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Green Star E-News
In this issue: * Shining Stars ================================== Congratulations to our Newest Green Star Awardee!
Welcome to our New March Enrollees!
Green Events in April =================================
Earth Day – Tuesday, April 22 Earth Day is 38 years old this April; that’s practically middle aged! Fortunately, age has not slowed Earth Day down. View video of last year’s Anchorage Earth Day Bike Rally at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZOmX3xEEu0.
Support Anchorage’s Recycling Plan – Tuesday, April 29, 5pm The newly introduced recycling plan needs the support of the community to ensure acceptance by the Assembly. Come out to the Public Hearing for the plan at the Assembly chambers in the Loussac Library on April 29th at 5pm. To learn more about the plan, see the article below or visit www.muni.org/sws/recycling.cfm. Alaska Waste Curbside Recycling Pilot Program On April 15, Alaska Waste will begin offering a six-month free curbside pilot recycling program to customers in several segments of Anchorage. Visit www.alaskawaste.net to see where the program will be offered. For more information about the new Alaska Waste recycling program, contact Katy Suddock, Communication and Recycling Coordinator at Alaska Waste, at 273-2708.
Take the L.E.E.P. (Lighting Energy Efficiency Pledge) Anchorage businesses are encouraged to take the L.E.E.P. toward energy savings by pledging to upgrade inefficient lighting. Visit www.greenstarinc.org for more information about the L.E.E.P. program and to calculate what your savings could be.
Anchorage Recycle Blog Meet the new bloggers on Anchorage’s recycling blog at www.adn.com/recycleblog. It is a great opportunity to comment on, and get information about, Anchorage’s new recycling programs. Feel free to submit questions, comments or suggestions about anything that has to do with recycling and sustainable living. We hope to make this a place for everyone to go to for information concerning recycling. =================================
Changes are afoot at Green Star this spring. Our Membership Director, Jean Marie Guzzetti, recently took a position in Maine. We are sad to be saying farewell to Jean Marie, but also anxious to fill the vacancy so we can continue to provide quality service to our members. Jean Marie’s outstanding work as a liaison with our members has allowed us to connect your workplace with the highest quality green business resources, technical assistance, training and marketing services. Visit www.greenstarinc.org for a job description. In addition, if you see our Program Director’s name in association with the Municipality’s new recycling plan, that’s because along with her Green Star duties, Jeanne Carlson is now working part-time with the Municipality’s Solid Waste Services to implement the long-awaited Anchorage recycling plan. She will, however, continue to work closely with Green Star members, providing technical assistance, education, outreach, and programs to help them meet the Green Star Standards.
Green Star also is looking for an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Intern for the summer to assist in research projects associated with “green” cleaning and paper purchasing. Visit www.greenstarinc.org for a description of the position. =================================
The Salvation Army is hosting “Transformed Treasures” in April. One hundred local artists have created masterpieces using donated items found at Salvation Army Thrift Stores. And you can be part of the transformation. On Friday, April 4th from 4:30-7:30pm, these treasures will be on display at the BP Energy Center as part of First Friday. This is your chance to meet the artists and preview the items that will be auctioned off at a Live & Silent Auction the following week. On Saturday, April 12, from 11:30am to 1:30pm, participate in a Live & Silent Auction and Luncheon at the Anchorage Downtown Marriott. Items to be auctioned include furniture, clothing, jewelry and more, all transformed by an artist’s touch. Tickets for the luncheon and auctions are $25/person or $250 for a table of ten. For tickets, contact Diana Justus at 275-2525 or Diana.justus@usw.salvationarmy.org. This fundraiser will support Salvation Army programs here in Anchorage. Additional support is provided by ALPAR, CH2M Hill, and Color Art Printing Co. =================================
The Municipality recently unveiled its recycling plan. The plan includes two major components: 1) an automated trash collection system, with Pay As You Throw (PAYT) trash rates and curbside recycling in the SWS collection area, and 2) a variety of community-wide programs that will benefit all Anchorage residents. The Assembly will hear public testimony on the plan at its April 29th meeting. Visit www.muni.org/sws/recycling.cfm for details about the plan, a proposed route map for the curbside portion of the plan, and the consultant’s report. Automated Trash Collection & Curbside Recycling The program is designed to create a safer, more efficient trash collection system. It also should encourage recycling and waste prevention by charging customers by the quantity of trash generated, while offering an easy way to recycle. Community-wide Recycling Programs
Drop-off locations School recycling The 40% of the schools’ waste stream made up of recyclable paper will be the primary target of the school recycling program, but some schools may wish to integrate bottles and cans recycling as well. Public space recycling Composting Public outreach ================================= Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. (SSCC), Chicago, Ill., USA, named its 2007 plants of the year a few weeks ago at the company’s annual leadership meeting awards dinner. Anchorage, Alaska, won in the Recycling division; Ontario, Canada, area plants (Smurfit-MBI) were winners in the Corrugated Container division; and Panama City, Fla., was the Corrugated Mill division winner. “Our recycling division recovered more than seven million tons of recyclables in 2007, a company record," said Patrick Moore, SSCC chairman and CEO. "It takes an entire team working together to achieve this kind of success, but the performance of the Anchorage recycling plant stood out among the others in 2007." The Anchorage plant's safety performance has been extraordinary over an extended period of time, having gone seven full years without a recordable incident as measured by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), despite working outside in extremely difficult weather conditions. “Our team is a disciplined, professional group, which already had five years without an accident before I arrived two years ago,” says Bob Tenge, Smurfit-Stone’s plant manager in Anchorage. In addition, the Anchorage facility received national recognition for its partnership with Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling and its Flying Cans Program, which also partners with regional airlines to enable rural communities in Alaska to send aluminum cans to Anchorage for recycling. Smurfit-Stone's Anchorage recycling plant is represented on the Mayor's Advisory Board for recycling and curbside collection, and plant staff has been instrumental in working with the City of Anchorage on starting up a new curbside-recycling program. The plant has been very active in the community, including support for events such as a high school all-star football game to support Shriner's hospital, and hosting a Keep America Green Day. The company’s recycling operations also provide a secure source of fiber for its mill system. SSCC's combination of 24 recycling plants and 16 paper mills represent the largest integrated system in the industry. “Our corporate philosophy is ‘To be the safest, most profitable company in our industry with the best people’," says Tenge. “We continually strive to represent the high standards of our company and be a vital help to our community.” Smurfit-Stone operates the Anchorage Recycling Center on Rosewood Drive. The facility provides 24-hour drop-off for nine recyclable materials. Call 562-2267 for more information about the Anchorage Recycling Center. ================================= Visit Unisource’s new web site features its environmentally preferable products and services, including paper, packaging and facility supplies. Unisource works with businesses, government agencies, and schools in Anchorage. ================================= Green Star could not exist without the generous financial and in-kind support of many individuals and leading local businesses and organizations. 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 2008 sponsors!
Platinum ($10,000+): BP, ConocoPhillips, GCI, Municipal Light & Power, Rasmuson Foundation, University of Alaska Anchorage, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Gold ($5,000-$9,999): Anchorage Daily News, University Center Silver ($2,500-$4,999): Chugach Electric, Microsoft, Total Reclaim, Inc.,
Bronze ($1,000-$2,499): Anchorage Media Group, Best Buy, Mini-Brute, Peak Oilfield Services Green ($500-$999): Anchorage School District, Dan Miller Graphics, Frames Etc. Supporter ($250-$499): Alaska Communication Systems, Lynden Transport Contributor (up to $250): Alaska Center for the Environment, Alaska Interstate Construction, Alutiiq, Inc., Carolyn Foundation, Choffie’s Kitchen, Chugach Electric, Clear Channel Radio, Egan Civic & Convention Center, Food Service Warehouse, Free Spirit Wear, Great Harvest Bread Company, Kroeker Consulting, Moose’s Tooth Pub and Pizzeria, Odom Corporation, Pacific Environmental Corporation (PENCO), Peppercini’s, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Group, Princess Tours, USKH, Within the Wild Adventure Lodge ==================================
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