Industry News

// Company News

Taylor Biomass Energy Receives Approval for Waste-to-Energy Plant
Taylor Biomass Energy, based in Montgomery, N.Y., has received the final, local green light by the town board of Montgomery, N.Y., to move ahead with plans to build a waste-to-energy facility in the city. The project will be built on Taylor Recycling’s existing 90-acre site.

According to Taylor Biomass Energy (TBE), the vote to approve Phase III of the project’s site plan is the culmination of several years of review of the energy company by local officials.

Once completed, the Taylor Biomass-Montgomery gasification system is expected to generate 24 megawatts of electricity. The project is also expected to generate $384.4 million in economic impact, as well as create 82 permanent jobs and 318 temporary construction jobs over the next 18 months.

The waste-to-energy facility will use an oxygen-starved project, meaning there is no incineration taking place. Jessica Callihan, a customer service representative with Taylor Recycling, says that the facility only needed a minor source air permit. “The process is closed loop. There is no burning at all. The gasification is based on a heated sand media.”

To build the facility, Taylor Biomass Energy was chosen to receive a $100 million federal loan guarantee by the U.S. Department of Energy.

“There have been many steps to bring us to this point; many years of work,” says Jim Taylor, chairman of Taylor Recycling. “I am grateful to the scores of people who have stood by us, and stood up for us, as we have worked through this process. And I’m grateful to the Town of Montgomery for helping us bring this project on line in our home town. Its time has come. It is time to stop wasting our waste and Taylor Biomass Energy knows just how to do that.”

James Rollins, vice president of business development for TBE, says the system will use a patent-pending biomass gasification system that will convert municipal solid waste, construction and demolition material and waste wood into electricity.

Rollins estimates that when the facility is fully operational it will be able to take in 500 tons per day of solid waste, 400 tons a day of C&D material and 100 tons per day or waste wood.

Despite the significant volume of municipal solid waste that will be needed to be consumed every day, Rollins says the company has a number of long-term arrangements on the front end with municipalities in Orange County, N.Y., where the facility will be built. Most of the C&D material and waste wood will come from Taylor Recycling’s own C&D operations.

“We don’t own any landfills, so we want to recycle as much as possible,” says Rollins.

On the back end, the electricity generated will ultimately be used by the New York/New Jersey Power Port Authority.

Taylor hopes to break ground on the facility in the summer of 2012 with production starting by December 2013.

 

// Financing & Grants

North Carolina Agency Awards Recycling Grants
The North Carolina Division of Environmental Assistance and Outreach (DEAO) has awarded about $800,000 in grant funding to recycling businesses. Companies receiving the grants have pledged matching investments of more than $3.5 million. C&D projects receiving funding include:

• AAA Hauling of NC in Fayetteville, N.C., received a grant of $40,000 for the purchase of mobile material handling equipment to more efficiently move incoming loads of C&D.
• Antique Reclaimed Lumber in Nebo, N.C., received $23,000 to purchase equipment and expand the processing capabilities at its existing wood reclamation facility.
• Barnhill Contracting in Tarboro, N.C., received a $25,000 grant to install a recycling bin, conveyor and other components to produce asphalt mixes using recycled shingles at its Rocky Mount asphalt plant.
• Green Recycling Solutions in Maysville, N.C., received a $40,000 grant to purchase recycling equipment and rolling stock for the development of its C&D processing facility.
• Todco Inc. in Lexington, N.C., received a $40,000 grant to set up a C&D recycling facility to process materials from Davidson County and surrounding areas.

 

// Legal Issues

Court Cases Allowed to Proceed Against Rhode Island C&D Recycler
A stay has been lifted on several zoning and licensing cases involving C&D recycler TLA Pond View, East Province, R.I. A Superior Court Judge ruled that cases against the recycling firm could resume May 22 and also approved the immediate inspection of the property to address concerns about possibly mounting piles of debris.

The disputes were reportedly put on hold when the facility was forced into receivership in late March by Attorney General Michael Rubin, according to a report in the Providence Journal.

The city of East Providence has accused TLA Pond View of processing materials it was not permitted to recycle including metals, concrete and stone.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) tried to suspend the company’s operating license, according to reports. But a decision won’t be made until a judge decides on the city’s zoning case against the recycler. According to the newspaper report, the DEM says it plans to proceed with the suspension if the city wins the case.

 

// Renovation Projects

Point State Park Fountain Project in Pittsburgh Boosted by Mild Winter
Extensive renovations and improvements to the fountain at Point State Park in Pittsburgh are on track and even slightly ahead of schedule after mild winter weather, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Richard J. Allan reports. The $9.6 million project, the fountain’s first major overhaul in almost 40 years, is supported by both state investments and business and private donations.

“We began work on the fountain in late 2011, and because we got a break in the severity of the weather this winter, we were able to complete demolition work necessary by January,” Allan says. “Now, we are working on the rehabilitation of the fountain including all new surfaces, lighting, pumping equipment and controls as well as the disappearing edge waterfall feature and are on track to finish this project in the first half of 2013.”

Also included is the rehabilitation of the adjacent wharf area surfacing. The overall cost of the park renovation is $35 million.

Last year crews completed Cafe at the Point, a cafe to provide food service for park visitors. Features including recycled building materials and green walls and interpretive elements telling the story of why Point State Park became a National Historic Landmark and its importance in the shaping of America.

SET, Inc. of Lowellville, Ohio, is the general contractor for the fountain project. Right Electric, Inc. of Butler will provide electrical construction; Wayne Crouse, Inc. of Pittsburgh will do the mechanical construction which includes the new fountain pumps and piping; and AMB, Inc. of Pittsburgh will do plumbing.

“The fountain is the final phase of the overhaul of the entire 36-acre Point State Park, much of which visitors are already able to enjoy,” Allan says.

 

// Legislation & Regulations

NY Senator Calls for Changes to Rail Cars Transporting Loose Debris
New York Sen. Charles Schumer has called on the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to launch a safety investigation into reports that uncovered freight cars are transporting loose debris on Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) tracks that have damaged automobiles and ended up on private property.

In a letter sent to the FRA, Schumer mentioned a number of safety concerns for local residents whose property abuts the tracks and the implications of loose debris on commuter rail tracks.

Schumer called for the FRA to mandate that freight cars traveling through densely populated urban and suburban communities be required by federal rules to cover rail cars carrying loose debris.

Schumer noted reports of at least two automobiles that were damaged by scrap metal that appeared to have been transported on LIRR tracks by freight train operators using uncovered cars.

In addition, he said residents identified several instances of freight trains carrying what appeared to be construction debris in uncovered in cars.

“The safety implications of uncovered debris traveling on commuter transit lines are too numerous to count,” says Schumer.

 

// Carpeting

Interface Partners with California Carpet Recycler
The carpet manufacturing firm Interface, headquartered in LaGrange, Ga., has finalized a strategic partnership with The Carpet Recyclers, a La Mirada, Calif.-based carpet recycling business that operates along the West Coast. Since being established two years ago, The Carpet Recyclers claims to have collected more than 150 million pounds of used carpet.

In completing its deal with The Carpet Recyclers, Interface says it is interested in expanding its ReEntry carpet recycling system, which aims to develop a network of carpet recyclers in regional hubs throughout North America.

Interface’s ReEntry program was developed in 2007 as an efficient way to recover type 6 and 6,6 nylon fiber for recycling.

“In a nutshell, Interface’s goal is to close the loop on our raw materials supply chain, and in our case that means we’re working toward eliminating use of petroleum in our products,” says John Wells, president of Interface Americas. “It also means the alternative non-virgin materials we use in place of oil must be plentiful and readily available, and so we’ve turned to recycling and processing not only our own end-of-use carpet tiles, but those of other manufacturers, along with the broadloom discards of the entire industry.

He adds, “The technology in place in our own ReEntry facility is able to transform this flooring trash into reusable fiber that goes back into producing our new products. It closes the loop.”

Interface says that a scarcity of post-consumer nylon limiting the company’s key yarn suppliers is a main reason for the company launching its ReEntry expansion initiative in 2011.

Larry Fink, president of The Carpet Recyclers, says his company is considering an expansion.

 

// Conference Coverage

WasteExpo Panelists Discuss the Drivers of C&D Recycling
Attendees of the 2012 WasteExpo learned about what factors are driving C&D recycling during a session titled, “Construction & Demolition Debris: Processing Trends”

Kenny Lark, director of strategic business for Waste Management Inc.’s (WMI) Construction Solutions segment, discussed the strides the Houston-based company has made in this area over the past several years. He told attendees that WMI currently operates 35 C&D processing facilities and is one of the largest logistics and alternative fuels companies with 1,000 CNG (compressed natural gas) and LNG (liquefied natural gas) vehicles in operation and 2,200 vehicles that run on various biofuels. WMI also owns the largest landfill airspace in North America, according to Lark.

In 2009, WMI formed its Construction Solutions division. WMI has increased its C&D processing capacity by 233 percent over the last three years, said Lark. “Lack of consistent and viable end-market solutions,” is an example Lark gave as a barrier to C&D recycling.

Andy Lake of Armstrong World Industries, Lancaster, Pa., urged attendees to participate in the fourth comment period for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) 2012. Lake said that it is the companies that are able to take in these additional materials that will be able to increase their recycling rates and stand out to customers. “Those people who are able to distinguish themselves are getting the work,” he said.

Bill Turley, executive director of Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA), discussed how the organization is addressing what he calls the problem of “sham recycling” by creating a certification process conducted by a third party. The third party organization that was created to administer Certification of the Real Rates (CORR) is the Institute for Certification of Sustainable Recyclers (ICSR). The administrator is J.W. Spear. The certification is designed to validate a facility’s recycling rate.

“We are there to measure what is getting recycled,” said Turley. The certifications will be valid for one year.

The 2012 Waste Expo was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, April 30-May 3, 2012.

 

// Financing & Grants

Ohio Communities Receive $1 Million for Recycling
More than $1 million will be distributed between 23 Ohio communities to design and establish projects to collect or process recyclable materials from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Recycling and Litter Prevention.

Counties, communities and solid waste districts will use the money for recycling drop-offs, construction material recycling, and material recovery facilities.

The Community Development Grant program provides financial assistance based on financial need of the applicant, demonstration of positive economic and environment impact regionally or statewide and potential for the project to expand into a permanent service or program which does not need outside funding. Grant communities must commit local matching funds toward their project.

The ODNR Division of Recycling and Litter Prevention implements programs for waste reduction, recycling and litter prevention.

 

// Association Activities

NDA Adds New Faces to Board of Directors
The National Demolition Association (NDA), Doylestown, Pa., has announced the addition of four new demolition professionals to its 2012-2013 Board of Directors. Newly named to the board are Alfred Gorick, Jr. of Gorick Construction Co., Inc., Binghamton, N.Y.; Scott Homrich of Homrich Wrecking Inc., Carleton, Mich.; Richard Lorenz of Central Environmental Services, Apopka, Fla.; and Craig Sessler of Sessler Wrecking, Waterloo, N.Y.

Continuing as the Association’s officers are Don Rachel of Rachel Contracting, LLC, St. Michael, Minn., as president; Jeff Kroeker of Kroeker Inc. Demolition & Recycling Contractors, Fresno, Calif., as vice president; Peter Banks of CEI Boston LLC, Norfolk, Mass., as secretary; Scott Knightly of Envirovantage, Epping, N.H. as treasurer; and Paymond Passeno of Bierlein Companies Inc., Midland, Mich., as Past President. Michael R. Taylor, CAE, is executive director.

 

// Redevelopment Project

North Carolina Project will Recycle and Reuse 90 Tons of Metal from Abandoned Mill
A recycling initiative is underway at ReVenture Park, Charlotte, N.C. Crews are pulling out 180,000 pounds of metal, including stainless steel and copper, from the once abandoned textile dye manufacturing facility. Instead of going to waste, the metals will be put back to use in traditional and non-traditional ways.

ReVenture Park developers plan to recover an estimated 1.5 million pounds of metal from 15 shuttered industrial buildings located on the 667-acre site. “We are working diligently to ensure as much of it is sold and put back to work as possible,” says Tom McKittrick, President and Founder of Forsite Development. “In the first building alone, we estimate we salvaged over 7,000 linear feet of two inch stainless steel piping that we will use on other projects.”

Most of the buildings also have extensive piping, racking, tanks, and other processing equipment that will be harvested and recycled.

Once those spaces are cleared, the developers will renovate them into low cost space for all types of innovative clean energy technologies and companies.

Not only will the metals be reused and recycled for new industry, ReVenture Park developers are working with UNC-Charlotte art students on an a beatification project. These students will be transforming some of the salvaged material into metal sculptures to be displayed throughout the site.

As the developers of ReVenture Park, Forsite Development Inc. has retained NELCO Recycling and Aggregate of Mooresville, N.C., to manage the interior demolition and recycling of metals.

Featuring multiple clean-energy projects, ReVenture Park will advance the Charlotte, N.C. region’s environmental goals and economic growth by attracting a myriad of renewable energy and alternative fuel projects.

 

// Conference Coverage

Turner VP of Sustainability Discusses Construction Materials Diversion
Michael Deane, vice president of sustainability for New York City-based Turner Construction told attendees of the 2012 C&D World in Nashville, Tenn., that while overall construction volume has had its ups and downs over the past few years, green building projects are continuing to rise.

Deane gave the Keynote address during the conference, which also served as the annual meeting for the Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA). He told attendees more than half of Turner’s sales in 2009, 2010 and 2011 were from green building projects.

He provided figures from 2006 showing there were only 60 LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) registered projects compared with 2011 when there were 250 LEED registered projects.

He also showed a graph depicting the tons of scrap material reported compared with the tons of material recycled from construction sites, which also has increased significantly.

In 2005, for example, 30,764 tons of material were reported as being recycled from construction sites. In 2011, by comparison, 292,490 tons were reported as being recycled.

Deane emphasized the importance of truth in the reporting of recycled materials. “Are we getting the real story or are we just hearing what we want to hear?” he asked.

He told attendees Turner was the first contractor committed to sustainable practices, saying the company didn’t just become sustainable for LEED but that “if it is good enough for green it is good enough for everybody.”

Deane said that in New York City, the ability to recycle construction scrap is easy, as it is a robust industry.

Deane told attendees he had a “rude awakening” when he saw the lack of recycling infrastructure in other parts of the country. C&D recycling is local and dependent on market conditions, he said.

The 2012 C&D World was held March 25-27, 2012, at the Nashville Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.

 

// Association Activities

National Demolition Association Names 2012 Scholarship Winners
The National Demolition Association (NDA), Doylestown, Pa., presented college scholarships to six students during its 39th Annual National Demolition Association Convention in San Antonio in March 2012. The NDA says it has recognized exemplary students with scholarships for more than 10 years.

“We’re pleased to present these scholarships to students who have demonstrated a commitment to serve the local community while maintaining a high level of academic achievement,” said Michael R. Taylor, CAE, NDA executive director.

The Bill and Wanda Baker Scholarship was presented to Nicholas Miller of Quakertown, Pa., a 2012 graduate of Quakertown Community Senior High School. The Patrick H. O’Rourke Scholarship was given to Pamela Kirkpatrick of Hatfield, Pa., a student at Messiah College. Both scholarships’ sponsors are Haines & Kibblehouse Inc., Skippack, Pa.

The National Demolition Association Scholarship was awarded to two members of the 2012 graduating class. Amber Lee of Summerville, S.C., was sponsored by NASDI, LLC, Waltham, Mass., and will graduate from Can Bay High School. Margaret Keating Olesen of Unionville, Conn., was sponsored by Manafort Brothers Inc., Plainville, Conn. She will graduate from Phillips Exeter Academy.

Northeastern University School of Law student, Monica Passeno of Boston received the National Demolition Association Southern California Chapter Scholarship and was sponsored by Bierlein Companies, Midland, Mich. Western Carolina University student, Casey Swoope of Monroe, N.C., received the Sims Adams Scholarship. Her sponsor was Environmental Holdings Group, LLC, Morrisville, N.C.

The 39th annual NDA Convention took place March 11-14, 2012, in San Antonio.

More information on scholarships from the NDA is available by visiting the association’s website, www.demolitionassociation.com.

 

// Personnel Activity

Southern Waste Systems VP Named to Florida Commission
Jeff Atwater, chief financial officer for the State of Florida, has appointed Patti Hamilton, vice president of Southern Waste Systems, Lantana, Fla., to serve on the Florida Commission on the Status of Women.

The Florida Commission on the Status of Women is a non-partisan board consisting of 22 appointed members that is administratively housed in the Office of the Attorney General. The commission’s mission is to study and make recommendations to the governor, cabinet and legislature on issues affecting women and families in the state. The recommendations are presented in the form of an annual report that is distributed in the first quarter of each year. The commission also presents achievement awards to women throughout Florida who have improved the lives of women and for all citizens of Florida.

“It’s an honor to be asked to participate on such a worthwhile commission,” says Hamilton. “I look forward to representing our community and carrying valuable information back to Tallahassee (Florida) that affects women and families in South Florida.” She will serve on the Mentoring Task Force and the Public Outreach Task Force.

// Company News

WMI Relocates Sustainability Services Group
Houston-based Waste Management Inc. (WMI) has relocated the headquarters of its Sustainability Services Group to Windsor, Conn. The new location was previously headquarters of Oakleaf Waste Management, which WMI acquired in July 2011. It will accommodate a staff of more than 500.

“With the assistance of a 2010 economic development grant from the State of Connecticut, Oakleaf was able to lay the foundation for future growth by improving its headquarters infrastructure and upgrading technologies,” says Steven Preston, WMI executive vice president of finance, recycling and energy services.

 

// Forecasts & Statistics

Construction Employment Drops in May
A recent analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Washington, D.C., of Department of Labor employment data finds that more states lost construction jobs in May 2012 than at any point since June 2011. Thirty states experienced annual job losses and 27 states and D.C. lost jobs during the month of May, according to AGC.

In a news release, Ken Simonson, the AGC’s chief economist, says, “As the public sector continues to restrain growth in construction demand, we will continue to see weak reports like this. There isn’t enough demand for private sector structures to compensate for dwindling investments in highways, bridges, water systems and public buildings.”

Simonson notes only 19 states plus the District of Columbia added construction jobs between May 2011 and May 2012, while construction employment was stagnant in Kansas for the year. Montana added the highest percentage of new construction jobs for the year (15.2 percent, 3,400 jobs), followed by North Dakota (13.7 percent, 3,200 jobs) and Nebraska (10.6 percent, 4,400 jobs). Texas added the most new construction jobs (15,600 jobs, 2.8 percent), followed by California (11,700 jobs, 2.1 percent), Arizona (11,000, 10 percent) and Indiana (8,800 jobs, 7.5 percent).

Among the states that lost construction jobs during the past year, Alaska lost the highest percentage (-20.4 percent, -3,200 jobs), followed by Wisconsin (-10 percent, -9,200 jobs) and Mississippi (-9.2 percent, -4,500 jobs). Florida lost the most jobs (-22,200 jobs, -6.6 percent), followed by Illinois (-12,200 jobs, -4.7 percent), New York (-12,100 jobs, -3.9 percent) and Wisconsin.

Twenty-one states added construction jobs between April and May 2012, while construction employment levels were stagnant for the month in Delaware and Maine.

Nebraska added both the highest percentage and the most new construction jobs for the month (8.2 percent, 3,400 jobs), followed by Montana (7.6 percent, 1,700 jobs) and West Virginia (2.5 percent, 800 jobs).