November 15, 2007
Ask EPA is an online interactive forum where you can discuss a wide range of environmental and human health issues with EPA's senior officials.
Today's Session
Susan Bodine, Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response discussed recycling and America Recycles Day.
Susan Bodine: Welcome, everyone, to this session of "Ask EPA." Today is America Recycles Day, and EPA is joining with President Bush and the National Recycling Coalition to encourage all Americans to recycle everything they can, whenever they can, whether at home or at work, because recycling protects the environment, saves energy, reduces greenhouse gases, and conserves natural resources. Were doing a better job recycling these days our national recycling rate is up from 16 percent in 1990 to 32.5 percent in 2006. But we can do even better!
So today I'm going to answer questions about recycling. If you want to learn more about America Recycles Day and recycling in general, please visit EPA's Reduce, Reuse and Recycle page, www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/reduce.htm and www.americarecyclesday.org 
From: George
In: Waldorf, Maryland
Question: Hi, how are you? Thank you for your time today. I was coming to this site, wondering what is the mission of the EPA. Do you think that you could tell me that?
Susan Bodine: Thank you for starting our discussion. The mission of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people. To implement this mission, EPA has developed a Strategic Plan, which can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/ocfo/plan/plan.htm . In addition, EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson has issued an Action Plan to help the Agency accelerate the pace of environmental protection while maintaining our nation's economic competitiveness. One part of the Administrator's Action Plan is particularly relevant to America Recycle's Day. The Administrator's Action Plan charges EPA to "Promote stewardship through increased resource conservation, including waste minimization and recycling." The complete Action Plan can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/adminweb/administrator/actionplan.htm
From: Cherry
In: Libby, Montana
Question: I'm in the 6th grade. My cub scout troop is supposed to do more recycling and try new ideas with our families. What do we do next?
Susan Bodine: I'm really glad to see kids your age take an interest in doing more for our environment. Starting a recycling program is actually pretty easy. Your first step should be to get in touch with the proper authorities in your area to find out what kinds of wastes can be recycled in your area. The web site, Recycle Montana should be a good start: http://www.recyclemontana.org/
Most communities have recycling coordinators—government officials who have information on local recycling resources. Look in your phone book under "recycling coordinators" or contact your local Department of Public Works or Department of Sanitation. You also can visit EPA's Office of Solid Waste Concerned Citizen page and EPA's WasteWise Web site to find information and resources to help you start, maintain, or expand a recycling program in your cub scout troop or school.
It's important for all of us to discover creative ways at home and at school to conserve natural resources and save energy by reducing, reusing, and recycling materials. Our Make a Difference campaign is designed for kids like you, and has many useful ideas. Please go to our website at: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/mad.htm We'll be happy to provide free materials to your troop if your leader contacts us at: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/publicat.htm
From: Wade
In: Cliffside, NC
Question: I am searching for recycle bins that look like coke bottles and cans. I have searched the web and can not seem to find what I am looking for. Please help.
Susan Bodine: EPA is familiar with the American Beverage Association's Recycle It Now Campaign and the bottle shapes container they have for sale are on their web site: http://www.recycleitnow.net/
The American Beverage Association's Recycle It Now campaign is an example of a unique public-private partnership, which provides state and local government officials with turnkey tools that can be used to promote recycling at the community level. One of the tools of Recycle It Now is the specially designed bottle-shaped collection container that provides the perfect opportunity for beverage container recycling at stadiums, schools and universities, outdoor special events, and any other venues where beverage containers are consumed on the go.
Campaigns in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus and San Antonio have used these tools with great successes and recycling officials across the country are adopting elements of this campaign in their communities.
From: Dave
In: Falls Church, VA
Question: What are your ideas on ways to get more recyclables recycled, how to get more simple curbside recycling services provided and how to increase the portion of the population that participates?
Susan Bodine: It takes people like you to get recycling going in your community. I encourage you to get involved with recycling in your community. Please see my response to Cherry regarding how to do this.
EPA encourages recycling by helping communities and businesses through a variety of programs and initiatives. For example, EPA helps communities and businesses identify markets for secondary materials, understand the economics of recycling, develop waste reduction strategies, and measure recycling rates. Additional information on EPA municipal solid waste programs can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/msw/programs.htm
From: Susie
In: Paterson, NJ
Question: I'm doing some research for my ecology class, I wanted to know where does the issue of recycling stand today?
Susan Bodine: Recycling is really taking off as Americans are shifting into a green culture. In 1990, Americans recycled only 16% of our municipal solid waste. As of 2006, Americans are recycling over 32%. There are tremendous benefits to recycling. For example, recycling saves energy, avoids greenhouse gas emissions and conserves natural resources and prevents loss of valuable materials
It is one way everyone can participate in an environmentally sustainable future—with a goal of managing materials or commodities, not waste
- Recycling just one ton of paper saves 400 gallons of oil.
- Recycling just one can saves enough electricity to run a TV for 3 hours.
- Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours.
When less energy is needed, fewer fossil fuels are burned and less carbon dioxide, mercury and other pollutants are emitted to the atmosphere to eventually settle into our soil and water. For further information go to www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/reduce.htm
From: kenny
In: new york
Question: what are you doing to help the environment? Have you stopped using products and hurting the environment or are you just promoting us to do so?
Susan Bodine: EPA is not only "talking the talk," we are "walking the walk." To ensure that EPA's buildings and practices reflect our mission, the Agency continuously works to reduce the environmental impact of its facilities and operations, from building new, environmentally sustainable structures to green procurement, sustainable transportation, to improving the energy efficiency of our sites. For example:
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We purchase renewable energy, or "green power," equivalent to 100% of the power we use.
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EPA requires all newly constructed buildings to achieve the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Standard for green buildings. EPA already has eight buildings that have received the Silver or Gold certification.
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EPA is increasing its use of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), which reduce harmful emissions and increase fuel efficiency. Already, more than 402 of the 1,166 vehicles in the Agency's national fleet are AFVs or other advanced technology vehicles ( i.e., hybrid-electrics, hydrogen).
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EPA's Federal Triangle Headquarters Complex project in Washington, DC, is incorporating strategies to demonstrate management of urban stormwater. By retrofitting these facilities to incorporate low impact development (LID) strategies, EPA hopes to demonstrate reduction of the peak volume and pollutant load of its stormwater runoff and serve as a model for future LID projects in the DC metropolitan area and nationwide. In addition, EPA is using this project to demonstrate that sustainable design and LID can be utilized in high profile, urban sites that must pass through rigorous aesthetic design reviews.
You can learn more about Greening EPA at our web site: http://www.epa.gov/greeningepa
From: Katie
In: Indianapolis IN
Question: How does America think that recycling is not a requirement? We live here right so we need to take care of it.
Susan Bodine: Katie, I agree with you that we need to take care of our environment and one easy way we can do so is by recycling our garbage. We at EPA are working with State, local and industry partners to help make recycling become a second nature habit, just like throwing garbage in a trash can. However, recycling and waste management are local issues and each community must design a program that makes sense in that area of the country . In some areas, there are not enough discarded bottles, cans and newspapers or the recycling markets are not close enough to make recycling an economically feasible option.
State governments usually assess local conditions and set appropriate recycling mandates. Your city, Indianapolis is promoting recycling through its web site at: http://www.kibi.org/recycle/recycle_faq.htm
From: Lopa
In: Brownsville, TX
Question: I am currently working on an auto shredder project and looking for guidance on the follwing:
1. Disposal requirements for ASR (auto shredder residue/fluff) as per EPA guidelines
2. Options for mercury switches?
3. Other EPA regs and processes that should be in place for an auto shredder.
Susan Bodine: Lopa, auto shredder residue (ASR) is not a listed hazardous waste. This means that the generator of the ASR has to use his or her knowledge of the waste or conduct analytical tests to determine if the ASR would exhibit the characteristic of a hazardous waste ( e.g., toxicity, ignitability).
If the ASR exhibits a characteristic of a hazardous waste, it would have to be managed consistent with federal and state hazardous waste regulations.
If it does not exhibit a characteristic of a hazardous waste, it must be managed consistent with state non-hazardous waste regulations that would be applicable to auto shredder fluff.
In August 2006, EPA formed a partnership with industry and environmental organizations to assure a safe recycling system for mercury auto switches. In the first year of this partnership, more than 635,000 switches have already been removed from end-of-life vehicles. Collectively, those switches represent 1,400 pounds of mercury – more than the average coal-fired power plant emits in a year. Additional information on recycling of mercury auto switches is available at: http://www.elvsolutions.org . If you participate in the program, you will likely be eligible for an incentive of $1 per mercury switch plus free shipping.
For ideas on how to best address environmental issues for auto shredders, an easy source of information is the Automobile Recyclers Association (http://www.a-r-a.org/ ). In particular, you should look at that organization's CAR program which establishes environmental standards for its members. EPA is partnering with ARA to recognize the achievements of its CAR members in eliminating mercury releases to the environment. Similar guidance also is available from the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (isri.org ) in its RIOS program. Both websites provide a good source of information for businesses like yours.
From: Chicory
In: Berkeley, CA
Question: Thank you for answering questions here today. The nonprofit organization I work with is developing an action program for middle and high school students that encourages them to improve recycling on campus as a way to slow climate change (by reducing carbon dioxide emissions). I was wondering where I might find the most current data on carbon dioxide emissions savings associated with recycling, either mixed recycling, or by material.
Susan Bodine: Its good to hear that you are working with students. Please let them know that as of 2006, Americans recycled over 32% of their municipal solid waste (82 million tons). This provides an annual benefit of 49.7 million metric tons of carbon equivalent emissions reduced, comparable to the annual emissions of 39.4 million cars. EPA developed greenhouse gas emissions reduction factors through a life-cycle assessment methodology. For more information about climate benefits related to recycling, please see: www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/
For information on recycling on campus, please see the web site for RecycleMania:
www.recyclemaniacs.org
From: Stephanie
In: Baltimore, MD
Question: As CFL usage becomes more prevalent and popular, the need for properly disposing these bulbs increases. Will EPA look to push waste management companies and counties to establish CFL recycling in the near future? How can residents look to assist in this effort?
Susan Bodine: We agree that CFLs need to be properly disposed and recommend that consumers take advantage of local recycling options for compact fluorescent lamps. EPA is working with lamp manufacturers and major US retailers, as well as our federal partners and the states to expand recycling and disposal options to more consumers. Consumers can contact their state or local household hazardous waste authority directly, or go to this web site to identify local recycling options: www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling
From: Virginia
In: Conley, Georgia
Question: First of all, I'd like to say that I truly believe in recyling.
My question is: Why is there such a small effort to separate and make useful of all recyleable items?
In the state of Georgia, there are a handful of cities (not county-wide) who pick-up separated items and deliver them to be recycled.
Even when participants make the effort (separate items) the county picks-up all the items as trash.
Why is this? (Just like water, I guess we are just waiting until it is completely necessary.)
Susan Bodine: Recycling is very important and generates a host of environmental, financial, and social benefits. Waste prevention and recycling are real ways to address climate change. The success and viability of recycling depends on a community's resources and infrastructure. Communities consider the costs of a recycling program, as well as the availability of markets for its recovered materials. EPA is working on tools to help local governments improve the economic profile of recycling and offer recycling opportunities. I encourage you to get involved with your local government.
For more local information check out:
http://www.recyclegeorgia.net/
http://www.georgiarecycles.org/
http://www.dca.state.ga.us/development/EnvironmentalManagement/programs/recycling.asp
Susan Bodine: Thanks to all of you who sent in questions, and I wish I could have answered every one. For those of you whose questions I didn't answer, I encourage you to visit the EPA Website. It's a great source of information: www.epa.gov . For questions about how to handle specific wastes, please contact your EPA Regional Office. You can find contact information for all ten EPA Regional Offices at: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/locate2.htm . I hope you've learned more how to recycle, and why, because every one of us has to get involved if we're going to take full advantage of all the benefits of recycling.
Please join us December 5th when Assistant Administrator Granta Nakayama discusses how EPA is encouraging environmental stewardship and holding polluters accountable to deliver a cleaner, healthier America.
Let's make today the beginning of a new national commitment to recycling, and the beginning of a new personal commitment, too. Make every day America Recycles Day!