Recycling Today articles from June 2007

Recycling Today archives from June 2007

Let the machines sort it out.(EDITOR'S FOCUS)(Editorial)
June 1, 2007... Sorting and separating recyclables has always been and remains at the very heart of what allows the secondary commodities industry to grow and prosper. The techniques employed to separate, sort, clean and purify are too numerous to mention...

Correction.(Correction notice)
June 1, 2007... CORRECTION: The article "Sound Strategies" in the April 2007 issue of Recycling Today included a chart of acquisitions that incorrectly listed OmniSource Corp. as having acquired Mercer Co. and Columbia Iron & Metal. Although a letter of intent...

MARAD lifts moratorium on Virginia fleet.(SCRAP INDUSTRY NEWS)(United States Maritime Administration)(Virginia Department of Environmental Quality)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... The United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) has announced that it has reached an agreement with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to lift the temporary suspension of the disposal of vessels in the state's James River...

Export with care.(SCRAP INDUSTRY NEWS)
June 1, 2007... The recycling industry is a global business. And, with more material being shipped outside of North America, cultural differences could pose problems for exporters who seek ways to boost their volumes. While shipping overseas can bring success,...

Cohen Bros. helps police catch scrap metal thieves.(SCRAP INDUSTRY NEWS)
June 1, 2007... Taking a page from McGruff the Crime Dog, the staff at Cohen Bros., a Middletown, Chic scrap recycler, worked with local law enforcement to apprehend two men who had stolen some aluminum forms and had attempted to sell them for scrap. The...

Chaparral hangs out the for sale sign.(SCRAP INDUSTRY NEWS)
June 1, 2007... Chaparral Steel Co., based in Midlothian, Texas, has announced that its board of directors has retained the investment house of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and has begun a review of possible strategic alternatives. Through this process, the...

Swedish firm looks to acquire IPSCO.(SCRAP INDUSTRY NEWS)
June 1, 2007... IPSCO Inc. and SSAB Svenskt Stal AB have entered into an agreement that provides for IPSCO to be acquired for nearly $7.7 billion. David Sutherland, IPSCO's president and CEO, says, "This transaction delivers significant value to IPSCO's...

Friedman Recycling opens El Paso, Texas, MRF.(MUNICIPAL RECYCLING)
June 1, 2007... Friedman Recycling has opened its third material recovery facility (MRF), which is the company's first outside of its home state of Arizona. The El Paso, Texas, MRF processes material collected through the city's single-stream curbside...

Pennsylvania reports record recycling levels.(MUNICIPAL RECYCLING)
June 1, 2007... Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell has announced that Pennsylvanians recycled a record 4.86 million tons of material in 2005, helping to save $263 million in disposal costs for state residents and generating an estimated market value of $577...

State agency fines Hawaii recycling firm.(MUNICIPAL RECYCLING)
June 1, 2007... The Hawaii State Department of Health's (DOH) Solid & Hazardous Waste Branch has issued a Complaint and Order against Reynolds Recycling Inc. for violations of state deposit beverage container (DBC) requirements. DOH has assessed an...

Ohio DNR awards grants to boost recycling levels.(MUNICIPAL RECYCLING)
June 1, 2007... The state of Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention has awarded $1.4 million in grants to public/private partnerships that will boost the market for recycled products in Ohio and create 32 new jobs in six...

NYC report finds recycling more costly than disposal.(MUNICIPAL RECYCLING)
June 1, 2007... A report by the New York City Independent Budget Office (IBO) estimates that the cost of collecting and processing recyclables next year will be around $206 per ton, while the estimated cost to dispose of refuse generated in the city will be...

Fit to be shred.(FERROUS)
June 1, 2007... With North America's shredder capacity growing in both number and output capabilities, will the sale of sheared and baled ferrous scrap decline dramatically? That was the question considered by a trio of panelists at the Ferrous Spotlight...

MSA/RMDAS[TM] monthly ferrous scrap price index.(FERROUS)
June 1, 2007... RMDAS SHOWS SHARP DOWNTURN For the second consecutive month, buyers of ferrous scrap paid considerably less for all grades of the commodity. Nationally, average per-ton pricing fell by as much as $61 for prompt Industrial grades (No. 1...

Ford continues exit from foundry business.(FERROUS)
June 1, 2007... Ford Motor Co. has announced that it will be closing down its foundry in Brook Park (near Cleveland), Chic by 2009. The facility, designated by the company as the Cleveland Casting plant, melted ferrous scrap to produce cast engine parts....

Is AK heading to Arcelor Mittal fold?(FERROUS)
June 1, 2007... The Web site of the London-based Financial Times newspaper is reporting that Arcelor Mittal is preparing a bid for Ohio's AK Steel Co. The online report indicates that the European steel giant is preparing an offer of up to $40 per share...

Nickel defies gravity.(NONFERROUS)
June 1, 2007... Although much of the talk in the scrap industry has been on the high-wire act displayed by copper, the nickel market has far outstripped historical norms. And, according to presentations given by several speakers at ISRI 2007 Convention &...

Xstrata sells off aluminum assets.(NONFERROUS)
June 1, 2007... Xstrata plc, which is based in Switzerland, has announced the sale of Xstrata Aluminum, comprising all of Xstrata's aluminum interests, to Apollo Management LP, based in New York City, for $1.15 billion. Xstrata Aluminum was created from...

Alcoa explores aluminum mega-deal.(NONFERROUS)
June 1, 2007... Alcoa, North America's largest aluminum company, is preparing a bid to acquire Alcan Inc. in a deal that would consolidate North America's two largest aluminum producers. According to a Reuters report, Pittsburgh-based Alcoa is preparing...

German copper firm considers opening U.S. plant.(NONFERROUS)
June 1, 2007... According to Reuters, Norddeutsche Affinerie (NA), the largest copper producer in Europe, is considering building a copper recycling plant in Louisiana. Norddeutsche is in talks with the state government about building a plant between...

Paper chain.(PAPER)
June 1, 2007... The export market continues to define the recovered fiber industry as worldwide demand for recovered paper continues to climb, according to George Chen of G&T Trading Co., who moderated the Spotlight on Paper session at the 2007 ISRI (Institute...

Weyerhaeuser considers possible sale of recycling business.(PAPER)
June 1, 2007... The board of directors for Weyerhaeuser Co., Federal Way, Wash., has authorized a process to consider a broad range of strategic alternatives for its containerboard, packaging and recycling business. Alternatives range from continuing to...

WRAP launches project to stimulate recycled content use in U.K. magazines.(PAPER)
June 1, 2007... U.K.-based Waste & Resource Action Programme (WRAP) has launched a project that seeks to boost the use of recycled content paper in magazines in the United Kingdom. It will provide a commercial and environmental case to accelerate use across...

Abitibi and Bowater announce amendment to merger deal.(PAPER)
June 1, 2007... Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. and Bowater Inc. have announced that they have amended the combination agreement signed Jan. 29, 2007, in which Abitibi-Consolidated and Bowater agreed to combine their companies in an all-stock merger of equals. ...

ERPA confirms board member.(PAPER)
June 1, 2007... The European Recovered Paper Association, Brussels, Belgium, has confirmed Thomas Braun as a member of the executive board. Braun is the managing director of the bvse-Bundesverband Skeundarrohstoffe und Entsorgung e.V., Bonn/Berlin and...

Electronics recyclers grapple with plastics.(PLASTICS)
June 1, 2007... In addition to soaring metals prices providing a boost for electronics recyclers, the developing demand for plastic scrap is also helping the bottom line of companies that process end-of-life electronics. Attendees heard some encouraging...

Pricing report shows decline in pet prices after Chinese withdrawal.(PLASTICS)(www.icispricing.com)
June 1, 2007... ICIS pricing (www.icispricing.com), a global information provider to the chemical and oil industries, launched a weekly pricing report for the European Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (RPET;...

WRAP touts success of plastic bottle recycling seminars.(PLASTICS)
June 1, 2007... The U.K.-based Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is promoting the success it has had with its series of four seminars addressing plastic bottle recycling issues. According to WRAP, the goal of the program was to increase the amount...

Ohio awards grant money to two plastics recyclers.(PLASTICS)
June 1, 2007... The state of Ohio has awarded money to three companies through its Business Development grant program. Of the three grants issued, a grant for $25,000 will be going to a plastics recycling firm based in Reno, Ohio. Mondo Polymer Technology...

Oregon DEQ revises plastic container recycling rate.(PLASTIC)
June 1, 2007... The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has announced that new information shows that the plastic container recycling rate in the state topped 25 percent in 2005, meeting the state's mandated goal. To discuss the recalibration...

Sancon partners with Cleanaway.(PLASTIC)
June 1, 2007... Sancon Resources Recovery Inc., Melbourne, Australia, has begun handling and processing packaging material from several facilities in Australia. The company is working in collaboration with Cleanaway, an Australia-based waste management firm....

Canadian group endorses voluntary goals.(PLASTIC)(Canadian Plastics Industry Association)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... A spokesman for the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) has stated that the plastics industry supports the voluntary goal of reducing plastic shopping bags in Ontario, which was recently announced by Ontario's Environment Minister....

European PVC recycling jumps.(NONMETALLICS)
June 1, 2007... Recent figures show that PVC recycling within Europe more than doubled last year from the previous year. According to Vinyl 2010, the group that coordinates the PVC industry in Europe, around 83,000 metric tons of PVC were recovered and...

Nebraska DEQ awards $1.8 million for tire recycling projects.(TIRES)
June 1, 2007... The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has announced awards of $1.8 million to assist with 93 tire recycling and cleanup projects in the state. The grants are part of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Grants program that...

Sims formalizes Noranda acquisition.(ELECTRONICS RECYCLING)
June 1, 2007... Australia-based Sims Recycling Solutions has formalized its acquisition of the end-of-life recycling assets of Noranda Recycling Inc., one of North America's largest recyclers. The sale was first announced in April, with the agreement also...

QSGI offers Mobile IT Audit, erasure services.(ELECTRONICS RECYCLING)
June 1, 2007... QSGI, Hightstown, N.J., has introduced a Mobile IT Audit & Erasure Facility, which it describes as "the industry's only fully functioning, self-contained IT asset management facility" that can operate directly at a client's location. QSGI...

WeRecycle! Opens electronics recycling facility in New York state.(ELECTRONICS RECYCLING)
June 1, 2007... WeRecycle! Inc., an electronics recycler based in Wallingford, Conn., is expanding its recycling capacity by opening a new facility in Mount Vernon, N.Y., just outside of New York City. The new facility will provide local recycling...

Sims, Nortel ink deal to boost recycling of electronics.(ELECTRONICS RECYCLING)
June 1, 2007... Nortel and Sims Group's Recycling Solutions division have signed a Pan-European agreement to increase the collection and recycling of electronic scrap. Under the agreement, Sims Recycling Solutions will be Nortel's European partner for the...

Best Buy offers recycling grant money.(ELECTRONICS RECYCLING)
June 1, 2007... Minneapolis-based Best Buy Co. has unveiled a consumer electronics recycling grant program to help increase the recycling opportunities available in communities across the United States. The program will provide two types of grants, the...

Ohio county signs contract with e-scrap recycler.(ELECTRONICS RECYCLING)
June 1, 2007... The Summit-Akron Solid Waste Management Authority has signed a one-year contract with E-Waste LLC to handle and process a wide range of electronics collected at the county's hazardous waste collection facility. The contract includes a two-year...

Reclamere receives NAID hard drive destruction certification.(ELECTRONICS RECYCLING)
June 1, 2007... Reclamere, Tyrone, Pa., has announced that it has been endorsed for plant-based computer hard drive destruction by the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID). "This certification is just another step that Reclamere has...

Napa Valley, Calif., to focus on C&D recycling.(C&D NEWS)
June 1, 2007... The Napa Valley (California) Waste Management Authority has chosen a new operator for the Devlin Road Transfer Station, which will focus on increasing construction and demolition debris recycling to boost recycling rates, according to a report...

Demo debris facility faces opposition in Rhode Island.(C&D NEWS)(demolition)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... The Rhode Island Supreme Court has decided in favor of opponents of a proposed waste transfer station in Pawtucket, R.I., according to a report in the Providence Journal (Providence, R.I.). The high court has granted lawyers for the city...

Metalico acquires C&D operation.(C&D NEWS)
June 1, 2007... Metalico Transfer Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Metalico Inc., has purchased the assets of Compass Environmental Haulers Inc., a construction and demolition debris transfer station in Rochester, N.Y. Metalico Transfer holds a permit...

Pennsylvania DEP gives go-ahead.(C&D NEWS)
June 1, 2007... The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has approved the environmental assessment for the proposed expansion of the Phoenix Resources Inc. construction and demolition debris landfill in Duncan Township, Pa. "The DEP's...

USG builds California wallboard plant.(C&D NEWS)(Company overview)
June 1, 2007... USG Corp. has announced that its United States Gypsum Co. subsidiary is building a gypsum plant in Stockton, Calif. Additionally, the company's L&W Supply distribution subsidiary agreed to acquire California Wholesale Material Supply Inc. ...

EU sees little response to shipping survey.(BIR REPORT)(European Union)(Survey)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... A survey on scrap shipping restrictions sent by the European Union to non-OECD [Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development)] nations has garnered few responses. For those nations not responding, recyclers will have new rules to...

India delays registration deadline.(BIR REPORT)
June 1, 2007... A scrap import registration process being overseen by India's Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has been delayed because of a large influx of applications. The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), Brussels, has been reviewing...

Innov-X debuts high-volume metal sorting, separating system.(EQUIPMENT REPORT)
June 1, 2007... Innov-X Systems Inc., Woburn, Mass., has announced the introduction of its new QXR-M automated, high-volume sorting and separating system, which was on display at the 2007 Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI) Conference &...

U.S. Shredder teams up with Toratec.(EQUIPMENT REPORT)
June 1, 2007... The U.S. Shredder and Castings Group has become a distributor for Toratec Recycling Solutions of Bremen, Germany, a manufacturer of metal separation technology and equipment. Toratec equipment is available in a variety of widths, making it...

Nexgen prospects for copper.(EQUIPMENT REPORT)
June 1, 2007... Nexgen, a division of Marathon Equipment Co. of Vernon, Ala., introduced its new Prospector wire processor to attendees of the 2007 ISRI Convention & Exposition in New Orleans in late April. According to a press release from Nexgen, "The...

Tryco/Untha introduces mobile shredding unit.(EQUIPMENT REPORT)
June 1, 2007... Tryco/Untha International, Decatur, Ill., has introduced the mobile Grindzilla Ginder, which is being distributed by Jobsite Recycling Equipment. This truck-mounted unit requires no commercial driver's license (CDL) to operate and is...

Terex redesigns Fuchs material handler.(EQUIPMENT REPORT)
June 1, 2007... Terex has redesigned its Fuchs MHL 340D material handler to offer scrap handlers the ability to lift higher, reach farther and work faster than its predecessor, according to Terex. The MHL 340D achieves greater reach and lift capacities...

U.S. Shredder expands capacity.(EQUIPMENT REPORT)
June 1, 2007... The U.S. Shredder and Castings Group has announced that in conjunction with its manufacturing partner U.S. Conveyor it will be expanding its capacity at its Mackinaw, Ill., plant. The expansion will be the facility's third in the last three...

Winkle introduces maintenance-free controllers.(EQUIPMENT REPORT)
June 1, 2007... Winkle Industries has announced a new line of magnet controllers that, according to the company, achieves significant improvements in the productivity and life-cycle cost of lifting magnets by replacing traditional contactors and discharge...

Paper people: the team in place at Western Pacific Pulp & Paper drives the Southern California company's success.(Cover story)
June 1, 2007... It's hard to beat Western Pacific Pulp & Paper (WPPP) on location. Just southeast of Los Angeles, the company calls home an area so pleasant weather wise that a good portion of its operations sit outside, including its baling equipment. ...

The driving force: investment demand drives precious metals markets.(COMMODITY FOCUS)
June 1, 2007... People sometimes wonder whether supply and demand fundamentals have anything to do with precious metals prices, given that price moves often seem unrelated to such fundamental trends. Supply and demand fundamentals determine the price of...

Power play: a systems upgrade boosts productivity and cuts costs at TFC Recycling's Chesapeake, Va., MRF.(MRF SERIES)
June 1, 2007... Single-stream recycling may still have its naysayers, but for TFC (Tidewater Fibre Corp.) Recycling, it may have one of its greatest champions. The Chesapeake, Va.-based recycling company is a strong supporter of single-stream collection as a...

Construction zone: the plastic lumber industry is offering a destination for a growing variety of plastic scrap.(PLASTICS CONSUMER FOCUS)
June 1, 2007... For many recycling advocates considering the recycling of beverage containers and other consumer products packaged in plastic, closed loop or "bottle-to-bottle" systems have often presented the ideal scenario. But while such systems...

The bottom half: scrap recyclers must choose from wheels, tracks or stationary material handlers.(SCRAP HANDLER FOCUS)
June 1, 2007... Recyclers looking for the right scrap handler often start by choosing the platform that is right for their operation. Whether on tracks, wheels or stationary, scrap handler platforms are not all the same. Mike Murphy of Komatsu, Vernon...

Garden state: hydraulic scrap handlers keep material moving at New Jersey's Cinelli Iron & Metal Co.(SCRAP HANDLER FOCUS)
June 1, 2007... At the ripe old age of 24, Joe Cinelli Jr. has already learned what most old-timers know about how to make his recycling business successful. It's all about uptime. "We're not like one of the big port operations," says Joe. "We've got no...

Purchasing power: equipment sales veteran Chuck Berg offers factors to consider when shopping for a scrap handler.(SCRAP HANDLER FOCUS)(Interview)
June 1, 2007... Chuck Berg has been selling scrap handling equipment for more than three decades, having worked for manufacturers and dealerships. In his current role with Coastline Equipment, Long Beach, Calif., Chuck helps match scrap recyclers with the...

Rent or own? Recyclers must decide what level of commitment to make when it comes to choosing scrap handlers.(SCRAP HANDLER FOCUS)
June 1, 2007... Recyclers need scrap handlers. Among the questions they first face, however, is whether to own, lease or rent a machine. Scrap recyclers seem to prefer owning, but other options are available for those looking to rent or lease equipment....

Proven formula: the managers of Florida's AER hope to bring proven auto shredding techniques to the electronics shredding sector.(ELECTRONICS RECYCLING SERIES)(American Electronics Recycling)
June 1, 2007... The shredding of automobiles, appliances and other bulky metals-heavy objects has a long history within the scrap industry. Pioneers and long-time practitioners of auto shredding can recite a litany of changes and evolving techniques that...

From A to Z: with a little forethought, an in-plant document shredding system can provide versatility and a long service life.(SHREDDING EQUIPMENT FOCUS)
June 1, 2007... Establishing an in-plant shredding system can leave many entrepreneurs feeling a little overwhelmed at the number of considerations they must entertain. But with a little forethought and careful planning, secure destruction professionals can be...

Building momentum: the 2007 ISRI convention & exhibition brought attendees to New Orleans to build on the scrap industry's momentum.(ISRI WRAP-UP)(Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc.)
June 1, 2007... Organizers of this year's annual convention of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI) knew they faced a tough task to match last year's total of more than 4,200 attendees. Although that goal was not met, nearly 3,700 scrap...

Gascoyne joins Omnisource staff.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2007... Danny Gascoyne has joined OmniSource Corp., Fort Wayne, Ind., as vice president, nonferrous marketing. In this role, he is responsible for nonferrous scrap marketing activities, including sales and purchasing, with the exception of stainless...

Badger Shredding introduces new director of sales.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2007... Badger Shredding Products Inc., Sturgeon Bay Wis., has named Steven Stoker director of sales. He joins Badger with more than 25 years of sales and marketing experience in the aggregate crushing and screening equipment industry. Stoker's...

Calendar.(Calendar)
June 1, 2007... June 10-12 Paper Recycling Conference & Trade Show, Orlando, Fla., GIE Media Inc., (800) 456-0707 or www. RecyclingTodayEvents.com June 10-12 Recycling Today's Plastics Recycling Conference & Trade Show, Orlando, Fla., GIE Media...

Eriez ProSort airless metal recovery system.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... * Aids metal separation while operating at a fraction of the cost of air-powered metal sorters, according to Eriez * Ideal for the scrap metal market, the patent-pending ProSort airless metal sensors are aligned with low energy...

Atlas Copco DP 2800 hydraulic pulverizer.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... * Features a compact design and provides 110 tons of crushing force at the jaw tip * Suitable for carriers in the 55,000- to 77,000-pound class * Operates at a maximum pressure of 5,076 psi and accepts a maximum hydraulic flow of 92...

MOD Ship Shape container.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... * P-291 Ship Shape container features a new design that increases payload by 29 percent to 850 pounds with the same volume and footprint vs. the company's original design * Rugged, reusable bulk container includes a powder-coated steel...

Toratec ecosort sorting technologies type OSB.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... * The Machine Type OpticalSorterBelt OSB offers simple integration into existing plants * Different cameras perform different sorting tasks * Offers effective use of latest sensor technologies * Low air consumption using latest...

Cumberland clean room granulators.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... * Allows for quick and economic reuse of medical and specialty grade resins * Designed to ensure particulate escape is well below clean environment standards * Special surround package allows for the creation of negative pressure...

Heil Half/Pack Sierra Western U.S. front loader.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... * Offers all the features and benefits of Heil's recently updated Half/ Pack front loader with 10 percent less weight * The 28-cubic-yard vehicle weighs 16,700 pounds to better accommodate over-filled containers * Double-wall hopper...

McCloskey International 512 trommel.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... * Fit for road travel with 30 percent less length than the company's earlier models * 5-foot-by-12-foot trommel was developed to meet customers' requirements for areas with demanding road restrictions * 512 REGT trommel is equipped...

Kaeser Compressors booster compressors.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... * Kaesar Compressors has expanded its line of booster compressors, providing pressures to 650 psig and flows to 685 cfm * A convenient way to boost existing plant pressure while eliminating the need for expensive, separate high-pressure...

Northflex Light Task II Dyneema gloves.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... * Designed by North Safety Products to provide superior abrasion and tear resistance without compromising dexterity and tactility * Thin polyurethane palm coating offers a flexible grip and is uncoated on the back of hand for ventilation...

ISRI recognizes U.S. EPA with Design for Recycling Award.(BACK PAGE)
June 1, 2007... The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI) has recognized the U.S. Environmental Agency's Design for the Environment program with its Design for Recycling award. The award was announced during the 2007 ISRI Convention & Exposition...

Virginia Beach Public Schools win recycling competition.(BACK PAGE)
June 1, 2007... Virginia Beach City Public Schools has been awarded the 2007 Virginia Recycling Association (VRA) Award for Excellence in the Government/ Nonprofit category. Awarded by the VRA, the school division was nominated by Tidewater Fibre Corp....

Cans for Cash Recycling Challenge launched.(BACK PAGE)
June 1, 2007... The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), Novelis Inc. and Keep America Beautiful Inc. (KAB) are sponsoring the fourth annual "Cans for Cash--City Recycling Challenge," a national contest that rewards cities for recycling used aluminum beverage...