitors from other fairs observed activities, evaluated the efforts, and provided suggestions for improvement. Almost exclusively they talked about the recycling program as a positive part of the Fair, and one visitor stated that he thought the recycling effort was the second best aspect of the fair, after the beautiful flowers. Check out some of the photos from the Fair at www.greenstarinc.org/adoptaday.htm.

“The biggest plus was how many people commented on the fact that they could see recycling in action,” said Pamella Troutman, Vendor and Exhibits Manager for the Alaska State Fair. “People saw volunteers pulling carts and collecting and sorting materials on the Fairgrounds, not just signs or banners that said there was recycling going on.”

This year’s Fair recycling effort was the first comprehensive recycling program initiated at the Fair. An aluminum can recycling program was tried at the Fair several years ago and it provided a foundation on which to build this year’s program, including the numerous recycling bins and many lessons learned.

The program began during last year’s Fair with a waste assessment and discussion among Green Star, Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS), and the Alaska State Fair. All three groups agreed that recycling at the Fair would be a valuable addition and with some effort, it was a feasible project. Green Star and VCRS staff committed time and energy to the project and the Fair offered its full support, including staff time, supplies, and publicity. For the past year, the three groups met regularly, planning a strategy, identifying resources, and recruiting volunteers.

The final plan that evolved focused on collecting aluminum cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles, and corrugated cardboard for recycling. More than 150 recycling bins were placed throughout the Fairgrounds, concentrating on food and merchandise vendor areas and carnival areas where the most recyclables would be generated. Vendors also were educated about the program and asked to flatten and stack cardboard for recycling collection. Vendors were thrilled about the opportunity to recycle this year.

The key to the recycling program was the approximately 500 volunteers who helped to collect and sort material, as well as educate the public about recycling. Volunteers patrolled the fairgrounds pulling “Recycling Team” collection carts, each with a tall recycling flag and often decorated by the volunteer organization on duty. The volunteer teams removed bags of cans and bottles from recycling bins, checked trash bins for stray recyclables and salvaged many of them, and responded to vendor requests to take away cardboard boxes for recycling.

Back at the sorting area, located in the Orange parking lot, more volunteers removed caps and lids from all the bottles; poured out half-full bottles and cans; sorted them into glass, aluminum, and plastic; and loaded them into large collection dumpsters, while dodging the ever-present bees and wasps eager to get their share of the sticky soda and juice. They also flattened endless cardboard boxes, filling nearly seven 40-cubic-yard containers by the end of the Fair.

Wrex Diem, a volunteer himself, staffed the sorting area for much of the Fair, handing out gloves and instructions to each new team of volunteers. He sent teams of volunteers out, armed with bags, empty carts, and gloves, and watched them return with full carts, stories of thankful Fairgoers and vendors, and looks of determination on their faces. “Just one more bin – just one more stop to check for cardboard,” was the sentiment of many volunteers as the end of their shift neared. The enthusiasm was contagious.

“For the first concerted recycling effort at the Fair, it was unbelievably successful,” says Diem, of both the materials collection and the educational aspect of the recycling. “Many of the volunteers saw that their efforts were very rewarding not only in terms of recovery recyclables, but also presenting recycling to a bunch of people who may not have had the foggiest idea about what recycling was.”

The Numbers

Here are the preliminary numbers from the event. We are still tracking down some of the figures, so we will update you when the complete picture develops.

PET Plastic Bottles 1,350 pounds (0.675 tons)
Aluminum Cans 1,308 pounds (0.654 tons)
Glass Bottles 6,000 pounds (3 tons)
Corrugated Cardboard 15,440 pounds (7.72 tons) does not include 1-2 loads
Total 24,098 pounds (12.1 tons)

This preliminary total is approximately 8.5% of the total waste stream from the Fair.

Thank You

Green Star, VCRS, and the Alaska State Fair wish to thank the following sponsors who provided funding and/or supplies:

And finally, a big thank you to all of the individual volunteers who helped recycle, rain or shine. These people are too numerous to list but we want each of them to know their efforts were recognized and appreciated.

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ELECTRONICS RECYCLING – A NEW PLAN FOR ANCHORAGE

Did you know that 40 million computer monitors and TVs will become obsolete in the U.S. this year? By the year 2004, it is estimated that 315 million computers will have been thrown away. Electronic waste is a huge and growing worldwide problem. Many countries and U.S. states have enacted legislation regarding disposal of electronics, or have provided recycling options for their residents. No programs exist in Alaska to date.

In response to the growing environmental concern and a high community demand, Green Star and the Alaska Computer Society have teamed up with many other organizations to ease the problem of electronics waste in the Anchorage area.

Following an initial public information session in July, a core organizing group has met several times to research the possibility of various electronics recycling scenarios. Below is a description of the route we are currently examining that has both positive ecological and sociological impacts for Alaska. These plans are subject to change as research and planning progress. And most importantly, the entire program is subject to funding availability and donations. If you would like to support such an event, please consider making a personal or corporate contribution to Green Star.

A Two-Tiered Program

Tier 1: A web site to match functioning computers with needy recipients. Businesses with high-quality machines, especially businesses with five or more computers, will be directed to the web site for year-round trading.

Tier 2: A one-day drop-off event during Spring 2003 City-Wide Clean-Up for households and organizations to give away or recycle computers and other electronics. The equipment will be triaged into two groups: reusable and recyclable. Reusable computers will be distributed to non-profit organizations in Alaska. All other equipment will packaged in palletized gaylords (provided by the Anchorage Recycling Center) and shipped in 40-foot containers (thanks to ALPAR) to USEPA-certified electronics recycling facilities in the Tacoma/Seattle area. The electronics recycling facilities separate the old equipment into components (glass/tubes, plastic, metals, wire, chips, boards etc.) and ship each of these parts to recycling plants. Initial research indicates that between 94 and 99 percent of the equipment will be recycled into new product.

Event Needs

Mall/Warehouse Space: We are seeking a large indoor space for the drop-off day and ensuing triage process. Central location, parking, power outlets, and a trailer loading dock are attributes we are seeking.

Volunteers: We have a growing list of volunteers already and will likely need many more. Duties will range from pre-event organizing, publicity, and phone calls, to post-event triage and distribution. If you are interested or know others who might be, please reply to this email with name, email, phone, and organization affiliation.

Sponsors/Donors: Individuals and organizations that support this effort may make contributions to Green Star to help cover initial organization costs or in-kind contributions of materials, labor, etc. Contributors will receive recognition for their support. Green Star is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization; therefore, donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Supporters To Date

This event will be a huge cooperative effort of many organizations and individuals. Organizations that are providing support already include:
Alaska Computer Society
Anchorage Chamber of Commerce
Anchorage Recycling Center
ALPAR (Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling)
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Citizens for Recycling Solutions
PARENTS, Inc.

We welcome your feedback on this developing plan. If you wish to receive future emails on this topic or would like to volunteer, please reply to this email. Thank you for your interest in bringing computer/electronics recycling to Anchorage! Together, we can make it happen.

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WASTE PREVENTION 101: Offices – Beyond Office Paper

Last month we focused on reducing the generation and disposal of office paper from offices. This article looks at other office waste streams. Other wastes typically generated in offices include spent toner cartridges; paperboard and cardboard from office-supply shipments; binders, folders, hanging files, and other office supplies that have been used once; some food and food packaging waste, such as snack bags, take-out packaging, and beverage cans, bottles, and cups; computer and electronic waste; and office furniture.

Food Service

Between 4 and 12% of the waste generated in an office (by weight) is food service packaging. This includes everything from the paper cup used for morning coffee, to the layers of wrapping, ketchup packets, and take-out bags brought in at lunchtime with a burger and fries. Another 3 – 10% (by weight) can be food/liquid waste. Here are a few tips for reducing food and food service waste:

* Encourage employees to bring a set of serviceware (a plate, cup, bowl, set of silverware, and a cloth napkin) to work to use for meals. Take the napkin home weekly to wash it.

* Stock kitchens or break areas with plates, cups, and bowls for use during company potlucks or birthday parties.

* Stock dish soap in kitchen areas so employees can wash reusable dishes and mugs after use. If possible consider installing dishwashers in kitchens or break areas.

* When you go to a take-out or fast-food restaurant, let them know you don’t need the extra plastic utensils or napkins thrown into the bag.

* If your workplace has an employee cafeteria, request that they serve food on your plate or cup, or ask if you can bring plates back if they have an eat-in versus take-out option for packaging. Sometimes the cafeteria’s disposable take-out serviceware is durable enough to wash and bring back to use several more times.

* Save ketchup and other packets to use later so you don’t need to get them every time you order food.

* Save all the extra napkins that fast-food places and delis sneak into the bag in a desk drawer for later use.

* Provide a comfortable, accessible location with a microwave and refrigerator for employees to eat. This may encourage employees to bring their own lunches rather than go out and bring food back, which tends to be more overpackaged than food brought from home. As an added bonus, a lunchroom also may reduce the number of car trips by employees during the day, reducing air emissions.

Office Supplies

Office supplies often come into the office from your office supply vendor overpackaged. Ask the office supply vendor to reduce the amount of packaging you receive if they put together large orders for you. This may mean eliminating the outer layer of stretch wrap around a large order, or putting all supplies into a single box. Some suppliers, such as Corporate Express, offer supplies in cardboard boxes imprinted with instructions to return the boxes to Corporate Express for reuse.

Start a reuse cabinet, room, or corner for office supplies that can be used again. When employees move or leave the company, encourage them to put any binders, file folders, hanging files, pens, pencils, markers, staplers, tape dispensers, partially used Post-It pads, file trays, and other reusable items in the reuse room. Any new employees or employees looking for supplies should be encouraged to check the reuse room before requesting new supplies.

If your office uses lots of copy paper consider purchasing paper in “reamless” boxes to eliminate the numerous ream wrappers in traditional paper boxes. This paper reduces packaging waste and is a little cheaper per sheet than regular paper sold by the ream or carton. Many office supply companies carry this type of paper.

See the Toner Cartridge article in this issue for information about reducing the number of toner cartridges used.

Reduce junk mail coming through the post office and your fax machine. Keep a box or tray in the mail room or another central area where employees can place unwanted publications or publications received for employees that no longer work there. Designate someone to periodically go through the box and notify the sender of each piece to take the name off the sender’s mailing list.

Write to the Mail Preference Service and request your name, address, and phone number be deleted from all mailing and marketing lists. Provide them with three spellings or variations of your name, as well as with any other names at your address (including previous occupants). They will retain your information for five years. At that time you should write again. Be sure to write when you move. Send your name and address. Be sure to sign and date your letter.

Mail Preference Service
c/o Direct Marketing Association
PO BOX 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008
212-768-7277

Remember that every time you order from a catalog, your name goes back on a list and starts circulating all over again.

Visit http://www.ecofuture.org/jmfax.html for information about eliminating junk faxes.

Restroom Waste

Waste from restrooms can be as much as 15% of an office’s waste stream, depending on the type of hand-drying system is used (and the other waste prevention initiatives already in place). To reduce the quantity of restroom waste, look primarily at hand drying methods. C-fold towels (individual pull-out towels) generate more waste and cost more overall than roll towels. In fact, for every three hand dries, an additional one square foot of towel is used when C-fold towels are installed versus roll towels. Hot-air hand dryers are even more efficient, saving money in towel purchases and disposal. See http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dos/html/recywprpts.html and click on “Life-Span Costing Analysis Case Studies” for a full cost and waste analysis of towels versus hot air dryers based on office buildings in New York City.

Note: Waste stream percentages in this article are based on figures determined during a series of waste sorts conducted in New York City office buildings in 2000. Visit http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/strongest and click “Publications & Reports,“ then “Waste Prevention and Recycling Reports” for details about the waste sorts (NYCitySen$e Project Summary).

Electronics and Computers

This is the big question that we all have these days – what do we do with our old computers? Before you throw them away or send them for dismantling and recycling (see above article), consider some waste prevention alternatives.

* Upgrade as long as you can. Perhaps your computer only needs upgraded software or new memory.

* Pass the buck. If you get a new computer, check to see if your old one is better than the next guy’s. What you are willing to reject may be a step up for a coworker.

* Check with local schools, libraries, youth centers, and other organizations. Many organizations need computers and don’t need the very latest machines.

Furniture

Office furniture can include chairs and desks but also, shelves, file cabinets, computer stands, and other small items. If you are updating your office space with new furniture, check with schools, churches, libraries, youth centers, shelters, and other nonprofit organizations to see if the furniture might be needed. For larger quantities of items, you may want to consider listing them in the quarterly Alaska Materials Exchange catalog. This statewide catalog is a free listing of a wide range of materials that groups or individuals are either trying to get rid of or are trying to find. Contact Tee Little at the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation at 269-7586 or tlittle@envircon.state.ak.us for more information about listing items in the AME catalog.

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RECYCLING 101: Toner Cartridges

This is the twentieth article in our series about recycling in Anchorage. As you head back to school or return to work from summer vacation, your printer and copier use will increase and the machines will use up toner at a faster rate. Toner cartridges are found in a variety of sizes and styles in copy machines and printers, most of which can be recycled.

The National Picture

Approximately 275 million used ink jet and laser jet cartridges will be discarded this year (www.sharetechnology.org).

How Do I Recycle Toner Cartridges in Anchorage?

Several cartridge recyclers, as well as some office supply companies, in Anchorage will accept toner cartridges. See “Resources” below for specific information. Several of the companies will pick up your cartridges while others require you to deliver them.

One recycler in Anchorage says that every cartridge recycled prevents the equivalent of one quart of oil from going into a landfill.

Reducing Toner Cartridges

While duplexing copies reduces paper, it does nothing to reduce the amount of ink printed onto a page. Therefore, other reduction methods are necessary to reduce toner cartridge use and disposal. First of all, think twice before printing or copying anything. Could the information be sent electronically? Could people easily share copies?

Resist the urge to print pages with lots of photos or dark graphics, which require more ink. Photos and graphics rarely copy well anyway.

Do the laser jet cha-cha. When copies start looking a little faint, or you get a “toner low” message on the printer, you can prolong the life of the toner cartridge by carefully removing it and gently shaking it. Don’t shake too hard, but simply flip it back and forth and end to end a few times, then replace it in the printer. This should get you a few more days or weeks (depending on usage) from the cartridge. It’s probably not a technique recommended in the printer manual but it’s a tried and true remedy for prolonging cartridge life, both to reduce waste and to cope with emergencies. It’s always during the final printing of a document on deadline that the “toner low” message appears and you discover there are no new cartridges in the supply cabinet.

Resources

Bhree Cycle It
510 W. 41st Ave., Suite B
562-7401
Picks up used cartridges, sells reconditioned cartridges (typically 30-50% savings over new cartridges), will pick up and deliver within the Anchorage bowl.

Cartridge Connection
600 W. 58th Ave., Suite F
563-9326
Accepts used cartridges of any brand and type (fax, copy, printer etc.), no minimum quantities, free pick-up and delivery in Anchorage, sells reconditioned cartridges (typically 20-60% savings over new cartridges).

Corporate Express
4831 Old Seward Highway
786-5100
Will pick up used cartridges on call or when making supply deliveries. Free drop-off available. Accepts all types of cartridges. Sells refurbished cartridges in its store.

Northern Office Supply
7120 Old Seward Highway
344-6200
Will pick up used cartridges, call for specific types and brands accepted, no minimum quantities, offers some refurbished cartridges.

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FALL SAFETY CHECK SHOULD INCLUDE AIR QUALITY

At this time of year, as we prepare for winter by installing winter tires, checking smoke detector batteries, and swapping shorts for sweaters in drawers, there are a few simple things you should do that will help clear the air in Anchorage this winter:

1. Install a plug-in timer for any vehicles parked outside and prepare a good quality outdoor extension cord. This eliminates the need to get up early to plug in your vehicle two hours prior to departing when temperatures are below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (the recommended plug-in time and temperature.) Free heavy-duty timers are available from the Green Star office.
2. Look for other ways to get to work, such as riding the bus, the Share-A-Ride program, vanpools, carpooling with coworkers, walking, bicycling, or perhaps even skiing for those lucky enough to work and live near Anchorage’s trail system.
3. Generally, try to avoid “cold starts” when your engine starts from a cold state when ambient temperatures are below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The first few minutes after starting your engine, carbon monoxide (a poison) and other emissions are up to 70 times higher than when the car is running warm.
4. Be a local champion by earning a Green Star Air Quality Award at your place of work. More details can be found at http://www.greenstarinc.org/earningsteps/earning.htm.

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THIS MONTH’S HOT LINK: National Pollution Prevention Week
http://www.p2.org/p2week

National Pollution Prevention Week is September 16—22, 2002. Learn about ways to promote pollution prevention in your workplace or recognize those who have made the extra effort to prevent pollution.

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THANK YOU 2002 SPONSORS

Green Star could not exist without the generous financial support of many individuals and leading local businesses. To become a Green Star individual member or corporate sponsor, please call (278-7827) or visit our web site http://www.greenstarinc.org. A huge thank you to our 2002 sponsors!

Platinum: BP Exploration Alaska, Municipality of Anchorage Solid Waste Services, Phillips Alaska
Gold: Alaska Conservation Foundation, KTUU Channel 2, Wells Fargo
Silver: Anchorage Refuse (A Waste Management Company), National Association of PET Container Resources (NAPCOR), Phone Directories, Inc., Princess Tours, The Home Depot
Bronze: Data Pro, La Mex, Odom Corporation, Sam's Club, Smurfit-Stone Recycling Company, Pepsi-Cola Bottling of Anchorage, Wal-Mart ‘A’ St. Store
Supporter: ALPAR, Anchorage Daily News, Bear Tooth Grill and Theater Pub, Café Del Mundo, Chugach Electric Association, Corporate Express Alaska, Denali Commission, Moose’s Tooth Pub and Pizzeria, Nabors Alaska Drilling, Side Street Espresso, Snow City Cafe
Contributor: Alaska Center for the Environment, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Alaska Serigraphics, Alaska Wildland Adventures, Arctic Wire Rope & Supply, CH2M Hill, Fowler & Associates, Green Connection, Shoot-N-Edit, Spenard Builders Supply, The Body Shop, Webb Consulting & Management Services

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Past issues of E-News are available on our web site, sorted by topic or date. Please send comments, questions, or suggestions for future E-News topics to us at enews@greenstarinc.org. Forward this newsletter freely. Send us any email addresses you wish to add to our mailing list. Thank you!

The staff of Green Star, Anchorage:
Sean Skaling, Executive Director
Jeanne Carlson, Recycling Program Coordinator

If you would like to discontinue receiving E-News, please write to enews@greenstarinc.org.

E-News: Green Star's Electronic, Environmental Newsletter!