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Canadas magazine on collection, hauling, processing and disposal June/July 2009 $10.00
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Project Green
Turning food waste into clean energy inside an eco-business zone page 8
MACKTRUCKS.COM
2008 Mack Trucks, Inc. All rights reserved.
CONTENTS
June/July 2009 Volume 14, Number 3
COVER STORY
Project Green
FEATURES
WASTE TO ENERGY: ISRAELI TECHNOLOGY
Arrow Bios system uses water separation and digestion. by Arthur Potts 14
DEPARTMENTS
Editorial Up Front & Masthead Waste Business Composting Matters Products Regulation Roundup Event Report Ad Index Blog 4 6 20 31 34 36 42 45 46
RECYCLING: E-WASTE
Greentecs electronics waste recycling plant. by Guy Crittenden 18
CLEAN TECH
NEXT EDITION
SUPPLEMENTS: Composting Systems & Services; Show Guide: The Composting Council of Canada Annual Conference, Tradeshow & AGM; Landfill bioreactors. Chute systems. Faster project approvals. Marketing municipal programs. Scale house improvements. Baler technology. Space closing: July 22; Artwork required: July 25. Advertisers, contact Publisher Brad OBrien at 1-888-702-1111 ext. 2.
Food waste is generated in large quantities near Torontos Pearson Airport by the many restaurants, hotels and food services businesses. A new project uses this waste for bio-energy. by Ian Graham
23
GREEN ENERGY
25
LEGAL VIEW
27
Tanks, pg. 40
EDITORIAL
by Guy Crittenden
The environment ministry should implement the recommendations its own experts made four years ago.
of PFB mixed with mineral soil (Sound-Sorb) for bulk use in berms. The second stated There is no need to remove the OSGC berm provided longterm monitoring of the groundwater is continued. The experts then recommended that existing berms at other gun clubs should have a hydrogeological assessment, and that a monitoring regime be established in accord with a special algorithm. Removal of a berm would only be appropriate they wrote, as a mitigation option if contaminants in excess of the Ontario Drinking-Water Quality Standards were found in groundwater leaving the site or significant risks to human or environmental health were found on an SSRA or other risk assessment. The fourth recommendation (one of the most important) stated that, PFB should be composted before it is used in a berm (as is done in the UK). The fifth and sixth recommendations stipulated that, following a hydrogeological assessment (and a risk assessment if necessary), Sound-Sorb production and land application should be controlled by a Certificate of Approval or other legal instrument that provides equal or better protection for human health and the environment. The recommendations are, if anything, conservative; no ones attempting to ban Sound-Sorb just hold the companies accountable and prevent pollution by choosing sites carefully and monitoring for potential impacts. Yet, the ministry continues to ignore the recommendations, with predictable consequences. In April the Port Stanley News reported on a kilometer-long berm proposed for the St. Thomas Dragway near Sparta, Ontario. Journalist Francie Dennison wrote about a second delegation at the Central Elgin Council meeting of April 14, 2009, that presented a warp speed plan to start berm construction just two days later. Staff were concerned that the areas native sandy soils have a high susceptibility to contamination from surface sources and a study identified 22 water supply wells within a one km radius of the site. They noted that ministry studies at other Ontario sites indicate Sound-Sorb may contain elevated levels of heavy metals including copper and lead, and the provided studies didnt provide information related to the design or noise attenuation benefits of the proposed berm (about which staff were skeptical). Municipalities and concerned citizens would be spared the kind of battle thats about to erupt in Sparta if the environment ministry would implement the recommendations its own experts made four years ago something recently demanded by the Association of Public Health Associations (ALPHA). We call upon Minister John Gerretsen to take action now, or face 300 angry Spartans at his door a situation that history tells us is best avoided. Guy Crittenden is editor of this magazine. Contact Guy at gcrittenden@solidwstemag.com
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Guy Crittenden Editor gcrittenden@solidwastemag.com Brad OBrien Publisher bobrien@solidwastemag.com Jamie Ross Account Manager jross@solidwastemag.com Sheila Wilson Art Director Kim Collins Market Production Selina Rahaman Circulation Manager Carol Bell-Lenoury Mgr EcoLog Group Bruce Creighton President Business Information Group Contributing Editors Michael Cant, Rosalind Cooper, Maria Kelleher, Clarissa Morawski, Usman Valiante, Paul van der Werf
Award-winning magazine Solid Waste & Recycling magazine is published six times a year by EcoLog Information Resources Group, a divi sion of BIG Magazines L.P., a leading Canadian busi nesstobusiness information services company that also publishes HazMat Management magazine and other infor mation products. The magazine is printed in Canada. Solid Waste & Recycling provides strategic informa tion and perspectives on all aspects of Canadian solid waste collection, hauling, processing and disposal to waste managers, haulers, recycling coordinators, landfill and compost facility operators and other waste industry professionals. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 40069240 Information contained in this publication has been com piled from sources believed to be reliable, thus Solid Waste & Recycling cannot be responsible for the absolute correctness or sufficiency of articles or editorial contained herein. Articles in this magazine are intended to convey information rather than give legal or other professional ad vice. Reprint and list rental services are arranged through the Publisher at (416) 5106798. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Department, Solid Waste & Recycling 12 Concorde Pl, Ste 800, Toronto, ON M3C 4J2 Call: (416) 4425600 Fax: (416) 5105148 Email: srahaman@bizinfogroup.ca From time to time we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may interest you. If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us via one of the following methods: Phone: 18002687742 Fax: 4165105148 EMail: jhunter@businessinformationgroup.ca Mail to: Privacy Officer Business Information Group 12 Concorde Pl, Ste 800 Toronto, ON Canada M3C 4J2 Solid Waste & Recycling, USPS 018886 is published bimonthly by Business Information Group. US office of publication: 2424 Niagara Falls Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY 143040357. Periodicals Postage Paid at Niagara Falls, NY. US postmaster: Send address changes to Solid Waste & Recycling, PO Box 1118, Niagara Falls, NY 14304. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program towards our mailing costs. 2009 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior consent. ISSN14837714 PAP Registration No. 10991
Michael McSweeney
Aluminum expanded
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oxal is promoting aluminum bottles to the premium wine beverage container category, claiming that they add value to the drinking experience. In a news release, the company states that the bottles get people excited about the product. They encourage trial and consumption on premise as well as during other occasions. The release continues: The extensive off-the-shelf Boxal aluminum bottle range enables great speed to market. In a few weeks
UPFRONT
WASTE MANAGEMENT ACQUIRES MOLOK BUSINESS
The MOLOK bulk waste collection system was developed in Finland and consists of a dome-lidded round container above ground, with the larger portion of the container underground. A special crane truck lifts the dome lid, then raises a bag liner from inside. The operator dispenses the contents into his truck by untying a special closure at the bottom of the bag.
aste Management has announced that it has acquired Deep Clean Waste Services Inc., familiar to Canadians as the collection and service company for the MOLOK container system. Waste Management officials said the decision to make a significant investment in the collection of waste and recyclables from MOLOK Deep Collection containers grows out of the growing popularity of the containers system. The transaction was completed June 1, 2009. The acquisition of the Mount Forest-based Deep Clean fits into Waste Managements strategy and primary financial goals of earnings growth, margin expansion, strong cash flow generation and increasing the companys long-term return on invested capital. Deep Cleans principal services include emptying of the innovative Finnish company MOLOKs waste and recycling containers, which account for 100 per cent of its revenues. Our investment represents an important strategic opportunity to compete in a competitive solid waste market, said Brad Muter, market area vice president for Eastern Canada.
Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The companys customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. Visit www.wm.com
ropLife Canada is pleased to announce Barry Friesen has joined its staff as general manager of CleanFARMS Inc., a soon-to-be established organization that will assume responsibility for managing the collection and recycling of used containers and disposal of obsolete pesticides for Canadas pesticide industry. Barry comes to CropLife Canada with a long history in recycling and waste management. Most recently he served as regional vice president at Product Care Association. Before that he worked for the Niagara Region as director, waste management services division and as the solid-waste resource manager for the Nova Scotia Department of Environment. Barry is also a board member of the Recycling Council of Ontario and a past-chair of the Composting Council of Canada. In this newly created role, Barry will help transition CropLife Canadas container management and obsolete pesticide collection programs to CleanFARMS Inc. CleanFARMS Inc will be a stand-alone, non-profit organization. During the transition period, Barry will report to Cam Davreux, vice president of stewardship at CropLife Canada. Barry will work from CropLife Canadas Toronto office and can be reached at 416-622-9771 x2230.
@ARTICLECATEGORY:798;
COVER STORY
by Ian Graham
Yield Energy is conducting a survey of food processors and restaurants to quantify the amounts and types of organic waste.
ustainable business practices are becoming a competitive necessity, and businesses (as well as government) can do more for the environment working together than apart. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) and Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA), in partnership with the Region of Peel and cities of Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga, have embarked on an ambitious undertaking to put these principles into action. The objective is no less than to transform the area around Toronto Pearson International Airport into a world-class eco-business zone. Once in place, the Pearson EcoBusiness Zone will be the largest eco-business initiative in North America. Partnerships in Project Green leverage the airport areas many advantages infrastructure, diverse industrial and commercial base, talent pool, and green spaces to make it a hub of green innovation. The Pearson Eco-Business Zone is Canadas largest employment area comprised of more than 12,000 hectares of industrial and commercial land, 12,500 businesses, and 355,000 employees. Major sectors include automotive supply chain, logistics and warehousing, food processing, plastics, and
aviation. Its an ideal location to pool materials and group purchases, share best practices, cooperate to cut costs and minimize waste. The TRCA has already received multi-year funding commitments from its partner municipalities and the GTAA to development and implement the initiative. The GTAA is taking a leadership role, while a variety of area businesses Unilever, Bayer Inc., Woodbine Entertainment Group, Oxford Properties, Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Lange Transportation, Molson, and many others assist with implementation by sitting on the project steering committee and undertaking innovative environmental projects on their sites. With estimated total annual electricity use of close to 5.8 million MWh, natural gas consumption of 46 million GJ, and water use of 109 million m3, the area surrounding the airport represents enormous potential for conservation. To realize this potential, Partners in Project Green develops and implements projects and programs to help businesses realize cost reduction opportunities, including looking at energy, pooling green purchases and, most prominently, turning waste into revenue.
Gree
Project
en
COVER STORY
Organic waste
In partnership with YIELD Energy Inc., Partners in Project Green are working together to identify opportunities to turn organic waste from local food processors into green energy in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone. With the amount of food processors around the airport, the potential for green energy is massive, says Ian Graham of Yield Energy. The only limiting factor around the airport could be the land available for bio-gas plants, as opposed to the amount waste. With over 250 food processors in the zone, organic waste from a number of manufacturers could feed one or multiple bio-gas facilities. But the first step is to get a better picture of the organic waste being generated in the area. To do this, Yield Energy is conducting a survey of food processors and restaurants to quantify the amounts and types of organic waste. This information will be used to identify potential sites and to develop the biogas business plan. The proposed bio-gas facility(s) would
utilize anaerobic digestion, which produces bio-methane gas from organic waste materials, which is then used to generate green electricity. In addition to electricity, the process also creates waste heat that can be provided to local businesses. Interest in the project is high, and the background research is expected to be completed at the end of June 2009.
Components
A regional resource reutilization network is being developed; a number of stakeholders have been brought together to develop and
implement a regional waste exchange. The group is currently looking at waste exchanges globally to better understand the conditions of success. Other components include: An Eco-Efficiency program offers local businesses free walk-through assessments to identify energy, water and waste reduction potential, helps fund detailed audits, and provides assistance in implementing and financing projects. A Green Building Retrofit program offers assistance for property managers and owners to reduce costs and improve the performance of their building stock. A Resource Utilization program is receiving intense interest, with two initiatives underway to help turn general waste and food waste into new revenue streams for local companies. Other project initiatives that will bolster profitability, help retain employees, and enhance corporate image include: a Sustainable Transportation program to help address employee commuting options; Green Purchasing Blocks to drive down the cost of implementing green
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COVER STORY
technologies; and, Green Site initiatives to help green their parking areas, as well as monthly networking and education events.
The first step of the process separates more than 90 per cent of contaminants.
Environmen
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Living in harmony with the environment demands an awareness of the influence we have on the world around us. Our waste management expertise ranges from strategy and planning, diversion, processing and transfer systems, to disposal and waste-to-energy systems. With more than 4,000 talented professionals in Canada, we offer our clients a full spectrum of integrated services, nationwide expertise, and access to the technical resources of more than 43,000 employees around the world.
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COVER STORY
organic waste as input material are the result of foreign materials contaminating the organic wastes and disturbing the mechanical function of the plants. Waste, such as tins or plastics, should not be in the waste. Unfortunately, people are not careful when sorting their organic waste material. In the past, problems caused by inorganic contaminants disturbing the waste treatment process led decision makers to conclude that AD is unreliable, expensive and insecure. While there is no way to clean the waste such that all contaminants are removed from the organic fraction before digesting, a solution exists in a reliable frontend system that removes as many contaminants as possible from the organic waste prior to
entering the digester, plus an in-tank cleaning system to remove the rest of the contaminants during digestion. Before pre-treating the organic waste ma-
terial, it passes through a shredder, in this case one thats impervious to metals or glass. The entire waste stream as received gets shredded and, as required, water is added to raise the total solids content to 25 per cent. This results in a pasty sludge with the inorganic waste particles in pieces no larger than 25 mm. The conditioned sludge moves to the first step of contaminant removal: the pretreatment system, developed in cooperation with Fitec and Putzmeister. Its based on a modified piston pump. The proprietary modifications include a specialized control system, a gate valve, a screening cylinder and a customized piston head. Pre-treatment leads to a fairly clean material that contains some plastic particles,
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sand, eggshells etc. most particles smaller than 12mm. This material is stored in an intermediate storage ready for hydrolization. The removed contaminants and some organic residues remain in a pipe and are pumped through a double tube heat exchanger. The material is heated to temperatures over 70C and is held at this temperature for more than one hour. Fats and organic residues in the waste get pasty. A second stage press squeezes the contaminant fraction until the rest of liquids are separated. The remaining contaminant fraction has a total solid content of more than 45 per cent and contains very little organics. After hydrolization, the pre-treated organic matter is fed to the AD. The slurry still contains some inorganic contaminants despite all efforts to remove it. Depending on 2:36 PM Walinga VC2336 6/11/07 the input
material, these residual contaminants may include sand, glass particles, eggshells, parts of seashells, rubber rings or plastic particles that passed through the filter. Left untreated, these materials will accumulate in the digester and cause problems. Heavy grit material sinks to the digester floor and plastic floats up to the surface. Therefore, a scraper for daily cleaning of the Page 1digester floor and a skimming device to
clean the surface were developed. If you would like to share your organic waste for the study or learn more about Partners in Project Green please visit www.partnersinprojectgreen.com Ian Graham is with Yield Energy Inc. in Toronto Ontario. Contact Ian at ian.graham@yieldenergy.com
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6960 Hammond Ave. S.E. Caledonia, MI. USA 49316 Tel (800) 466-1197 Fax (616) 656-9550
WA S T E - T O - E N E R G Y
by Arthur Potts
The two-stage process diverts upwards of 85 per cent of waste.
MBT
Israeli waste treatment technology comes to Canada
new approach to managing municipal solid waste is coming closer to reality in Canada. A mechanical/biological technology (MBT) known as the ArrowBio Process is being proposed for Grey County, Ontario by BioWaste Treatment Technologies, a firm that has established a willing host agreement to build in Southgate Township, (about an hour and a half north of Toronto). Biowaste principals Victor Sibilia and myself have backgrounds in waste management. Sibilia was the founder and operator of EnviroTire in Brampton, which processed 1.75 million tires a year into re-usable crumb rubber. In addition to being a government relations consultant, I co-founded Wood Waste Solutions a wood recycling company that now operates out of Bolton. Both of us came across the ArrowBio technology independently and recognized that it took a very different approach to diverting organics and recyclables from landfill. Developed in Israel where there are no curbside recycling programs the technology is designed to process unsorted municipal waste, recover the recyclables, remove contaminants and then anaerobically digest the remaining organic waste into biogas, digestate and excess water. The two-stage process diverts upwards of 85 per cent of waste from landfill while generating green energy.
The process
The technology developers, Arrow Ecology in Israel, are experts in water treatment systems. They recognized that water is an excellent medium to separate municipal waste based on each components specific gravity, as well as to biodegrade the remaining organic materials into energy-rich biogas, clean water and a stabilized soil amendment product. The process exploits the same science that anaerobically digests sewage sludge.
The water washes clean the recyclable materials, enhancing their market value. It also provides a flow regulation property that makes the continuous processing resilient to changes in input composition, while containing all odors and by-products within a network of tanks and pipes. In the first stage, the waste (containing biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials) is dumped on a tipping floor where its visually screened for unsuitable waste, such as bulky goods. Material is then directed into a large tank full of recycled water that contains biological agents. The various materials in the waste stream are separated via gravitational settling, screening, and hydro-mechanical shredding. Separation is based primarily on the principle that inorganic materials, such as metals and glass, have a specific gravity thats greater than water, while plastics and biodegradable organic matter have a specific gravity thats equal to or less than water. The heavy components sink to the bottom of the tank and are conveyed to a trommel screen that opens any plastic bags with cutting blades and returns the small fractions to the settling tank. Using cutting blades rather than a shredder insures that any hazardous materials such as batteries or cleaning product containers are not released into the solution. The heavy fractions are then conveyed over a magnet and an eddy current, separating the ferrous and aluminum metals; the remaining materials are hand sorted to recover glass, detergent containers or other specified materials. The residue from this side of the operation is typically inert waste that can be safely landfilled. The light fractions, such as mixed plastics, are floated across the tank by a paddle wheel and conveyed up a belt to a picking station where PET, HDPE and film plastics are air classified into three streams
WA S T E - T O - E N E R G Y
of recyclable products that can be bailed and marketed. Since plastics dont absorb water (compared to biodegradable material), theyre lighter and separate easily. The biodegradable material that remains in the floatation tank enters the filtration systems where pulverization creates a watery organic solution. This energy-rich solution contains biodegradable material, organic matter, paper and other substances that can now be treated in the bioreactors.
that, with respect to solid waste processing, is unique to the ArrowBio Process. Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) digestion, Biological treatment thoroughly degrades the biological materials into finished soil amendThe carbon-rich organic fluid then undergoes two processes, both of ment products and a methane-rich biogas. which are orchestrated by naturally occurring microorganisms in highly The biogas is collected at the upper part of the methanogenic reactor controlled environments. The bio-liquid first enters acetogenic bioand is re-circulated by compressor and re-injected into the reactor close reactors for several hours of preliminary treatment. There, biological to its bottom, providing agitation without mechanical devices. Excess hydrolysis splits certain molecules into their component, readily-metabbiogas is routed out of the system to power the facility, while the balance olized parts, (e.g., simple sugars and organic acids). can be sold as green energy for transportation and power plants (subThisMetalOutAd_3_09:Layout to the methanogenic reactor for organic liquid is then pumped 1 3/26/09 12:25 PM Page 1 stantially less polluting than alternative fossil fuels). In Ontario, its an1897 digestion. The process uses an advanced variant of anaerobic digestion ticipated that the biogas will qualify for the Province of Ontarios new
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Feed in Tariff (FIT) program and generate revenues of $0.14 a KWh. The process re-circulates water throughout the system; excess water is polished to meet community standards and released to the water shed or used for irrigation. The resulting digestate is thoroughly degraded so that it does not smell; in Israel its used as a soil amendment product. In Canada it may be necessary to further process this material to meet local compost standards.
Installations
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Its a great benefit for municipalities considering a new technology to be able to visit plants that are up and running. Currently, two ArrowBio plants are in operation. The original plant, just out side of Tel Aviv, has been processing 20,000 to 25,000 tonnes per year for the past seven years. Last June a new plant with a capacity of 300 tonnes per day was completed in New South Wales, Australia and is now fully operational. BioWaste Treatment Technologies plans to build a plant similar to the Australian one (or about 90,000 tonnes per year) in the Dundalk Industrial Park. Project financing is contingent on securing sufficient waste volumes under long-term contracts; the local municipalities are considering whether to assign their unsorted municipal waste to BioWaste for a tipping fee of $50 a tonne. Local municipalities are mindful that the US border will be closed to much of Ontarios municipal waste in 2010. In addition, waste diversion continues to be a priority for municipalities intent on preserving valuable landfill space. Getting organics out of the waste stream is essential to meeting diversion targets of 60 per cent or more. Being able to accomplish this (and more) without the added expense and disruption of a source-separated organics (SSO) program could be a major factor in their decisions to commit their waste to Biowaste to be managed in an ArrowBio MBT plant. NOTE: A video of the technology is available at: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=gZVqQ8f6LiI Arthur Potts is President of BioWaste Treatment Technologies Limited in Toronto, Ontario. Contact Arthur at arthur@biowastetreatment.ca
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RECYCLING
by Guy Crittenden
During one Earth Week collection event, 60,000 pounds come through the facility from the Cambridge region.
When electronic waste, cell phones or cartridges come into the facility, theyre first examined to determine whether they can be reused or refurbished. If not, theyre ground down so plastics and metals can be recovered by downstream partners. Greentec collects six million toner and ink cartridges annually, close to 90 per cent of which are reusable, and processes more than 200,000 cell phones. Depending on whether the client wishes to recover value, Greentec will pay for items that can be reused. The company has a testing and remarketing team with a network of secondary market buyers that allows them to maximize value recovery on a broad selection of items. Since 1997 sales revenue has grown by almost 700 per cent. If the client does not want to have any of their products reach a secondary market, the company offers secure destruction. Items are ground down and destroyed in accordance with environmental legislation and electronics recycling standards. Says Tony Perrotta, president of Greentec, Most people are concerned about their personal information getting out there. We make sure that when we get a product in, we wipe it of any personal information, including computer equipment. Their hard drives are cleared according
RECYCLING
to U.S. Department of Defense Standards. may be diverted to stock pile (simple destrucWith the Ontario e-waste stewardship protion) or be allowed to pass to the secondary gram in effect, business is growing. During reduction side via an enclosed feed conveyor. one Earth Week collection event alone, the A separate gaylord tipper is also included company saw 60,000 pounds come through the at this location for the introduction of waste facility just from the Cambridge region. toner cartridges to the secondary shredder. The Greentecs closed loop system is composed fully enclosed feed conveyor transports these of an initial feed conveyor for delivery of etoner cartridges (and or shredded e-waste) to waste to a two-shaft industrial shredder. This the four shaft shredder to be reduced to a 30 slow speed, high torque shear shredder delivmm (11/2) minus particle. When processing cartridges, the stainless steel feed hopper ers more than 80,000 lbs of cutting force and will be under a constant high-pressure water torque, easily capturing and reducing these mist spray to eliminate any sparking issues or materials to an initial size of approx 11/2 wide x 2 to 6 long pieces (and smaller). chance of fire/explosion. All materials exiting Material leaving the first shredder is transthe shredder fall directly to a stainless steel ported via a sort conveyor complete with magvibrating dewatering screener below. This netic head pulley to the secondary reduction screener is completely sealed to the shredder side. Operators manually remove stainless and downstream removal conveyor for dust steel shafts and any other materials not destine collection and fines containment. Runoff water for additional processing. The magnetic head is collected at this point, then filtered and dispulley automatically extracts the majority of posed of in an environmentally sound and apferrous materials to a separate container. proved way. At this point the general shredded FEB A secondary removal conveyor from the 27109 ENV Capabilities SW&R e-waste 10/16/07 2:26 PM Page 1
screener transports the shredded materials to the separation module. Material exiting this conveyor is subjected to an additional vibratory screen for removal of fines and at the same time for the removal of any missed minor ferrous by a cross belt magnet. This vibratory screener also serves as a feeder to a rare earth eddy current separator, which in turn removes any aluminum to a collection container. Final separation of the remaining mixed red metals and, circuit boards from the plastics is completed by an all metal sorter. This unit takes the mixed stream from the eddy current unit and effectively separates any metal-bearing material from the plastic content. Greentec also has a horizontal baler that can compact corrugated, plastics and light metals bails of 1500lbs. Guy Crittenden is editor of this magazine. Contact Guy at gcrittenden@solidwastemag.com
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WA S T E B U S I N E S S
Government policy
Largest recycler
The largest fully-integrated tire recycler and recycled rubber products manufacturer in North America can be found in Toronto, Ontario. National Rubber Technologies (NRT) has been in business since 1927. Most recently, it expanded its operation into the United States through the acquisition of Koneta Rubber in Ohio. What separates NRT from its competitors in the tire recycling business is its vertical integration. Tire recycling involves four steps: collection, grinding, separation, and fabrication into new products. NRT has competitors within each step of the tire recycling business but is the only company that does all four. The company is involved in every aspect of tire recycling from when a tire is taken off a vehicle for the last time, to shredding, R&D into new products, fabrication of new products, marketing and sales. NRT is privately owned, with shares split between senior management and a private equity firm. The company has 270 employees in Toronto and 150 people in its recently acquired Ohio facility. The companys President and CEO, Greg Bavington, is proud that the company can consider itself part of the green business movement. Its one of the reasons that attracted him to it. A mechanical engineer by training, Bavington worked at General Motors and Hatch Consultants prior to joining NRT.
Some may recall a spate of failures amongst tire recyclers across Canada, especially in Ontario. Even NRTs recycling division faced the Companys Creditors Arrangement Act (the Canadian equivalent of Chapter 11 in the U.S.). One of the reasons for the failure, at least in Ontario, was the elimination of the $5 tire tax charged by the province. When the government rescinded the tire tax, some retailers began to charge a $5 disposal fee. In a free market system the tires went to the lowest cost provider of service, often haulers that would either illegally dispose of them, truck them to landfill, or truck them to the U.S. or Quebec for incineration. In a free market system, tire recyclers have to compete for supply with incinerators and landfills. Without a government policy that encourages recycling of tires through various means, landfilling and incineration is the result. In the spring, the Ontario government announced a industry-funded program to deal with the 12 million tires generated in the province each year. The program is scheduled to begin in the fall and will be delivered by Ontario Tire Stewardship, a not-for-profit organization incorporated under legislation. The program will see 91 percent of used tires recycled into higher uses and include funding for research into greener ways to recycle tires. One advantage of the new tire stewardship program over the hated tire tax is that the government will not collect any fees. Fees for the program will be collected by Ontario Tire Stewardship from brand owners, importers and vehicle manufacturers. Bavington is pleased with the new tire recycling program in Ontario. When the program is implemented, NRT will not have to compete against landfills and incinerators for its feedstock. Its likely that the company will be able to grow since the company could add up to 30 per cent more tire-derived material to its products. It will also be able to compete effectively with off-shore imports, thereby allowing it to increase its tire recycling production by over 100 percent. John Nicholson, M.Sc., P.Eng., is a consultant based in Toronto, Ontario. Contact John at john.nicholson@ebccanada.com
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ver the last few years, clean technologies have become a part of our daily lives. They are everywhere: in the cleaner vehicles available at the dealership, in the energy efficient light bulbs in our houses, in the power produced from alternative sources of energy we use every day. Its becoming obvious to all of us that they can have a direct impact both on our environment and in our personal lives. However, what might not be so obvious is the tremendous economic opportunities that cleantech can create, at a time when Canada and the rest of the world are seeking measures to create new jobs and economic activity. In the current global context, an increasing number of countries are entering the cleantech race, convinced that investments into low-carbon technologies and green infrastructure can help create jobs in the short-term and play a key role in the shift to a new clean economy. For example, the U.S., under the new Obama Administration, will spend $150 billion over the next decade on clean energy, creating an estimated five million jobs. As major markets like the United States and China seek to shed costs and increase value in their product offerings, resource-based economies like Canadas must move up the value chain in order to position themselves at the front of the pack. Theres no shortage of innovative and promising clean technologies in Canada. In fact, SDTCs SD Tech Fund has a portfolio of 154 projects that, once they reach the market, have the potential to bring positive environmental impacts for Canadians and others. In total, SDTC has committed $376 million to these projects from across the country. That amount has been leveraged with an additional $905 million in funding from other project partners for a total project value of $1.3 billion. While this financial support is essential in helping them move towards commercialization, it is often not enough. In the instant-gratification world of today, the payback from supporting and adopting innovative clean technologies
by Vicky Sharpe
Canada can be a technology maker or it can lag behind and become a technology taker.
Vicky Sharpe, Ph.D., is President & CEO, Sustainable Development Technology Canada (STDC) in Ottawa, Ontario. Contact Vicky at info@stdc.ca
good benchmark on the state of the cleantech industry in Canada is The Cleantech Report. Recently issued by the Ontario Centre of Environmental Technology Advancement (OCETA) and the Russell-Mitchell Group, the report provides a good description of the industry, trends and drivers, barriers and opportunities in the cleantech and green tech industry. Although focused solely on Ontariobased companies, it has applicability to the rest of Canada. The report itself provides good background information to the barriers to growth for cleantech companies. The Cleantech Report identifies investment as a key to the success of clean technology companies in the province. The report estimates that Ontarios cleantech sector will require $800 million to $1.2 billion in investment for product commercialization over the next three to five years. These figures do not include investments in demonstration plants or proof-of-concept equipment. One major difference between some cleantech companies and start-up in other sectors is the lengthy and sometimes complicated permitting process for some technologies. This is one obstacle that Canadian governments should be
looking into so as to support the commercialization of local technologies. (See Editorial by STDCs Vicky Sharpe.) In many Canadian jurisdictions, the regulatory environment is not conducive to a demonstration testing of a new technology, especially if it involves thermal treatment. Startups are faced with face hefty consulting fees and long waits in order to get approval demonstrate their technology to potential customers. Without a successful full-scale demonstration, its extremely difficult to convince a customer to buy an unproven solution. By assisting in the development of a domestic market for made-in-Canada clean technologies, governments will be providing invaluable assistance to the sector.
In many Canadian jurisdictions, the regulatory environment is not conducive to a demonstration testing of a new technology.
by John Nicholson
shortage of dogs and very few stars. In order to avoid the former and find the latter, due diligence is necessary; dont invest just because a company is in a new hot space. The analysis of the product, the people, the regulatory climate, and the competition should be no different for a cleantech company then one in any other well-established sector.
The companies
Below are my insights on some of the cleantech companies Im familiar with from the The Cleantech Report. In some cases Ive worked with the companies and in others, Ive interviewed them for my articles in HazMat Management or Solid Waste & Recycling magazine. Altech. This company has been around for over 20 years. The company has been involved in the development and commercialization of a number of technologies in Canada ranging from soil cleanup to wastewater treatment and air pollution control. Biorem. With its roots at the University of Waterloo, this company has grown to be a world leader in providing engineered biofilters for odour control at wastewater treatment plants, abattoirs and composting facilities. Publicly traded, this company is a good example of a Canadian clean technology success story. Bluezone. Its hard to believe but this company has been around for over 10 years, still arguably in the start-up phase. The companys advanced technology captures sleeping gas used in hospital operating rooms and cleans it for reuse. The environmental benefit of the technology is that it prevents of the release of toxic and GhG gases. Unfortunately, cash-strapped hospitals have a hard time justifying the budget for the technology within any voluntary effort of reducing toxic emissions or GhG gases. Tougher regulations on emission or a cap-and-trade system for GhGs would greatly help this company grow. Environmental Waste International. Listed on the TSX-V, this five-employee company has been around since 1992. Since that time, the company has been developing its microwave technology to treat various waste streams. With limit commercial success in North America it is currently chasing leads in China with the assistance of Inteeds Solutions Inc. Envirotower Inc. If you want to succeed in green tech, have a technology that works better and cheaper then conventional methods. EnviroTower delivers on both counts. Its technology cleans water from cooling towers without the need of conventional chemicals at up to 20 per cent less cost. The environmental benefits are an added bonus. Choosing EnviroTowers water treatment system is a no brainer for a building owner looking to retrofit an existing cooler water system or needing a new one. Fielding Chemical. One might not normally think of a
chemical company as the good guys. However, this company can rightly claim to employ a green collar workforce as it recovers chemicals for reuse. The company has been recycling chemicals since 1955 at its Mississauga facility; it shows you can be green without fitting the clich of a new, flashy cleantech company. Napier Reid. This is another company that has been around since the 1950s. Specializing in water and wastewater treatment, the company integrates technologies into packaged treatment plants. Its adept at integrating various water treatment technologies, having completed almost 3,000 projects worldwide since its inception. Plasco. Thanks to its president, Rod Bryden, this company was the first advanced thermal treatment company in Ontario to get a demonstration facility built that thermally treated municipal solid waste. If the company can prove that its gasification system in Ottawa works, it may have a future building WTE plants and treating municipal waste for about $65 per tonne. Pontaralo Engineering Inc. This is a good example of a company that takes a waste (plastic) and turns it into a product (a flooring system). Founded in 1995, the 110-employee company supplies a patented structural flooring system made from recycled plastic that replaces gravel and hard fill. The flooring system also provides a barrier against subsurface VOCs, radon gas, and humidity. Quantum Murray. This company is a player in a traditional industry (demolition) that has rebranded itself as a recycler and part of the new economy. Quantum Murray, like any major demotion company, recycles major components of buildings but in its case also provides remediation and other environmental services. REMCO. When I first met the representatives of this LED lighting company in 2003, they valued their company to have a potential worth of $1 billion. After five years, they have three employees and have a way to go before reaching their anticipated worth. Who knows what the future holds. Stormfisher. The vast majority of cleantech start-ups consist of technological entrepreneurs looking for financing. Stormfisher is an exception. It was founded by three MBA graduates looking to get into the bioenergy space by first having money and then finding technologies. With $350 million to invest, they are arguably the most richly funded developer of biogas energy projects in the world. Tadger. Ive witnessed first-hand the ability of the TADGER to reduce pollution emissions from vehicles. Sales have never taken off partially because of the myriad of other fuel-saving devices on the market. Its too bad I own shares in the company.
John Nicholson, M. Sc., P. Eng. is based in Toronto, Ontario. Contact John at john.nicholson@ebccanada.com
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overnment mandates are driving global growth in demand for second-generation fuels. In Canada, the federal government has enacted a target blend of five per cent ethanol in gasoline by 2010. In Quebec, the 2006-2015 Energy Strategy sets a target blend of five per cent ethanol by 2012. In December 2007, then-US President Bush signed into law a Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) calling for at least 36 billion gallons of ethanol and other biofuels to be used nationwide by 2022, including a minimum of nine billion gallons in 2008, and 20.5 billion gallons by 2015. Corn-based ethanol has paved the way to alternative fuels, but is now considered a bridge to next-generation ethanol. These second generation biofuels are made from non-food feedstocks such as residual biomass and municipal solid waste and address some of todays main economic and environmental challenges. They help reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GhGs), while contributing to a greener economy. Further, producing fuels locally rather than importing foreign oil increases energy independence. While several operational first-generation biofuel plants use food feedstock such as corn and sugar cane, very few second-generation ethanol plants have been built to commercial scale. However, the wide range of feedstocks from which second-generation fuels can be created means these fuels have a number of benefits over first-generation fuels.
This is the worlds first agreement between a large urban centre and a biofuel producer to turn municipal waste into ethanol.
by Marie-Helene Labrie
tive energy balance, since gasification requires less energy than it produces. It also requires minimal use of water, and depending on the feedstock, it can be a net producer of potable water. In comparison, the production of corn ethanol uses 300 percent more water than Enerkems process. Finally, according to an independent lifecycle analysis, the process reduces the production of CO2 by three tonnes for each dry tonne of municipal solid waste processed.
solid waste per year. The sorted municipal solid waste to be used is the ultimate residue after recycling and composting. These residues would otherwise be landfilled. Greenfield Ethanol and Enerkem will be jointly responsible for financing the project and for constructing, owning, and operating the plant which will be located at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. The plant will initially produce 36 million litres of biofuels per year. (See companion article in the Summer 2009 edition of HazMat Management magazine, page 44.) In March 2009, Enerkem announced plans to build and operate a $250 million second-generation biofuels production facility located in Pontotoc, Mississippi its first in the United States. The facility will produce 20 million gallons of ethanol per year from 370,000 green tonnes of feedstock (200,000 tonnes of urban biomass and 170,000 tonnes of forest/agricultural biomass). Enerkems approach may provide a solution to some of the challenges that the production and commercialization of cellulosic ethanol has faced, including high manufacturing costs and the volume of feedstock required. The company has also received financial support from governments and agencies including Natural Resources Canada, Sustainable Development Technology Canada, Natural Resources Quebec and the Alberta Energy Research Institute. And with the ability to use municipal waste and telephone poles as feedstock, Chornet believes Enerkem wont have any difficulties maintaining a constant supply of feedstock. The waste streams were looking into, fortunately for us, have been up in the last 10 years. Thats a more subtle answer to the question: Are you going to miss waste someday?
Marie-Helene Labrie is Vice President, Government Affairs and Communications, for Enerkem in Montreal, Quebec. Contact MarieHelene at mlabrie@enerkem.com
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n May 14, 2009, Bill 150 (the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009) received Third Reading in the Ontario legislature and received royal assent. The Act constitutes the second significant attempt by the McGuinty government to make Ontario a national and international leader in the development of renewable energy through the introduction of a new power procurement program. Moreover, the Act will have a huge impact on all aspects of electricity production and consumption in Ontario, and in the process, Ontario will become a guinea pig for jurisdictions seeking to adapt European-style procurement programs for use in North America. Although Energy Minister Smitherman and the government have expended significant energy in bringing the Act and its associated programs to fruition, for various reasons the results of this initiative may be disappointing.
FLOWER POWER
by Aaron Atcheson
pete with other projects within the framework of an RFP. This program will provide an opportunity for many entrepreneurs to bring forward projects that would not otherwise have been feasible, which will create opportunities in turn for equipment suppliers, financing and other services. Unfortunately, the structure of the program appears very likely to provide less than optimal results for the investment committed. As the tariff rates for some of the classes of renewable energy, in particular small solar, are significantly higher than for others, the new regime runs the risk of overbuilding the highest cost options. This issue is clearly a product of the competing goals of the government to encourage the development of a green economy and to replace and expand the electricity generation infrastructure in the province. As well, incentives built into the Act and the feed-in tariff program to spur community groups, First Nations, co-operatives and other smaller economic actors to develop projects will result in less efficient results from the new program. Proposed domestic content requirements may raise the cost of developing projects and lead to reduced project development.
June/July 2009 www.solidwastemag.com 27
cial approval. Because the new renewable energy approval may be appealed to Ontarios Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT), the focus of NIMBY forces in Ontario will move from the Ontario Municipal Board the appeal entity for changes to zoning by-laws and other municipal decisions to the ERT. Disregarding the cost and time associated with preparations necessary for a hearing at the ERT, the Act eliminates any formal leave to appeal process and allows any person resident in Ontario to require a hearing at the ERT with respect to a renewable energy approval. While the onus of proof rests with the party alleging that there is serious harm to human health or serious and irreversible harm to plant life, animal life or the natural environment, project proponents will need to prepare for a full hearing on the facts, notwithstanding that there may be little or no substance to the claim.
Fuelling the success of Canadas CleanTech companies through practical legal advice and industry expertise.
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National CleanTech Industry Leader 416.595.2996 519.931.3526 aatcheson@millerthomson.com
Miller Thomson LLP is one of Canadas largest national law rms, with over 430 lawyers working across Canada. The rm provides a complete range of business law, advocacy and personal legal services to Canadian and international corporations, entrepreneurs, institutions, governments and not-for-prot organizations.
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it to promote the conservation of electricity, to facilitate the implementation of a smart grid and to promote the use and generation of electricity from renewable energy sources. The additional mandate items will dramatically change the OEBs role in terms of economic regulation. Its far from clear how the new mandate items can be integrated with the old and there will likely be a period of adjustment and confusion. Other notable elements of the Act include: The new Renewable Energy Facilitation Office will have broad powers to assist or encourage the development of qualifying renewable energy projects. The usefulness of this office will depend on the staffing and other resources provided to it. The Act mandates the development of a smart grid in the province. The concept behind the smart grid system is to adjust or rebuild the system in order to minimize transmission inefficiencies. While the Act sets forth this objective, implementation is to be spelled out in the regulations. The Act introduces for the first time a number of mechanics directed at improving conservation throughout Ontario. As one example, energy audits will be required on
the sale of residential premises. The concept of conservation and demand management (CDM) targets is introduced for distributors of electricity and CDM targets can be specified as conditions of licences held by the distributors. Overall, the changes initiated by the passage of the Act comprise an interesting experiment in facilitating and incentivizing renewable energy development, energy conservation and the growth of a green economy in Ontario. Despite its faults, the Act is likely to improve the speed at which renewable energy projects are developed in Ontario, and other North American jurisdictions will keep a close watch.
Aaron Atcheson is Partner and Chair of the National CleanTech Practice Group with Miller Thomson LLP in London, Ontario. Contact Aaron at aatcheson@millerthomson.com (Written with the assistance of David Rounthwaite and Andrew Roman.)
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We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories.
U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
www.greenfuels.org
C O M P O S T I N G M AT T E R S
Program details
Presenting the residents of Kingston with clear information is key, says Derek Ochej, the Citys public education and promotion coordinator. Our new Trim Your Waste publication helps residents know what to put where; this helps minimize contaminants in the various waste streams including the green bin. Allowable SSO wastes include fruit and vegetable peelings, bread, meat bones and dairy products. Over and above these standard items the city also accepts soiled paper products like pizza boxes, tissues and paper towels and other items such as dryer lint and hair. (Apparently some novelty items like toe clippings are okay too.) Continuing the current municipal trend, the city eschews the inclusion of diapers and any type of plastic in its green bins. SSO wastes are directed to the Norterra Organics facility near Kingston, which is owned by the Scott Environmental Group. Wastes are directed to a receiving building where theyre blended with other wastes. Theyre then conveyed to Phase 1 windrows with a wheeled loader. Compost is screened using a trommel screen prior to marketing. The SSO is composted at a 20,000 tonne/year GORE Cover
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System. The site which has a relatively small footprint consists of eight 50m x 8m x 3m aerated windrows, six of which are covered. All windrows have in-floor aeration, controlled by oxygen content in the compost windrow. The wastes are composted for a total of eight weeks. The incoming SSO is first mechanically prepared and homogenized before being laid on the aeration floor using a wheel loader. After the GORE Cover is pulled over the windrow an oxygen/temperature probe is inserted into the material and an automated aeration system is switched on. Initially the SSO is placed in Phase 1 windrows, covered, and composted for four weeks. The partially composted wastes are then directed to a Phase 2 windrow, covered and composted for a further two weeks. Finally, these uncured composts are directed to an uncovered Phase 3 windrow for a further two weeks of composting and curing. The waste receives aeration for the full eight weeks. The aerators are controlled by means of oxygen and temperature parameters, for which the necessary data is obtained directly from the main body of the windrow using stainless steel probes. The data is fed into the computer and stored there, documenting the course of the operation. Given the sometimes harsh Canadian winters, Norterra Organics made some winter design modifications to conventional Cover System standard windrow design by constructing one-metre side walls along the lengths of the windrow. This design feature has two functions: 1. It keeps the cover elevated and away from the surface to prevent ice and snow building up on the cover, and 2. It provides additional containment of any leachate. In addition to accepting SSO from Kingston, the facility is set up to accept a variety of other wastes including leaf-and-yard wastes, commercial food wastes and sludges. So far the program seems to be rolling out smoothly. Ive been pleasantly surprised by the take-up by residents of our green bin program, says Ochej. This positive start is encouraging and gives us confidence that we will be able to build this program. Al Hamilton, manager of Norterra says, Im amazed at the negligible contamination rate in the material were receiving. I expected more but this is helping us to manufacture high quality compost. While the positive start is exciting green bin programs are being looked at differently by the province. As Minister of the Environment John Gerretsen recently pointed out, Kingstons composting program is an excellent example of looking at waste in an entirely new light. That new light is a green light. Ochej points out, Residents are marveling at how little garbage theyre now producing. In the first month alone residents diverted almost 300 tonnes, a 17 per cent diversion from what would have gone to disposal last year. And this is high quality waste diversion. As Hamilton points out, The compost were producing is high quality and were working on getting our Compost Quality Alliance certification to demonstrate that. Paul van der Werf is president of 2cg Inc. in London, Ontario. Contact Paul at www.2cg.ca
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In the past 20 years, Continental Biomass Industries, Inc. (CBI) has designed and installed hundreds of purpose-built stationary machines and systems for customers all over the World. From outdoor plants for mulch and fuel production to entire processing systems turning C&D and MSW into recyclables and RDF. This includes simple stand-alone Grizzly Mills as well as, horizontal grinders and complete multi-dimensional systems featuring combinations of slow speed primary shredders, screeners, conveyors, picking stations, magnetic separators, water tanks, and secondary and tertiary grinders to assure specic product size. Our superior equipment, engineering and experience ensure your success. We Guarantee It. For more information visit us online www.cbi-inc.com or call us at 603.382.0556.
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PRODUCTS
Before you invest time and money in highly specialized and expensive cut-resistant gloves, you should know a thing or two. But where do you find the information you need without investing hours on the internet? Worse yet, with all the technology and innovation of the last few years, how do you sort through the myriad choices? Superior Glove Works has the answer: a book of answers that is. The Superior Book of Cut Protection was created with input from industry experts, as well as Superiors own inhouse expertise the result of nearly a century in the glove trade. To order a free copy go to www.superiorglove.com/sales/index.asp
light materials for recycling or easy disposal. Eco-Saver Briquetting Systems can reduce paper waste volume by up to 90 per cent, thus reducing storage, transportation, and disposal costs. In-plant air quality, housekeeping, and the risk of combustion can all improve, since fine dust produced in the disintegration process can be efficiently collected and incorporated into the briquettes along with larger particles. Furthermore, the briquettes have secondary value. An efficient source of heat, they can be sold as fuel for certain stoves and furnaces. Some paper mills buy briquettes and turn them back into pulp to make recycled paper. Visit www.semshred.com
EcoPolyBlend Pallets from Justrite Mfg. are made of 100 per cent recycled polyethylene, making them twice as good for the environment. They not only protect against groundwater contamination, they also utilize post-industrial material that might have otherwise been discarded into the waste stream. Quality and performance are uncompromised; these robust pallets are EPA and SPCC compliant and meet or exceed fire codes with oversized, leak proof sumps to capture hazardous spills. Sturdy, thick grates remove for easy sump cleaning. Visit www.justritemfg.com
of a lightweight block that utilizes revolutionary Poraver technology, a post-consumer recycled material manufactured from glass collected through municipal blue box programs, and is exclusive to Atlas Block. The introduction of up to 30 per cent postconsumer recycled glass (including unusable coloured glass), substantially reduces consumer landfill waste and increases eligibility for LEED Recycled Material credits. If Atlas Block used only one per cent Poraver in their products, it would decrease consumer glass waste in Ontario landfill sites by 1.9 million bottles annually. Poraver technology processes recycled consumer glass by crushing it into a fine powder, refining it into light weight pellets that expand and generate a fine-pored granulate which is used in the production of concrete mix. The result is a high performance concrete product that is non-toxic, chemically stable, mold proof, odourless, has excellent noise and heat insulation values and is unaffected by moisture. Visit www.leed.atlasblock.com
The new Eco-Saver Briquetting Systems from Security Engineered Machinery (SEM) reduce large volumes of loose waste to small, manageable briquettes. Available in three models, an Eco-Saver briquetting press can be paired with any new or existing SEM disintegrator. With a high-pressure hydraulic ram it compacts shredded paper, cardboard, and other
34 www.solidwastemag.com June/July 2009
In a bold move that will break barriers for builders and the environment, Atlas Block announces they will be the first in the industry to incorporate post-consumer recycled glass in their entire line of products including concrete masonry units, masonry veneers and landscape products. Intensive research has led to the development
A book on recycling of PVC and mixed plastic wastes has been compiled from contributions from an array of scientists from several countries who are playing a leading role in plastic recycling. They offer practical solutions to many difficult problems in this field. The book is made up of 11 chapters. Anyone involved in production of materials from virgin polymers who is concerned with their recyclability should read this book. The ideas and data presented will help the process of planning
PRODUCTS
future recycling efforts and help to bring the recycling process from a costly nuisance to a profitable industry. Contact Amy Cole at amy.cole@researchandmarkets.com
multifunction, wireless remote control allows the operator to control most operating functions from a maximum operating distance of 300 feet (91.4 m). Visit www.vermeer.com
Vermeer has introduced an electric-powered horizontal grinder for wood waste recycling. The HG6000E drum is powered by two electrical motors producing 600-horsepower (447.4 kW) while two separate electric motors power the hydraulic circuits and cooling system. The unit is available in a skid-mount configuration for placement in a permanent location while the trailer-mount configuration allows for periodic movement. Both configurations require a hard wire installation. To maximize productivity,
R E G U L AT I O N R O U N D U P
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in the Northwest Territories has launched a new paper and cardboard recycling initiative. Funding for the initiative will be available for municipalities, organizations, businesses and individuals through the Waste Reduction and Recovery Act. Funding is for the development of alternative end-of-life uses for large volumes of paper-based materials that are recovered or diverted from waste streams.
On April 1, 2009, Phase I of Ontarios Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment program took effect. The program is managed by Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) and is expected to divert an additional 160,000 tonnes of waste electronics from landfills over the next five years. A network of collection sites to drop off unwanted electronics have been established and include municipalities, retail stores such as Sears Canada and Staples, and community service organizations such as Salvation Army Thrift Stores. The program is funded through fees paid FCM takes aim at bottled water Pub2009E.jpg to OES by stewards, which include brand owners and first importers The Board of Directors of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has passed a resolution proposed by the Cities of Toronto and into Ontario.
Submission of an industry-funded used tires program plan to Ontarios environment minister was discussed in the April/May edition of Regulatory Roundup. The Used Tires Program Plan has now been approved and includes tires of all types for passenger and commercial on-road and offthe-road motorized vehicles. The program will be administered by Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) commencing in September 2009. The program is targeted to recycle 91 per cent of used car and truck tires into higher end uses in the first year of the programs operation, and to clean up three million used tires stockpiled across Ontario. The program will also recycle large industrial and off-road tires that are not currently collected or recycled, and will include funding for public education programs and research regarding means of recycling tires in a greener manner. An added feature is encouragement of development of green technologies in Ontario. Manufacturers, brand owners and importers will pay an estimated $74 million in the first year to run the program by paying a fee to OTS based on each tire introduced into the market. The fee established is $5.84 for a passenger vehicle tire, with fees increasing for larger tires. (See Waste Business column, page 20.)
R E G U L AT I O N R O U N D U P
London to encourage members of FCM to phase-out of the sale and purchase of bottled water at their own facilities, where potable water is available. The resolution provides that the production and transport of bottled water consumes significant amounts of non-renewable fossil fuels, creating unnecessary air quality and climate change impacts, and that the recycling of bottled water containers is not sufficiently advanced in that 40 to 80 per cent of empty bottles end up in landfills.
The Ministry of the Environment has posted notice of proposed revisions to its guideline entitled Guideline A-7: Combustion and Air Pollution Control Requirements for New Municipal Waste Incinerators. The guideline,
which was initially published in 1996, was last revised in 2004. The intent is for the guideline to be renamed Air Pollution Control, Design, and Operation Guidelines for Municipal Waste Thermal Treatment Facilities. The revisions would update air emission limits and operational requirements for thermal treatment facilities processing municipal waste, including facilities that combust by-products generated as a result of the thermal treatment of municipal waste. Proposed revisions to the current guideline include more stringent emission limits for cadmium, lead, nitrogen oxides, organic matter, and particulate matter based on limits used in other jurisdictions and capabilities based on current technologies. In addition, a more stringent limit would be adopted for dioxins and furans to move towards virtual elimina-
tion of these chemicals. There would also be new emission limits for opacity and for carbon monoxide. The revisions would provide special consideration for experimental units and small units in remote areas in northern Ontario, and provide additional guidance on continuous or long-term monitoring requirements. The proposed revisions would also include further guidance on determining site-specific emission limits for cement kilns using municipal wastes as alternative fuels. Rosalind Cooper, LL.B., is a partner with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, with offices across Canada. Ms. Cooper is based in Toronto, Ontario. Contact Rosalind at rcooper@tor.fasken.com
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June/July 2009 www.solidwastemag.com 37
AD SIZE : 4" X 5" AD VERSION 2
DIVERSION
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Products from recycled cardboard use about 25 per cent less energy than virgin materials.
Delivering Sustainability
Pizza 73 double-decker boxes reduce packaging waste
hen Pizza 73 opened its first location in 1985 the company embarked on a path of innovation that quickly led to new products, marketing concepts and its signature double-decker pizza boxes. The boxes have remained to this day a symbol for the brand and an example of early environmental stewardship. While many customers enjoy the hot and fresh products inside, whats on the outside is just as appealing. The original double-decker pizza boxes are believed to be the first and only boxes in the Canadian pizza industry to integrate packaging
efficiency, functionality and convenience with environmental sustainability. Through its two-tiered layers, customers receive two pizzas or a pizza and a wing meal all in one compact container. This distinctive feature uses fewer materials to serve twice as much food, while reducing the amount of energy and water needed to create the boxes. Both the pizza and wing boxes are made from 100 per cent recycled materials with 94 per cent of its content coming from post-consumer fibre. Pizza 73s double-decker boxes are an example of how you dont have to sacrifice performance, convenience or great taste for sustainability, affirms Pat Finelli, chief marketing officer for Pizza 73. These innovations are a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrate how sustainable business practices lead to better business and industry leadership. Last year, Pizza 73 and parent company Pizza Pizza spared more than 100,000 trees simply by using recycled materials in their boxes. Pizza 73 was acquired in 2007 by Pizza Pizza Limited, making it Canadas number one pizza chain in terms of sales. Combined, Pizza 73 / Pizza Pizza operate more than 600 traditional and non-traditional restaurants. As everyone knows, corrugated cardboard is a thin, stiff material made from paper pulp which is a combination of ridged (corrugated) materials in between two flat facings. This type of material is recyclable and naturally biodegradable when it doesnt contain any food and is in dry condition. While many pizza boxes are recyclable, what makes Pizza 73 boxes special is that they have evolved over time to use fewer materials and an improved grade of corrugated cardboard. Today these boxes are lighter, while still maintaining the temperature, humidity and freshness of the meal inside. By recycling corrugated cardboard, consumers can help conserve natural resources like water and energy, reduce the amount of carbon sequestered from the atmosphere, and supply an excellent source of fibre for recycling. According to Environment Canada, products from recycled cardboard use about 25 per cent less energy and create half as much pollution than if they were made from virgin materials. Pizza 73 aims to satisfy each and every customer by providing excellent quality food and true value in a fast and friendly manner. Founded in 1985, from coast to coast. The company is a leader in the communities in which it operates by providing in-kind support and volunteers to numerous charities, events, youth programs, and sports teams at the corporate and franchise level. Ani Chakmakian is with Torchia Communications in Edmonton, Alberta. Contact Ani at ani@torchiacom.com
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Our Al-jon 525 will pay for itself in 3 to 5 years just on saved air space!
Al-jon puts real teeth into compaction with its patented lugs. Were getting 1,800 to 2,000 pounds of compaction daily, compared to 1,200 to 1,400 pounds with our old yellow machine, Mike Paral states.
Mike Paral
Facility Manager Kewaunee County Solid Waste Kewaunee, WI
It rips materials to shreds with no big pieces left. The benefit? We proved to our Board that our Al-jon unit will pay for itself in 3 to 5 years just on saved air space, he adds. Repairs and service? Al-jon bends over backwards to make sure our machine is running, he explains. And if it ever isnt, they get it fixed within a day. Al-jon service is just phenomenal!
ADVANTAGE 500 87,000 LBS.
Get details today. Al-jon MFG., LLC 14599 2nd Avenue Ottumwa, Iowa USA 52501 641-682-4506 or 800-255-6620 in North America www.aljon.com
K E E P I N G I T S I M P L E . B U I L D I N G I T S T R O N G.
H O U S E H O L D H A Z A R D O U S WA S T E
lue Rhino, a leading brand of propane tank exchange, has the solution for the hundreds of unwanted gas grill propane tanks that are dropped off at recycle and waste disposal centers across North America: the Rhino Recycle program. This economical and ecologically friendly program is designed to recycle and refurbish the tanks. The Rhino Recycle program alleviates the need for collection sites to dispose of gas grill propane tanks on their own. For the past two years organizations have been using Rhino Recycle with great success. From coast to coast, the program has picked up thousands of tanks from recycle facilities and landfills. This program is not only good for the environment, it also saves organizations the time and money they would have to invest to dispose of unwanted tanks independently, says Chris Hartley, vice president of marketing at Blue Rhino. Rhino Recycle refurbishes propane tanks, extending the useful product life. This process not only keeps waste down but also minimizes safety hazards associated with storing tanks at recycle centers and waste disposal sites. Many transfer stations, landfills and other facilities face the situation where people drop off empty, unwanted propane tanks because they dont know where else to take them. Such facilities dont always have appropriate space for storing discarded propane tanks, and may spend up to $20 per tank to contract companies to pick them up and dispose of them. Rhino Recycle only requires a small per-tank fee in some cases but in
most cases its free. Some organizations save up to $720 per pick up. Rhino Recycles minimum pick up is 36 propane tanks. Some communities have mobile household hazardous waste drop-off events where contractors collect items. In 2009, Rhino Recycle will be at select events to accept and appropriately handle gas grill propane tanks. A survey of program users was conducted at the beginning of 2009 to identify the primary benefits of the program. Respondents across the board identified that the program is an affordable and convenient solution. Blue Rhino has made the program easier to use by developing a three-step process for collecting, storing and appropriately refurbishing or disposing standard propane grill tanks. 1. Collect and store: Accept and safely store gas grill propane tanks that meet the Rhino Recycle Acceptance Guidelines. Minimum quantity of 36 is required to schedule a pick-up. 2. Schedule pick-up: Once the minimum pick-up is reached, organizations can call 1-888-753-7159 or email the company at customercare@bluerhino.com to schedule a pick-up. 3. Watch them drive away: At the scheduled time Blue Rhino will pick up the tanks from the facility. The tanks will then be refurbished by shot-blasting, repainting and retrofitting outdated valves and components. If the tank does not meet safety and quality standards, Blue Rhino will reclaim any unused propane and recycle the steel. Visit www.bluerhino.com/recycle
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Such facilities dont always have appropriate space for storing discarded propane tanks, and may spend up to $20 per tank for disposal.
40 www.solidwastemag.com June/July 2009
I C & I WA S T E
State, Georgia, the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, etc. Here are some of the networks that iWasteNot Systems has created: www. euses.com Trade residential stuff and get reuse and r recycling information in Canada. www.wastenot.com Trade residential stuff and get reuse and i recycling information in the United States. www. good2toss.com With the State of Washington, and 20 2 communities including Olympia, Tacoma, Walla Walla, etc., trade residential stuff and get reuse and recycling information. www. eusemarketplace.org (under development) Working r with the U.S. EPA, the Northeast Recycling Council and the States of Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and others, trade business materials and get reuse and recycling information. www. iomasstrader.org Trade biomass and find news, b events, directories and guides. www. haredharvest.net Trade local and rescue food and tap s into the local food community.
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EVENT REPORT
Pam Russell (Golder Associates) mixes with other delegates during a coffee break in the trade show.
Producer responsibility panelists (left to right): Usman Valiante (Corporate Policy Group); Pat Parker (City of Hamilton), Rob Rivers (Halton Region), Rob Cook (OWMA), and Guy Crittenden (Solid Waste & Recycling magazine).
Greey EnWaste
unit of Greey CTS Inc.
416-595-0535
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www.laflecheenvironmental.com
42 www.solidwastemag.com June/July 2009
Ph: 613-538-2776
www.Baycon.ca
Telephone: 416.405.8880 Fax: 416.405.8830
EVENT REPORT
www.municipalwaste.ca
The Spring Workshop was well-attended but MWA announced it will take a break from its Fall conference due to the overall economy this year.
Ontarios April report to the minister about the Blue Box Program Plan review. Highlights of the afternoon included a panel discussion moderated by Usman Valiante, Corporate Policy Group, on moving towards 100 per cent producer responsibility the implications of transferring control of the blue box program. Ontario is poised to make packaging and other stewards fully responsible to pay for curbside recycling costs, and the point was made that if industry is going to pay the whole shot, it will want control of the system. The panelists included Pat Parker (City of Hamilton, which owns its own MRF), Rob Rivers (Region of Halton, which contracts out collection and processing), Rob Cook (OWMA, who offered the contractors perspective) and Guy Crittenden (editor of Solid Waste & Recycling magazine). Other session included an update on recycling markets from Guelphs Phil Zigby (who also chairs the MWA Markets, Operations & Contracts Committee) and updates on stewardship program plans: WEEE David Neilson; StewardEdge; MHSW Phases 2 & 3; Do What You Can Lyle Clarke, Stewardship Ontario; and Tires Andrew Horsman, Ontario Tire Stewardship. Sherry Arcaro (MWA Chair) addressed Best Practices and Optimizing WDO funding, and Andy Campbell (CIF) made the final presentation updating the Continuous Improvement Fund. For more information about the Municipal Waste Association and upcoming events, visit www.municipalwaste.ca
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Management Solutions
CONSULTANT
RFP & Bid Evaluations Cost Control Maintenance Programs Design & Layout
The Municipal Waste Association Spring Workshop featured a small trade show component.
Norseman Plastics
The Environmental Division of Norseman Plastics is well known among recycling professionals, having supplied a range of blue box and green bin products for various curbside recycling and source-separated organics programs. The company was recently acquired by Wisconsin-based ORBIS Corporation. The Green Bin+ is Norsemans newest container in the popular Green Bin family.
www.casselsbrock.com
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The Green Bin+ is Norsemans newest container in the popular Green Bin family.
Ergonomic, resilient, and collector-friendly, the lockable container is designed for maximum pest resistance and for successful comprehensive waste reduction programs. The Green Bin+ is supported with expertise in program planning, promotion, education, rollout and distribution, and is designed for automated/semi-automated collection with North American lifters. Though designed for residential use, its perfect for many commercial applications. Features include a secure, 360 double-rim closure for optimum security against pests, spilling, and odours, and a unique, secure, easy-to-use locking handle with under- and over-handed latch operation. The easy-grasp top handle is accessible from multiple directions and ergonomic side handles allow for easy transport to the curb. Inside, cornerless, smooth interior walls provide ease of cleaning. The large capacity (80 litre/21 gallon) container is RFID compatible and has retention clips for compostable liners and 8 wheels for easy mobility. The lid, front and sides can be hot-stamped, and the lid can be embossed with custom graphics. (Available in other colours.) To learn more about containers from Norseman, contact Art McKenzie at amckenzie@norsemanplastics.com or visit www.norsemanplastics.com
44 www.solidwastemag.com June/July 2009
Advertisers Index
Company Page # Company
ADL Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 AECOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Aljon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 AMRC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Avery Weigh-Tronix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Bandag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Battery Broker Environmental Services Inc . The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Baycon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Borden Ladner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Cdn Renewable Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Cassels Brock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Canadian Waste & Recycling Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Continental Biomass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Environmental Compliance Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 EMF Containers Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
OWMA AD Environmental 7:33 AM Page . .1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 6/5/07 Business Consultants . Eriez Magnetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
June/July 2009
Page #
Groundworx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 HMI Management Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Lafleche Environmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Laurin Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Mack Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Metro Waste Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Miller Thomson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Norseman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 OWMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Paradigm Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Paul Van der Werf (2CG) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Rechargeable Battery Recycling Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Recycling Equipment Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Rehrig Pacific . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Samuel Strapping Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Schuyler Rubber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Sebright Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Soft-Pak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Trux Route Management Systems Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Van Dyk Baler Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Walinga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
METRO Waste Paper Recovery Inc. is Canadas largest collector, processor and marketer of recyclable materials. Serving Industrial, Commercial, Municipal and Graphics markets across Canada and the US for over 30 years.
BLOG
by Erika Beauchesne
In Canada, I dont know of a single company planning to do this, Ostiguy says.
Nanoparticles
But training may be trickier in some workplaces like university laboratories, where there is a mobile population of students coming in and out, he points out. University labs also face other challenges, like the use of protective equipment. Different types of respirators, from facemasks to full bodysuits, may be able to prevent exposure, but Ostiguy asks, Can you see a student wearing a full bodysuit? Imagine the panic of someone walking by the classroom! The manufacturing industry is not without its challenges, either. Ostiguy says that NPs can get trapped in equipment, putting maintenance workers at risk because they are the more exposed but also the less informed. Some workplaces may be able to prevent or reduce exposure through good engineering techniques like the design, enclosure or ventilation of an area where NPs may be produced. Ostiguy says that, ideally, NPs should be created in a closed circuit, recovered and used in a humid environment, then integrated into the final product all without human handling. He admits, however, that this is nice in theory, but difficult in production. In Canada, I dont know of a single company planning to do this, he says. Globally, the most common preventative practice is the use of laboratory fume hoods, followed by glove boxes, vacuum systems, and white rooms, according to consultations with companies and researchers in nanotechnology. Yet, in terms of legislation directly regulating NPs, Ostiguy says that there is almost none in the world, adding that the lack of scientific data makes setting exposure limits impossible. Nor are producers required to inform people that a product could contain NPs. The supplier cannot go farther than science has, Ostiguy says. He also says there is ongoing research into public safety concerns surrounding over 800 different products like sunscreens and golf clubs that could contain NPs. As well, researchers are looking into the environmental impacts from the entire lifecycle of nanoparticle-containing products. Despite all the uncertainties and challenges surrounding NPs in the workplace, Ostiguy says that the good news is that our current knowledge allows exposure to be controlled. The new guide Best Practices Guide to Synthetic Nanoparticle Risk Management is available at the IRSST website, www.irsst.qc.ca Erika Beauchesne is a writer with Eco Log in Toronto, Ontario. This article is adapted from a story that first appeared on our affiliate environmental news service at www.ecolog.com Contact Erika at ebeauchesne@ecolog.com
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Dont forget that our recycling equipment is complimented by our complete range of baling wire products and services! Single loop, Double loop Black Annealed Boxed and Stem Wire Assorted Galvanized Stem Wire Cut & Straight Wire, Merchant Wire Custom Packaged, Specialty Wire and much more
Call us today or visit us online at www.samuelstrapping.comto learn more about our recycling equipment to learn more about our recycling equipment and and how our equipment can help how our equipment can help manage your waste manage your waste into profitable discards. into profitable discards.
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www.samuelstrapping.com
information@samuelstrapping.com
1-800-607-8727
R e c y c le y o u r
O nce they no
Go to www.call2recycle.org to register your business for free and to find nearby participating collection sites.
877-2-RECYCLE