june 3, 2015 nahmma 2015 conference panel: lightrecycle washington q&a lightrecycle.org
TRANSCRIPT
June 3, 2015
NAHMMA 2015 Conference Panel: LightRecycle Washington Q&A
LightRecycle.org
LightRecycle.org
Joanne Neugebauer-RexWashington State Department of EcologyMercury Product Stewardship Specialist
Program Overview and Ecology Oversight
Ecology Updates
LightRecycle.org
PCA Product Stewardship Inc. - Product Stewardship Organization• PCA operates 14 successful recycling programs across Canada, including light recycling
programs in British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec. Ecology Updates:• Presentations on 3 Spanish Language Radio Stations - fall 2014• Ecology and PCA continue to collaborate to answer questions about the program and
provide guidance• Site visits conducted in 25 locations from Olympia to Renton• Ecology will update the Rule with changes from the 2014 Law• Participated in Boeing Earth Day Fair - handed out 350+ LightRecycle cards to employees• Compliance documents are being generated for the program
LightRecycle.org
Jennifer at Lincoln Hardware in Tacoma Co-owner with her brother Dave
LightRecycle.org
Manager Keith at Agrishop Ace Hardware -Tacoma
Asst. Manager Kathy at Ace Hardware - Gig Harbor
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Manager Dave in recycling areaEmployee Kohl and Manager Dave at Puyallup
Batteries+Bulbs
Program Overview and Funding
LightRecycle.org
Lauren KulokasPCA Product Stewardship Inc.Senior Program Manager, LightRecycle
About PCA
PCA Product Stewardship (PCA) is the Product Stewardship Organization• PCA operates 14 successful recycling programs across Canada and the U.S.• PCA has been in operation for 20 years. • Other products stewardship programs include:• Electronics• Paint• Pesticides and flammable liquids• Small appliances, power tools and major appliances• Smoke and CO2 alarms• Outdoor power equipment
LightRecycle.org
• Covers individuals and businesses in Washington State.• Recycle up to 10 mercury-containing lights per person per day at no charge.• Program products are mercury-containing lights, including: • Fluorescent Tubes up to 8 feet in length, straight and curved• Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) – All sizes and types• High Intensity Discharge (HID) – HID lights include High Pressure Sodium,
Mercury Vapor and Metal Halide• Any light that contains mercury and provides “functional illumination”.
• Developed according to the mercury-containing lights proper disposal law (Chapter 70.275 RCW).
Program Overview
LightRecycle.org
• The Program has the goal of increasing collection by 5% annually as follows:
• The Program will strive to exceed the targets listed above, and will continue to promote and encourage the collection of lights even after targets are met.
Program Goals
2013 Estimate 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Total units collected 904,106 949,311 996,777 1,046,616 1,098,946 1,153,894
Annual Collection Increase 5% 5% 5% 5% 5%
LightRecycle.org
• As of January 1, 2015, the Environmental Handling Charge (EHC) must be added to the purchase price of every mercury-containing light sold at retail in or into Washington State. • The EHC on all mercury-containing lights is currently $0.25 / light• Funding is used for: • Recycling• Transportation• Education and Outreach• Program Management
Program Funding
LightRecycle.org
Participating Producers
• Every producer of mercury-containing lights sold in or into Washington State for retail sale must participate in a product stewardship program for those products.• A list of participating producers is provided on the Ecology website.• Currently 34 participating producers. • Retailers, distributors, wholesalers, and electric utilities may not distribute or sell
mercury-containing lights from producers who are not on the list.
LightRecycle.org
• Remitted on a monthly basis. • Online reporting system where sales of mercury-containing lights are reported.• The EHC can be remitted by any of the: • Producer • Distributor• Retailer
• The distributor or retailer may choose to remit on behalf of the producer. In this case, a remitter relationship is established through a binding “remitter agreement”.• Remitting retailers are entitled to keep a portion of the EHC.
Remitting the EHC
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• Producers and remitting retailers and distributors must register with LightRecycle Washington as participants.• The program currently has 142 registered participants, including: • 34 Producers• 18 Distributors• 90 Retailers
• After registration, participants will use the online system to report EHCs monthly.
Program Registration
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Collection Network and Communications
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Peter ThermosPCA Product Stewardship Inc.Program Manager, LightRecycle Washington
Collection Network UpdateCollection Site Locations• Government Facilities - MRW/HHW and Transfer Stations• Retail - Hardware, Lighting, Pharmacy, other
Total Sites (May 15, 2015)• 277 Collection Sites Registered• 210 – all program products• 67 – CFL-only
• Collection data by county• Some grouped sites
Materials Collected (May 15, 2015)• Approx. 77K lbs.• Over 1,650 recycling kits• Pallets of materials from 43 sites
• Sampling of Mixed lamps• Sampling of 4’ and 8’ lamps
LightRecycle.org
Transportation and Processing
Transportation• Total Reclaim is the approved transporter• Method depends on volume and location• Larger volumes travel by truck (LTL) • Smaller and remote locations travel FedEx
• Supplies are delivered on same basis
Processing• EcoLights is the approved processor• High-volume facility in Seattle
LightRecycle.org
Collection System Feedback
Reasons to NOT Participate• Space (dry)• Funding• Site operator is contractor• Don’t like government programs
Collection Site Locations• Voluntary Program• Attitudes about program impact participation (retail and municipal)• Need for traffic building (retail) varies in each local market
Reasons to Participate• Already collecting• Traffic building (retail)• Service to community• Environmental
LightRecycle.org
Collection System
Beyond Legal Requirements: Maximizing Collection and Convenience• Residential and Business• Continue to add sites• Unadvertised Collection Sites • Curbside Collection (waste haulers)• Goodwill (24 sites)
• Collection Events (required and not required)• Federal Way• Camas (+4)
LightRecycle.org
Communications
Three Audience Groups• Retailers• Participation• EHC
• Collection Sites• Recycle Here!
• Consumers• Residential and Business• Traditional and Digital
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Communications
Consumer Targeting and Messaging
Targets• Primary: “Would recycle if it’s easy.”• Secondary: “Recycle lights?”
Messages• Convenient and free• Legal obligation• Environmental benefits of recycling
LightRecycle.org
Communications
Digital Advertising• King and Clark Counties• 6 Weeks (test)• Social Media
Collection Site Locations• Posters• Banners• Information Cards
Promotion• Magnets• Sunglasses
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Information Cards
(FRONT) (BACK)
LightRecycle.org
Information Tear-offs (Kitsap County)
(FRONT) (BACK)
LightRecycle.org
Collection Site Posters & Banners
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Website
LightRecycle.org
LightReycycle WA at a Household Hazardous Waste Facility
LightRecycle.org
Rick Gilbert Kitsap County WAModerate Risk Waste Program Manager
Kitsap County’s Mercury Lamp Collections, pre-LRW
LightRecycle.org
• Locations• Volumes• Challenges• Problematic Cases
Joining LightRecycle WA
LightRecycle.org
• Contract or Agreement?• Contractual Issues• Potential Cost Savings• Working Program Requirements Into Ongoing Operations
Benefits and Adjustments
LightRecycle.org
• Cost• Count• Convenience
Questions or Comments?
PCA/LightRecycle:Peter Thermos
Department of Ecology: Joanne Neugebauer-Rex
Thank You!
PCA/LightRecycle:Lauren Kulokas
Kitsap County Public Works-Solid Waste:Rick Gilbert
LightRecycle.org