Michigan DEQ Field Office Relocates

Lansing, MI - The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's Negaunee Field Office is closing and the staff is moving to the Upper Peninsula District Office located in Gwinn. The DEQ will vacate its Negaunee office at 184 US-41 East and move to the K.I. Sawyer International Airport and Business Center (former K.I. Sawyer AFB), 420 5th Street, Gwinn, MI, 49841.

This move will consolidate all DEQ staff in the Upper Peninsula to the Upper Peninsula District Office in Gwinn.

Earth Day Founder Honored

Washington, DC - The Honorable Gaylord A. Nelson, United States Senator (D-WI) from 1963-1981 and founder of Earth Day, was presented the Olmsted Medal for his lifetime of environmental stewardship. The Olmsted Medal is the highest award presented annually by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) to an individual outside the profession of landscape architecture.

Senator Nelson was nominated by the Wisconsin Chapter of ASLA for his more than four decades of environ-mental leadership. His achievements safeguarding the planet include the establishment of Earth Day, the Outdoor Resources Action Program, and championing important environmental legislation such as the Clean Air Act and the Water Quality Act. Senator Nelson co-authored "Beyond Earth Day: Fulfilling the Promise," further exploring and giving definition to his life's work as an environmental advocate.

On the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970, Senator Nelson set forth a goal of "an environment of decency, quality, and mutual respect for all other human creatures and for all living creatures." The Olmsted Medal is ASLA's recognition of Senator Nelson's lifelong commitment to that goal.

EPA Region 3 Excludes Cathode Ray Tubes from Solid Waste Definition

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a final rule for Region 3, Mid-Atlantic state that excludes used cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and glass removed from CRTs from the definition of solid waste.

This rule exempts these materials from being treated as hazardous waste and helps promote recycling. This will allow for easier transportation and handling of computer monitors and television in recycling. The EPA stated that implementing this rule in Region 3 will help them evaluate the benefits of implementing it nationally. The EPA is proposing national implementation in June.

Waste Industries Makes Three Acquisitions

Raleigh, NC - Waste Industries USA, Inc., announced the recent acquisition of three companies: Hammock Sanitation, Crossville, Tennessee; Kellett's Sanitation, Inc., Easley, South Carolina; and S & W Sanitation, Wilson, North Carolina.

Ven Poole, vice president of corporate development for Waste Industries, stated, "These acquisitions are a continuation of our strategy to grow through mergers and acquisitions, using a disciplined approach aimed at enhancing our margins through improved route density and better leveraging of existing overhead."

Former Presidential Advisor to Speak at AF&PA Paper Week

Washington, DC - Mary Matalin, former advisor to President Bush and Vice President Cheney, will be the guest speaker at the Annual Luncheon of the American Forest & Paper Association's (AF&PA) 126th Paper Week on Tuesday, March 11.

AF&PA will host its 126th annual Paper Week March 9-12, 2003, at The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, New York. Paper Week an annual event for the U.S. pulp, paper, and packaging industry. This event attracts more than 800 participants from all segments of the business.

Arizona Testing Asphalt Road Surface Containing Recycled Rubber

Phoenix, AZ - The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is using an asphalt-rubber, high binder, open graded mix on some major freeway improvement projects in the greater Phoenix area. Recently, an approximately 3/4-inch layer of asphalt-rubber was applied to the U.S. 60 between I-10 and the Loop 101 freeway in Tempe. Reaction from drivers and nearby residents has been very positive, with many saying they've noticed the smoother ride and a reduction in noise following the application of asphalt-rubber, which contains recycled rubber.

Because few similar freeway resurfacing projects have been documented for noise reduction, Rubber Pavement Association is partnering with Arizona State University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, to measure the freeway noise prior to and after the resurfacing with the asphalt-rubber.

Free Report Discusses Glass Reuse Markets

The Glass Packaging Institute has an updated guide (December 2002) for the reuse and recycling of glass into non-container markets. John Reindl, Recycling Manager for the Dane County Department of Public Works in Madison, Wisconsin is the publisher of this resource for the use of cullet in non-traditional ways. To download the 120-page document, visit www.gpi.org and click on "Glass Recycling: Picking Up the Pieces."

Reclaimed Wood/Plastic Furniture Maker Reports Increased Sales

Springdale, AR - Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies Inc. (AERT) announced that unaudited gross sales for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2002, were $11.2 million, a 39 percent increase over gross sales of $8 million in the same period last year.

Unaudited gross sales for the full year 2002 were $42.8 million, a 26 percent increase over 2001.

AERT also announced it anticipates taking a one-time charge of $847,000 in the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2002, related to settlement of outstanding litigation. Additional information will be forthcoming.

AERT converts reclaimed plastic and wood fiber waste into outdoor and window building products.