SBWMA Partners with IKEA to Promote Recycling of Household Batteries and Cell Phones

SAN CARLOS, CA – December 10, 2007 - The South Bayside Waste Management Authority (SBWMA) today announced a new partnership to promote the recycling of household batteries, cell phones and other universal waste related items such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). The SBWMA has joined with IKEA, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and State Assemblymember Ira Ruskin to promote retail take back options for these materials. A press event will be held from 10:30 am to 11:30 am on December 11, 2007 at the IKEA store in East Palo Alto. The SBWMA will also share details on its recently launched curbside recycling collection program for household batteries and cell phones.

"This is a true public private partnership to promote waste reduction and recycling options for certain hazardous materials that are proliferating in the marketplace as consumer electronics and household lighting product sales skyrocket during the holiday season," remarked Kevin McCarthy, Executive Director of the SBWMA. "We want consumers to know that they have convenient options to recycle all the household batteries generated during the holidays and have a green Holiday Season."

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) estimates that Americans purchase more than 3 billion batteries annually to power toys, radios, cellular phones, watches, laptop computers, portable power tools, and other home electronics. In California that translates to 288 million batteries purchased each year. Laid end-toend, these batteries would stretch over 9,000 miles or roughly the distance travelled from San Mateo to the North Pole: three times; enough trips to make even Santa tired!

"At IKEA, we believe doing good business means demonstrating environmental responsibility on a global and local level. Here at IKEA East Palo Alto, we offer our customers the opportunity for free in-store recycling of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL's), said Jill Matherson, store manager. "The new recycling program from South Bayside Waste Management Authority adds excitement to our existing community recycling efforts and we are glad to be partnering with them to promote local environmental responsibility."

"IKEA and the South Bayside Waste Management Authority are helping their customers do the right thing and be green by taking back cell phones and batteries for recycling instead of throwing them in the trash," remarked Leonard Robinson, Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). "The laws and regulations set rules to protect our environment from the hazardous materials, mostly toxic metals, contained in cell phones and batteries that are no longer of use. This program provides consumers with free and convenient means to recycle every battery and cell phone to protect the environment!"

The Department of Toxic Substances Control will discuss its "Take-It-Back Partnership" at the event. The California Take-It-Back Partnership is a collaboration of State government; city and county government; businesses; non-profit agencies and non-governmental organizations to provide free, local and convenient ways for California residents to recycle everyday household wastes such as batteries, fluorescent lamps and electronic devices that can no longer be disposed in the trash. This partnership provides a way for California residents to assist the California Environmental Protection Agency in its mission to protect public health and the environment.

"California needs programs like these to remove harmful toxics from the waste stream. I commend DTSC, SBWMA, and IKEA for their leadership and commitment to protecting our environment. This curbside program is an important step toward allowing citizens to easily comply with the Universal Waste Law," said Assemblymember Ira Ruskin, D-Redwood City. Mr. Ruskin will continue working on legislation to ensure the safe disposal of waste thermostats containing mercury, a highly toxic substance. The legislation will require manufacturers of mercury thermostats, in partnership with retailers and wholesalers, to participate in a take-back program that is safe and convenient for consumers.

On October 1, 2007 the SBWMA launched a new curbside recycling program for household batteries and cell phones. Residents in single-family homes of SBWMA member agencies (i.e., the cities of Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos and San Mateo along with unincorporated portions of San Mateo County and the West Bay Sanitary District) can set out household batteries (rechargeable and disposable alkaline types, but no automotive batteries) in a clear plastic bag on top of their mixed paper recycling bin on recycling collection day. Cell phones should be wrapped in paper and placed inside the same clear plastic bag that contains the batteries. Button cells should be taped.

This new curbside recycling program is being funded by the SBWMA. A highly successful pilot program commenced in the City of San Carlos in March 2007 and this new service has been expanded to all member agencies throughout central and southern San Mateo County. Since the program’s inception, approximately 17,200 pounds of batteries and cell phones have been collected.

Back to Top

SBWMA Approves Release of Request for Proposal for Collection Operations

SAN CARLOS, CA - October 25, 2007 - South Bayside Waste Management Authority (SBWMA) today approved Request for Proposals (RFP) for franchised solid waste and recycling collection services and for operation of the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center (SRDC) in San Carlos. Separate RFPs will be released on November 1st for franchised collection services and SRDC operations, respectively. The release of the RFPs will initiate a competitive procurement process for one of the largest municipal services areas in the United States and is expected to draw responses from potential contractors throughout California and nationally. Responses to the RFPs will be due back to the SBWMA by March 4, 2008. New services will be initiated in 2010 and 2011.

Allied Waste of San Mateo County currently provides franchised solid waste and recycling collection services for 91,000 residences and nearly 10,000 businesses in the SBWMA service area comprised of the cities of Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos and San Mateo along with the County of San Mateo and the West Bay Sanitary District. Allied Waste also is under contract with the SBWMA to operate the SRDC. The annual revenue associated with Allied's existing contracts is $70 million for collection services (for the entire service area) and $36 million for SRDC operations. These contracts all expire on December 31, 2010.

"This is major milestone in moving forward with the future rollout of a comprehensive array of modern, convenient, and environmentally superior recycling and solid waste services for local residents and businesses," remarked Larry Patterson, Chair of the SBWMA Board of Directors. "We are excited to be starting the procurement process and getting potential contractors engaged in designing high quality and cost effective services and programs for our customers."

The SBWMA is also moving forward with implementing a $20 million masterplan to guide substantial building and traffic improvements at the Shoreway facility in San Carlos. This facility currently serves as the hub for receiving all trash and recyclables from the service area. These improvements are necessary to handle an expected increase of over 50,000 tons of recyclables and organics from rollout of new collection services in 2010/11 and improve traffic circulation and customer convenience. The facility has not undergone any major renovations since opening in 1982. The SBWMA will incorporate green building features into the building improvements.

"The end result of this procurement effort and completion of the Shoreway masterplan will be the most environmentally sustainable solid waste and recycling collection and processing system in the United States," stated Kevin McCarthy, Executive Director of the SBWMA.

For more information on the SBWMA's RFP process for future services, please visit our website at www.rethinkwaste.org and click on the link for "Contractor Selection Process."

Formed in 1982, the SBWMA is a joint powers authority comprised of 12 member agencies in San Mateo County and is a leader in implementing innovative waste reduction and recycling programs. The SBWMA also owns and manages the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center (SRDC) consisting of a permitted solid waste transfer station and a materials recovery facility.

Back to Top

Allied Waste Goes Biodiesel

With global warming acknowledged as a serious worldwide environmental threat, Allied Waste Services of San Mateo County and the SBWMA have teamed up on a climate action plan. The SBWMA has approved a plan for Allied to convert its entire 225-truck fleet to biodiesel. The biodegradeable, clean-burning alternative fuel is proven to help reduce global warming by dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

When Allied's full fleet conversion is completed in early 2008, the waste disposal and recycling company will become one of the largest users of B20 biodiesel on the west coast, replacing the use of some 80,000 gallons of conventional petroleum diesel each month. The company projects the move to biodiesel will ultimately reduce its fleet's local carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 48%, and hydrocarbon emissions by 67%.

"Biodiesel is the best available greenhouse gas reduction strategy for heavy duty vehicles," commented Allied Waste District Manager Norm Christensen. "This conversion will have a positive environmental impact on the San Mateo County communities we serve."

For more information on Allied's biodiesel and recycling initiatives,
please visit www.alliedwastesanmateocounty.com.

Back to Top

New Collection Program Is Coming to Your City

San Carlos Charged Up about Battery & Cell Phone Pilot

In the first three months of the curbside battery and cell phone pilot program, San Carlos residents recycled over 1,600 pounds of batteries and cell phones. According to a recent survey, 39% said they used to dispose of their household batteries in the trash. Now that the state universal waste law has gone into effect, they know this is no longer legal. The survey also showed that of the residents who have used this convenient new service, 85% were "extremely satisfied." They are especially thankful they don't have to drive to a store, city hall or recycling center anymore!

Some residents asked what happens to the batteries and cell phones. Allied Waste drivers take the plastic zip-type bags off the top of the mixed paper bin and place them in a special container in their truck. The heavy metals or toxic components of batteries such as cadmium, nickel, zinc, mercury, manganese, lead and lithium are separated and recycled. Cell phones are reused or recycled.

The success of this pilot program will likely result in expanding it to other SBWMA cities this fall. Check back for future updates.

Not a San Carlos resident? Don't want to wait? Click here for a list of current battery collection drop-off locations.

Back to Top

SBWMA Charges Ahead: Battery Collection Pilot in San Carlos

The California Universal Waste Rule, which went into effect February 2006, made it illegal to throw away common household items with toxic ingredients such as: batteries, fluorescent lamps, cell phones, thermostats, switches and other electronics. Ever since, the SBWMA has been developing programs to make proper disposal of these items easier.

San Carlos will test the first of these programs — curbside collection of batteries and cell phones. Starting March 1, San Carlos residents can place properly prepared batteries and cell phones in a sealed clear plastic bag (the zip-close kind works best) and place it on top of the paper recycling bin on their collection day. All types of household batteries are acceptable, including rechargeables, alkaline, and even the small button-shaped lithium batteries. Lithium batteries must be taped and cell phones must be wrapped in paper before they are placed in the plastic bag.

After SBWMA and Allied Waste evaluate the program and everything looks good, every SBWMA-area resident will be able to charge ahead with battery and cell phone collection later this year.

View Postcard (PDF; 132k)

Back to Top

Happy Anniversary, SBWMA!

Aah, to be 25 again. Wait a minute — WE are 25! At least our agency is. The South Bayside Waste Management Authority (SBWMA) was formed in 1982 to help provide cost-effective waste management services to twelve member agencies in San Mateo County. Over the years, this role expanded to include waste reduction, including implementation of California's recycling law AB939.

"The role of the SBWMA has really evolved over the years," says Jim Hardy, City Manager for Foster City and the longest-standing SBWMA Board member. "Originally we were much more focused on trash collection and disposal. Today a lot of our work has to do with recycling and other ways to minimize the amount of material going to landfill."

Stay tuned for exciting future plans for recycling as the SBWMA builds on its 25 years of success.

Back to Top

Hilary Gans to Oversee SBWMA Facilities

The SBWMA has created a new position, Facility Operations Contract Manager, and hired Hilary Gans to fill it. Hilary's 19 years of experience in the recycling field have prepared him well for overseeing the operations of the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center in San Carlos.

For 15 years Hilary worked for Allied Waste, serving as General Manager of the 800-1000 ton per day Newby Island Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and Composting Operation in Milpitas, Calif. There he oversaw the retrofit of the MRF for single-stream recycling and managed compost sales. Welcome, Hilary!

Back to Top

This Just In — 2006 Annual Report

From the Desk of the SBWMA Newsroom

Do you like the feeling of being in on the latest local news? Well here's a bulletin that's sure to create some buzz. The SBWMA recently released its 2006 annual report containing all the juiciest statistics on your garbage and recycling. As with any breaking story, there's a little good news and a little bad news.

First the good news. Overall garbage disposal was down by over 22,000 tons. Recycling was up slightly with almost 5,500 more tons collected than in 2005. The commercial organics program had a great year. The 460 participating restaurants and hotels sent 18,000 tons of food scraps and other organic material to a compost facility instead of the landfill.

Now for the bad news. More than 400,000 tons of material still went to the landfill in 2006. Much of this could have been "diverted" by way of recycling, reuse or waste prevention.

Click here to view the report.

Back to Top

Teachers Build Awareness from the Ground Up

School Gardens Grow Green Values

Kids and gardens go together like, well, kids, dirt and worms. A growing number of teachers are bringing all these elements together in educational gardens — small plots of land on school property where students can learn to appreciate nature while growing their first veggies. At a recent all-day Kids in Gardens workshop held at Lincoln Elementary School in Burlingame, 30 Bay Area educators learned everything they needed to know about starting a school garden, from soil preparation to recycling spent plants.

Taught by The Watershed Project and sponsored by the San Mateo County Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (STOPPP), the teachers took a tour of Lincoln's garden. Among other activities, they built their own worm bins — complete with "red wigglers" — and learned how to use them to teach waste reduction through composting. Lara Lighthouse, a second-grade teacher at Washington Elementary in Burlingame, was excited about breaking ground on her first classroom garden. "We'll grow fruits and vegetables the kids like to eat — easy things like peas and strawberries," Lighthouse enthused.

For more information about The Watershed Project or the Kids in Gardens program, go to www.thewatershedproject.org.

Back to Top

Spring Cleaning is Easier with On-Call Cleanups

Residents in single-family homes can schedule two "cleanups" per year at no extra charge. With each cleanup Allied Waste will collect a maximum of:

• 2 cubic yards of material, which is equivalent to twelve (12) 32-gallon bags.
• One appliance or other large item that does not exceed 200 pounds.

To take advantage of this convenient service, call Allied Waste at (650) 592-2411 at least 10 business days in advance of the date you would like to schedule your cleanup. (Collection takes place on your regularly scheduled collection day.)

If you live in an apartment or other multi-unit dwelling, a similar program is available. Ask your property manager to schedule an event with Allied Waste.

No commercial-size refrigerators or freezers. TVs and computer monitors require special handling. Please notify Allied Waste when scheduling your appointment if you intend to include these items in your cleanup. Hazardous waste, dirt, rock, concrete, stucco or other similar materials are not accepted.

Back to Top

Safely Dispose of Needles

For the safety of our drivers, please place used needles in an empty laundry detergent bottle with the lid securely fastened. Place the container on top of your garbage can on your scheduled service day.

Back to Top

3Rs Guide New Nature Center

When you lace up your hiking boots this spring, you can thank Julia Bott in part for the beautiful scenery in your local parks.

Nine years ago the one-time Sierra Club activist helped found the San Mateo County Parks & Recreation Foundation. Now as executive director, she guides the non-profit, which raises supplemental funding for maintaining and improving the county's seven parks.

Armed with a B.A. in environmental studies and planning, Bott made sure porous pavement was used in the Edgewood Park and Nature Preserve parking lot to reduce oily runoff into Cordilleras Creek. On the drawing board is Edgewood's first nature center, which includes recycled-plastic decking and 70-year-old solid-oak doors saved from San Mateo County's old courthouse annex.

Despite receiving a San Mateo County Jefferson Award for Public Service in 2005, Bott remains modest: "I just hope that park visitors who see the effort that goes into open spaces will go home and try to apply the same environmental principles in their own lives. Even if it's just using their recycling bins."

Back to Top

Waste Reduction Hits the Road

The next time you go to a local festival, take a break from sipping your lemonade and look around. A lot of hard work goes into planning and hosting a large event. Behind all the delicious food, entertaining music and tantalizing wares is a large infrastructure.

One of the behind-the-scenes necessities is dealing with all the recycling and garbage. Even though festivals only last a day or two, they generate a lot of waste. Much of this waste can be reduced through recycling, but most events have not offered it in the past. Recent state law Assembly Bill (AB) 2176 is changing that by requiring events of a certain size to develop a plan, and then provide recycling.

To make it easier for event planners to reduce waste, the SBWMA has prepared a short how-to guide, which explains AB 2176 requirements in detail. For a free copy visit our Business Events page.

Simply offering recycling at events is only the first step to reducing event waste. To be effective, people who go to the events have to recycle. This is where you can help! At the next event you attend, look for recycling bins. Also keep an eye out for the new SBWMA recycling trailer. Another tool available to event planners, this colorful trailer transports recycling supplies and reminds us all to recycle.

Back to Top

Waste Redux: Farmers Markets

Recycling's good. Reuse is great. But waste prevention beats them both — it reduces waste before it starts. This is why the first "R" of the so-called "3Rs," — Reduce — is far preferable to the other two. To illustrate why, think of your local farmer's market.

When you go to a farmer's market instead of the grocery store, you can purchase just the amount you need in minimal packaging (or none if you bring your own bags). Even better, the things you buy at the farmer's market probably came from just a few short miles away, rather than from growers and shippers around the world. The farther food has to travel, the more it has to be packaged to protect if from damage. On top of that, it takes far more energy to get it to you.

Here on the Peninsula, there are lots of opportunities to think globally while shopping locally at your farmer's market.

• Belmont Certified Farmers' Market
  Location: CalTrains Parking Lot, El Camino Real and O'Neill
  Phone: (800) 949 FARM
  Hours: Sundays, 9am-1pm, Sundays May-November
• Burlingame Fresh Market Certified Farmers' Market
  Location: Corner of Howard Avenue and Park
  Phone: (650) 334-1735
  Hours: Sunday, 9am-1:30pm, May-November
• Menlo Park Certified Farmers' Market
  Location: Corner of Crane and Chestnut
  Phone: (831) 688-8316
  Hours: Sundays, 9:30am-1:30pm
• Redwood City Certified Farmers' Market
  Location: Corner of Winslow and Middlefield
  Phone: (650) 592-4103
  Hours: Saturdays, 7am-noon, May-November
• San Mateo Certified Farmers' Market
  Location: College of San Mateo parking lot
  Phone: (800) 949-FARM
  Hours: Wednesdays, 9am-1pm; Saturdays, 9am-1pm

Back to Top

New Staff at the SBWMA

The SBWMA has added three new staff members in 2007. Our new Recycling Programs Manager, Cliff Feldman, started work at the beginning of January, and our new Facility Operations Contracts Manager, Hilary Gans, began work mid-month.

For more information about Cliff and Hilary, please refer to the press release announcing their arrivals.

Press Release for New Senior Staff

For other press releases regarding staff changes and other SBWMA activities, please visit our Press page.

Back to Top

S.O.S. for Old Rx

Flushed Medications Are a Bitter Pill for Fish

Wondering what to do with expired or otherwise unwanted medicines?

You can now dispose of them safely and confidentially at four locations throughout San Mateo County.

It used to be people were told to flush their old pharmaceuticals down the toilet. Unfortunately, the active ingredients are not removed in the wastewater treatment process and end up in our waterways and the ocean. While medications may help us humans, they can sicken or cause mutations in fish and other marine life. Recent studies have linked the decline in some fish species to pharmaceutical substances such as antibiotics, birth control hormones, and antidepressants.

The new collection program accepts all types of medications, from over-the-counter remedies to those defined as controlled substances. Leave pharmaceuticals in their original containers, but remove or cross out any personal information. Look for the clearly marked white collection containers.

San Mateo County Sheriff's Office
400 County Center, Redwood City

Daly City Police Department
333 90th Street, Daly City

Pacifica Police Department
2075 Coast Highway, Pacifica

San Bruno Police Department
1177 Huntington Ave, San Bruno

Back to Top

We Need Your Help!

Recycling Numbers Sagging

Kudos to our residents: you threw out 7.2 percent less trash in the first half of 2006 than in 2005! That's 3,187 tons less garbage! Unfortunately, we also recycled less — 9.3 percent to be exact That's 1,322 tons that most likely could have been recycled.

We need your help to maintain our state-mandated goal of keeping half or more of discarded materials out of the landfill. The state set this goal back in 1989 for the year 2000. Since then, residents in our cities have done a good job of recycling containers, paper and yard trimmings. In doing so, you have helped keep metals, plastics, paper, and even organic material in the recycling loop instead of the landfill. As a result new products can be made without requiring new raw materials.

So please keep up the good work! Keep recycling and throw away only those things you know cannot be recycled or reused. The less you throw away the better!

Back to Top

InspiRRRations

Local Artist Transforms Trash into High Art

A self-proclaimed "recycling evangelist," SBWMA area resident and artist Harriete Estel Berman started practicing what she preaches in 1989, by changing the style of her artwork to reflect her environmental values. "My work begins with post-consumer material diverted from a destiny as trash. Revitalized from the mundane, recycled tin containers are deconstructed, cut, folded and reassembled into the extraordinary."

Berman is inspired by the idea of reducing waste but also by showing the inherent beauty of objects that usually end up in landfills. She worked for years perfecting a technique to flatten and cut the tin cans to get the best material for her craft. Her eye for pattern and color creates a finished work of art that rises high above its humble beginnings.

Harriete's work includes exquisite teapots, teacups, jewelry, wall pieces and installations. Some of these items have found permanent homes at such noble institutions as the Smithsonian, the Columbus Museum of Art, the Detroit Institute of the Arts and the Jewish Museum of New York. You can see samples of her work at www.harriete-estel-berman.info.

Back to Top

Quick & Easy May Not Be Worth It

The Cost of Convenience

Americans are willing to pay a lot for convenience. ATM fees, credit card finance charges and eating out all can take a toll on a family's budget. Yet we often value "saving time" over the many other costs our choices involve. These include costs to our health, the environment and even our social groups.

These issues all come together at the supermarket. Modern packaging provides us with food we can prepare quickly and that can last for months when unopened. Nutritionally, however, these foods are higher in salt, fats and preservatives. All of these have been shown to have a huge impact on obesity as well as our general health. Food prepared at home is generally fresher, the ingredients cheaper and the taste more personal. Plus a home cooked meal has a way of bringing the family together that a frozen pizza just can't do.

"Convenience" has other hidden costs, too — for example, higher packaging costs which are passed on to you the consumer. According to the USDA, between 1980 and 2000, packaging costs totaled $53.5 billion, growing 20% faster than total costs for food.

So at your next family dinner talk about what you truly value. Your next dinner may be much more satisfying!

Back to Top

SBWMA Preparing for the Future

SBWMA's main job is to make sure you have the best possible and most economical waste collection and recycling services. Since these services require a huge infrastructure, this requires planning far in advance. Right now we're working on waste handling plans for 2011 and beyond!

First we're doing research — finding out from residents and businesses what they want. Once we have this feedback, we can develop a scope of services for the potential providers to bid on. We expect the selection process to begin in mid-2008.

For more information, please visit our Contractor Selection Process page, where you'll find information about the task, background documents on performance, meeting minutes, and documentation supporting the discussion.

Back to Top

Garden Accessories Have History

This Spring, Buy Recycled

Looking for lawn chairs, planters or just some other unique outdoor décor? A wide range of garden accessories made from recycled and reclaimed materials is now available. Here are just a few examples.

Sit back and watch the grass grow in a folding barrel stave chair by Whit McLeod (www.whitmcleod.com). This sturdy lounger is made from 54-gallon wine barrels discarded by the California Wine Industry after about 10 years of use. Each is branded with the name of the winery that used the barrel.

If there were green building codes for bird houses, the ones made by People Services (www.peopleservices.org) would certainly measure up! Made from recycled pallets and paints, and finished with bark, moss and twigs from yard trimmings, these crafty creations are sure to attract feathered friends to your yard.

Don't have a garden? Planter boxes may be the solution for you. Made from reclaimed redwood or recycled plastic, these planters are functional as well as eco-friendly. They come in all kinds, such as a complete "Baby Bloomer" hydroponic system, colorful "Perfect Pots" or handsome redwood planters that can accommodate small trees.

Other recycled garden accessories include shrub and tree ties made from old tires, recycled glass wind chimes, recycled plastic and wood decking, or "yard birds" made from reclaimed metal.

Ask for these or similar items at your local nursery or find out how to order them at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/RecycleStore.

References:

• RecycleStore: RecycleStore.com
• Green Gift Guide: GreenGiftGuide.com
• Gaiam: Gaiam.com
• UncommonGoods: uncommongoods.com
• "Full-size containers" People Services
• "Babybloomers" American Hydroponics

Back to Top

Recycling Guide

Recycling information just became even easier to find! The Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Guide has helpful information on how to recycle almost anything - from curbside recyclables to electronics. This handy reference tool also includes sections on household hazardous waste and reuse options. And, a handy business recycling section means you can reduce waste at work, too.

View the Recycling Guide online (1.4MB PDF)

Back to top