p2assist Listserv FAQ
Index:
- I have a computer that doesn’t work. How can I dispose of it properly?
- What is environmental sustainability?
- My company has many used fluorescent light tubes to dispose but our county’s landfill won’t take them. How can we get rid of them?
- I cleaned out my grandparents’ garage and took the trash to the landfill, but the landfill attendant wouldn’t let me dispose of a couple of old tires and a refrigerator. They sent me to the recycling facility. What else can I not dispose of at the landfill?
- The company I work for has so much packaging waste to throw away. How can we reduce this kind of waste?
- How can I reduce the fees I pay at the landfill for garbage disposal?
- Our utility bills are outrageous. How can we reduce them?
- It seems like every day we get more and more junk mail. What can I do to get rid of so much bulk mail coming to my mailbox?
- How can my facility reduce its air emissions?
- I’ve heard businesses talk about EMS. Exactly what is an EMS?
- Our county government is considering banning cardboard from the landfill. How can my business reduce the amount of cardboard in our garbage?
- What do I do with old, expired and waste chemicals?
- I’d like to start my own recycling business but I don’t exactly know how and where to start. Are there any grants or special loans to help me get started?
- As a citizen, how can I make a complaint about environmental hazards and illegal environmental activity?
- I am very interested in protecting the environment. Is there any place on the Internet that I can find documents and information on a variety of environmental subjects?
- I was told that I couldn’t burn my trash anymore. Whom do I call to find out more about open burning laws?
I have a computer that doesn’t work. How can I dispose of it properly?
Disposal of computers and other electronics is a growing concern. There are companies that will accept used electronics for disposal. Check the DPPEA Directory of Markets for Recycled Materials at http://www.p2pays.org/DMRM/. For more information on electronics disposal, please visit http://www.p2pays.org/ref/14/13001.pdf
What is environmental sustainability?
Environmental sustainability is a broad concept that has been used in many settings. It is perhaps best to consider the global definition: “…meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
The DPPEA market directory has listings for companies that recycle these light tubes at http://www.p2pays.org/DMRM/dmrm.asp?Page=3&matcode=MS-02-01&B1=Submit However, the best solution is proper management. To be more environmentally friendly, you can convert your light tubes to the low-mercury type (T-8 lamps). For more information please visit http://www.p2pays.org/ref/11/10328.htm
I cleaned out my grandparents’ garage and took the trash to the landfill, but the landfill attendant wouldn’t let me dispose of a couple of old tires and a refrigerator. They sent me to the recycling facility. What else can I not dispose of at the landfill?
In North Carolina, appliances, tires, aluminum cans, yard waste (tree limbs, brush, etc.) lead/acid batteries, used oil and antifreeze are banned from landfills. In some areas, other materials like cardboard, pallets and household hazardous waste may be banned by local landfills. For further information please visit http://www.p2pays.org/ref/01/00098.htm
Start by working with your vendors. Sometimes you can negotiate with them to ship raw materials in returnable or reusable totes or to use less packaging. You can also recycle your pallets, shrink-wrap and packing materials. Check out http://wrrc.p2pays.org/industry/transport.htm for information on reducing transport packaging.
How can I reduce the fees I pay at the landfill for garbage disposal?
Although you probably can’t negotiate lower disposal fees, your company can develop a plan to reduce waste. The first step is to find out where the waste is being generated by doing a waste audit. Then systematically implement a plan to reduce waste in these areas. For an interesting document to help your company reduce that waste disposal bill, please see http://www.p2pays.org/ref/03/02025.pdf.
Our utility bills are outrageous. How can we reduce them?
Both residential and industrial/commercial customers need to carefully identify where they are using electricity, in order to identify where the waste is. In many cases, simple conservation, such as turning off lights and machines when not needed, may do the trick. Proper cleaning and maintenance allow machine motors and appliances to use electricity more efficiently, thus reducing electric bills. Buying machines and/or appliances that are more energy efficient automatically reduces electricity usage. Look for machines or appliances that use electricity even when they are turned off, such as TV sets or some older types of office machines. Many Web sites, manuals and documents on specific energy saving methods can be found at http://wrrc.p2pays.org/industry/energy.htm. Also check out http://www.state.sc.us/energy/Comm_Ind/Comm_Ind_How_To.htm.
As a general rule, residential electric utility customers are billed directly based on their meter readings. Residential customers should periodically compare the bill meter usage numbers with the meter to see if the correct readings were made. The utility company can then see if the meter is malfunctioning or if usage estimates are too high. Electric utility bills for industrial/commercial customers are normally based on a contract or rate schedule, which can typically add large fees and charges if electricity is used too little, too much or at the wrong time of day. Utilities are required to allow and assist with requested periodic changes in their customer’s rate schedule, as industrial/commercial customer electric usage change.
The first thing to do is to send a card to the Direct Mail Association and ask that your name be removed from its mailing lists. Please visit http://www.p2pays.org/main/junk_mail_optout.asp for some more great ideas to help you reclaim your mailbox.
How can my facility reduce its air emissions?
You first need to identify all of the air emission sources and then determine the cause of the releases. Then determine if the emissions can be reduced by simple means such as production rescheduling, employee training or equipment repair/maintenance. Thirdly, consider chemical substitutions of less emitting, volatile chemicals used in production. Also, evaluate application devices and consider testing ones that have high efficiencies for material applications. With any chemical change, remember to contact your regulatory agency to ensure all permit modifications are in place before making operational changes. Visit DPPEA’s Industrial Core Sector page for information on reducing air emissions from specific manufacturing operations at http://wrrc.p2pays.org/industry/indsector.htm.
I’ve heard businesses talk about EMS. Exactly what is an EMS?
EMS stands for Environmental Management System,a tool to improve environmental performanceof the participating organization. An EMS should provide a systematic way of managing an organization’s environmental affairs. It is the aspect of the organization’s overall management structure that addresses immediate and long-term impacts of its products, services and processes on the environment. The EMS also gives order and consistency for organizations to address environmental concerns through the allocation of resources, assignment of responsibility and ongoing evaluation of practices, procedures and processes while focusing on continual improvement of the system. For comprehensive information on EMSs and ISO 14001, visit DPPEA’s EMS site at http://www.p2pays.org/category.asp?cat=6.
It’s a good idea to begin planning how to reduce your cardboard waste now. There are quite a few cardboard recyclers who can recycle it for you. Please visit http://www.p2pays.org/DMRM/dmrm.asp?Page=3&matcode=PA-01&B1=Submit for a list. It is even better if you can work toward using reusable totes for both incoming and outgoing shipments. To learn about ways to better handle corrugated cardboard, please visit http://www.p2pays.org/ref/01/00353.pdf.
What do I do with old, expired and waste chemicals?
If the chemicals cannot be reused in less critical operations in other parts of your organization, you should contact your supplier to determine if they will take them back for reuse/recycling. Also, investigate advertising them through a waste exchange program to find another user. Check out DPPEA’s Markets Directory for potential users of your waste chemicals at http://www.p2pays.org/DMRM/dmrm.asp. Ask other local industries if they would be interested in reusing the chemicals.
The best place to start is by deciding exactly what kind of recycling business you want to start and then write a business plan. You can contact the Recycling Business Assistance Center at http://www.p2pays.org/rbac/ for information about starting your own recycling business.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) operates seven regional offices that, along with DENR’s Raleigh headquarters, are responsible for enforcing all state environmental regulations. For one-stop assistance, contact DENR’s Customer Service Center (CSC) at (877) 623-6748 to place a complaint concerning any suspect environmental activities in your area. All calls are confidential. The CSC will ensure the proper authorities are contacted concerning your complaint.
I am very interested in protecting the environment. Is there any place on the Internet that I can find documents and information on a variety of environmental subjects?
One of the best online sources for environmental information is DPPEA’s P2 reference library. It features thousands of volumes on environmental topics, as well as electronic journals. Please visit http://www.p2pays.org/links/ to access several portals to reference materials.
I was told that I couldn’t burn my trash anymore. Whom do I call to find out more about open burning laws?
Many misunderstandings exist about open-air burning in North Carolina. Some people think it's OK to burn trash in barrels because they've always done it that way, even though it’s not. Others think it's always OK to burn leaves and branches in the fall, though that's not so in cities and counties that pick up yard waste.
The N.C. Division of Air Quality (DAQ) enforces the state open burning rules, and many local governments have additional restrictions on outdoor fires. Violating these rules can be expensive, with fines as high as $10,000 for serious cases or repeat violations. Substantial fines are assessed even for minor or first-time violations. For more information about open burning please visit http://daq.state.nc.us/Publications/Brochures/Openbur.PDF
