Volume 13, Issue 2  •  Spring 2005

Join MRC for Our First Ever Joint Conference with SWANA's Mid-Atlantic Chapter

The first-ever joint conference, with MRC and SWANA’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter will be held Wednesday, June 8 and Thursday, June 9 at the The Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus, in Catonsville, Maryland. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to learn and train about important issues in today’s recycling and waste management field, as well as network with other professionals in the industry. DETAILS

Enter to Win an MRC Award

Does your organization show outstanding leadership in recycling and/or waste prevention? Has your program shown extraordinary achievement in contributing to recycling in Maryland? Can you think of a person who should be considered for a Recycler of the Year award?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to apply for one of MRC's Recycling Awards! DETAILS

MRC Legislative Update

MRC submitted testimony for and supported two bills that passed in Maryland’s 2005 legislative session. DETAILS

Have You Heard? We're Having a Silent Auction

Don’t miss the silent auction at this year’s joint MRC-SWANA conference.  Items up for bid in past years included original art, hand-thrown pottery, various tickets to sporting events and/or concerts, recycled glass dishware, restaurant gift cards, vouchers for local bed & breakfast places, and more.  Bids for items and services will be taken throughout the conference.

If you’d like to make a much-appreciated donation, please call Kim Reichart, at 410-313-6442.  The more donations we receive, the more money MRC will raise, and the better the auction will be!

SWANA, ISWA Partner with Worldbank to Offer Tsunami Relief

Since the tsunami disaster occurred in southeast Asia in January of 2005, The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) have worked to arrange a partnership with the World Bank to offer technical assistance in waste management towards the efforts to assess, clean up, and restore affected areas in the region. DETAILS

Maryland Doubles Its Waste Diversion Rate in the Past Decade

Between 1993 and 2004, Maryland consumers, businesses, and government more than doubled the state’s waste diversion rate.  The rate improved from a 19 percent (composed entirely of recycling) to over 39 percent, while at the same time almost tripling the tonnage of recycled materials from 900,000 tons to approximately 2.6 million tons.  Thanks to these improvements, Maryland is closing in on its voluntary 40 percent waste diversion goal a year ahead of schedule. 

An important part of Maryland’s stellar performance has been the success of source reduction efforts, which account for up to five percent of the 40 percent waste diversion goal.  The source reduction credit was created by Maryland’s General Assembly in 2002 to encourage counties to foster good recycling practices and waste reduction at the source.  Maryland is one of only three states that give credit for source reduction activities. 

Source: WasteWatch, Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority’s newsletter, Winter 2005 Issue

Hollywood, Florida will be Test Site for Restoring Beaches with Recycled Glass

"Wait, you want to substitute our beach sand with recycled glass?" is what some Broward County, Florida residents could be asking.  And yes, that is the idea.  Phil Bresee, former MRC President and current Recycling Program Manager for Broward County, is helping to make the test project a reality. DETAILS

Upcoming Recycling Events in Maryland

Saturday, May 21

Baltimore County Truckload Compost Bin Sale

$29 plus tax

Three Sites:

White Marsh (IKEA parking lot)

Hunt Valley (Oregon Ridge parking lot)

Catonsville (40 West Plaza parking lot)

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

More Information: 410-887-2000

Saturday, May 28

Charles County Earth Machine Subsidized Compost Bin Sale

$22 plus tax

Site to be Determined

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More Information: 301-932-3599

If you would like your recycling event to be included in the next issue of The Voice, please email Laura Greaver at lgreaver@co.ba.md.us.