Industry News

Company News

Montgomery, Ala., Breaks Ground on Material Recovery Facility
Ground was broken July 17 on what developers are calling a revolutionary materials recovery facility (MRF) developed by Plantation, Fla.-based Infinitus Energy for the Montgomery, Ala., community designed to eliminate up to 85 percent of waste headed to the city’s landfill. The Infinitus Renewable Energy Park at Montgomery (IREP at Montgomery), will be the first facility to combine several of what Infinitus says are the most technologically advanced systems available for waste recovery to create an advanced integrated waste recovery facility. Eugene, Ore.-based Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) designed, engineered and will manufacture and install the MSW recycling system.

IREP at Montgomery will feature screening, air and optical sorting technology. The $35 million, 81,992-square-foot facility is expected to be operational by June 30, 2014. It is designed to process up to 225,000 tons of waste annually and to recover an estimated 95 percent of recyclables.

In Phase II of the project, BHS subsidiary Zero Waste Energy (ZWE), Lafayette, Calif., will install its SmartFerm anaerobic digestion system to convert organic waste into compressed natural gas (CNG) and compost.

In-Line Tri-Disc technology from BHS and In-Flight Sorting technology from Nashville-based NRT will provide industry-leading separation efficiency and recovery rates, says Infinitus. The facility also will feature air separation technology from Nihot, an Amsterdam-based company with more than 750 operational reference facilities throughout the world.

“The United States alone produced approximately 250 million tons of waste in 2010. The exponential increase in waste over time creates a sustainability crisis if we don’t dramatically alter the current waste model,” said Kyle Mowitz, CEO and founder of Infinitus Energy. “Infinitus Energy is delivering an economical ‘big picture’ solution to the multiple problems facing our world now and in the future to the city of Montgomery. The Mayor’s vision and commitment to our collaboration has made this possible, and we thank him and his capable staff, advisors and consultants in supporting us in our vision for a viable environmental and economical system and for the residents here.”

Once the facility is operational, residents will place all trash in one city-issued bin, which will be collected by the city of Montgomery sanitation department and taken to the mixed materials recovery facility at the Renewable Energy Park.

Trash will be separated using the latest in screening, air and optical separation technologies, Infinitus says. The system sorts and recovers commodities such as cardboard, mixed paper, metals, aluminum cans, plastics and wood based on density, size, shape and material composition. Additional sorting will be done by hand at the site. The advanced technology allows the plant to accept a larger variety and volume of potentially recyclable products than other recycling methods, according to Infinitus.

“The beauty of this project is that residents don’t have to do anything differently. All of the separating takes place at the MRF,” says Mayor Todd Strange, “and the 25-year partnership the city has with Infinitus ensures that materials will be recycled.”

“IREP at Montgomery will provide recovery rates not achievable by single stream recycling programs that rely on residents to sort trash themselves, which addresses the recycling needs of the community without additional capital investment from the city,” Mowitz said. The project will significantly reduce the amount of waste in the city’s North Montgomery Sanitary Landfill and extend its operational life by many years, according to Infinitus. The facility can process up to 225,000 tons of waste per year, and municipalities and commercial businesses within a 90-mile radius of the facility also may contract to process their waste at IREP to achieve aggressive recycling rates.

“This is a long-term green investment in our city and state. With this project, Montgomery will be seen as a leader and trendsetter in implementing green technology for the benefit of both our residents and our planet,” said Strange. “Diverting tons of material away from landfills and incinerators and turning those materials into valuable resources generates a host of financial, environmental and societal returns.”

IREP at Montgomery is located on a 74-plus-acre industrial site. The facility is pressurized, and all waste is stored inside to reduce odor, contamination and noise to the area, Infinitus says. The cost of the MRF is approximately $35 million. The project is expected to create approximately 110 local jobs.

“This is another great day for Montgomery as we welcome Infinitus Energy to our growing business community,” said Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Horace Horn Jr. “The cooperative spirit among our elected and community leaders makes it possible for us to continue bringing new jobs and innovative businesses such as Infinitus Energy to the River Region.”

Legislation & Regulation

EPA Grants $15 Million in Supplemental Funds for Brownfield Sites
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the availability of $15 million in supplemental funding to help clean up contaminated brownfield properties. The Revolving Loan Funding (RLF) is designed to help 41 communities carry out cleanup and redevelopment projects. These projects will help communities create jobs while protecting people’s health and the environment, according to EPA.

“These funds—granted to communities who have already achieved success in their work to clean up and redevelop brownfields—will help boost local economies, create local jobs and protect people from harmful pollution by expediting brownfield projects,” says Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “The RLF supplemental recipients are some of the nation’s top performers. Collectively, these communities have already leveraged more than $2.5 billion in cleanup and redevelopment investment; the RLF funding announced today will help sustain that incredible progress,” Stanislaus adds.

Revolving loan funds specifically supply money tor grant recipients to provide loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. When these loans are repaid, the loan amount is then returned to the fund and subgranted or relended to other borrowers, providing an ongoing source of capital within a community for additional cleanup of brownfield sites. The supplemental grants range from about $200,000 to $400,000, with an average grant award of $300,000. This year’s supplemental funds will support an array of cleanup and redevelopment projects across the country, including:

• The city of Brea, Calif., will use its supplemental funding to clean sections of a former rail line, which will be reused as a rails-to-trails project for alternative transportation and recreation options.
• Cleanup of a downtown property in Great Falls, Mont., will allow Easter Seals Good Will to move forward with a $2.5 million redevelopment, which will create numerous construction and permanent jobs.
• A loan from the Indiana Finance Authority will go toward cleanup of the former Carpenter Manufacturing site, which will be renovated into a business park redevelopment and will create approximately 100 jobs.
• The Land-of-Sky Regional Council will use the additional funding for cleanup at the former Chatham Mill in Salem, N.C., Once cleaned, developers plan to rehabilitate the 300,000-square-foot structure into approximately 150 multifamily rental units.
• In Nassau County, N.Y., funds will be used to address the last unremediated parcel of Glen Cove’s 52-acre waterfront redevelopment area.

Highways and Roads

Oregon Project Involves Debris Relocation
West Coast Contractors (WCC), Coos Bay, Ore., says it is in the process of repairing a quarter-mile section of a roadway that connected 70 residential homes and thousands of acres of timberland to the city of Mapleton, Ore., and Highway 126.

“Due to the close proximity of the section to the Siuslaw River and years of deterioration as a result of weather, it had eventually slipped down the hillside where it was located, effectively reducing it down to a single lane,” WCC says in a news release about the distressed roadway.

Before it could begin repair work, WCC says it had to first prepare the site by bringing in an excavation crew to remove the debris. “WCC was able to strike a deal with a local man from nearby Florence, Ore., who was in need of gravel to fill a ditch that he had on his property. In exchange for allowing WCC to dump the many thousands of pounds of debris that they had collected from the project site, WCC went above and beyond, relocating the debris on his property by building a bridge that he also needed, free of charge,” the company says.

WCC, which was founded in 1962, describes itself as a general contractor specializing in heavy construction projects, including bridges, harbors, marine facilities and governmental work. The company also engages in road repair, pile driving, demolition, foundation work and other activities.

Company News

Dem-Con Receives Approval to Build Minnesota MRF
Dem-Con Cos. has received approval to construct a 60,000-square foot material recovery facility (MRF) in Shakopee, Minn. The facility, which is expected to open in late 2013, will procure, process and market what the Shakopee-based company describes as high-quality recyclables.

A joint venture between Dem-Con Cos. and Liberty Paper Inc. (LPI), Becker, Minn., the Dem-Con Materials Recovery Facility will serve area waste haulers and recyclers, processing residentially and commercially generated recyclable materials and reducing the amount of material sent to area landfills for disposal.

The new facility will be located at 13161 Dem-Con Dr. in Shakopee. When fully operational, the Dem-Con Materials Recovery Facility will have the capability to process 60 tons of fiber per hour and 20 tons of mixed recyclables per hour. The new facility will employ approximately 20 people.

“At Dem-Con Materials Recovery Facility, we are committed to processing and delivering high quality recyclables to product manufacturers,” says Jason Haus, Dem-Con chief executive officer. “By working closely with local recycling and waste collection companies, we will provide a steady stream of recyclable materials to the marketplace. We are doing our part to optimize recycling and recovery by keeping as many materials in the local market as possible.”

“By locating in Shakopee, we are well-positioned to serve all collectors located in the Twin Cities metro area as well as other geographic regions of the state,” says Bill Keegan, Dem-Con vice president. “We have sized our operation to meet current demand while preparing for future growth.”

In addition to the recyclable materials that are routinely collected through curbside residential programs or at business and government collection points, Dem-Con Materials Recovery Facility says it will actively seek to process recyclable materials that fall outside of these mainstream recycling programs.

“The quantity and type of recyclable materials we process are constantly changing, as is the collection process,” explains Haus. “By leveraging Dem-Con’s expertise in the processing and recovery market, as well as Liberty Paper’s end market experience, we can add increased economic value for our current and future customers.”

“We are excited to expand our current recycling capabilities in Shakopee, a community where we’ve done business for generations,” says Keegan.

Highways & Roads

San José Receives First Greenroads Certification in California
The Greenroads Foundation, a Redmond, Wash.-based nonprofit corporation with a goal of advancing sustainability education and initiatives for transportation infrastructure, has recognized the paving techniques used in San José, Calif. The nonprofit says the city has employed an innovative and environmentally friendly paving technique to resurface 2 miles of the historic Monterey Road’s bumpiest segment. Jeralee Anderson, Greenroads executive director, presented the certificate to the city at the Aug. 20, 2013, city council meeting.

“San José is proud to receive this recognition from the Greenroads Foundation for the city’s ‘green’ transportation leadership,” says San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed. “From the installation of ‘smart’ LED streetlights to the construction of a 500-mile citywide bicycle network, ‘greening’ our transportation system is a major theme of the city’s ambitious Green Vision. We are pleased to be the first city in California to have a certified ‘green’ roadway project.”

Cold in-place recycling, which involves pulverizing the top layer of asphalt, mixing it with an asphalt binder and using the recycled mixture to resurface the street, was used for resurfacing the road. A new surface layer of rubberized asphalt made up of ground recycled tires is laid on top of this surface.

The Greenroads rating system is a collection of sustainable roadway design and construction best practices that address water, environment, access, community impact, construction practices and materials. Eleven project requirements must be completed in order for a roadway to be considered a Greenroad. Project teams also can choose to pursue 37 voluntary credits. After a rigorous review process, Greenroads Foundation says it assigns a project score based on the number of points earned by meeting the requirements and achieving credits. This score translates to one of four certification levels: bronze, silver, gold and evergreen.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Advanced Disposal Makes Acquisitions
Advanced Disposal, Ponte Vedra, Fla., has acquired two hauling companies, one in north Georgia and the other in eastern Pennsylvania.

The company says it has acquired certain assets of AAA Sanitation Inc., Dahlonega, Ga. The assets include 1,300 residential customers and 237 commercial customers in Georgia. The routes will be serviced from Advanced Disposal’s Ball Ground, Ga. hauling location.

In Pennsylvania, Advanced Disposal says it has completed the acquisition of certain assets of G & C Industries Inc., which does business as G & C Waste Services.

Advanced Disposal says it will begin using the former G & C location in East Norriton Township to operate the 20 routes acquired in the transaction. The routes service 23,000 residential customers and 1,300 commercial and industrial customers in eastern Pennsylvania.

“This is a significant acquisition for our company and presents a strategic move to grow our market share in the greater Philadelphia area,” says Dave Lavender, Advanced Disposal regional vice president.

Advanced Disposal also has purchased two properties in the Midwest, allowing for operations to resume at both facilities. The company bought a transfer station in Roscoe, Ill., from G&E Eight Series LLC. The 7-acre property includes an 18,000-square-foot transfer building, a 3,000-square-foot office area and a 10,700-sqaure-foot, two-story building. The transfer station had been closed for months but reopened Monday through Saturday beginning in August.

Advanced Disposal also purchased Sheboygan Waste Materials Co., Sheboygan, Wis. In this purchase, the company acquired a multistory building, a fiber recycling facility, customer accounts, equipment and vehicles. Five Sheboygan Waste employees will join the Advanced Disposal staff.

Conferences & Events

Shingle Recycling Forum Program Slated for November
The Construction & Demolition Recycling Association’s shingle recycling committee has developed a program covering all aspects of the shingle recycling industry for the Sixth Shingle Recycling Forum, Nov. 7-8, at the Westin Downtown in Denver.

Program sessions include: How Department of Transportation (DOT) Personnel Can Get Shingles Approved; Operational Factors When Using Recycled Asphalt Shingles (RAS); Dealing With Sham Recycling Sites; Use of Shingles in Warm Mixes; Effect of Recovered Binders From Recycled Shingles; Basics of Shingle Recycling; and Best Practices on the Use of RAS.

More information on the forum is available online at www.shinglerecycling.org.

Personnel Activity

Recycling Today Media Group Adds Associate Editor
The Recycling Today Media Group has added Megan Workman as an associate editor.

Workman, a graduate of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, formerly worked at the Charleston Gazette in Charleston, W.Va., for nearly two years as a business reporter. She brings a range of experience in writing and editing to the group.

Workman will contribute across the publishing group’s range of publications, including Construction & Demolition Recycling, Recycling Today, Recycling Today Global Edition, Storage & Destruction Business and Renewable Energy from Waste.

“I’m excited to join the Recycling Today team and fulfill my career dream of becoming a magazine editor,” says Workman. “GIE Media produces outstanding magazines that cover a diverse range of industries, and I am looking forward to maintaining that integrity.” She can be reached at mworkman@gie.net.

Legislation & Regulation

New Jersey Streamlines Rebuilding Permitting Process
The state of New Jersey has formally adopted rules designed to streamline Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) permits for various rebuilding projects. The decision follows the state’s attempt to rebuild from Superstorm Sandy.

The action will aid reconstruction of effected homes and businesses, assist the recovery of marinas and shellfish industries, help make coastal areas more resilient to future storms and expedite dredging of storm-effected private lagoons and marinas, the DEP says.

The changes to the coastal rules eliminate unnecessary red tape by enabling various types of projects to proceed under less cumbersome permit procedures, including permits by rule and general permits, the DEP says. At the same time, the changes will not compromise protection of coastal resources and will help ensure the New Jersey coastline is more resilient.

“These common-sense rule changes eliminate unnecessary red tape that would needlessly impede the important work of rebuilding while ensuring continued protection of our important natural resources,” says Bob Martin, DEP commissioner.

In addition to significantly reducing the time needed for DEP reviews, the changes, which the DEP initially adopted on an emergency basis April 16, 2013, also save property owners fees and costs associated with more complex permit requirements.

The activities regulated by the simplified permit processes are for reconstruction activities on roughly the same footprint or involving minimal (up to 400 square feet) expansion.

The rules expedite the rebuilding of residential and commercial structures by:

• Providing for a permit by rule for reconstruction of damaged residential or commercial structures in upland waterfront development areas that are outside the CAFRA (Coastal Area Facility Review Act) zone, primarily Raritan Bay and the Newark-New York Harbor complex;
• Helping property owners make their buildings safer when feasible by changing the current general permit requirement to a permit by rule for lateral or landward relocation of the existing footprint of a structure; and
• Eliminating the need for a permit to elevate a bulkhead, dock or pier as part of repair, replacement or reconstruction activity, as long as this is done in the existing footprint and not over wetlands.

A copy of full rule and response to public comments is available at www.nj.gov/dep/rules/adoptions.html.

Association Activities

ISRI Members Visit Congress
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI), Washington, D.C., has reported that more than 100 members of the association took part in ISRI’s 2013 Congressional Fly-In event July 23. The annual event is designed to allow companies to visit members of Congress to discuss the economic and environmental roles recycling plays.

ISRI reports key topics discussed by its members included ways to prevent materials theft, the issue of exporting raw materials processed at recycling facilities and the industry’s development of a curriculum to teach the science of recycling in schools.

“The recycling industry plays a vital role in the environment and economy within every single Congressional district in America,” says Robin Wiener, president of ISRI. “Recyclers are responsible for providing good-paying jobs for members’ constituents, while at the same time conserving valuable landfill space and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Working with Congress, we can further enhance our nation’s recycling capabilities and the many environmental benefits of our industry.”

In supporting its efforts, ISRI recently released an economic impact study that shows the industry provides more than 460,000 direct and indirect jobs in the United States, including 138,000 direct jobs. Both figures mark an increase from when a similar report was done in 2011. The industry generates about $4 billion in state and local revenue annually and $6.3 billion in federal taxes, ISRI says.

Overall, the recycling industry provides for more than 0.5 percent of the national’s total economic activity, the association adds.

“As the voice of the recycling industry, it is important for ISRI and our members to advocate and build relationships with members of Congress,” says Wiener. “We are grateful to all those members who are working with us to find the most effective ways to reduce metals theft, to strengthen and expand the U.S.-based electronics recycling infrastructure by recognizing the global nature of the industry’s activities and to teach the science of recycling in schools.”

Company News

Posillico Unveils Expansion at Asphalt Recycling Plant
Posillico Materials, headquartered in Farmington, N.Y., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil its rail siding and materials transfer depot, which was built at the company’s asphalt recycling facility in Framingdale. The project is the first phase of a capital improvement the company is undertaking in conjunction with the town of Babylon, N.Y.’s Industrial Development Association to update the facility and to improve its operations within the community at large.

According to Posillico, the project’s completion enables most of the materials that are required for asphalt production to be shipped via rail rather than by truck. The company says the new rail system and improved plant layout reduce fugitive dust and eliminate 5,000 truck trips per year. Astec Industries, Chattanooga, Tenn., has been working with Posillico since 1971 on asphalt recycling.

The new rail facility will anchor Posillico’s plan to complete further capital investments that the company says it expects will improve its overall environmental impact.

Family-owned Posillico has been in business since 1946. The company, which started out as a trucking firm, serves the construction and contracting industry in the New York tristate area. The company has been expanding its operations to other regions in the Northeast.

Company News

Cherry Wins Safety Award
Cherry Demolition Inc., a Houston-based demolition, dismantling and asset recovery firm, has won the national Diamond level STEP (Safety Training Evaluation Process) award from the Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. (ABC), Arlington, Va.

Cherry Demolition was recognized for the effectiveness of its overall safety program, which also garnered a Platinum level STEP award in 2010. Cherry says the 2013 Diamond level STEP award is the association’s highest safety honor and demonstrates continual improvement in the reduction of recordable incidents.

“We’re always working to improve our safety program’s effectiveness,” says Jay Marak, Cherry safety director. “This award builds on our past performance and recognizes our employees for their diligence in working safely—in whatever task they undertake.”

Personnel Activity

NDA Adds to Staff
The National Demolition Association (NDA), Doylestown, Pa., has appointed Kim Wieland its new director of member services. She will report directly to Michael Taylor, executive director.

In this post, Wieland will be responsible for the development and implementation of the organization’s new education initiative, designed to provide management and safety training to the demolition industry while improving professional competency. She also will work on expanding the NDA’s other member services, advancing the recruitment and retention of association members, enhancing the NDA’s social media and branding programs and working on association public relations efforts.

Event Coverage

C&D World Explores Energy Outlets
During C&D World, the annual meeting of the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA, formerly the Construction Materials Recycling Association), Jorge Caspary, director, solid waste division, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), provided an update on Florida’s recycling rates.

C&D debris is considered part of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Florida. Caspary said that since 2011 the amount of MSW sent to landfills in Florida has decreased by 10 million tons. That same year, the C&D recycling rate was 29 percent. He also noted that more waste in Florida is used in waste-to-energy facilities than in any other state, with 17 percent of the state’s waste going to combustion, 30 percent to recycling and 54 percent to landfill.

During the “Using Traditional Nonrecyclable C&D Residuals as Alternative Fuel” session, Monica Sowders, alternative fuel manager for Cemex, discussed how the global cement maker is using various forms of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) in its cement kilns.

“Recycling rates increase in areas that use waste as fuel,” Sowders told attendees. She compared coal with waste as a fuel, saying that coal, while often used as a benchmark for pollutants, is not necessarily a cleaner fuel than waste fuels. “C&D and RDF emissions are lower in some cases,” she said.

Cemex plants in the U.S. substitute anywhere from 20 percent to 85 percent of their coal with waste material, Sowders said.

C&D Word 2013 was April 20-23 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla.

Company News

Shaw Recycles 600 Million Pounds of Carpet
Shaw Industries Group Inc., Dalton, Ga., a Berkshire Hathaway company, has released its 2012 corporate sustainability report. Key highlights from the report, “Looking Ahead,” include:

• Reclaiming and recycling more than 600 million pounds of postconsumer carpet since 2006;
• Surpassing 60 percent of Shaw products being designated as Cradle-to-Cradle certified;
• Achieving LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for three additional facilities;
• Reducing water intensity by 33.7 percent since 2006;
• Providing 56,196 associate volunteer hours and more than $2 million in contributions to community causes; and
• Breaking ground on a manufacturing facility in Nantong, China, to serve the thriving Asia market, representative of the company’s efforts to produce products locally.

“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made. We strive to continuously improve every aspect of our business,” says Shaw CEO Vance Bell. “This guides not only our commitment to sustainability and innovation, but everything we do, every day.”

With this focus on continued improvement in mind, Shaw also has introduced new environmental performance goals. Shaw will report its progress toward these goals through the company’s annual sustainability report.

“Looking Ahead,” the Shaw Industries 2012 corporate sustainability report, as well as past reports, can be accessed at http://sustainability.shawgreenedge.com.

Green Building

Axion Recycled-Content Plastic Used to Build Bridge
Axion International Holdings Inc., New Providence, N.J., a developer of recycled plastic and plastic composite technologies, participated in an official ribbon cutting ceremony May 29 for a bridge in Logan County, Ohio, made of its Struxure 100-percent-recycled infrastructure building products. The company announced the purchase order for the bridge in September 2012.

Logan County Engineer Scott Coleman says the durability, expected life span of more than 50 years and environmental benefits of using 100-percent-recycled materials weighed into the decision to use Struxure. Logan County has a goal of being a zero-waste county by the year 2020.

The raw material used to make Struxure is 80 percent postconsumer plastics and 20 percent car bumpers and dashboards.

According to Axion, the 24.6-foot Onion Ditch Bridge is the longest span bridge made from 100-percent-recycled plastic materials in North America and is only the second bridge of its kind on a public road; Axion had earlier built a bridge using Struxure in York, Maine.

Additionally, New York State’s St. Lawrence County Department of Highways has purchased Struxure to repair and restore bridges. Other tank and railroad bridges that support heavy loads have been built using Struxure on domestic military bases.