Agenda for October 13, 2010 Northeastern Arizona Recycling Committee Meeting

1. Call to order – introductions

2. Events recap:

• August 2010 electronic waste recycling events
• September 11 White Mountains Green Festival

3. Next year’s electronic waste recycling program

4. Planning for Christmas tree recycling (“treecycling”)

5. Report on publicity efforts

6. Open discussion

7. Summarize follow-up items and schedule next meeting

8. Adjourn

2nd Annual Free White Mountain E-Waste Collection Day

The City of Show Low, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, E-Waste Harvesters (Phoenix, AZ.), Walmart, the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside, Navajo County and the Little Colorado River RC&D are sponsoring the 2nd Annual White Mountain E-Waste Collection Day to be held on August 28, 2010 from 8 a.m. through 1 p.m. at the Show Low Walmart. Items that will be accepted at this free event include TV’s, computers, monitors, printers, batteries, chargers, cell phones, VCR’s, CD and DVD players, fax machines, small appliances, cables and cords. “ERIC”, a hands-on interactive recycling exhibit, will be on hand to provide fun and education for the whole family! Drop-off bins will be available for paper, cardboard, aluminum, tin cans and plastics 1-3. For more information, call 928-532-4124.

Blue Hills Environmental and ADEQ Partner on Recycling at Round Valley/Eagar Transfer Station

Recycling bins are now available for the public at the Round Valley/Eagar Transfer Station courtesy of a partnership between Blue Hills Environmental and ADEQ.  Hours of operation for drop-off are Tuesday -Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Recyclable items accepted include:

• Plastic shopping bags
• Aluminum cans
• Cardboard
• Paper and newspaper
• Steel and tin cans
• Plastics 1 & 2

Electronic items are also accepted including:

• Computers
• Keyboards
• Printers
• Phones
• Monitors
• Scanners
• Fax machines
• Cell phones

For more information, call 928-333-1628 or 928-337-2357.

Agenda for July 7, 2010 Northeastern Arizona Recycling Committee Meeting

1. Call to Order – Introductions

2. Upcoming events:

• Sustainability Workshop, July 23-24.
• Electronic waste recycling event in Show Low and various “satellite” events (August).

3. Report from Publicity Subcommittee

4. Update on NEARA Trailers

5. Recycling in Apache County

6. Open Discussion

7. Summarize Follow-up Items and Schedule Next Meeting

8. Adjourn

Minutes from April 14, 2010 Meeting

Introductions:

• Maria Donaghy, Chairperson
• Margaret White, Co-Chairperson
• Steve North, City of Show Low
• Mark Williams, Larson Waste
• Joel Johnston, Navajo County
• Kay Dyson, Interested Party
• Kent Schysper, Interested Party

Report from Chairperson, Maria Donaghy:

• Events planned for Earth Day on/around April 24th.
• Solar cooking & sustainability workshop held at NPC Snowflake.
• Other activities held at other NPC campuses.
• WMAT celebration held in Whiteriver.
• City of Show Low endorsement of Earth Day celebration at NPC.
• Discussed planned August 28th electronic waste recycling event at Show Low Wal-Mart.  Possible activities to be included:
• tire recycling.
• educational classroom trailer.
• Maria is ever and always updating her list of places and items to recycle and the list of recipients of that list.

Publicity Sub-Committee Report:

• Mary Raines-Montano (not present) is working on newspaper article.

Larson Waste Presentation:

• Mark Williams-Larson Waste Representative
• Larson Waste has containers on their property for cardboard, white paper, and metal. No fee for dumping.
• Larson will also dispose of medical waste items on a fee schedule.
• Larson hauls to St Johns, the Blue Hills site.
• Mark also stated that to make recycling work, it has to be a cooperative joint effort from all parties involved; individual, business, city, and county.

Report from Co-Chairperson, Margaret White:

• Efforts to get NEARA trailer on the Snowflake NPC Campus.
• Working on getting a concrete pad poured for the placement of a cardboard recycling container.
• There is an on-going non-cardboard paper recycling project; spear headed by Keith Webb.
• One of the faculty transport plastic 1 and 2, and aluminum to NPC Holbrook to be recycled there.

Open Discussion:

• Discussed the plausibility of glass recycling.
• There are a few locations to dispose of medical waste in the area.
• Most efforts are hampered by the lack of funds in all areas of recycling; start to finish.
• There needs to be awareness and responsibility taken by all to make this work.
• Discussion on the placement of the NEARA trailers.

Next meeting:

• 2nd Wednesday in June; June 9th.

July Northeastern Arizona Recycling Committee Meeting Scheduled

The next Northeastern Arizona Recycling Committee Meeting is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at Show Low City Hall; 550 N. 9th Place. Items for discussion include the upcoming E-Waste Collection Day in Show Low. A full meeting agenda and minutes from the April meeting will posted very soon.

2010 Earth Day Celebration in The White Mountains

Saturday, April 24, 2010
Northland Pioneer College Show Low Campus; 1001 W. Deuce of Clubs; Show Low, AZ.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
FREE admission

Features exhibits, demonstrations and workshops on:

• healthy living
• recycling and reusing
• alternative energy
• green building/alternative technology
• food cultivation/preparation
• sustainable lifestyles
• art projects/displays 

Also, Barbara Bruce and the White Mountain Radio team will be on hand for a live remote.

For more information go to www.creativegreenhomesllc.com/Upcomingevents.html.

Agenda for April 14, 2010 Northeastern Arizona Recycling Committee Meeting

1. Call to Order – Introductions

2. Upcoming events:

• April 16 and 17 Solar Cooking and Sustainability Workshop
• White Mountain Apache Tribe Earth Day Celebration
• April 24 Earth Day Celebration in Show Low
• August 28 electronic waste recycling event in Show Low

3. Report from Publicity Subcommittee
  

4. Larson Waste Update

5. Recycling at Northland Pioneer College

6. Discussion on Recycling Options:

• Crushed Glass
• #5 Plastics
• Old/Unneeded Prescription Drug Disposal 

7. Update on NEARA Trailers

8. Open Discussion

9. Summarize Follow-up Items and Schedule Next Meeting

10. Adjourn

Minutes from February 24, 2010 Meeting

Attendees

Dave Rico, Nolan Larson, Steve North, Holiday Van Sciver, Maria Donaghy, Margaret White, Phil Hayes, Mary Rains-Montano, Terry Hill, Joel Johnston, Don Cosgrove, Byron James

Minutes

Christmas Tree Recycling:

The city of Show Low’s first annual Christmas tree recycling project netted 200 – 300 trees. The trees were chipped and used as fuel at the Snowflake White Mountain Power biomass power plant. The city would like to expand this program in December 2010, involve other nearby communities and establish several additional drop-off locations.

Larson Waste offered a free Christmas tree recycling opportunity in the Snowflake/Taylor area. Trees were delivered to Winner’s Circle Soil Products, Inc. for the production of compost and mulch.

The White Mountain Apache Tribe collected trees as well.

Pinetop-Lakeside’s Meadow Recreation Center off Woodland Road is another location to take Christmas Trees, where they are made into wood chips.

Navajo County has a wood grinder which might also be useful for tree collection programs.

Report from Publicity Subcommittee:

Some short articles were prepared for the White Mountain independent on the subjects of packaging, Christmas tree and electronics recycling opportunities.

A blog/Web site for the Recycling Committee was established: http://nearizonarecyclingcommittee.blogspot.com. Steve North encouraged committee members and other interested persons to subscribe to this blog as “followers”. Also, the city of Show Low now has a recycling Web page: http://www.showlowaz.gov/departments/zoning/Recycling/recycle.htm.

Report on Waste Management Recycling Activities:

Dave Rico handed out a Waste Management (WM) brochure on special recycling options, including compact fluorescent bulbs, toner and ink cartridges, mercury from medical and dental devices, batteries, medical sharps, etc.

WM has installed a baler at the Lone Pine Transfer Station recycling collection site. The machine produces 1500 lb bales of commodities. The facility is set up to collect cardboard, tin, aluminum, plastics (#’s 1, 2 and 3) and mixed paper. The cardboard is delivered to Pinetop-Lakeside Sanitary District for the production of compost. The facility can now take a much greater volume of recyclable materials, and education and outreach are needed so this opportunity will be more fully utilized.

WM will alter the stickers on the bins to clarify that all types of paper and cardboard are accepted.

#5 Plastics are a big issue. Dave Rico will check on opportunities to collect these materials at the Lone Pine collection site.

Election of Committee Chair and Vice Chair:

Maria Donaghy was appointed to serve as Committee Chairperson and Margaret White was appointed to the office of Vice Chair.

Open Discussion:

The city of Holbrook’s recycling program is doing well, as the market has been improving. Earlier this month, the city shipped 4 loads of white goods, 2 loads of cardboard and a load of plastic.

The town of Pinetop-Lakeside will soon re-establish recycling drop-off locations.

There were several questions and comments about proper disposal of unneeded prescription drugs. Nolan Larson offered to check with the Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center for information on possible collection opportunities. Also, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has prepared a brochure (Link: Drug Disposal brochure 09) on this topic. It was stressed that prescription drugs shouldn’t be flushed, as they could pollute the state’s waters.

Northland Pioneer College is sponsoring a Solar Cooking and Sustainability Workshop, which will include recycling, on April 16 and 17, at NPC’s Snowflake/Taylor Silver Creek Campus.

A St. Johns Boy Scout troop is planning a household hazardous waste collection event in St. Johns this spring. More information will soon be available.

It was reported that Wal-Mart may now take foam packaging products for recycling.

Participants expressed that recycling coordination in Navajo and Apache counties is starting to improve.

The construction waste stream needs attention.

The White Mountain Apache Tribe crushes concrete for reuse as a fill material.

Local governments may be willing to purchase crushed glass for various public works programs, provided the material edges are smooth like sand. A glass crusher is most useful, but there may be uses for glass crushed in a rock crusher. Research for uses of crushed glass is needed.

The White Mountain Green Team is planning Earth Day activities.

Next Meeting:

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 14, at noon, at Show Low City Hall. Generally, meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of every-other-month.

Minutes from November 2, 2009 Meeting

Steve North discussed some of the key points from a recent presentation at a combined Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside council meeting, including:

• The Pinetop-Lakeside Sanitary District (PLSD) is an important area recycler of paper and cardboard;

• Public drop-off bins are available at the Lone Pine Transfer Station for cardboard, newspaper, aluminum, tin and plastics 1 – 3.

• The city of Show Low, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Wal-Mart partnered on a successful electronic waste collection event on August 29.  Over 43,000 lbs. was collected.  Show Low would like to do this again next summer, coupled with a household hazardous waste (HHW) collection event. (Kenny Keith suggested that a single HHW collection event may cost approximately $30,000 - $35,000.)

• Show Low is the first Arizona community to sign on with a fluorescent bulb recycling program referred to as LampTracker.

• Show Low continues to seek grant funding for a recycling feasibility study for a material recovery facility (MRF) and value-added recycling park. The city may apply for grant funds through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (due December 14).

• Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside are continuing to explore curbside collection of recyclables as a component of new refuse collection contracts.

Because of the current economic situation, Arizona’s Recycling Program funds have been diverted to the general fund to address State-wide budget shortfalls in FY2010. As a result, no monies are available for grants this current fiscal year.

The city of Show Low is replacing fluorescent light bulbs with LEDs at the bus facility.

Holiday Van Sciver announced that the National Recycling Coalition has filed for bankruptcy. This is a difficult time for recycling. A new organization is emerging to fill this void.

There was some discussion about the use of “backhauling” (use of empty trucks returning to the Valley) for future recycling efforts, in cooperation with some of the area’s largest retailers, such as Wal-Mart. Some participants mentioned that this is difficult to implement because companies often need to keep their trucks as clean as possible.

A participant indicated that the PLSD digester is a good hedge against the volatile recycling markets, because the digester will always need fiber (paper and cardboard).

Several commented that local recycling markets are key to recycling sustainability. In other words, it is vital to attract companies to Northeastern Arizona which use recycled materials in the manufacture of new products. Also, a participant offered that it isn’t wise to recycle just for the sake of recycling – that a sustainable recycling program will pay for itself.

A participant indicated that the Partition Systems Incorporated manufacturing facility near Holbrook may be able to utilize certain types of recycled plastics.

Blue Hills Environmental Association, Inc. is planning a pilot recycling collection program for metals, newspaper and cardboard in Apache County. Initial drop off sites will be located at the Round Valley Transfer Station and the Apache County Regional Landfill. A flyer is being prepared.

Northland Pioneer College (NPC) is establishing a recycling drop-off location at the Holbrook campus (plastic, newspaper, aluminum and cardboard). Also, NPC’s Small Business Development Program may be able to assist with recycling market analyses.

The White Mountain Apache Tribe often hauls plastics to Globe for recycling. Also, the Tribe will sponsor an electronic waste collection event on November 19th.

Recycling for the upcoming holidays was discussed. PLSD welcomes discarded wrapping paper and other types of paper and cardboard packaging materials. Also, the city of Show Low will consider options for a Christmas tree recycling program, provided a market can be identified. It was suggested that the biomass power plant near Snowflake may be an option.

Recycling outreach was discussed, and an informal recycling publicity subcommittee was formed, initially consisting of Maria Donaghy (donaghy@frontiernet.net), Margaret White (mwhite@npc.edu), and Kathryn Melsted (kmelsted@yahoo.com). Participants can contact these subcommittee members with recycling education ideas or for outreach assistance. Possible advertising options may include local radio and newspaper public service announcements, city of Show Low marquee sign, community newsletters and Web sites, City TV 4, Maverik Magazine, school presentations by Keith Webb and local libraries.

FEBRUARY MEETING DATE SET

The next Northeastern Arizona Recycling Committee Meeting is set for February 24, 2010 from 12-2 p.m. at Show Low City Hall.  A variety of items are on the agenda including:

• Report on Christmas Tree Recycling
• Report from Publicity Sub-Committee
• Report on Waste Management Recycling Activities
• Election of Committee Chair and Vice Chair
• Open Discussion

Please mark this date on your calendar and plan to attend and contribute.

New Recycling Page Available on City of Show Low Website

The City of Show Low now has a recycling page available on its website with information about recycling in the White Mountains and about specific public drop-off locations for various recyclable materials.  Please click on the following link to go to that webpage: City of Show Low Recycling Page.