Chicago, IL— U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has cited Smurfit-Stone Flexible Packaging for alleged violations of federal and state clean-air regulations at the company’s printing plant, in Schaumburg, Illinois.

EPA alleges Smurfit failed to comply with national emissions standards for methyl ethyl ketone, a hazardous air pollutant and a volatile organic compound, and to do timely testing and reporting required by EPA. In addition, the company failed to comply with conditions of a state permit, and it released more VOCs than state regulations allow.

These are preliminary findings of violations. To resolve them, EPA may issue a compliance order, assess an administrative penalty or bring suit against the company. Smurfit has 30 days from receipt of the notice to request a meeting with EPA to discuss the allegations and how to resolve them.

Short-term exposure to high concentrations of methyl ethyl ketone can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and cause headache, nausea, central nervous system depression and skin problems. Limited information is available on the chronic effects of methyl ethyl ketone in humans from inhalation exposure.

Garden Grove, CA— Teletrac, Inc., the originator of metro fleet location information systems, announced an enhancement to the wireless text messaging capability for its main fleet tracking product, FleetDirector.

FleetDirector’s new capability streamlines operations by enriching real-time communications between drivers and their main office. Drivers now have the ability to instantly send free-form text messages from their message data terminals (MDT) to the dispatcher or fleet manager, optimizing the time and process required for relaying critical information. Until now, drivers could only choose from pre-programmed messages or limited basic five-digit numeric text, delaying their opportunity to relay unique information until the end of their shift.

Teletrac’s FleetDirector system gives fleet managers and dispatchers the ability to view the location of their vehicles in real-time over maps on their computer screen, eliminating the need to manually radio each driver to determine locations. Dispatchers can send drivers free form text messages with instructions or questions to the driver’s MDT, which sits on the vehicle’s dashboard. The system’s enhancement allows drivers to send free form messages back to the dispatcher, giving their company’s main operations the tools to analyze critical field data, answer any questions the driver may have, or respond to new customer needs that may have arisen on the job site much more quickly than before.

To input free form text messages, drivers can either use the alphanumeric keys on their MDT, or a keyboard can be installed. Both new and current users of Teletrac’s FleetDirector system who opt to install the Net 955 MDT in their vehicles can take advantage of the enhanced messaging capability over a CDPD or GPRS network. The Net 955 MDT is an additional option within the standard FleetDirector package.

Scottsdale, AZ— Allied Waste Industries, Inc. announced that it has completed the sale of collection assets in three states to Waste Management.

The sale includes hauling operations in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Augusta, Georgia and Pitkin and Garfield Counties in Colorado. The company also noted that it expects to finalize the sale of collection, recycling and transfer assets in New Jersey pending the necessary state and local governmental approvals and other consents.

Separately, the company said that it has entered into an additional letter of intent to sell approximately $75 to $80 million in non-integrated annual revenue in South Florida to Waste Management. This transaction is valued at ap-proximately $40 million.

“Our intent for 2003 is to raise $300 million in net proceeds from asset sales,” said Tom Van Weelden, Chairman and CEO of Allied Waste. “We are pleased that the completed sales, the pending sale of our New Jersey assets and the sale of a portion of our South Florida assets should raise about one-third of our goal for the year.”

Harrisburg, PA— The National Solid Wastes Management Association has presented its Special Governor’s Award to Thomas E. McMonigle, president of the Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association, for his strong leadership in the solid waste industry.

McMonigle is a landfill engineer with Chrin Hauling, Inc., operator of a sanitary landfill in Easton.

“This award recognizes Tom’s commitment to the well-being of his company and the waste industry as a whole,” said Bruce Parker, NSWMA president and CEO. “With Tom’s kind of support, our industry thrives.”

McMonigle joined Chrin in 1996 and built an engineering division that saved the company thousands of dollars in outsourcing costs. At the same time he became an active participant in PWIA and helped establish the organization as the waste industry’s voice in Harrisburg.

Mendham, NJ— KenBay Manufacturing, located in Dublin, Ireland, announced that KenBay, Inc. had been sold to an experienced United States management team. Specializing in waste compaction systems, KenBay was opened eight years ago in the United States and is considered to be a leading innovator in affordable waste management solutions.

The new management team is led by Don Meis, formerly in management with IBM and Computer Associates, who will become president and chief operating officer of the U.S. distribution company. Christopher Meis, formerly in sales with Sterling Commerce and with the German firm MIS-AG, will assume the role of director of sales in the company.

The change in management enables Cormac Dunne, former head of the U.S. operations, to return to KenBay manufacturing headquarters in Ireland, where he will head up a global distribution network. Mr. Dunne has been responsible for the U.S. markets since KenBay opened its New Jersey office in 1995.

KenBay will relocate its U.S. headquarters from Rochelle Park, New Jersey to Mendham, New Jersey.

Chicago, IL— U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has cited Essroc Italcementi Group for alleged violations of federal and state clean air regulations at the company’s portland cement plant in Logansport, Indiana.

EPA alleges that Essroc modified its cement kilns, causing an increase in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, without getting a permit to prevent significant deterioration of air quality.

Before existing air-pollutant sources can be modified in areas that comply with all national outdoor air-quality standards, companies must get permits that restrict their emissions.

Other allegations include failure to use best available control technology to control sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions and failure to comply with other permitting requirements.

Latrobe, PA— Timken Latrobe Steel, a subsidiary of The Timken Company, announced it would increase prices by five percent on all high-speed steel products. The price change is effective with new orders received after September 1, 2003. Raw material surcharges will remain in effect.

"Higher production costs in the form of energy, health care and other benefits are key factors in this price increase on high-speed steels," said David A. Murray, vice president - sales and marketing, Timken Latrobe Steel. "Our continued focus on generating new manufacturing efficiencies has not been enough to offset the increases in these production costs."

Wheeling, PA— Wheeling-Pittsburgh Corporation announced that it has reached agreement on a new labor contract with the United Steelworkers of America, pending ratification by the Union’s membership.

A new labor agreement was one of the Emergency Steel Loan Guarantee Board’s conditions when it approved Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel’s $250 million loan guarantee application in March. The company’s Plan of Reorganization calls for it to retire one of its two existing blast furnaces and replace it with a state-of-the-art electric arc furnace capable of using both scrap steel and molten iron as raw material.

Houston, TX— U S Liquids Inc., a provider of liquid waste management services, has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Oilfield Waste Division, its Beverage Division and its Romic Environmental Technologies business to ERP Environmental Services, Inc. ("ERP"), which is controlled by Three Cities Research, a private equity firm based in New York.

ERP has agreed to pay $68 million to the company, subject to adjustment based upon the net worth of the acquired businesses on the closing date. ERP has agreed to pay an additional $2 million to the company for certain transition services to be provided by the company during the six-month period following the closing. The net proceeds of the transaction will be used to pay transaction expenses and reduce the amount outstanding under the company's credit facility.

Raleigh, NC— Waste Industries USA, Inc. announced that Golden Corral® restaurants have contracted with Waste Industries to manage its solid waste removal and recycling needs. The contract, which became effective in June 2003, represents approximately $1.5 million in new annual revenue. Golden Corral® is located in 17 states with more than 100 locations. Scott Keeter, National Accounts Manager of Waste Industries USA, said “Our interactive customer service website and ability to react quickly to their specific needs were the key points in winning the contract. This is a great example of two local North Carolina based companies helping each other to grow and prosper.”

Winn, MI— Mulch coloring just became simpler, more efficient and less expensive. Morbark has introduced an all-new, dry colorant system for organic mulch using dry powder pigments in place of conventional liquid dyes. According to the company, the new process uses considerably less water and impregnates color deeply into the fiber of the wood. The resultant mulch is reported to last longer and can be produced quickly – all at a fraction of the cost of conventional coloring methods.

Dan Brandon, of Morbark observed, “Anyone with a Morbark tub grinder can color mulch with an inexpensive dispenser attachment. During the primary grind, the new process automatically meters and applies the dry colorant in the discharge area of the grinder,” he said. Call for a free video demonstration at 800-233-6065.

Boston, MA— At a time when public education is facing massive budget cuts, Staples will launch a nationwide campaign that makes it easy to raise money for use in our nation’s classrooms. Staples Recycle for Education is a national initiative that simplifies fund raising for state education by recycling used inkjet and laser toner cartridges.

According to the National Conference of State Legislators, most states have had to contend with three years of deficits that are expected to reach $80 billion next year. Fifty million children are enrolled in the nation’s public school system.

Through Recycle for Education, Staples will donate $1 for every eligible used cartridge that is recycled with a goal to raise $5 million.

Lakeland, FL— Wastequip Industrial Refuse Sales introduced a new heavy-duty slam latch as a standard feature on all its roll-off containers.

This new safety feature automatically latches the rear door of the container when it is slammed shut. A safety chain is then attached after closing the door as an added feature. The slam latch secures the door without the need of a cam-style latch.

Sterling Heights, MI— Clean Earth Kentucky, LLC, Cynthiana, Kentucky, and McClain Industries, Inc., Sterling Heights, Michigan, announced that Clean Earth Kentucky has reached an agreement in principle for the acquisition of certain assets used in the refuse body business of McClain E-Z Pack, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of McClain Industries.

The transaction was expected to close on or before July 31, 2003, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. “We are very excited about the opportunity to acquire the McClain E-Z Pack assets, and we look forward to continuing the McClain tradition of manufacturing high-quality trucks,” stated James A. Thompson, manager and majority owner of Clean Earth Kentucky.

Remus, MI— Bandit Industries, Inc. announced the addition of an all new, portable Beast Recycler capable of processing whole trees. The model 4680 Beast recycler features a 57” cuttermill with 40” x 60” feed opening.

The patented cuttermill of the 4680 allows materials to be cut, split or ground with numerous end product options. According to Bandit, the mill was designed for maximum efficiency, reducing both fuel consumption and vibration. Once on the jobsite, set up takes just ten minutes.

The company reports output of approximately 500 yards of material per hour, depending on final product.

BASF Aktiengesellschaft, Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Metabolix, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, have entered into a research collaboration agreement on plastics made from renewable resources. Under the terms of the initial one-year agreement, Metabolix will produce polyester plastics from sugar using fermentation technology and supply BASF with pilot-scale sample quantities. BASF’s polymer research division will investigate the materials technology and processing properties of the products. The terms of the deal include extensive information-sharing between the two partners; financial terms were not disclosed.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate polyesters (PHAs) are a versatile family of biodegradable plastics made from renewable resources. They have a very broad range of applications and may be used for the manufacture of plastic films, fibers, thermoplastic materials, and dispersions for adhesive raw materials or coatings.

The collaborative deal gives BASF the opportunity to gain experience with a technology that is still in its infancy. “The manufacture of plastics using microorganisms holds huge future potential,” says BASF polymer research scientist Dr. Dietrich Scherzer, who is leading the project.

Roseland, NJ— Curtiss-Wright Corp. announced that one of its recently acquired businesses, Electro-Mechanical Corporation (CW-EMD), has been awarded a $3.7 million contract by the Westinghouse Savannah River Company (WSRC) to supply four waste slurry mixer pumps for use at its Aiken, South Carolina high-level radioactive waste management tank farm. With additional option units, the contract can increase to $7.8 million over the next ten years, with a total of 15 pumps to be delivered. The initial contract is scheduled for delivery by July 2004.

Unlike vertical turbine pumps that are standard at many Department of Energy waste management sites, the CW-EMD mixer pump features a state-of-the-art canned motor pump design, enabling it to more effectively maintain the waste slurry in a stable, suspended form. Currently, the Department of Energy operates over 350 pumps at waste tank farms across the country.

Grove City, OH— AIM Attachments, a factory-direct heavy equipment attachment seller, has recently announced the completion and subsequent launch of the company’s new website at aimattachments.com. The website offers detailed specifications, application information, and pictures of the entire AIM product line.

Online, prospective customers can use the “AIM Product Finder”. The product finder will locate the exact attachment to fit the customer’s specific machine, complete with equipment specifications and product photos. Each page also offers a “request quote” link for a personally tailored sales quotation.

Eugene, OR— Peterson Pacific Corporation has introduced an all-new horizontal recycler designed for high-volume producers with demanding end-product specifications.

The model HC 4700 horizontal recycler features a 630 horsepower Cat diesel engine and is a mid-range model in the Peterson recycler line. It uses the proven Peterson three-stage grinding process with an up-turning rotor that draws material into the primary grinding chamber. The second stage anvil further reduces material for optimum sizing and throughput. The final reduction takes place in the horizontal recycler’s quick-change multiple grate system. There, grates can be configured to produce a wide range of finished materials. The Peterson grinding system results in high output across this range, minimizing any need for regrinding.

According to the company, the patented Impact Release System minimizes damage from contaminants in the grinding chamber, reducing downtime. Peterson’s Smart Control Panel is user-friendly and maximizes material throughput. All finished materials are discharged on a continuous conveyor, preventing material spillage and the need for costly clean up.

Baltimore, MD— Environmental Elements Corporation reported a net loss of $1,454,000 or ($.20) per share on sales of $10.8 million for its fourth quarter ended March 31, 2003. During the comparable period of last year EEC reported net income of $127,000 or $.02 per share on sales of $16.2 million.

For the full fiscal year, the net loss was $3,686,000 or ($.51) per share, on sales of $43.7 million, as compared with net income of $1.5 million, or $.20 per share, on sales of $71.9 million for the same period last year.

“Despite the considerable progress that we made over the past three years in diversifying our revenue stream, in significantly reducing the overall costs within the company and in the successful start up of our overseas operations, we were unable to overcome the significant revenue shortfall that confronted us,” said John L. Sams, President and CEO. “Our two main customer groups, the power generation and pulp & paper industries, responded to challenges facing them by continuing to defer investments in new air pollution control equipment and significantly cutting back on service and maintenance expenditures. This caused a significant drop in our revenues from prior years and was the major reason for our net loss for this fiscal year.”

Doppstadt has recently introduced the SM 818 trommel combining productivity with performance flexibility for demanding material separation needs. Capable of creating 3 products at once, the SM 818 is road portable, sets up in 10-15 minutes, and works well for contract-based operations.

The SM 818 features a hydraulic belt feed that allows the trommel to sense loads, and automatically adjusts to ensure the most effective screening of material. A variable speed control on the drum also allows the operator to adjust the trommel in real time; further maximizing yields to match the user’s current application. Because these systems have all been engineered with separate pumps, Doppstadt has eliminated crossover lag on non-adjusted functions.

For greater efficiency in fines recovery, an optional hydraulically operated stone grid or vibration screen can provide useful primary coarse separation, and further break up source material prior to entering the drum. The combination of these benefits on the SM 818 allows for production of high-quality final products without the need to re-screen, resulting in a much lower cost per yield.

Hydraulics controls the positioning of the feeder, operation of the cleaning brush and the folding of the conveyors, providing for easy set-up and drum changes. Large access doors all around, 90º swing-out engine and central lubrication make for quick maintenance. An optional, full function remote control is also available.