Recycling Bulletin #15
News from a national leader in campus recycling November 15, 2001
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In this Bulletin:
1. CU Recycling Report: New website launched, Football Fans
Recycle Record Numbers
2. Local Recycling Info: City of Boulder Recycling Changes; Grand Opening:
Center for Harder to Recycle Materials
3. Industry News: November 15 is America Recycles Day
4. Frightening Fact: E-Waste
5. Glimmer of Hope: E-Recycling
6. Get Involved / Upcoming Events: America Recycles Day Events, Fall
Leaf and Pumpkin Collections
1. *************** CU Recycling Report ***************
NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED
CU Recycling has launched an updated website with all the latest information
you need for learning more about waste reduction, recycling, and buying
recycled on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus. Visit http://www.colorado.edu/curecycling
for recycling guides, information about recycling services offered to
campus offices, and even photos of campus recycling operations.
CU FOOTBALL FANS RECYCLE RECORD NUMBERS
When football fans flock to Boulder to watch the University of Colorado
Buffaloes face off with #1-ranked Nebraska over Thanksgiving weekend,
CU Recycling’s crews hope their enthusiastic recycling will result in
a touchdown for the recycling program, too. The Buffaloes’ successful
season has brought more fans to Folsom Field, resulting in increased recyclables
collected from tailgaters, entrance gates, concessionaires, and high traffic
areas surrounding the stadium. So far this football season, 6273 lbs.
of co-mingled containers have been recovered by recycling crews at games.
By the end of the Nebraska game, it is projected that fans will have recycled
DOUBLE the amount of cans and bottles that they recycled during last year’s
season!
2. *************** Local Recycling Info *******************
CITY OF BOULDER RECYCLING CHANGES
The City of Boulder launched a new trash/recycling collection program
this month that aims to increase the amount of recyclables diverted from
landfills. Under the "pay as you throw" system, Boulder residents are
charged by their trash company for the amount of garbage they set out
at the curb, but not for items they recycle -- so the more residents recycle,
the less they pay. Similar programs have successfully increased recycling
participation in Loveland, CO and Seattle, WA. Also to divert more materials
from the garbage dump, Boulder curbside recycling guidelines have expanded
to include items that formerly had to be taken to drop-off centers for
recycling. Recyclables should now be sorted into two different grades:
Mixed Containers and Mixed Papers. MIXED CONTAINERS include aluminum and
steel cans and lids, aluminum foil, glass bottles and jars, #1 and #2
plastic narrow-necked bottles, and milk cartons and juice boxes (NEW).
MIXED PAPERS is a mix of the following items, which can all be recycled
together: opened and sorted junk mail and office paper, newspapers, magazines
and catalogs (NEW), corrugated cardboard (NEW), paper bags (NEW), telephone
books (NEW) and large paperboard such as cereal and shoe boxes (NEW).
For more information about Boulder’s new program, call the Recycle Boulder
Hotline at 303-441-4234 or visit http://www.environmentalaffairs.com
GRAND OPENING:
CENTER FOR HARDER TO RECYCLE MATERIALS
On Thursday November 15, EcoCycle-Boulder celebrates the grand opening
of a new Center for Hard to Recycle Materials. This facility will be the
first of its kind in Colorado, collecting computers, televisions and hard-bound
books from the community. EcoCycle hopes to add at least one new material
each year to the list of items collected at the Center, and is researching
the viability of adding future items such as plastic bags, non-container
glass, styrofoam, textiles, and small household appliances. The Center
for Hard to Recycle Materials will be located at Eco-Cycle’s former processing
facility, at 5030 "old" Pearl St. in Boulder (just north of the old drop-off
facility - take 49th Street from Pearl Parkway to access old Pearl.) The
Center will be staffed and open to the public Monday through Saturday
9 am to 4 pm. Call 303-444-6634 for more information about the new Center.
For more information about what can be done with other "hard-to-recycle"
items in the Denver area, consult the new edition of EcoCycle’s Guide
to Hard-to-Recycle Materials at http://www.ecocycle.org.
3. *************** Industry News *****************
NOVEMBER 15: AMERICA RECYCLES DAY
Yesterday, Colorado Governor Bill Owens signed an honorary proclamation
designating November 15, 2001 as America Recycles Day in the state of
Colorado. The America Recycles Day campaign annually educates the country
about economic, social, and environmental benefits of recycling and buying
recycled. This is the fifth year that Americans will celebrate November
15th by pledging to recycle more and buy recycled, and participate in
recycling events across the country. Communities in all fifty states,
the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are holding America Recycles
Day events this year. Events range from an "Art From Scrap" contest and
an event where high school students will replace used oil with reformulated
oil in California to curbside recycling contests held in Washington, DC
and Connecticut. Other special events include a recycled fashion show
in Illinois and a cell phone recycling event in New Jersey. In Kentucky,
ARD and recycling education have been integrated into the school curriculum.
In addition, Home Depot and Staples are hosting buy recycled events in
select stores. To pledge to recycle and buy recycled more, or support
an America Recycles Day recycling event, visit http://www.americarecyclesday.org/
. When you pledge, you are entered into a regional drawing to win a prize
package of recycled products. For local events, see Get Involved/Upcoming
Events below.
4. *************** Frightening Fact *****************
In 1998 only 6 percent of computers were recycled compared to the numbers
of new computers put on the market that year. Of the small amount recycled
each year, more than three-quarters comes from large-scale users of the
equipment. Individual users and small businesses contribute only a fraction
of the equipment that is recycled. Consumer electronics constitute 40%
of lead found in landfills. The main concern in regard to the presence
of lead in landfills is the potential for the lead to leach and contaminate
drinking water supplies. Source: Just Say No to E-Waste: Background Document
on Hazards and Wastes >From Computers, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition,
http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/sayno.htm
5. *************** Glimmer of Hope ****************
It has been estimated that over three-quarters of all computers ever
bought in the USA are currently stored in attics, basements, office closets,
and pantries. With the emergence of electronics collection and recycling
facilities across the country, there is still potential to keep these
obselete computers out of landfills! If you have outdated laptops, burned-out
monitors, and defunct CPU’s collecting dust in your Boulder County residence,
consider taking them to EcoCycle’s Center for Hard to Recycle Materials
(see info above in Local Recycling Info). Reusable computers will be donated
to non-profit groups and non-reusable items will be disassembled for recycling
and proper disposal of hazardous materials. Additionally, the Colorado
Materials Exchange has links and information posted on its web site that
will help you recycle or dispose of computer equipment while minimizing
the waste. Visit http://www.colorado.edu/cure/COMEX/
and check out the Electronics Recovery and Recycling Directories and the
Electronics Recovery and Recycling Programs links for information about
disposing of old computer equipment safely. * Note: office computers in
University of Colorado inventory must be disposed of through CU Property
Services.
6. *************** Get Involved / Upcoming Events***************
AMERICA RECYCLES DAY EVENTS - HOLIDAY CARD MAKING WORKSHOP with environmentally
friendly materials Thursday, November 15, 7 - 9 pm EcoCycle Broomfield
Education Center, Highway 287 and Nickel Drive, Broomfield Call 303-404-2839
or email eric.vozick@ecocycle.org
for more information
BUY RECYCLED ON AMERICA RECYCLES DAY!
You’re not really recycling until you buy recycled. Buy recycled products
and close the loop! Refer to CU’s Green Products Guide for environmentally-friendly
and recycled products (http://www.colorado.edu/curecycling).
Both the CU Bookstore and Printing and Copying Services offer a wide variety
of recycled products.
FALL LEAF AND PUMPKIN COLLECTIONS
Most Boulder County communities host leaf and/or pumpkin recycling collection
programs. For more information in your community, call one of the following
numbers: - City of Boulder, 303-441-4234 - City of Broomfield, 303-404-2839
- City of Longmont, 303-651-8416 - City of Louisville, 303-666-0124 -
City of Superior, 303-499-3675
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The Recycling Bulletin is circulated via a closed list; only CU Recycling has access to the rest of the subscriber list. Subscribers' names and e-mail addresses are not available to any other group or used for any other purpose. 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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