In this Bulletin:

1. CU Recycling Report: Another Record Year; Confidential Shredding Changes Coming
2. Local Recycling Info: Additional City Recycling Programs?
3. Industry News: Recycling and Climate Change
4. Frightening Fact: Motor Oil Pollution
5. Glimmer of Hope: New Paper Recycling Technique
6. Get Involved / Upcoming Events: Volunteer Meeting, Solid Waste Advisory Board, Clothing Sale, Backyard Composting

1. *************** CU Recycling Director’s Report ***************

CU-BOULDER POSTS ANOTHER RECORD YEAR FOR RECYCLING CU
Recycling wrapped-up last fiscal year with record-breaking collection totals which resulted from innovative new programs and the continuing commitment from the campus community. 1,265 tons of paper, metals, and plastics were recycled by CU - up 149 tons from the preceeding year! This 13 percent increase can be tracked to several new initiatives like catalog and magazine reycling and a general rise in participation by residence hall students. Jack DeBell, Director of CU Recycling is excited by a renewed interest in recycling among incoming students - many of whom live on campus. "Residence hall students represent the future of recycling - not only on campus for the next several years, but as future leaders of commerce and society". Though it can be difficult at times, it is also tremendously exciting to try to keep up with student demand for new recycling services, he added. Despite record recycling volumes over the past year, revenues returned to student government from selling the materials have not kept pace with other years’ earnings. However, prices began rising in the second half of last year and some recycling experts are predicting a robust start to recycling in the new century.

CHANGES TO CU’S CONFIDENTIAL SHREDDING PROGRAM COMING SOON
Next month, CU Recycling will announce changes to our popular confidential shredding service. Watch for information on how to order shredding pick-ups on line, and price and pick-up quantity changes.

2. *************** Local Recycling Info *******************

Boulder’s City Council is considering an ordinance that would free up $800,000 annually for additional recycling programs. If you’re interested in providing input on the future of recycling in the City, contact Kara Dinhoffer at dinhofferk@ci.bolder.co.us.

3. *************** Industry News *****************

Industry experts and recycling advocates from around the world will meet in Charlotte, North Carolina next week to strategize recycling’s role in slowing global climate change. Importantly, early discussions have already produced areas of consensus among traditionally divergent groups. CU Recycling has become increasingly interested in a campus role in this dialogue and will remain current with ongoing research and best practices. A report from the Grassroots Recycling Network titled: "Zero Waste, Recycling and Climate Change" provides a leading edge perspective on product redesign for energy and waste reduction. Visit http://www.grrn.org/zerowaste/climate_change.html for more information.

4. *************** Frightening Fact *****************

MOTOR OIL POLLUTION
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the largest single source of oil pollution fouling our nation’s waters is not tanker spills (including the Exxon Valdez), but used motor oil dumped by home mechanics. An estimated 200 million gallons of used motor oil is improperly disposed of each year in the U.S. by being dumped on the ground, tossed in the trash (ending up in landfills), and poured down storm sewers and drains. Recycling used oil would save the U.S. 1.3 million barrels of oil per day. TAKE ACTION: Bring your used motor oil to a recycling center (call 492-8307 to find the one nearest you). Buy recycled motor oil. Specifically request that your oil be recycled when you get your oil changed by a mechanic. For more info, see http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/housewaste/src/recycle.htm

5. *************** Glimmer of Hope ****************

FLORIDA RESEARCHERS DEVELOP CHEAPER PAPER RECYCLING PROCESS
The Environmental News Service (http://www.ens.lycos.com) reports that an ink removal technique developed by University of Florida researchers opens the door for paper plants to save trees and enhance profits by recycling more types of paper more cheaply than possible with current methods. The technique removes inks, pigments and dyes from many types of paper - newsprint, glossy magazines, even tissue - while increasing the amount of recycled paper that plants can use to produce new paper. Most current methods result in a finished paper product that is lower quality than the original - newspaper stock, for example, often gets recycled into cardboard - while the UF technique produces paper almost the same quality as the virgin stock. "From an ecological perspective, there is cosiderable need both to conserve forests and preserve landfill space, but recycling paper is usually more expensive than producing new paper from wood," said Hassan El-Shall, associate director for research at UF’s Research Center for Particle Science and Technology. "By making the process more economical and effective, our method may provide a solution." According to El-Shall, UF’s new process almost doubles the amount of recycled paper that can be used to produce new product for the same cost.

6. *************** Get Involved / Upcoming Events***************

The Environmental Center will host a VOLUNTEER MEETING at 5 pm next Wednesday, September 13 in Hale room 270. Come find out about volunteer opportunities with the nation’s largest student run Environmental Center, Recycling Program, or one of CU’s many student environmental groups. Call 492-8308 or email earthelp@colorado.edu for more information. CU Boulder’s SOLID WASTE ADVISORY BOARD (SWAB) will meet Wednesday, September 20 for their annual planning meeting. Discussion items include "Greening Campus Consumption and Disposal Habits" (see the CU Environmental Center’s Blueprint for a Green Campus at http://www.colorado.edu/ecenter), and preliminary planning for a comprehensive campus recycling guide for proper handling of hard to recycle materials. The meeting will take place from 3 - 5 pm in the University Memorial Center room 422. New participants are encouraged to attend. Please call 492-8307 for information or to RSVP. Buy good, used clothes to benefit recycling at our annual REUSABLES SALE Saturday, September 23 on the Hill. Clothing and other reusable items were collected and kept out of the landfill during residence hall move-out in May. Many good buys! On the corner of Broadway and College on the Chi Psi Fraternity Lawn from 9 am to 3 pm. For more info, call CU Recycling at492-8307.

FREE BACKYARD COMPOSTING WORKSHOPS
Reduce trash and turn kitchen and yard wastes into garden food with a compost pile!Thursday, September 14, 6:30 - 8:30 pm at Lafayette Library, 775 W. Baseline Rd. Thursday, October 5, 6:30 - 8:30 pm at Boulder Public Library, 11th andArapahoe For more info or to reserve a space, call the Boulder Energy Conservation Center at (303)441-3278.

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About University of Colorado at Boulder Recycling

The University of Colorado's recycling program is a non-profit, campus-based organization whose mission is to instill awareness of the benefits of waste reduction and recycling.  CU Recycling is widely regarded as one of the nation's leading campus programs. Awards have been given by such groups as the EPA, National Recycling Coalition, and the Office of Federal Environmental Executive, who in 2000, announced CU Recycling the model campus program in the United States.

The university community is encouraged to get involved in CU Recycling's many activities.  For more information, call (303)492-8307 or visit http://www.colorado.edu/recycle

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