Winter 2007

St. Bernard Soap Company Makes the Most of Recycling

It seemed like a good idea, the right thing to do.  But it wasn’t until they put pencil to paper and started crunching numbers that they realized it was good business.  St. Bernard Soap Company, a subsidiary of Trillium Health Care Products and the largest U.S. contract producer of bar soap, reduced the amount of process soap they send to the landfill by 93 percent in a 12-month period.

“It took really looking at the numbers,” said Jeff Luehrmann, Environmental Leader of St. Bernard Soap.  “Quantifying the tons and the dollars involved and communicating those figures within the organization, led us to understand that it was well worth the effort to make some materials handling and process changes that would significantly reduce costs on several fronts.”

St. Bernard Soap Company has been a regular participant in the Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District’s (District) annual industrial solid waste survey during which industries report the amount and type of solid waste recycled in that year.  It was in completing the District survey that Luehrmann noticed that, besides all the tons of cardboard, wooden pallets, drums, and other usual materials they recycle, most of what the company disposed of was soap.  The engineers began to look at the various production lines within the plant to assess what changes, if any, they could make to reduce the amount of soap material leaving the plant.  They determined that by implementing some modest modifications in the process lines, they could reuse materials rather than put them into the waste stream. 

This application of pollution prevention (P2) engineering has taken the form of three material conservation processes that apply to different product lines.  Through the “rework,” “remelt,” and “reblend” processes, St. Bernard Soap Company was able to recycle more than 3,500 tons of soap in 2006.  The “reboil” project, a fourth process which will recycle another four tons of soap a day, is under construction and scheduled to come on line in early 2008. 

St. Bernard Soap Company’s management saw that getting all the soap material back into the system saved everyone money.  This was so important that they created quarterly goals for the “rework” and “remelt” process that tied into an employee bonus program. 

The company has reduced significantly the amount of soap material they send to the landfill, an important step in minimizing environmental impact and a measurable goal for the District.  Moreover, they have slashed their material staging and handling costs – good news for any operation.  But better still is the fact that they have essentially turned what was once lost product into raw material, thereby reducing the need to purchase new feedstock for their product lines. All this adds up to significant cost savings which they are able to pass onto their customers. 

The District named St. Bernard Soap Company as the recipient of the Industrial Recycling Award for 2007 for recycling the most material.  Their integrated approach to addressing solid waste reduction using P2 engineering approaches, cost-benefit analysis, employee incentive programs, and customer buy-in has proven to be extremely successful for all involved.   

If you would like more information about St. Bernard Soap Company's pollution prevention efforts, contact Jeff Luehrmann at (513) 242-2227 ext. 3124.

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Annual Recycling Awards Presented

The Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District (District) hosted the annual recycling awards luncheon on America Recycles Day, Thursday, November 15, 2007, at the Mill Race Lodge in Winton Woods. Created in 2005, the Recycling Awards acknowledge outstanding recycling achievements by businesses, individuals, schools and communities in Hamilton County.

Below are the businesses recognized at the 2007 Recycling Awards Luncheon for their achievements in recycling:

John Van Volkenburgh Award for Recycling Innovation — This is the highest achievement award presented by the District. This award is in honor and memory of John Van Volkenburgh, a dedicated solid waste professional and outstanding individual who touched the lives of everyone who knew him. This year’s recipient of this prestigious award was Perry & Derrick, which manufactures recycled-content latex paint from paint collected at local and regional hazardous waste collection programs. This company was recognized because it enhances the Hamilton County community through recycling innovation.

Industrial Recycling Award — This award was presented to St. Bernard Soap Company for their commitment to waste reduction and for recycling the most materials this year. St. Bernard Soap Company is the largest bar soap contract manufacturing facility in the world. This facility is a 7-day a week continuous operation that produces personal and bath size soap bars. In 2006, St. Bernard Soap Company recycled over 4,700 tons of material.  In addition, St. Bernard Soap Company developed many waste reduction initiatives, one of which resulted in a 93 percent reduction in soap disposed in landfills.

The Recycling at Work Program of the Year Award—This award was presented to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center because of its implementation and maintenance of a comprehensive recycling program. Early in 2007, the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Go Green Team successfully implemented a hospital-wide recycling program incorporating dozens of departments in multiple buildings and over 9,000 employees. The Go Green Team partnered with Cincinnati Children’s Environmental Services Department to establish recycling pick up and placement of permanent recycling containers, not only in the office areas and break rooms, but also in public throughways and in the cafeteria.

The Interchange Business of the Year Award—This award is given to a business or organization with the most reported tonnage exchanged through The Interchange. Located in Harrison, Crown Plastics is the world leader in the manufacturing of thin gauge UHMW polyethylene. In 2006, Crown Plastics exchanged 156 tons of plastic through The Interchange.  

For more information about the 2007 Recycling Awards Luncheon, please call 946-7734 or visit www.hamiltoncountyrecycles.org to view pictures from the ceremony.

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It Just Keeps Coming!

Cardboard Handling is a Big Issue for Most Businesses

Anytime the FedEx, UPS, or DHL truck shows up, you can bet your company ends up with more cardboard boxes to deal with.  In fact, besides office paper, cardboard is the largest component of many businesses’ waste streams.  Getting cardboard out of the dumpster and over to a recycler not only is good for the environment, it can also save you money.  Cardboard is readily recyclable and there are numerous options for service in our area.

Check out the list below to find recyclers that provide recycling pick-up services or allow you to drop off your cardboard at their locations. Be sure to review your current waste and recycling contract before contracting with another recycler. 

Companies that collect cardboard from all over Greater Cincinnati:

CSI collects loose or baled cardboard from your site. Compensation depends on quality, market, and contractual services. They provide different sized containers including trailers. (11563 Mosteller Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45241 (513) 771-4200) www.republicservices.com

Omaha Paper compensates for cardboard contingent on quantity and market value. (5636 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45216 (513) 641-5002) www.omahapaperstock.com

Recovered Resources conducts waste audits and offers a variety of container services. (4 Triangle Park Drive, Ste. 402, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246 (513) 772-7788)

Recycling Group Ltd. provides general or specialized containers and picks up cardboard. (630 Shepherd Lane, Cincinnati, Ohio 45215 (513) 769-9609) www.recyclinggroup.net

Rumpke Recycling offers an onsite container and baler/compactor service. They pay for loose and baled cardboard depending on volume and accept drop-off from a large panel truck. (5535 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217 (513) 242-4401) www.rumpkerecycling.com

Recyclers with drop-offs centrally located:

Cincinnati Paperboard compensates for baled cardboard depending on quantity and market value. (5362 Wooster Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226 (513) 871-0982) www.caraustar.com

Donco Paper Supply accepts cardboard at a minimum quantity of one truckload and compensates depending on quantity and market value. (2100 Losantiville Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45237 (513) 731-0208) www.doncopaper.com

Metro Recycling accepts cardboard and sometimes provides transportation services. (2424 Beekman Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45214 (513) 251-1800) www.metrorecyclinginc.com

Recyclers with drop-offs located in the northern region:

3R Recycling accepts baled cardboard and provides transportation services and compensation contingent on quantity and market value. (2040 E. Kemper Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45241 (513) 771-4002) www.3rrecycling.com

Hamilton Scrap Processors accepts cardboard and provides transportation services contingent on quantity and market value. (134 Hensel Place, Hamilton, Ohio 45012 (513) 863-3474) www.hamiltonscrap.com

Hanna Paper provides transportation services and compensates for cardboard contingent on quantity and market value. (4287 Dues Drive, West Chester, Ohio 45246 (513) 860-5060) www.hannapaper.com

Wausau Paper accepts cardboard in a container at 700 Columbia Avenue, in Middletown. (700 Columbia Avenue, Middletown, Ohio 45042 (513) 424-2999) www.baywestpaper.com/

Recyclers with drop-offs located in the eastern and southern regions:

Adams Brown Recycling accepts cardboard and provides transportation services and compensation contingent on quantity and market value. (9620 Mt. Orab Pike, Georgetown, Ohio 45121 (937) 378-3431)

Temple-Inland accepts baled cardboard and provides transportation services for large quantities. Compensation depends on quantity and market value. (1241 W. 2nd Street, Maysville, Kentucky 41056 (606) 564-0063) www.templeinland.com

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Recycling at Work: Easier than Ever!

The Hamilton County Solid Waste District offers free assistance to companies that would like to implement recycling in their offices. If you have always thought about exploring recycling on the administrative side of your company, consider taking advantage of the District’s Recycling at Work program.

With Recycling at Work, the District will assist you in developing a program expressly suited to your company’s needs. The District provides as many desk-side containers as you need and education about recycling for your employees.

Recycling is easier than ever now!

You can recycle all of the following:
Office paper
Copy paper
Junk mail
Magazines
Newspapers
Telephone books
Envelopes
Cardboard

If you are interested in taking advantage of the Recycling at Work program services, call the Recycling Hotline at (513) 946-7766.

Why should you recycle at work?

The average office worker generates between 120 and 150 pounds of recyclable paper each year. A building with 300 people could recycle more than 18 tons of paper a year.

Recycling 18 tons of paper saves:

• 306 trees
• 36 barrels of oil (enough to run the average car for 22,680 miles)
• 73,800 kilowatts of energy (enough to power 9 average homes for a year)
• 57.6 cubic yards of landfill space
• 1,080 pounds of air pollution

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Take the Challenge

Is your company interested in becoming more “green” by starting a new environmental initiative? Consider taking the Go Green Challenge. You will have access to a network of environmental professionals who can offer expert advice on topics ranging from solid waste to energy efficiency. Your company will also receive free publicity spotlighting your environmental initiatives and public recognition on Earth Day 2008.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital, the Christ Hospital, the University of Cincinnati, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, and the Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District (District) have partnered together to create the Go Green Challenge. These organizations are leading by example by initiating major environmental projects, such as facility-wide recycling or constructing LEED-certified green buildings.  The goal of the challenge is to encourage organizations – large and small, for-profit and not-for-profit – to reduce their environmental impact by instituting whatever policies and practices make the most sense for their operations.

To get started, develop at least one environmental goal, with objectives, for your organization.  Adopt the Go Green Pledge and send the registration form to the District.  You will receive a Go Green Pledge certificate, which is suitable for framing, to display so that your employees, visitors, and customers are aware of the serious commitment your organization has made to this important effort.  The results of the Go Green Challenge will be publicly announced on Earth Day 2008 and all participating businesses and organizations will be recognized.

Simply visit www.hamiltoncountyrecycles.org/gogreen and fill out the one-page form. Your company will set your own Go Green goal which can be anything from starting office recycling, installing an energy-efficient boiler, using compact fluorescent light bulbs, or instituting an environmentally preferred purchasing plan. If you have questions or would like additional information, visit the website or call Catherine Walsh, Program Specialist, at (513) 946-7732.

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Pollution Prevention Internship Available to Industries
in Hamilton and Butler Counties

The Southwest Ohio Pollution Prevention Internship Program, a collaboration between Hamilton and Butler County Solid Waste Management Districts and TechSolve, recently was awarded a grant from USEPA Region 5 to expand the Pollution Prevention (P2) Internship Program.  Through this program, upper-level college students are placed with local industries to implement pollution prevention strategies.  The P2 internship program is designed to provide businesses with fresh and innovative perspectives on pollution prevention, save them money, and encourage technically skilled students to stay in Ohio. 

Interested businesses should submit P2 project proposals no later than February 8, 2008.  Qualified projects will be selected for staffing by the end of February 2008.  Student candidates will be recruited and interviewed for these positions in the spring; final intern selection will be done in partnership with the host businesses. The Hamilton and Butler County Solid Waste Management Districts will fund 75 percent of the intern’s salary and the host business will fund 25 percent.  The interns will be employed by Hamilton or Butler County and work at the business as a contractor for a 12-week period, which begins in May or June 2008.  Prior to beginning the internship, the interns will participate in week-long pollution prevention training program.  TechSolve will provide technical training and mentoring for the interns throughout the 12-week program.

If your company is interested in participating in this program, please contact the appropriate county to receive an application:

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Fall 2007

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Goes Green

Eddie Leonard had a tall task ahead of him. How do you work up through multiple layers of administration and receive the needed support to initiate a hospital-wide recycling program? And then, how do you generate interest in recycling among a staff of over 9,000 employees in dozens of different departments? Here’s Eddie’s answer.

Create Partnerships and Recruit Help

After teaming up with Environmental Services at Cincinnati Children’s, Eddie researched the feasibility of recycling and examined what environmental initiatives the hospital had adopted already. He then formed the Go Green Team, an assembly of representatives from key departments like food service, purchasing, and grounds, as well as, employees interested in making Cincinnati Children’s more environmentally friendly.

“The Go Green Team was very important in establishing recycling,” says Eddie. They learned that Cincinnati Children’s purchases more carbonated beverages than any other organization in the Tri-State. Even more than Kings Island, which lands second on the list, “And all that was being thrown away. Something had to be done.”

The Go Green Team grew from five employees at the first meeting, to about 50 currently active members. The real secret to the Go Green Team success relies on volunteer members taking a genuinely active role. These members choose to work in five subcommittees to better focus and organize their efforts.

Attain Top Management Support

A successful recycling program needs the support of the highest level of administration. Several present Go Green Team members had tried initiating recycling a few years ago, but the program did not go far because they lacked support from the directors.

The Go Green Team worked their way through the ranks of decision makers until they won the support of President and CEO Jim Anderson. “I am delighted to see this recycling effort get underway at Cincinnati Children’s,” he said. “Engaging in practices that are environmentally responsible is certainly in line with our mission to be leaders in improving child health. It is my hope that the enthusiasm and energy shown by the Green Team will spread throughout the medical center and make this initiative a resounding success.”

Top management support not only means the program will receive funding, but it also means that employees will be more likely to participate.

Make Recycling Easy

Before going hospital-wide, the Go Green Team initiated a pilot recycling project in the Gastroenterology Division to work out the kinks of collection. They needed to gather evidence that a hospital-wide program would work and be sure employees would buy into recycling. Almost all employees in the division participated and were amazed at how little garbage was left in their trash bin after recycling.

During the pilot, the Go Green Team developed an easy collection system. Divisions request a blue recycling container and Cincinnati Children’s Environmental Services Division picks up the recyclables. Employees can recycle everything they do at home, reducing the need for extensive employee education.

The easier the program, the more likely employees will participate. Stephanie Lang, a Research Assistant in Developmental Biology, says the majority of employees are excited and willing to recycle. ”The ease in which we can recycle means that it does not take any more time to put recyclables in the recycling bins versus the garbage.”

Maintain the Energy

To kick-off Cincinnati Children’s hospital-wide recycling program, the Go Green Team set up a booth outside of the cafeteria during Earth Week (April 23-27), where they handed out information to employees and distributed raffle prizes while wearing Go Green Team shirts. Food Services pitched in by offering free coffee in the cafeteria to employees using reusable mugs. The Child Life Division coordinated a week of environmental education in their classrooms. To wrap up the week, an article about recycling circulated in the employee newsletter and an email describing the program was sent to every employee.

“We are doing so much recycling that Rumpke can't empty the bins often enough,” says Megan McClellan, a Research Assistant with Pulmonary Medicine. Cincinnati Children’s tripled their capacity from the original one 6-yard to three 6-yard recycling containers.

But don’t think the Go Green Team is content with simply initiating a hospital-wide recycling program. They have taken on additional efforts to make Cincinnati Children’s as environmentally friendly as possible. One committee is exploring how to start recycling at more than a dozen off-campus branches. Other committees are working to establish a roof top garden and researching ways to implement green building techniques throughout the hospital. The Go Green Team also organized a Green Vendor Fair for researchers to learn about available environmentally preferable options.

Eddie Leonard sees many more possibilities in the future for Cincinnati Children’s to reduce waste and save money. He says a successful recycling program saved Christ Hospital over $32,000 in the first year. But any financial benefit comes second to what really drives Eddie and the Go Green Team, “We help all these kids every day. Don’t we also have an obligation to make sure they have a clean environment to grow up in?”

To learn more about Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, visit their website at www.cincinnatichildrens.org.  

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CSI Opens New Transfer Station in Evendale

CSI Waste Services, a Division of Republic Services, opened a new solid waste transfer station at 10751 Evendale Drive in Evendale. The new facility required eight years of planning and replaces an older Evendale location.

At the transfer station, workers load solid waste from smaller collection trucks into semi-trailers for shipment to a landfill in Williamstown, Kentucky. Republic Services invested approximately $6 million in the site, which employs six workers.

The environmental impact of the fully-enclosed facility is controlled by leachate and storm-water collection systems. Leachate from the tipping floor collects in a storage tank that will receive off-site treatment. Storm-water detention basin and pump system reduces downstream environmental effects and allows monitoring of water quality.

CSI Waste Services is owned by the 3rd largest waste hauler in America, but remains a locally based company.

Questions may be directed to Gregory C Beamer, General Manager at (513) 326-7400 or Brad Brian, Sales Manager at (513) 326-7404.

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Pollution Prevention Internship Available to Industries in Hamilton and Butler Counties

The Hamilton and Butler County Solid Waste Management Districts, in partnership with TechSolve, have expanded the Pollution Prevention Internship Program pending a grant from the USEPA Region 5.  Through this program, upper-level college students work with industries to implement pollution prevention strategies.  The internship program is designed to provide businesses with a fresh and innovative perspective on pollution prevention, save businesses money, and encourage technically skilled students to stay in Ohio. 

The Hamilton and Butler County Solid Waste Management Districts will fund 75 percent of the internship cost, while the business will match 25 percent.  The interns will be employed by Hamilton or Butler County.  They will work at the business as a contractor for a 12-week period.  Prior to beginning the internship, the interns will participate in an intense week of pollution prevention training.

Applications will be available in November and will be due in January.  If your company is interested in participating in this program, please contact:

Butler County Solid Waste Management District     Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District

Mary Jo Lahrmann                                               Catherine Walsh

(513) 887-3406                                                      (513) 946-7732

www.butlercountydes.org                                       www.hamiltoncountyrecycles.org

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Save Some Trees…and Your Wallet

Even in the ‘Age of Technology’ we use a lot of paper. In fact, the average office worker generates 150 pounds of paper a year. Instead of throwing that valuable material in the landfill, consider calling one of our local paper recyclers. With numerous companies recycling paper in the area through a variety of services, recycling today is easier than ever before.

Check out the list below to find a paper recycler offering a service that fits your needs. Depending on the volume of paper you have, the service may be very low cost or even free, saving you money on your waste bill. Be sure to review your current waste and recycling contract before contracting with another recycler.

Paper Recycling Companies in Greater Cincinnati:

3R Recycling offers a pick-up service and drop-off availability for all types of paper. Cost of service depends on quantity of paper collected. 3R tailors each program around the customer’s unique requirements. (2040 E. Kemper Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45241 (513) 771-4002) www.3rrecycling.com

Cincinnati Paperboard offers a drop-off for mixed paper and cardboard. (5362 Wooster Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226 (513) 871-0982) www.caraustar.com

CSI collects office paper and cardboard with an 8-yard container. They also pick up plastic bottles and cans in the same container if they are separated from the paper into clear plastic bags. Cost of service depends on frequency of pick up. (11563 Mosteller Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45241 (513) 771-4200) www.republicservices.com

Hanna Paper collects office paper using 175-gallon wheeled bins or 95-gallon wheeled toters. They supply locked toters upon request and require a 10 toter minimum for a no cost recycling program. Hanna Paper also provides document destruction and shredding service. (4287 Dues Drive, West Chester, Ohio 45246 (513) 860-5060 ext. 402) www.hannapaper.com  

Metro Recycling accepts all grades of paper and cardboard for drop-off and provides pick-up service to companies with large continuous supplies of paper. They offer free shredding services to companies dropping off material. (2424 Beekman Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45214 (513) 251-1800) www.metrorecyclinginc.com

Omaha Paper collects mixed paper and cardboard in wheeled carts or 90-gallon wheeled toters. Cost or compensation depends on quantity and market value. (5636 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45216 (513) 641-5002) www.omahapaperstock.com

Recovered Resources collects all types of paper with 8-yard containers or compactors and balers for larger volumes. They also conduct waste audits to lower your trash bill. Cost of service or payment for material depends on frequency of pick up, type of program, and volume and grade of paper. (4 Triangle Park Drive, Suite. 402, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246 (513) 772-7788)

Recycling Group Ltd. collects all types of paper and cardboard using 95-gallon wheeled toters. They also provide document destruction and shredding service. (630 Shepherd Lane, Cincinnati, Ohio 45215 (513) 769-9609) www.recyclinggroup.net

Royal Paper Stock offers paper collection with 95-gallon wheeled toters and carts. They service companies with large quantities of paper for no cost. (339 Circle Freeway Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246 (513) 870-5780) www.royalpaperstock.com

Rumpke Recycling offers paper collection in both 95-gallon wheeled toters and 6-yard collection containers. They collect all grades of paper. Rumpke provides service at no or low cost for large volumes of paper and has a payback component for sorted office paper and printers mix based on volume. They can also accommodate smaller volumes. (5535 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217 (513) 242-4401) www.rumpke.com

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Rumpke Opens World’s Largest Landfill Gas-To-Pipeline Energy Production Facility

The world’s largest landfill gas-to-pipeline energy production facility opened at Rumpke Sanitary Landfill this summer. The facility has the capacity to recover 15 million standard cubic feet of landfill gas daily, producing enough natural gas energy for up to 25,000 homes or businesses. Rumpke Sanitary Landfill is the only local source of natural gas currently available to Duke Energy in the Cincinnati region. 

The Partners

About Montauk
Montauk Energy Capital is one of the largest private investors in landfill projects in the U.S. Montauk is parent to two of the oldest names in the landfill gas industry – GSF Energy and Waste Energy Technology. Waste Energy Technology has been providing landfill gas engineering, construction and operations support exclusively to the waste industry since 1984. Montauk’s landfill gas projects are located across the U.S.

About Duke Energy
Duke Energy Corp., headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, provides both an electric and gas utility that provides service in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The corporation’s current service region includes more than 47,000 square miles. In Ohio, Duke Energy provides electric and gas services to more than 680,000 customers.

About Rumpke
Rumpke Consolidated Companies, Inc. owns and operates nine landfills, several transfer stations and six recycling centers throughout Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. 

The Project

Landfill gas is produced as garbage decomposes. The gas recovery process begins when vertical gas wells located throughout the landfill extract the gas and convey it to Montauk’s gas processing facilities located at the base of the landfill. Montauk initiates a processing procedure which includes pressurization and drying, pre-treatment, carbon dioxide removal and pressurization and treatment of the final product. The gas is conveyed to Duke Energy’s pipelines for residential and commercial use.

In 1986, Rumpke began working with Getty Synthetic Fuel (the successor of which is now part of Montauk Energy Capital) to construct one of Ohio’s first landfill gas recovery systems at Rumpke Sanitary Landfill. Rumpke added a second recovery plant at the site in 1995. Both plants are still in operation today. The new recovery facility at Rumpke Sanitary Landfill is the fifth recovery system Rumpke has opened at its landfills.

To learn more about this project or the partners, please visit:

Rumpke:         www.rumpkerecycling.com

Duke Energy:  www.duke-energy.com

Montauk:          www.montaukenergycapital.com

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Summer 2007