RHODE RECYCLING ISLAND RHODE ISLAND'S MANDATORY, COMPREHENSIVE, STATE WIDE RECYCLING PROGRAM. by Russell Paule-Riggs

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1 RECYCLING RHODE ISLAND RHODE ISLAND'S MANDATORY, COMPREHENSIVE, STATE WIDE RECYCLING PROGRAM by Russell Paule-Riggs Photo courtesy of Ocean State Cleanup and Recycling, Department of Environmental Management

2 Introduction This Innovations Report describes the first comprehensive, mandatory state-wide recycling program in the country, Rhode Island s Comprehensive Mandatory Recycling Program, and its effect on the state s solid waste management and disposal system. In Brief Rhode Island s comprehensive solid waste management program involves source reduction, followed by recycling, incineration and landfilling. The comprehensive recycling program mandates that municipalities, businesses and state offices recycle as many materials as are feasible. For municipalities, these include: newspapers glass food and beverage containers aluminum steel/tin cans plastic milk jugs and soda bottles white goods (refrigerators, ovens, etc.) As a result of this recycling program, Rhode Island has diverted significant amounts of solid waste from its sole landfill, and has raised awareness among the citizenry on solid waste disposal. National Overview The United States generates more than 157 million tons of solid waste each year, equivalent to 3.5 pounds of trash produced daily by every person in the country. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) predicts that this amount will grow to192.7 million tons by2, as the population increases and more waste is generated per person (see Table 1). Trash consists of the ordinary refuse of modern society: paper, newspaper, boxes, food wastes, old tires, plastic jugs, metal cans and other material generated by people and businesses in their daily routines (see Table 2). Traditionally, it has been the responsibility of municipalities to dispose of waste safely, and they have chosen to do this in a variety of ways (see Table 3). 3 The oldest method of solid waste disposal is to bury it in a landfill or dump it far out to sea. Another is to burn it. A new twist is to burn trash and use the resulting thermal energy to produce steam that runs a turbine to generate eiectricity. The problem with these disposal options is that they are being pushed to the limit. Landfills are filling up, and few new landfills are available. Incineration facilities, though growing in number, accept only so much waste and raise a number of environmental, health, economic and safety concerns. As a result, other options that reduce the amount of waste are being examined. One option is source reduction - reducing the amount of waste gener- ated by redesigning packaging and products. Proponents of source reduction argue that industry can save energy, reduce waste and obtain credit for being an environmentally responsible corporate citizen. Table 1 Total Municipal Solid Waste Discards Gross Annual Per Capita Discards Discards Year (in million tons) (pounds per day) (a) 1995 (a) 2 (a) (a) Projections Source: Environmc tal Protection Agency, Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States, 196-2, (Washington, D.C., March ), pp. 18 and 19. Table 2 Composition of Municipal Solid Waste Stream (by weight) 197 (%) Paper 32.4 Yard Wastes 2.6 Plastics 2.7 Metals 12. Food Wastes 11.4 Class 11.1 Wood 3.6 RubbedLeather 2.7 Text i I es 1.8 Other -I (%) o -I.8 2 (%) Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd., for U.S. EPA,. Another option is recycling (see Table 4). Supporters of this option say that with disposal costs rising dramatically, recycling can reduce a community s disposal bill. Apart from the savings, however, the cash value of some recyclable materials also could provide a new source of revenue. 2 INNOVATIONS

3 Table 3 How is our Garbage Managed? volume* % volume* % volume* % volume* YO Land f i I I s Recycling Waste to Energy Total *in millions of tons per year Source: EPA, Report to Congress. Solid Waste Disposal in the United States, Washington, D.C., ; NSWMA, Resource Recovery Roundup,. Paper and Paperboard Glass Metals PI ast i cs Rubber and Leather Text i I es Wood Food Waste Yard Waste Other Table 4 Recycling Amount Amount Generated Recycled % of (millions (millions Total of tons) of tons) Waste I 1.o Total Source: National Wastes Management Association Proponents of recycling argue that it conserves natural resources and reduces pollution. Every ton of paper recycled saves 17 trees and 39 gallons of oil. Producing recycled paper creates 74 percent less air pollution and 35 percent less water pollution than virgin paper. Recycling aluminum saves 95 percent of the energy necessary to manufacture the metal from bauxite ore and produces 95 percent less air and water pollution. J Proponents also argue that recycling saves valuable landfill space and adds years of life to landfills. The Central Landfill, Rhode Island s only statewide solid waste management facility, receives 9 percent of the state s waste. Disposal capacity was diminishing rapidly, and tipping (disposal) fees had increased 838 percent between 1981 and 1991, from $3.51/municipal ton and $5.85/commercial ton, to $14.98 and $49., respectively. Background Several events contributed to Rhode Island s sense of urgency to develop a comprehensive, integrated solid waste management system with a strong recycling component. Throughout the197s and early198s, landfill after landfill closed, boosting disposal costs and placing increased pressure on existing landfills. Even though the population remained stable, commercial and residential waste grew. In 1984, a Special House Commission recommended the state construct three mass burn facilities and establish statewide recycling. In 1985, Brown University was awarded a grant by the state to study and recommend statewide recycling strategies. As a result, the Legislature in 1986 enacted the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Law and formed the Rhode Island Source Reduction Task Force. Recycling officially began in 1987 with pilot programs in the towns of East Greenwich and West Warwick, which were representative of the state s population densities and socio-economic conditions. Program Operation and Implementation Operations The Rhode Island program requires residential, comxeicial 2nd state office ~~~clifig. Three government components manage different parts of the program and work in concert. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) writes the implementing regulations, which set the overall schedule for municipal recycling, and administers technical assistance, including a public information campaign. Local governments work with the department to develop plans and license haulers and transfer sta- INNOVATIONS 3

4 tions. They contract with haulers for waste collection and adopt local recycling ordinances requiring source separation. Municipalities build support for recycling in the community with direct information and education campaigns. The Rhode Island Solid Waste Management Corporation (RISWMC) controls final disposition of the waste by building and operating landfills, incinerators, recycling and other solid waste management and disposal facilities. It also funds municipalities for the first three years of recycling. Program Goals Rhode Island law stipulates that each municipality must recycle 15 percent of its solid waste by the third year of the program or reach the rate of a communityof similar size or demographics, and make every effort to exceed this goal. As additional materials become recyclable, the goal may be raised to 4 percent. Both 4 and 5 percent recycling goals have been proposed. About 85 percent of households recycle each month in communities that are part of the state program. The department develops a recycling plan for each municipality and provides technical assistance in coordinator and driver training, writing RFPs and municipal ordinances, program monitoring and evaluation, contract negotiation, program start-up, and public information and education. The plan includes demographic and geographic data for the town. This encompasses population and housing unit projections, population density, road mileage and condition, a description of solid waste management practices, waste tonnages and projected tonnages, and estimates of needed trucks, potential costs and solid waste savings. It also includes regulations, a description of implementation activities, sample bid packages, and sample recycling ordinances. In addition, commercial establishments and multi-unit housing projects must prepare source reduction and recycling plans. Other Program Goals Facilities to recycle used oil and compost yard waste have been established. Oil has been banned from disposal facilities and yard waste will be in the future. There also is a state/local program to collect used oil. Telephone directory publishers must recycle in The department routinely updates the list of recyclable materials. Rhode Island s recycling program also requires that the state purchase recycled paper products if the price is within 5 percent of the price of virgin paper, and requires a deposit on vehicle batteries and other hard-to-dispose materials. Enforcement Municipal ordinances must include enforcement mechanisms for recycling. Municipalities must re- quire a warning or penalty to scavengers who attempt to collect recyclable materials from the curbside without official authorization. They must guard against unacceptable or improperly prepared materials which can cause recycling problems. Municipalities may offer training programs, non-compliance tags or stickers, media attention and penalties. Because recycling is mandatory, enforcement efforts may include education programs, a letter or notice to the non-participant and, eventually, a pen a I ty. lmplementa tion Programs are designed in consultation with communities to merge with the existing solid waste collection and disposal systems (see Figure 1). Collections in urban areas are made at curbside on the same day as the weekly garbage pick-ups. Recycling containers are provided, one to a household. In rural areas, municipalities establish drop-off centers. Bottles and cans are placed in the recycling bin. White paper is bundled separately and placed next to or on top of the bin. The truck operator places the bottles and cans in one truck compartment and newspapers in another, then transports the items to the Materials Recycling Facility for further sorting and processing. Recycling trucks are designed to promote collect ion efficiency and accommodate h ig h-vol u me items such as plastic milk containers and soda bottles. Flexible truck compartments can be moved around if there are changes in the amounts or types of material collected. Each truck has easy loading, automatic unloading, a low-entry cab, and can be operated by one driver. Some trucks have automated loading arms. Public education, a vital part of each municipal program, consists of promotional and instructional brochures delivered to homes; one or more open meetings to explain the program to residents and answer their questions; media events; a mobile display for use in public buildings; public service announcements; a slide show; and a speakers bureau. The department also holds regular meetings to keep municipal recycling coordinators informed and exchange information. Commercial Recycling Although many aspects of the recycling program are the same for commercial and residential recyclers, there are some differences. In studies, the state found that businesses were paying to dispose of materials that could have been sold and recycled. Industry, commercial establishments, and large apartment complexes must segregate the materials that are recyclable in the municipal program, plus corrugated cardboard, 4 INNOVATIONS

5 Figure 1 The Household Recycling Process House hold Trash in Rhode Island State pays p re-a p p roved costs for the first 3 years of mu n ici pal recycling programs that meet state standards I I I I Mixed I I I Mixed recycl a bles b News I 1 Curbside collection or drop-off faci I i ty Everything E Ise I Cu rbside collection (municipal or privately contracted) transfer station* Hauling municipally operated or municipal i ty hires contractor State owned/private operator: NE CRINC 6 Ts news/ 8 Ts mixedlday Capital Cost: Building $1.8M Equipment $1.9M T~fd 83.7M Hauling: Municipally operated or contracted to householders or private contractor State owned andoperated landfill state subsidy until 28* *Three towns still operate their own landfill. tnnovatlons 5

6 ledger paper, wood waste, used oil, vehicle batteries, automobiles and telephone directories. Because prices in the private recycling market fluctuate, the Rhode Island Solid Waste Management Corporation has agreed to accept any of the listed materials for a payment of one-fourth of the commercial tipping fee. Loads of commercial solid waste dumped in the central landfill may contain no more than 2 percent recyclable material. A company may petition the state to add a commodity to the list of recyclables. The company must guarantee a market for the commodity and demonstrate an economical collection system. The second phase of the program requires businesses to submit detailed waste reduction and recyciing plans. In preparing these plans, each business is required to conduct a waste audit, prepare a detailed analysis of its particular solid waste streams, and propose methods for effectively reducing and recycling waste. funding for Recycling Within six years, the RJSWMC is expected to provide $3 million to municipalities in three-year grants. This funding will reimburse municipalities for reasonable additional costs in operating recycling programs. Costs are estimated by OEM prior to program implementation and funding amounts are negotiated by the municipality. The RISWMC receives its funds from tipping fees from the central landfill, fees paid by the private sector and the sale of recycled materials. It can, if necessary, acquire a subsidy; however, this has not been necessary to date. Performance Evaluation More than 25, households and 7, residents were participating in the state recycling program in Monthly participation rates have averaged more than 85 percent, and more than 14 percent of residential waste is diverted from landfills. These results have reduced local solid waste management and hauling costs. Recyclables are accepted free of charge at materials recycling facilities, so every ton disposed represents a $15 savings. After three years, however, municipalities will finance material collection and hauling on their own. The success of the commercial program has been remarkable. Not ofily has the arm" of comiwrcia1 solid waste disposed been reduced by more than 2 percent, but 8 percent of the businesses report that they have saved money or incurred no additional cost to recycle. The Rhode Island Materials Recycling Facility All of the material collected in the mandatory municipal recycling program is processed at the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Johnston, R.I. Each day, approximately 9 tons of commingled recyclables are sorted and prepared for market and approximately 12 tons of newspaper and kraft paper are sorted and bailed. The facility is owned by the RISWMC. No tipping fee is charged. Operations are funded by revenues from the sale of recyclables and a subsidy from the operating revenues of the RISWMC. Much of the material sorting is automated. Steel cans are removed by an electromagnet, and an inclined sorting conveyor separates glass from aluminum and plastic. Class is then color-sorted by hand, the most labor intensive sorting process at the plant. A shaking table and an eddy current magnet separate the aluminum from the plastic, and the plastic is then separated by hand. Aluminum cans are flattened and blown into a trailer to avoid the cost of bailing and removing bails. Plastic is either perforated and bailed before being loaded onto trailers, or granulated and stored for shipping. Steel cans are shredded and loaded directly into a trailer truck. Class is ground and stored, then loaded onto trailers by conveyor. Newspaper is bailed and stored in the MRF building before shipping. The MRF has been a success. It is currently operating above designed capacity and has produced quality recyclables for over two and one-half years without a major breakdown. The RISWMC is planning to open a second facility in late Markets for Recycled Materials Aluminum, paper and glass are marketed in New England whenever possible in order to reduce shipping costs. However, the volatile waste paper market makes it necessary to market that commodity worldwide. The markets for plastics and steel cans range from the Midwest to the South. Many products are made using the recycled materials. Paper is transformed into cardboard and newsprint; aluminum is used to make new cans and other aluminum products. Plastic is made into carpeting, fibre fill, pipes and plastic lumber. Steel is used in a variety of steel products; and glass is made into new bottles and jars. One major barrier to implementing effective, cost-eff icient recycling programs is stable markets. Sometimes it is difficult to find markets for products collected. In some cases, when stockpiles of collected items grow too large, the excess must be landfilled or incinerated, thus defeating the purpose behind collecting the waste. Many governments have sought to establish stable markets for recycled materials through laws, tax credits or other economic incentives. The oversupply of old newsprint in the Northeast is an example of poor market development. As newspaper recycling became widespread and 6 INNOVATIONS

7 easier, the supply increased dramatically, with no stable market to absorb the material. As recently as, paper brokers routinely offered $3 to $35 a ton for old newsprint. When old newsprint collection began in earnest, the existing markets could not handle the overflow and some communities were forced to pay brokers to take the material. To avoid this situation, Rhode Island s centrally managed program has worked to stabilize markets and identify new ones. The program was able to guarantee volume and quality, which ensured that markets would remain with them during difficult times. Other ways to stimulate markets include procurement mandates for governments, a tax on virgin materials, and technical assistance for the private sector to establish markets for recycled goods. Other States Several other states have established recycling programs, either voluntary or mandatory, that have been effective in reducing the amount of solid waste to be disposed within that statebee Table 5). This section will discuss briefly two of these efforts, one mandatory and one voluntary, to provide a contrast to Rhode Island s program. New Jersey New Jersey has 22 solid waste districts with dwindling landfill capacity, particularly in its highly urbanized northern districts. Over 5 percent of New Jersey s solid waste is disposed in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky. Several counties pay more than $1 per ton to manage their trash. In 1982, New Jersey started an Office of Recy- State Arkansas California Connecticut D.C. Florida Hawaii 1 llinois Indiana Iowa Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode island Tennessee Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Table 5 Comprehensive Recycling Laws Mandatory Mandated Grants Year Source Drop-off or Tax Enacted Coal Separation Collection Education loans Incentives % by 2 25% by % by % by % 5% by 2 5% by 2 25% by % by % by % by % by 25 25% by % by % by % by % by % by 1997 maximum 5% by 2 5% by % by 2 et b e* b Notes: tlowa requires separation before disposal. *Oregon law mandates the development of drop-off collection centers but not public participation. Source: Adapted from National Solid Wastes Management Association, Recycling in the States, Update 7989-Special Report, Nov. 15,. INNOVATIONS 7

8 cling, mandated by the Recycling Act of The office, funded by a landfill surcharge, provides grant money, based on recycled tonnage, as an incentive for communities to participate in the program and document their recycling efforts. New jersey s mandatory recycling law went into effect in 1987, requiring each county to develop and submit a recycling plan as part of its solid waste management plan. Following approval by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the community recycling program must recover a minimum of 15 percent of recyclable material in the first year. After one year, the minimum increases to 25 percent. At least three materials must be recycled. Typically, these materials include newspaper, aluminum cans and glass containers. As of, leaves were banned from landfills, making composting a high priority. With its 25 percent recycling goal and limited landfill capacity, New Jersey relies on waste-toenergy facilities. Several large scale projects are in the development and permitting stages. Studies in New jersey have shown that recycling and energy recovery can be compatible. Removing recyclables increases the BTU potential of the remaining solid waste, increases the efficiency of the incineration process, and reduces the amount of residual ash to be managed, a sore point in many New Jersey communities. Recycling also could cut disposal capital costs significantly, because the facilities could be sm a I le r. New jersey s mandatory recycling law funds state, county and municipal efforts through a perton facilities surcharge. The fund supports the Office of Recycling, which receives 8 percent of the total amount. Counties receive 7 percent for program grants and education activities, and municipalities receive 4 percent of the funds. The law encourages industries to purchase new recycling equipment by allowing a 5 percent tax credit. Moreover, the law s provisions help stimulate markets for recyclables, by requiring the state to buy a percentage of paper and the Department of Transportation to use recycled material in asphalt. In addition, state must use leaf compost material in maintaining public land. Municipalities responsibilities include designating a recycling coordinator, providing for collection, requiring source separation of designated recyciabies and developing recycling plans for new development. New Jersey s main obstacle has been to get 21 county solid-waste plans submitted and approved, and to obtain compliance from 567 municipalities. State recycling coordinators meet with the county recycling officer to review plans and programs, and county coordinators meet with municipal counterparts. The resulting support and information network boosted participation rates. More communities are joining the effort. Before the program was mandatory, the tonnage grants provided a strong incentive to recycle. The tonnage grant program also has paid off as more complete waste data are collected, helping the state plan ahead. In counties with mandatory recycling programs, up to 25 to 3 percent of waste is recycled. Oregon Boasting the first bottle recycling law in the country, Oregon has been in the forefront of innovative environmental protection efforts. Even before Oregon s voluntary recycling law was enacted, the citizenry routinely recycled about 9 percent of beer and soft drink containers and almost 7 percent of newspapers. The 1983 Recycling Opportunity Act was designed to make recycling easy for homes, businesses and industries. The recycling law added to an already well-developed system comprised of recycling brokers, markets, non-profit groups, recycling depots, stores collecting beverage containers and curbside collection programs. The law, implemented in 1986, gives everyone the opportunity to recycle. A recycling depot is at every landfill and transfer station. There is monthly curbside collection of source-separated materials in large communities. A public education and promotion program encourages recycling. The law s highest priority is to reduce wastes, then to reuse, recycle and recover energy, and as a last resort, to landfill. Recyclable material is defined as any material or group of materials which can be collected and sold for recycling at a net cost equal to or less than the cost of collection and disposal of the same materials. This definition allows for market fluctuations, recognizes new markets and acknowledges regional differences in access to markets. Curbside service is provided in 67 cities by garbage haulers. Public education and promotion programs range from ad campaigns to volunteer-produced informational pamphlets. Drop-off depots operate at every disposal site in the state. Local governments, recyclers, haulers and landfill operators report to the state on their communities programs. The state has provided technical assistance to local government officials aiid ;?cyclers. A generic education and promotion program was designed for adaptation by local groups. A bimonthly newsletter serves as a clearinghouse for informational and promotional material exchange. Workshops also have been held to promote the exchange of technical and educational tools. Since 1982, Oregon s recycling effort has grown from 14 to 14 cities with recycling collection service and from 27 to 13 recycling depots at disposal 8 INNOVATIONS

9 sites. Most local communities have educational programs in effect. The number of recycling dealers, non disposal-site depots, non-prof it group recycling drives, and stores redeeming cans and bottles has remained fairly constant. The new curbside programs have increased the number of new recyclers, while most citizens continue to recycle with established recycling programs. For the new curbside programs, participation rates run between 1 and 2 percent for households served by curbside pick-up. In addition to newspapers, bottles, cans and yard waste, Oregon has three tax credit programs to promote recycling. The largest credit - 5 percent - is available for the purchase of equipment to make recycled plastic products. The same credit is allowed for equipment to haul and refine used oil. Tax credits for the purchase of other equipment for recycling are worth 35 percent of cost. These costs are deducted from Oregon taxes over a five-year period. Oregon s wastepaper has proven to be a valuable substitute for its wood resources. The state s steel mills buy scrap metal, and the products of these mills are shipped throughout the world. There are ample markets for glass, aluminum, and cans. The biggest obstacle the state has had to overcome is the lack of recycling equipment. Oregon also is limited by the poor market for plastic material. Furthermore, since the trash haulers are also the recyclers, a potential conflict of interest may exist. Recycling equipment requires capital expenditures that need to be repaid through revenues. This problem is being discussed among the recycling community and will be addressed either by regulation or legislation. Transferability Rhode Island s mandatory recycling program has been in operation for four years. During this time, the state has continually tested and improved the program. Rhode Island s experiences with recycling have resulted in valuable lessons, which may be applicable to other states, counties or regions. Recycling is an effective waste management tool. Results from recycling have been predictable and reliable. In addition, recycling has had important benefits such as reduced energy use in the production of goods and preservation of landfill capac i t y. A broadbased, state-wide program that includes everyone achieves economies of scale in program design, operations, and in the processing and marketing of recyclables and reduces total program costs. Strong state or regional leadership is vital for a comprehensive effort. For example, in its municipal recycling program, cities and towns have followed a clear and easy implementation process. The state prepared the basic program design and provided technical assistance. This allowed municipalities to focus on operating their recycling collection programs. Centralized leadership also has prevented costly and confusing duplication of efforts. By providing a consistent definition of recyclables, constructing a Materials Recycling Facility, and committing to market the recyclables if no one else does, the state has built a recycling &em that is comprehensive and uncomplicated. This has minimized risk for participants and built confidence in the state s ability to operate a successful program. State leadership in providing capital and three-year operating funds to municipalities also has minimized initial uncertainty. Programs must be flexible and adaptable. Get the program running first, then adapt it to changing conditions. For example, pilot testing of Rhode Island s municipal recycling program convinced skeptics that recycling could work. Opposition from some municipalities was resolved when public works personnel reviewed a real-life program. In commercial recycling, several large corporations began pilot programs before state regulations took effect. Their solutions to common recycling problems have helped other businesses plan programs. All potentially recyclable material should be evaluated to allow for future expansion of recycling programs. Some recyclable materials cannot be retrofitted into an existing recycling program, but must be included in the initial program design. For example, plastic milk containers and soda bottles, which were included in Rhode Island s municipal pilot programs, influenced the size and design of recycling trucks. The waste stream should be examined and material eliminated that are major sources of solid waste. In Rhode Island, office paper and corrugated cardboard occupied an inordinately large part of the state s landfill. By recycling these materials, Rhode Island diverts significant amounts of waste. Recycling must be convenient. Rhode Island has made recycling easy by providing containers for recyclables, requiring only minimal separation of recyclables from solid waste and by providing curbside pick-up. Extensive public informatim and education can result in high public awareness, understanding and support. Conclusions Rhode Island has learned how to make recycling work as a solid waste management tool. The state plans to increase the list of recyclables as markets for these recyclables are identified and secured. INNOVATIONS 9

10 Some of these new materials include corrugated cardboard, plastic film and rigid plastic bottles. The state s draft solid waste plan recommends a recycling goal of 4 percent, based on the findings of a composition analysis that as much as 5 percent of waste consists of potentially recyclable material. Based on Rhode Island s performance and the performance of other states, these rates can be achieved (See Table 6). In addition, the state regulates the use of the recycling emblem. Table 6 Recycling Rates Above the National Average Washington Oregon New Jersey Minnesota Colorado Rhode Island California Vermont New York Nebraska Virginia Source: BioCycle, p. 49, March percent 22 percent 18 percent 15 percent 14 percent 13 percent 12 percent 12 percent 1 percent 8-1 percent 8-12 percent recycling, source reduction and solid waste management, and the state is willing to share the lessons learned with other communities. Acknowledgements The author is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Eastern Office of the Council of State Governments. Many individuals helped write, edit and review this report. In Rhode Island, the author would like to thank lanet Keller and Mara Cherkasky in the state s Department of Environmental Management, who provided information on the program and patiently reviewed and edited drafts of the report. In the Eastern Office, Alan Sokolow, Wendell Hannaford, and Theresa Raphael contributed helpful insights and Wanda Hines and Angela Lee provided invaluable logistical and office support. Ann Savage helped write and edit, and Liz Hiraldo worked many hours to design the charts and graphs. At CSG Headquarters Keon Chi and Elaine Knapp gave helpful editorial advice. For more information on Rhode Island s Comprehensive Mandatory Recycling Program, contact the author at the Eastern Regional Conference of the Council of State Governments, 5 World Trade Center, Suite 9241, New York, NY 148, (212) Copyright The Council of State Governments. Rhode Island s comprehensive program has come a long way in showing what can be done in NEW PUBLICATION Market Potential for Office Wastepaper in the Northeast In cooperation with The Council of State Governments Eastern Regional Conference, The Northeast Recycling Council presents an extensive report on office wastepaper recycling programs in the Northeast. To Order Write: Order Department The Council of State Governments Iron Works Pike P.O. Box 1191 Lexington, KY Fax: (66) Call Toll Free: The publication explores a variety of options to improve collection and processing of wastepaper to keep the supply and demand in balance. Sections also discuss definitions, current processing technology and the outlook for recycled wastepaper for the year p $25 each? Order #: C *State officials receive a 3% discount on CSG publications. 1 INNOVATIONS

11 Model Guidelines for Resource Guide to Summary of State Regional Wastewater State Medical Waste State Environmental Responses: Treatment Systems: Management Management Environmental Permitting A National Survey of Procedures and Issues State Problems and A ready-reference tool to A wealth of facts on state supplement all areas of environmental, health and A summary of eight Solutions medical waste management, resource departments, waste characterization, as well as special states environmental permitting programs Explores state efforts to control water pollution generation, transportation commissions and boards. and treatment, destruction State environmental/ for federally delegated programs. Includes caused by inadequate wastewater treatment and disposal. natural resource budgets information about forms, systems. Includes research, Approx. 4p $1. Order # C and a detailed directory flow charts, information case studies, a survey of of more than 75 programs management, permit 59 state water-health also are included. reviewer training, outreach, agencies and an analysis 24p $4. average review time and of efforts to combine Order # C number of reviewers. Also, small wastewater salaries and qualifications treatment systems into Electronic format also of reviewers, interagency regional publicly owned available - call (66) 231- permit review coordination, treatment systems. 185 for more information. contracting of permit 66p $2. Order # C review, oversight commissions and internal efficiency studies. Approx. 2p $4. Order # C To order: Call Write Order Department The Council of State Governments P.O. Box 1191 Lexington, KY Fax (66) INNOVATIONS 11

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