Building a Greener New Jersey

"Green" building, once an unfamiliar concept, has become widely recognized as an environmental and economic building strategy that makes sense. Among other things, "green" building techniques promote the use of recycled building products and furnishings, energy efficiency, the use of renewable sources of energy such as solar energy and other sustainable design features. Companies can greatly enhance their public image by embracing environmentally responsible design and construction when building or renovating headquarters, offices or other facilities.

In order to advance this message, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Commerce & Economic Growth Commission, Office of Sustainable Business, in conjunction with the Cook College Office of Continuing Professional Education, will host the Building a Greener New Jersey: Use of Recycled Products, Renewable Energy and Sustainable Design Features in "Green" Building Conference and Trade Show on October 4, 2000 at the Holiday Inn in Jamesburg, New Jersey.

For more information, contact Steven Rinaldi of the NJDEP at 609-984-3438 or Carol Broccoli of Cook College at 732-932-9271.

Second Life for Bottle Caps

Hag Inc. of Norway has developed an ergonomically sound office chair that is made from recycled bottle caps. Hag Scio chairs are made from recycled polypropylene bottle caps that have been separated from returned bottles at soft drink plants. According to the company’s Environmental Manager, the recycled materials have been found to be equal - and in some respects, even better - in quality than the non-recycled materials that would otherwise be utilized. Approximately 100 tons of bottle caps per year can be recycled into 50,000 Hag Scio chairs. For further information, visit the company website at www.haginc.com and follow the "Body & Soul" link.

Did You Know…

• Officials from the King County (State of Washington) Metro Transit system recently announced that its Metro bus fleet, which is comprised of 1,100 buses that travel more than 35 million miles per year, is now using solely rerefined motor oil.
• The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection purchased recycled plastic benches for the courtyard located at its headquarters in Trenton. The benches were made by Polywood, Inc. of Edison, New Jersey. The benches are made from post-consumer high density polyethylene containers, such as milk containers. For further information, contact the company at 800-915-0043.
• Photikon Corporation of Fairport, New York remanufactures products for laser printers including photoreceptor belts, developers, photoconductors, fusers and cleaning units by taking the original core units and refitting them with new materials. All products are tested prior to sale and are guaranteed. For further information, contact Photikon Corporation at 716-421-0540 or visit the company’s website at www.photikon.com.
• Federal Express is converting its FedEx envelopes to 100% recycled paperboard. The envelopes will have an increased post-consumer recycled content of 35%!
• Green Glass USA L.L.C. of Stratford, Wisconsin recycles glass bottles by cutting whole bottles in half and inverting them to create unique drinking glasses. The patented process, which uses 100% of the bottle, was developed in South Africa. For further information, visit the company’s website at www.greenglassusa.com.

BRBA Wraps Up Message

The Buy Recycled message has been promoted on a series of "cover wraps" on the Harvard Business Review this past year. This program, which was initiated by the national Buy Recycled Business Alliance (BRBA), is designed to reach and influence the Fortune 1000 CEOs and other opinion leaders throughout the United States.

NJBRBN News

• The New Jersey Buy Recycled Business Network membership recruitment mailing will be finalized this summer. Unless already a member of the Network, the CEOs/Presidents of New Jersey’s 100 largest companies will be receiving a letter from NJDEP Commissioner Robert C. Shinn, Jr. asking that their companies support the Buy Recycled cause by joining the Network. Those companies that are already members of the Network will receive a letter of thanks from the Commissioner.
• The Network will be awarding a Buy Recycled Award(s) at this year’s Recycling Symposium on October 18, 2000. A Buy Recycled Award category has been included on the annual Recycling Awards nominating form distributed by the Association of New Jersey Recyclers (ANJR). The nominating form is available on the ANJR website found at www.anjr.com. Nominations are due to ANJR by August 28, 2000.
• Please welcome the following companies as new members of the New Jersey Buy Recycled Business Network:
  
  Huang Family Inc., Cherry Hill – Contact Chi-Hsiang Huang, 856-874-4065
  
  Innovative Waste Solutions, Paramus - Contact Adam Anschel, 888-854-2228

Buy Recycled Fact Sheets Available

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has updated its Buy Recycled Fact Sheets with 18 additional items and new case studies for all of the Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (CPG) product categories. While the CPG applies directly to Federal agencies, it also applies to state and local government agencies and contractors using appropriated Federal funds. The fact sheets are available at http://www.epa.gov/cpg/factshts.htm and should be available free of charge in hard copy within several months. To order free copies contact EPA’s RCRA Hotline at 1-800-424-9346. The document numbers are EPA530-F-00-09 through 16.

Scrap Tires Underfoot

Rubbercycle, Inc. of Lakewood, New Jersey produces a number of innovative products made from scrap tires. Through the use of various types of processing equipment, Rubbercycle has developed "Playsafer", a playground safety surface, "Surefoot" equestrian arena protective footing and "Grassroots", a special soil amendment designed for placement under compacted turf. Rubbercyle, Inc. is a NJDEP approved recycling center. For further information, visit the company’s website at www.rubberecycle.com or call 732-363-0600.

Sustainable Business Report Highlights Recycled Products

The New Jersey Commerce & Economic Growth Commission, Office of Sustainable Business recently released a report on sustainable business actions in New Jersey called "Greening the Garden State." The report identifies and showcases more than 300 companies that are taking sustainable actions in New Jersey’s energy, manufacturing, agricultural and chemical sectors.

Recycled and remanufactured products are featured in the "Re-Made in New Jersey" section of the report, as are products sold for reuse. Over 120 New Jersey operations involved in the manufacture or distribution of such products are highlighted in the report. Several members of the New Jersey Buy Recycled Business Network are featured in "Greening the Garden State." They are as follows: Babek Commercial Tire Service, For the Future, Garden State Paper Company, Inc., Homasote Company, Marcal Paper Mills, Inc., MBP Technologies, Inc., Pro Auto Recyclers, Rainbow Eco Specialties and T.M. Fitzgerald & Associates. For a copy of the report, call the Office of Sustainable Business at 609-777-0885.

New Jersey Buy Recycled Business Network

Joseph Verga, Bell Atlantic – Co-Chair
973-266-9033

Steven Rinaldi, NJDEP, Bureau of Recycling and Planning – Co-Chair,
609-984-3438

Editor: Steven Rinaldi
New Jersey Buy Recycled Business Network
Joseph Verga, Bell Atlantic – Co-Chair
973-266-9033

Steven Rinaldi, NJDEP, Bureau of Recycling and Planning – Co-Chair,
09-984-3438

Editor: Steven Rinaldi