WSWRA Recycling Award Application (PDF)

The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act
Posted: July 11, 2009 - By Kim Bartles, EPA Region 8

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provide a unique and great
opportunity to encourage sustainable building practices.  A key
component of sustainable building is using recycled industrial materials
as an alternative to virgin construction materials.  Industrial
materials are the byproducts of industrial processes.  Each year U.S.
industries produce over half a billion tons of industrial residuals that
are potentially usable materials such as coal combustion products,
construction and demolition materials, spent foundry sand, used tires,
and iron and steel slag.  Many of these materials have chemical and
physical properties that make them valuable resources when recycled or
beneficially used, but they are often disposed of as waste.

Recycling, rather than disposing, these materials can conserve
resources, reduce energy use and costs, decrease greenhouse gas
emissions, and reduce costs for both the generators and the end users of
the materials.  In some cases, recycled industrial materials can even
improve the quality of the products in which they are used.  For
example, recycling coal fly ash as a replacement for Portland cement
enhances the strength, durability, and workability of concrete.
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JACKSON RECRUITS RESTAURANTS
Posted: February 18, 2009 - By Heather Overholser

Recycle Business Leaders program is appealing to all Jackson Hole restaurants to join this successful and growing local green business certification program.

 
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JACKSON PLASTICS TAKE TO THE AIRWAYS
Posted: November 14, 2008 - By Heather Overholser

Jackson Community Recycling announces the airing of a new television ad which will help illustrate the "do's and don'ts" of plastics recycling in the valley. "We receive so many calls from people asking about plastic recycling that we thought our money would be well spent on a television advertisement. The visual approach is very effective. The ad is catchy and upbeat," says Heather Overholser, JCR Executive Director.

The 30-second spot, which airs on Friday, November 14 on ESPN, Discovery, Weather, Animal Planet, and Travel, conveys a simple message - JCR accepts plastic bottles only, #1 and #2. "We don't accept fruit tubs, yogurt containers, sandwich containers, cottage cheese containers, even though they are labeled #1 and #2," explains Overholser.

"About 99% of all plastic bottles are #1 or #2. They are very easy to recycle, they are worth quite a lot in the secondary market, and there are many good and reliable markets that buy recycled plastic. Other plastic containers, such as yogurt tubs, strawberry pints, etc. are much more difficult to recycle and are worth very little - if JCR can even find a market for them," says Overholser.

When glass, paper and cans are recycled, they become similar products that can be used and recycled over and over again. With plastics recycling, however, there is usually only a single re-use. Most bottles and jugs don't become food and beverage containers again. For example, pop bottles might become carpet, stuffing for sleeping bags, polar fleece, or tote bags. Milk jugs are often made into plastic lumber, recycling bins, drainage pipe, and toys.

Currently, only about 3.5% of all plastics generated are recycled, compared to 34% of paper, 22% of glass, and 30% of metals. That means we all need to recycle more #1 and #2 plastic bottles to increase the overall recycling rate and ensure that less plastic goes into the landfill.

Where do you look for the #1 and #2? The labels are on the bottom of the bottle. The design of some #1 plastic bottles makes the label difficult to see. A general rule is: if the bottle is clear (even though it is colored), it's a #1; if the bottle is opaque (milk jug) or colored, it's a #2. Please call 733-7678 (SORT) if you have any questions, or refer to our website at www.tetonwyo.org/recycling. This press release is posted on the JCR website.

The #1 plastic that is collected at JCR is sold to K.B. Recycling in Clackamas, Oregon. The #2 plastic is sold right here in Wyoming to Heartland BioComposites in Torrington.

"We would like to be able to collect more types of plastics, but the current market will not support it," says Overholser. "We try to cover as much of our operating expenses as possible by the sale of our recyclables. Right now we're covering about 60%, and we're not in a position to let that percentage drop. Our goal is to have 75% of our operations expenses covered by the sale of recyclables. We are trying to lessen the burden on the town and county. Our mission is to reduce landfill-bound waste in Teton County by providing convenient recycling and hazardous waste disposal opportunities, encouraging materials reuse, and reducing overall consumption."

Jackson Community Recycling thanks Jennifer Tennican, of JenTen Productions, and JCR's Publicity Committee of Keith Peters, Nate McClennen, Paul Maddex, Samantha Eddy, and Sue Morgan for their time and creativity in developing the television ad.

 


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