The first America Recycles Day is Saturday, November 15, 1997. More than 1,000 local recycling and buy recycled showcase events in 42 states are expected to be organized across the country. Vice President Al Gore is the honorary chair and will be participating through television announcements leading up to events on November 15th. America Recycles Day was initiated from the success of Texas Recycles Day, which began three years ago. Texas saw a significant increase in recycling in 90 percent of the towns participating in their events. Massachusetts will be a proud participant in this years events.
The America Recycles Day theme, "Keep RecyclingWorking: Buy Recycled," is designed to take recycling to the next step in this country. By purchasing products made with recycled materials we are building markets for the steel, paper, glass, plastic and aluminum materials we place at the curb or bring to our recycling drop-offs. National and local media will bring attention to the fact that we are not recycling until we close the recycling loop by buying recycled content products. Thousands of Americans will be asked to sign cards pledging to buy recycled...recycle more...or support a recycling event. These cards will be entered into a drawing to be held December 15, 1997. There will be a number of great prizes and a grand prize of a three bedroom "American Green Dream House" built with recycled materials.
The Massachusetts Planning Committee for America Recycles Day has been holding meetings accross the state to share ideas for celebrating the day. If you are interested in participating and would like an event planning guide or to register your event on the state wide calendar, call Craig Ruberti or Kathi Mirza at MassRecycle (617) 338-0244. For local help call John Alphin at SCRAM (508) 867-9491.
Back to Top | Back to NewsLetter IndexSCRAM Events Sponsored By:
COMMUNITY DOUNDATION, INC. was established in 1975 as a nonprofit public foundation. SCRAM has received a grant from discretionary funds through their Mini-Grants Program which allows them to respond quickly to creative initiatives of local nonprofit organizations. Their quick response has made it possible for SCRAM to involve the region in our America Recycles Day projects:
North Shore Recycled Fibers - Thanks to Johnny Gold, Bill Rafter, Curt Hirman and Tim Hagenbuch of North Shore we have 1,000 30X40 sheets of white clay coated recycled paperboard (posterboard) for our poster contest. It is great to show students the actual material made in Massachusetts from their recycled paper programs.
North Brookfield Savings has served our region since 1854. They have recently given SCRAM a grant to support the production of our newsletter and thereby our many projects. Grants like this give us the security that our most important ongoing services will continue.
Back to Top | Back to NewsLetter IndexJuly 16, 1997 MASSPIRG Campaign Director Katrina Galante gave Sturbridge Board of Health Chairman George Berry an award, for a recycling program that allows 54% of the town's trash to be reused.
"Sturbridge is a model for communities of its size and the Town was involved in Recycling early on," said Galante.
"We started in 1986," said Berry. "By 1988, we had our recycling center up and running. I'm very proud of our recycling committee and the people of Sturbridge."
SCRAM has long recognized the example Sturbridge has set for its comprehensive approach to solid waste management. They are the first town to build a Transfer/Recycling facility as part of a long range plan to expand their landfill. George will be unhappy to hear the transfer word used to describe his RECYCLING facility. Planners need to know that it is cheaper to run a landfill transferring the trash once a week to the landfill face from a compactor rather than working an open face three days a week. The compactor saves landfill equipment time, daily cover material and labor. Sturbridge has also reduced the toxicity and disposal cost of its landfill leachate by implementing their permanent Hazardous Waste Collection Program. This was one of the first comprehensive facilities of its kind in Massachusetts. Sturbridge was the first town in the region to buy a baler for recyclables - another smart investment. These capital investments scare most towns in the planning stages but Sturbridge has shown us they pay for themselves rather quickly.
The four Brookfields have run two surplus paint collections at their new collection facility in North Brookfield. They are looking forward to one more paint collection day in October as well as their first regional household hazardous waste (HHW) collection November 1. So far they have collected 196 gallons of paint and found new homes for 45 gallons.
The Brookfields have contracted with Laidlaw Environmental Services for their HHW collection and the same contract details are open to all towns in the region. SCRAM has Karen Bouquillon to thank for working out this deal with Brenda Leonardo from Laidlaw for SCRAM. If you are interested in organizing a collection call Brenda at (508) 683-1002.
Back to Top | Back to NewsLetter IndexIn direct response to the success of our Municipal Buy Recycled Project SCRAM has extended its scope to reach the schools in the region. Twelve municipalities participating in the project received a free case of two kinds of recycled copy paper to test in their copy machines thanks to a grant from the State Operational Services Division. The municipalities learned how to buy these recycled papers off the state procurement contract at a huge savings. They learned how to write Buy Recycled Procurement policies. Many of the participating towns wanted to bring this project to their schools because they were aware of how much more copy paper they use.
The Greater Worcester Community Foundation has given us a mini-grant to bring the Buy Recycled Project message to a number of schools in the region as a part of our America Recycles Day grant. John Alphin will be visiting a number of schools to talk about our poster contest and he will bring the recycled copy paper and Buy Recycled message at the same time. Any of the region's municipal coordinators interested in participating should call John right away, first come first served (508)867-9491. He will help you approach your school or do it for you as time allows.
Thanks again to Marcia Deegler for her great Buy Recycled training session and the copy paper she provided us. Every town should have received the new June, 1997 Recycled and Environmentally Preferrable Products and Services Guide for Massachusetts state contracts. This is where you find the ordering info for the copy paper in our test project along with many other great savings on goods and services. If you haven't received it or it is not reaching the right people in your town call Marcia at (617)727-7500X356.
SCRAM is sponsoring a poster contest open to all school-age children in the region. We are encouraging each school to run its own contest in as many grades as they feel appropriate. The goal of the contest is to heighten the region's awareness of the America Recycles Day Theme "Keep Recycling Working: Buy Recycled."
SCRAM will pick a number of the best posters from the region to be judged for display at the 3rd Annual Massachusetts Buy Recycled Vendor Fair & Conference,Tuesday, November 18th. Each school can decide on their own rules but to be considered for a prize and recognition at the Vendor Fair the following rules must be met.
For help with any aspect of the contest including free poster board or limited class presentations on Buy Recycled call John Alphin A.S.A.P. (508)867-9491.
SCRAM wishes to thank the Greater Worcester Community Foundation and North Shore Recycled Fibers for making this contest possible.
Back to Top | Back to NewsLetter IndexSCRAM will provide assistance to any town planning an event to celebrate America Recycles Day. It doesn't have to be on November 15th. Scheduled events can occur between October 1 and November 16.
Local Events already planned include: pledge card signings at recycling drop-offs and local stores; Textile Recycling drives provided by Talbert Trading at schools; Buy Recycled Tables at dropoff centers to show recycled goods available; recycled goods give away; school poster contests; cable TV award ceremonies for posters and school presentations.
You will find an America Recycles Day registration form enclosed in this newsletter. Please fill it out and send a copy to both SCRAM & MassRecycle. This will qualify you to get pledge cards and a poster explaining the pledge cards. If you have any questions Call John (508) 867-9491
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