NERC requests comments for minimum postconsumer recycled content legislation - Recycling Today

2022-08-08 21:28:16 By : Ms. Elva Huang

Officials in the region drafted model legislation to require the use of postconsumer recycled content in several plastic products.

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), Brattleboro, Vermont, is requesting public comments for the Minimum Postconsumer Recycled Content Model Legislation for Plastics. The model legislation is intended to be a starting point in the development of legislation requiring the use of postconsumer recycled plastic in specified products sold in the region.

According to an announcement from NERC, a group of recycling officials from the region has been working for 18 months to develop draft model legislation to require a minimum amount of postconsumer recycled plastic content in carryout bags and food, beverage and household product containers. The draft model legislation is available to view online.

The draft model legislation proposes that carryout bags distributed in the region must contain at least 20 percent postconsumer recycled content within two years of the enactment date and 40 percent postconsumer recycled content within five years of the enactment date. For trash bags sold in the region, the draft model legislation proposes they contain 10 percent postconsumer recycled content within two years of the enactment date and 30 percent postconsumer recycled content within five years of the enactment date.

For plastic beverage containers sold in the region, the draft model legislation proposes that they must contain at least 15 percent postconsumer recycled content within two years of the enactment date, 25 percent postconsumer recycled content within five years of enactment date and 50 percent postconsumer recycled content within 10 years of the enactment date.

NERC’s draft model legislation also proposes that rigid plastic containers sold in the region must contain at least 25 percent postconsumer recycled content within two years of the enactment date and, beginning every three years from the enactment date, rigid containers sold in the region must increase postconsumer recycled content by 5 percent per year until reaching a 50 percent postconsumer recycled content .

NERC will accept comments on the draft model legislation via a feedback form on its website until Feb. 11. In addition, NERC plans to co-host a webinar with the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association at 1 p.m. Eastern Jan. 13 to discuss the draft model legislation.

Eriez says field testing shows its Ultra High-Frequency Eddy Current Separators recover nonferrous fines traditional ECS units miss.

Installations prove that Eriez Ultra High-Frequency (UHF) Eddy Current Separators (ECS) recover microfine aluminum, copper and other nonferrous fines from automobile shredder residue, or ASR, that traditional eddy current separators miss, according to the Erie, Pennsylvania-based manufacturer.

“Field results demonstrate this separator’s ability to reliably recover fine nonferrous metals, including bare copper wire, as small as 2-3 millimeters in size,” says Eriez Separation Product Manager Chris Ramsdell. 

According to the company, the Ultra High-Frequency Eddy Current Separator’s design is the key to its performance. “A rotor designed to produce exceptionally high gauss on the belt surface, combined with the high-frequency changes of the permanent magnetic poles, give this ECS the ability to consistently recover smaller nonferrous materials that were commonly missed by previous ECS designs,” Ramsdell says.  

Eriez Ultra High-Frequency Eddy Current Separators offer can help to improve zorba recovery without the need for sensor-based or optical sorting equipment. Each unit ships with an Eriez Brute Force Vibratory Feeder to ensure even presentation of material across the width of the machine to help maximize recovery.  

Eriez patented the first eddy current separator more than five decades ago. Today, the company offers a complete line of eddy current separators for a wide variety of industries and applications. To learn more about Eriez’s line of eddy current separators, click here. 

Swiss commodities firm says it recovered 27,000 metric tons of copper for recycling in 2020.

Switzerland-based metals and commodities trading firm Glencore has released a 2021 Climate Report in which it indicates it recovered some 27,000 metric tons of copper for recycling last year, as well as considerable volumes of precious metals.

“We are one of the world’s largest recyclers of end-of-life electronics, batteries and battery metals,” the firm states in a press release announcing its 2021 Climate Report. “We plan to grow our global footprint in current and new markets.”

Other volume figures for 2020 disclosed by Glencore from its electronics recycling efforts include the recovery of 1.3 million ounces (81,250 pounds) of silver; 132,000 ounces (8,250 pounds) of gold; 16,000 ounces (1,000 pounds) of palladium; and 5,000 ounces (312 pounds) of platinum. Those metals, says the firm, were harvested “from electronic scrap and other recycling feeds.”

States Glencore, “Our copper and electronic waste recycling business was one of the world’s first and is North America’s largest for end-of-life electronics.” On its website, Glencore says its Horne smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada, helps make it “North America's largest processor of electronic scrap containing copper and precious metals.”

In its climate report, Glencore also writes that its nickel business unit “is one of the world’s largest processors of secondary nickel- and cobalt-bearing materials.” It says its smelter in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, and its Nikkelverk refinery in Norway “process alloy scrap, battery materials, plating residues and spent catalysts.”

The full 50-page Glencore climate report can be viewed on this web page. 

Mike Natelborg has more than nine years of environmental industry experience and was most recently director of sales for Wastequip’s Toter division.

Big Truck Rental LLC (BTR), Tampa, Florida, has announced Mike Natelborg will be taking on the role of director of key accounts. In this role, he will be responsible for the strategy and execution for the segment, which BTR says will fuel the long-term growth plans for the company. 

Natelborg will report directly to Vice President of Sales Eric Voss. 

Natelborg has more than nine years of environmental industry experience. He got his industry start at Los Angeles-based Rehrig Pacific Co. (RPC) as a sales representative in the Midwest. At RPC, Natelborg was a sales representative, reaching Presidents Club in all eligible years. Later on, he was promoted to south-central sales manager at RPC.

Most recently, Natelborg was the director of sales at Charlotte, North Carolina-based Wastequip in its Toter division.

He received his undergraduate degree from Calvin University while playing on the basketball team and serving as team captain. He also holds an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.  

“Big Truck Rental’s strong company culture is a natural fit for me both personally and professionally. I’m passionate about the waste and recycling industry and excited to further engage my current and new industry network on how BTR is challenging the status quo in fleet management. I’m looking forward to contributing to the successful growth trajectory of BTR and making a positive impact [on] all our current suppliers and partners,” Natelborg says in a news release announcing his appointment.

“I’ve known Mike since he started in the industry. He has a proven track record of success, strong relationships across the industry and stays laser-focused on his personal and professional goals. His entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen, attitude [and] competitive drive are a perfect match for this role and our organization. We have absolute confidence in Mike,” Voss says.

Zach Martin, BTR president, adds, “Mike is an excellent addition to the BTR team, and his industry expertise, relationships and value-added approach will serve this customer segment well. We are excited to continue our growth with a leader who mirrors our culture and a strong drive to serve our customers.”

The company says the service will enable cities and businesses to transition to a more sustainable world.

Taoglas, an advanced technology provider based in Dublin, has launched its Taoglas Waste Insights solution for the North American market. The company says Taoglas Waste Insights’ offerings enable cities and enterprises to gather actionable insights and successful outcomes toward a more cost-effective and sustainable operation.

According to a news release from Taoglas, the service provides real-time data analytics to optimize waste monitoring and collection processes, which can provide savings in waste collection costs and reductions in CO2 emissions.

The company says the service combines a range of smart container sensors with a waste management platform and in-vehicle navigation to alert waste haulers when their containers are full. In addition, it provides waste collectors with access to a pickup route feature and predictive collection modeling, which allows waste collectors to maximize their resources and minimize costs.

“We are delighted to be launching Taoglas Waste Insights in North America,” says Ronan Quinlan, CEO and co-founder of Taoglas. "With this platform, a city or enterprise can manage not just some but all its waste assets together, getting a clear picture on where resources should be spent and what is working and what is not.” 

Taoglas is also establishing a Smart Waste Centre of Excellence in North America to meet the growing demand for greater efficiencies in waste management. It is estimated about 22 percent of the cities in the United States and Canada have already implemented strategic programs, compared with 7 percent of cities worldwide. The Centre of Excellence will focus on research and development towards an expanded portfolio of products and solutions in the waste management sector.

“We are focused on changing the way waste management is done forever,” says Leon Hayes, general manager and senior vice president of Taoglas Advanced Technologies Business Unit. “The operational and infrastructure cost savings provided by our solution, as well as the environmental impact in emissions, noise pollution and fuel savings are significant.”

To find out more information about the Taoglas Waste Insights solution, visit Taoglas’ booth at the Consumer Electronics Show #10121 or schedule a demonstration of the platform by contacting Taoglas regional sales team.

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