Recycling

See Title 15 Chapter 32 Part 6 MCA for more information.

Recycling Property Credit (business credit)
An individual, corporation, partnership, or small business corporation may receive a tax credit for investments in depreciable property used primarily to collect or process reclaimable material or to manufacture a product from reclaimed material according to the following schedule:

• 25% of the cost of the property on the first $250,000 invested;
• 15% of the cost of the property on the next $250,000 invested; and
• 5% of the cost of the property on the next $500,000 invested.

The credit may not be claimed for:

• investments in depreciable property in excess of $1 million
• an industrial waste generated by the person claiming the tax credit unless:
  - the person generating the waste historically has disposed of the waste onsite or in a licensed landfill; and
  - standard industrial practice has not generally included the reuse of the waste in the manufacturing process.
• an investment in property used to produce energy from reclaimed material.

Purchase of Recycled Materials Deduction (business deduction)

• Taxpayers that purchase recycled material as a business-related expense can deduct 10% of the expense of these products from federal adjusted gross income in arriving at Montana adjusted gross income.
• The purpose of providing a tax deduction for the purchase of recycled materials is to encourage the use of goods made from reclaimed materials, especially post-consumer materials, and to discourage consumption of the same goods made from new materials.
• The definition of recycled material is determined by the Department of Revenue.

Deduction for Purchase of Montana Produced Organic Fertilizer (personal and business deduction)

• Taxpayers may deduct expenditures for organic fertilizer, such as compost, that is produced in Montana and used in Montana.
• The deduction is allowed if the expenditure was not otherwise deducted in computing taxable income.
• The deduction is in addition to all other deductions from adjusted gross individual income allowed in computing taxable income under Title 15, chapter 30 or from gross corporate income allowed in computing net income under Title 15, chapter 31, part 1.

Credit Against Certain Permitting Fees for Certain Uses of Post-Consumer Glass (business deduction)

A person(s) with beneficial interest in a business may receive a credit against the fees imposed in 75-2-220 (Air Quality) for using post-consumer glass in recycled material if qualified under HB499 Section 3.

• The credit may be claimed for glass used in recycled material in the calendar year prior to that which the applicant is paying fees under 75-2-220.
• The amount of the credit is:
  
  -$7 for each ton of post-consumer glass used as a substitute for nonrecycled materials; with
  -a maximum allowable credit in any calendar year of $1,500 or the total amount of fees due, whichever is less.

The post-consumer glass used in recycled material may not be an industrial waste generated by the person claiming the credit unless:

• The person generating the waste historically has disposed of the waste onsite or in a licensed landfill; and
• Standard industrial practice has not generally included the reuse of the waste in the manufacturing process.

Recycled Products Eligible for Tax Deduction

Pay-A$-You-Throw

Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) is a fee-for-service system that allows residential and commercial customers to pay for the amount of waste they produce instead of paying a fixed fee or tax for solid waste services. PAYT creates a direct, economic incentive for citizens and businesses to reduce the amount of waste generated, and to increase recycling and composting activities. Communities in Montana that have implemented PAYT systems have realized savings in waste disposal costs.

Why is PAYT such a great program? Because PAYT can be customized to meet the unique needs of each community and can result in dramatic declines in the amount of waste going into landfills, thereby reducing solid waste costs.

In 1993, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new rules for waste disposal which, while designed to minimize pollution from solid waste, increased costs to small communities across Montana. Many small landfill districts in Montana are looking for ways to keep the lid on their waste management costs and PAYT may be the answer.

Can PAYT work in your community? PAYT works in communities that have alternative programs in place for waste management, such as recycling and composting services. The Air, Energy and Pollution Prevention Bureau can help your community research available recycling and composting opportunities so that your community can implement a customized PAYT program.

Bozeman's Pay A$ You Throw Program

The City of Bozeman implemented a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) program in 1991. Bozeman was the first city to try this program in Montana and was the only community with a program in place until the City of Lincoln implemented one in 1995.

Bozeman established a PAYT program to extend the life of the landfill and give residents some control over their garbage fees. Residents pay for garbage disposal in two ways under Bozeman's PAYT program. A flat fee or base rate is established by the City Commission and assessed to annual tax bills. This ensures that revenue is generated to cover some basic costs of solid waste services. Residents choose the other payment method and rate depending on the volume of garbage they actually throw away and how much they recycle. PAYT programs usually increase municipal recycling rates by encouraging residents to separate recyclable items from their trash, reducing the volume and costs of the trash they do throw away.

Initially, Bozeman used a tag and bag system that required citizens to purchase tags that were then attached to garbage bags placed for pickup. The tags tracked themselves by how many sold. The city based the estimates and projections for their new PAYT program on how many bags sold. Tags were purchased at City Hall for 20 or 30 pound bags. Roger Sicz, Bozeman's Street and Sanitation Superintendent, noted that it is difficult to estimate the volumes of bags but this risk must be accepted as part of the cost of doing business. Residents disposed of sofas or white goods by estimating the weight and attaching one tag per 30 pounds.

It took residents time to get used to the new program and the need to stop at City Hall to purchase tags. Some unhappy residents chose to change their garbage service to a private hauler because of the inconvenience. Over time, residents became more familiar with the program and were less frustrated.

Now Bozeman offers residents automated garbage service utilizing multi-sized totes. This makes it more convenient for residents to participate in the City's program. Residents choose either a 35, 65, or 100 gallon sized tote to fit their disposal needs and recycling habits. Bozeman continues to offer the tag/bag system and still sells some tags every year but the automated garbage collection program is more popular.

Residents paying for the 35-gallon tote choose between pick up once per week or pickup just once per month with fees scaled accordingly. Households choosing once per month pickup use a different colored lid on their tote, which is set out the first week of every month. The City does not offer once per month pick up for the 65 and 100-gallon totes.

Households base their tote size choices on family size, buying habits, and the amount of waste they recycle. Bozeman has six organizations offering drop-off recycling services to residents. Bozeman does not offer curbside pickup of recyclables. Organizations include small volunteer nonprofits offering aluminum can recycling as part of their fundraising efforts, larger nonprofit cooperatives specializing in recycling services, and recycling businesses collecting diverse materials.

Recycling is an essential part of a successful Pay-As-You-Throw program because it gives residents choices regarding the amount of waste they throw away. Communities considering PAYT need to establish recycling opportunities before or at the same time that PAYT is implemented. Communities with recycling already available often see participation rates increase when volume-based pricing is established.

Roger Sicz, former Street and Sanitation Superintendent, states that "Waste volumes definitely decreased due to more recycling and the life of the landfill was extended somewhat. However private haulers also dump in the landfill and we don't know how much their customers participate in recycling because their bills are not tied to the volume of trash they throw away. But we know recycling rates have increased and I believe that people are also practicing source reduction at the point of purchase."

For more information on Bozeman's Pay-As-You-Throw program, call the City of Bozeman at 406-582-2332. For information on PAYT and implementing a program in your community, contact Dusti Johnson, Recycling and Marketing Development Specialist, at 444-6499.

Lewis and Clark County Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) Program

Scales Not Needed For PAYT Programs

Raise Money and Compete for Prizes

Aluminum, Paper & Cardboard

Money can still be made from recycling aluminum cans, paper, and usually but-not-always, cardboard. Prices do fluctuate in response to changing market conditions. 

• Sort and separate recyclables according to grade – this increases the value of the recyclables and should result in a higher price for your collected commodities. 
• Be aware that choosing a single-stream or co-mingled program which does not require sorting, will also generate less revenue.
•  If producing consistently “clean” (i.e., no unwanted materials included) recyclables, work with your local recycler to obtain premium prices for the material you provide.

When contracting for services, tie the prices paid to current, published prices. For instance, include contract language that guarantees a return of 80 percent of current prices as listed on the Yellow Board, American Metals Market, and similar commodity markets. You may ask for copies of the publication showing regional and national prices referenced for that particular sale.

TerraCycle

TerraCycle offers national programs ("Brigades") to collect previously non-recyclable or hard-to-recycle waste. Most programs offer a donation for each item collected for recycling, in addition to free shipping.

• Many programs to choose from;
• Website has pictures of the products manufactured from the recyclables;
• No fee (in most cases);
• Free shipping;
• Can recruit business partners and citizens to have collection boxes and designate your school to receive the proceeds;
• Brigades available: drink pouches, plastic bags, Kraft Cheeses, Neosporin Tubes, Aveeno Beauty containers, candy cookie wrappers, cereal bags,and much more. All pay about 2 cents per item.

Returning Electronics for Cash

The following program offers the following features: 

• 13 yrs and older can register to sell products;
• Must be able to answer questions about item’s condition;
• Searches Internet to find best prices (similar to travel sites);
• Allows comparison of offers;
• Does NOT accept non-working items for recycling; but will find recycling locations near you;
• Items entered one at a time; and
•  ‘Our Impact’ button leads to information about best-selling items and brands.

Printer Cartridges

Some printer cartridge recyclers will also collect cell phones, but you may get more in return from a business specializing in cell phone refurbishment.

Staples

Collect spent printer cartridges and take them to Staples for a $3 reward. Just sign up for a Staples reward account and check with your local stor to verify the acceptable cartridges and get details. (The Staples website quotes a $2 reward, but the a Montana store confirmed a $3 reward.)Staples recently changed their program to allow one account holder to drop off no more than 10 cartridges per month.

Recycle printer cartridges and accumulate points to acquire equipment and supplies, although you can choose to receive a check instead. FundingFactory also accepts cell phones, but better prices may be realized through a business specializing in cell phone refurbishment. FundingFactory offers FREE shipping materials, promotional and business support supplies, live customer service representatives and your own online account. FundingFactory also holds contests for additional bonuses and prizes.

• No signup fees;
• Free container;
• Free tools and marketing material;  
• Cash returned, not a points program;
• Prices are published on their website to see what you will be paid;
• Must include pricing list with shipment; and,
• $15 penalty for any laser cartridges received.

Source Reduction and Consumer Spending

We currently produce and consume goods at an unprecedented rate. The process starts with extracting raw materials and ends with disposing of used products. The result?

• resource depletion
• pollution
• loss of valuable habitat
• waste management problems, and often
• social and environmental injustice

Consuming less, and reusing or remanufacturing products can cut waste and the need for disposal.

Watch The Story of Stuff for an insightful and entertaining explanation of the far-reaching effects of our daily decisions. Organize a viewing for your friends and/or community group.

Daily Habits:

• If you can’t recycle it – don’t buy it. Avoid purchasing goods that you know will end up in the garbage. For instance, bottled water – if you can’t recycle plastic bottles in your town, avoid buying bottled water and carry a reusable water bottle instead.
• Buy durable goods. If your budget will allow it, consider purchasing more durable goods. They may be more expensive initially, but they will last longer and are generally better quality.
• Swap and Trade. Look for opportunities to network with friends and co-workers to obtain needed tools, materials, or goods to avoid purchasing an item that you’ll only use once or twice.
  • Visit garage sales and second-hand stores.
  • Use online swap groups, such as:
    
    • Freecycle.org
    • Bookmooch.com
  • Businesses can use the Montana Materials Exchange to list unwanted materials or look for needed materials. This Montana State University Extension Service Program encourages recovery and reuse of diverse materials that would otherwise be discarded.
• Do without. Do you really need that new video game, book, knick-knack or trinket? Can you enjoy it without having one of your own? Control impulse-buying by walking away first and giving yourself time to evaluate whether you really need something or just want it because it struck your fancy.

Homes

Do you recycle at home? Do you know what can be recycled in your town?

Many people love Montana’s wide open spaces and the small town atmosphere that exists even in our larger cities. Montanans appreciate the lack of crowds, rush hour traffic, and industrial smoke stacks found in more populated and more industrialized areas of the U.S.

What does this have to do with recycling? Well, the same things that make Montana the special and uniquely beautiful place that it is, also make full-scale and wide-spread recycling difficult. Because of Montana’s low population and the fact that major industrial centers are long distances away, collecting recyclables and shipping them to markets in other states can make programs expensive to implement and maintain. These challenges can be addressed and many communities in Montana offer recycling programs for certain commodities, such as aluminum cans, bi-metal cans, newspaper, cardboard, and magazines.

Even communities without organized recycling programs often have some outlets for recycling certain commodities. To find out what can be recycled in your town, DEQ suggests:

• Contact your local public works department.
• Visit the Earth911.com website. Just type in your zip code to find recycling locations and learn what and where to recycle near you. If there is no local recycling, the site lists the nearest recycling centers.
• Visit the Recycle Montana website. This organization maintains a website listing locations across Montana that accept certain materials for recycling.

Recycling is just one way to reduce the amount of trash you throw away. Source Reduction means taking steps to reduce the amount of trash you generate in the first place. Consider using the following strategies to generate less trash:

• Buy in bulk.
• Buy only what you need.
• Stop Junk Mail.
• Choose recyclable packaging. (If plastic is not recycled in your town, and aluminum cans are, buy soda cans instead of plastic bottles.)
• Learn more about source reduction at the EPA website.

Bozeman's Tag and Bag Systems

Bozeman now has curbside recycling available and no longer has a landfill within City limits. The program described here no longer exists, but may still be duplicated by interested communities. To find out more, click Contact Us below. A Recycling & Marketing Development Specialist will be in touch to assist you.

 

Communities often choose this system to save implementation costs associated with purchasing garbage containers of diverse sizes. Another advantage of the tag and bag system is that it allows residents to continue with a familiar practice (using garbage bags) while introducing them to the concept of paying for just what they throw away.

Disposal fees are often "hidden" on property tax assessments or may be seen as a flat rate on water bills. Residents, when asked, often do not know the amount of money they spend on garbage disposal by the month or the year. By purchasing tags and not hiding the costs, residents see both the real costs of garbage disposal services as well as the financial impacts of their own purchasing and disposal habits.

Schools

• School Laboratory Chemical Clean-Outs
  
• Gardens from Garbage - Great Falls Schools

Many resources exist for teachers wishing to discuss and encourage recycling. The nonprofit, Recycle Montana, advocates for increased recycling and sponsors a classroom education program. 

In addition to these programs, educators and school administrators will find the following resources helpful: Manual for Implementing a School Recycling Program.

Clean Air Zone Montana
This program discourages school bus idling to reduce diesel exhaust exposure for children. The program also encourages use of alternative fuels in school buses. Sign up your school now to receive assistance!

Cornell University Composting in Schools
Provides a number of composting resources for teachers, including ideas for student research projects.

American Forest and Paper Association
Shares information, including environmental policies and recycling initiatives, about forest products such as paper and wood.

Earth 911
Lots of resources for teachers and students, plus information on local recycling opportunities.

Kids Domain
Lots of links with information on Earth Day, recycling, pollution prevention, environmental learning games, activities, and more.

Earth Day Network
Covers Sustainability, Environmental footprints, garbage, waste reduction and more. 

America Recycles Day
Teachers and students can enter a contest to win a cruise and/or a new bike by pledging to recycle more in the coming year. Enter by visiting this website or DEQ's webpage to pledge and enter the contest.

NIEHS Environmental Health and Science Education
The Environmental Health Science Education website provides educators, students and scientists with easy access to reliable tools, resources and classroom materials. It seeks to invest in the future of environmental health science by increasing awareness of the link between the environment and human health.

NIEHS Teacher’s Curriculum Resources
Science-based curriculum resources that help teach the connection between a healthy environment and healthy bodies.

Kids

   Handy

HEY KIDS! I'm Handy, and you can find me at Earth 911.org. I’ll help you find information, fun games and activities, great environmental links, and more. Together, we can all lend a hand to Make Every Day Earth Day!

Activities

Informational Programs
This fun website offers Recycling and Litter Prevention Information Programs.

Kids and Conservation
Learn what it takes to be conservationist, and why we should ‘conserve’ water, soil and wildlife.

Recycle City Game
This site has an interactive game and provides information about recycling for teachers and kids.

Planet Protectors Club
Planet Protectors help other people learn to reduce, reuse, and recycle

Special Events

Sustainable Travel

Junk Mail

Did you know that the average adult receives about 41 pounds of junk mail each year? And roughly half of it is never opened?

• Junk mail wastes natural resources.  One hundred million trees and 28 billion gallons of water are used annually in the production of junk mail.
• Junk mail wastes money.  $320 million of local taxes are spent yearly for disposal of unsolicited mail.
• Junk mail wastes time. The average adult wastes about 70 hours a year on junk mail.

Protect your name. Think twice before entering a contest, joining a store's club card program, or sending in a warranty card. Your name could go on a mailing list that gets sold or rented to national companies which send junk mail.

Reduce the amount of junk mail you receive. While it may be impossible to completely eliminate junk mail, these simple steps will significantly reduce the amount of junk mail reaching your door:

• The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) maintains the largest mailing list in the country. Businesses and other organizations subscribe to the DMA to gain access to that large mailing list.
• DMA requires a one dollar ($1) processing fee to remove your name and address from their lists. It is worth the trouble - this effort will eliminate the largest portion of your junk mail. (It is free online, but you will have to enter your credit card number.)

DMA Choice
Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512

• DMA will then remove your name from its list and it will stay in the "delete" file for three years. It may take up to three months or more for your request to take effect.
• If you still wish to receive certain catalogs, notify those catalogs directly, or sign up for www.catalogchoice.org and choose which catalogs you wish to receive, and which ones you wish to stop.
• Reduce unwanted mail from companies getting information from warranty cards by writing:

National Demographics and Lifestyles
Customer Service Department
1621 18th Street, #300
Denver, CO 80202

• If you register for prizes, sweepstakes, or giveaways, check the “opt out” box so your name will not be included on any lists. Request, in writing, that your name be removed from mailing lists at this major sweepstakes mailer:

Publisher's Clearinghouse Reader's Digest
101 Channel Drive Reader's Digest Road
Port Washington, NY 10050

Writing to these additional addresses will remove you from even more mailing lists:

• ADVO Incorporated
  Mktg Sys., Inc.
  Consumer Assistance Dept.
  P.O. Box 249
  Lakes Dr.
  Windsor, CT 06095
• Info, Consumer Requests
  InfoUSA/SalesGenie.com
  1020 E. First St.
  Papillion, NE 68046
• Val Pak Direct
  Attn: Opt-Out
  8605 Largo
  Largo, Florida 33773

Unsolicited Telemarketing Calls. The Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007 established that registered phone numbers will remain on the Do-Not-Call list permanently. You can register your phone number(s) online at www.donotcall.gov. You can also call toll-free at 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236); from the telephone number you wish to register. Registration is free, and will stop most, but not all, telemarketing calls.

Packaging Waste

Prevention is always the best medicine, and if we avoid producing pollution in the first place, our personal health and the environment will reap the benefits. Citizens and businesses can take steps every day to reduce environmental impacts of activities and operations

• Household Hazardous Products — Many common household products (paint thinners, mothballs, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and more) contain toxic ingredients. Avoid discarding with the regular household trash. Instead contact your county solid waste management office to ask if there are any special household hazardous waste collection events in your area.
• Energy Conservation is a valuable part of pollution prevention due to the role energy plays in power production, manufacturing and transportation goods, conducting business and commuting.
• Litter — it’s everywhere and it is an eyesore on our beautiful Montana landscape. Make sure you pick up after yourself and discard garbage into the appropriate containers. Do the right thing and pick up litter when you see it.
  
  Join the Montana Adopt A Highway Program and REMEMBER friends don’t let friends litter!

Pollution Prevention Assistance for Businesses:

Montana Green Lodging Program
This program is in the development phase and will be based upon the "11 Minimum Guidelines for Going Green" as developed by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP)
Deliberately designed as a separate, non-regulatory, program within the DEQ, the Small Business Assistance Program serves to assist Montana businesses to understand and comply with applicable environmental regulations.

• Serves as an advocate for small businesses.
• Provides technical assistance, compliance assistance, permit assistance, and pollution prevention assistance.
  • Services Offered:
    • Toll-Free Hotline (1-800-433-8773)
    • Workshops
    • Newsletters
    • On-Site Visits

Montana Water Quality Information — Comprehensive list of programs and activities that manage water quality issues throughout the state. Includes links to quality protection and conservation programs.

MSU Montana Pollution Prevention Program — A program of the Montana State University (MSU) Extension Service. This program helps businesses and governments find ways to conserve energy and water, and reduce the use of toxic chemicals.

Glass recycling is hardly a new idea. In this country, glass has been recycled into new products since colonial times. This activity has taken on considerable momentum in recent years. Glass recycling has grown more rapidly than that of any other commodity except aluminum beverage containers. Montana is still trying to establish infrastructure for recycling in general. Glass is only a small part of a larger problem that Montana faces in regard to recycling. Currently glass has a small and limited market, especially in Montana.

Glass is 100 percent recyclable but brings many challenges to Montana because of our low population. This works against us in that we do not generate "enough" glass to lure glass bottling plants to Montana and we do not produce enough consumer glass to be an effective source for a full scale recycling program. The challenge of not having bottling plants close to Montana requires shipping glass out of state. The transportation costs to ship recyclables hundreds of miles for processing is often cost-prohibitive. These two factors push glass into the aggregate market as a low value commodity. The equipment used to process the glass is very expensive and many businesses cannot produce enough glass cullet (recycled container glass) to pay for the expense of operation.

Glass Facts

• Glass constituted 5.5 percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream by weight and 1.5 percent by volume. An estimated generation of glass for Montana in 2007 was 47,893 tons.
• Glass is heavy and weighs 2,800 lbs per yard.
• All glass food and beverage containers can be recycled.
• Recycling a glass jar saves enough energy to light 100-watt light bulb for 4 hours or power a computer for 25 minutes.
• Recycling glass instead of making it from silica sand reduces mining waste by 70 percent, water use by 50 percent, and air pollution by 20 percent.
• For every 96 tons of recycled container glass used, one ton of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is reduced.

Markets and Manufacturers

Container glass is the highest and best use for glass cullet. Other consuming markets include filtration, sand blasting, fiberglass and decorative items.

Container manufacturers need clean glass cullet and are interested in using more in their manufacturing processes. Some of the manufacturers are finding it hard to receive quality clean cullet because of single stream recycling.

The U.S. is home to 50 glass factories in 23 states.

Market Challenges for Wyoming Glass Recycling

Health Facts

• Glass is pH neutral
• No known problems associated with incompatibility with other chemicals
• No known acute or chronic effects from overexposure to glass cullet
• Glass does not cause silicosis

It is important to recycle glass along with other recyclables. However creating a recycling program offers many challenges. In order to achieve a successful long-term recycling program, Montana needs to: create a strong infrastructure, establish efficient, affordable and convenient collection systems, and to develop "markets" for recyclables.

Even with these overwhelming challenges, the staff at the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) works hard to increase recycling opportunities, to develop markets for the recyclables collected here, and to increase public awareness of current recycling opportunities.

Annual Savings & Greenhouse Gas Impacts from Recycling

Contamination is the Killer in Glass Recycling

The amazing thing about glass is that it is 100 percent recyclable. It does not wear out and can be recycled over and over again without any reduction in the quality of new glass products. All types of glass have different chemical make-ups that alter their capability to be recycled. Container glass is the only glass that can be turned into cullet to be sold back to bottling plants for the use of furnace-ready cullet. Glass manufacturers have extremely high standards, any foreign material that makes it past the glass recycling processing equipment can cause imperfections in containers, making it potently unsafe to the consumer. This is a big liability concern for the glass manufacturer. The success of glass recycling depends on good quality glass coming back for processing, free from contamination.

What Contaminates Glass?

Some glass products are not suitable for recycling. They contain heavy metal oxides that can contaminate recycled glass and result in imperfection and poor quality product. Even the smallest amount of contamination will alter the chemistry of glass recycling, making the final product unusable. Contaminants include:

• Ceramics (dinner plates, coffee mugs)
• Window glass & mirrors
• Plastic, tin, aluminum lids/tabs
• Pyrex glass
• Wired glass
• Crystal & drinking glasses
• Light bulbs or tubes

Example of ceramic contamination.

Just one ounce of ceramic can contaminate a whole ton of glass. The whole ton of glass then has to go to the landfill, because there is no way to efficiently separate out the contamination.

Example of iron contamination

Many people wonder why there are three colors used in the manufacturing of glass bottles. The reason is a simple. Most products are placed in clear bottles, called flint, to enhance product appeal. However, some products degrade if exposed to sunlight. Bottling companies make green or amber (brown) glass to enable longer product shelf life. This is why bottling plants only accept one of the three colors for processing. There is no special equipment to separate glass into three colors, so separation is done by hand. This may be performed by the recycler collecting the glass or by the public dropping off glass at separating bins. Rinsing containers to remove traces of food and beverages helps with odors that attract insects and rodents. Also, be careful not to break the containers when depositing the glass into collection bins, this ensures better safety for yourself and recycling workers. Quality control is a job we must all perform!

Please only deposit glass bottles and jars in the recycling bins!

Glass Pulverizer

At one time, a mobile glass pulverizer, owned by Headwaters Cooperative Recycling, helped meet some of the challenges regarding recycling glass in Montana. The pulverizer processed scrap glass into cullet (aggregate) which was appropriate for the uses described below. Unfortunately, Headwaters closed down and the pulverizer was sold to an out-of-state buyer. That mobile pulverizer is no longer available. However, several other pulverizers are in operation in Montana.

How it operated:

The pulverizer was mounted on a trailer with a generator powered by biodiesel. The pulverizer produced 3/8-inch and 1/8-inch minus cullet. Cullet is reduced glass that resembles gravel or fine sand. 

Below are some of the potential uses for glass cullet:

The 1/8-inch minus glass cullet (fine sand) can be used in bunkers on golf courses. It forms an abrasive dry layer on the land surface, thereby creating conditions that can deter earthworms and add stability. Inter-particle friction is relatively high, making glass sand less susceptible than rounded natural sands to particle interpacking and compaction. It also improves drainage. 

Glass cullet as a fluxing agent in brick manufacturing
In brick manufacturing, the principal raw material is clay supplemented with other materials such as sand, stains and select minerals. Recent research suggests that brick firing temperatures can be reduced by up to 100 degrees Celsius when glass is added at a rate of 10 percent by weight to the clay mix. 

Glass cullet as a granular base material
Pulverized and screened glass cullet can be used as a granular base material. Recent studies of glass aggregate properties suggest that properly processed waste glass is well suited for use as a granular base material.

The Northern Plains Resource Council, located in Billings, used glass cullet in their parking lot, using the pave2 www.invisiblestructures.com recycled pad as the base with glass cullet as the filler.

Glass cullet use in septic tank drain fields
Sand filters are part of a non-proprietary anaerobic septic treatment system in which the sand acts as a mechanical and biological filter. Research suggests that using crushed recycled glass in place of sand may lower construction costs and improve the overall performance of the treatment system. A subdivision built in the Helena area used glass cullet instead of sand and gravel in the filter septic treatment system.

Glass cullet as landscaping material
The pulverizer’s processing method, which removes sharp edges of recycled glass to produce a safe alternative to gravel, sand and other landscape materials, has allowed glass cullet to become a high-profile design element. From rooftop gardens and pathways to hotel lobbies and private homes, cullet is replacing gray river rock with a splash of color. The Helena YMCA used glass cullet for paths around its community gardens.

The DEQ works hard to explore opportunities to recycle glass locally. The department recognizes that expensive hauling costs prohibit recycling programs that rely on out-of-state markets to pay for collected glass. Instead, as with other recyclables, Montana must encourage local businesses or programs to utilize collected materials. Such local businesses or “markets” contribute to cost-effective recycling programs and avoid expenses related to shipping recyclables out of state to industrial processors.

Objective

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s long term objective is to have market development projects establish local glass recycling opportunities. As stated earlier, transportation of glass over long distances for processing makes finding local uses vital to glass recycling in Montana. DEQ’s hopes are to showcase pilot projects to provide credibility that recycled glass cullet can be used in a wide variety of applications that will stimulate demand for the product, and offer a sustainable solution to rural glass recycling. These local markets make a significant impact on the glass cullet market value, especially for added value applications.

The following are examples of pilot projects throughout Montana communities using recycled glass cullet.

Northern Plains Resource Council Glass Parking lot, located in Billings, at 220 South 27th Street.

The parking lot was designed for water conservation. The recycled glass cullet (3/8-inch-minus in size) was placed on a grid of geotextile fabric, which holds the glass cullet in place and allows water to permeate the ground, rather than running into the city’s storm drains.

The DEQ and the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) teamed up to use 1,000 tons of recycled glass from the Boulder landfill in a road project known as the "Curve," northeast of Whitehall. Specifications were written to allow the use of the pulverized glass in a 10 percent uniform pugmill-mix for the base course. The project was very successful and the contractor is willing to use the product for future road projects.

MDT Road Project: Whitehall, Montana

Eliminate: An onsite Wastewater Treatment Company, located in Belgrade (below)

Eliminate is incorporating glass cullet into the coating of its proprietary product: MetaRocks. These rocks provide for nitrogen reduction and overall advanced wastewater treatment. This innovative and environmentally sound practice has given a green spin to the treatment and disposal of waste water.

Billings Fly Ash & Recycled Glass Cullet Project

This project used recycled glass and fly ash as a unique alternative to a standard concrete floor. The High Plains Architects new office building located in Billings had this beautiful floor installed. The floor is composed entirely of pulverized glass and Class 'C' fly ash. There is no gravel, sand, or Portland cement in the two-inch topping slab. The concrete, which has a buff color without any added pigments, was batched by Knife River. After a short curing period, the two-inch topping slab was ground by ProCrete, revealing the multi-colored glass cullet. Finally, the slab was sealed with soy-based finish from Refuge Sustainable Building Center.

The floor is one of many green building features in the 2,000-square foot space built by Tim Davis Construction. High Plains Architects anticipates receiving LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for the project.

Missoula Federal Credit Union Project, Missoula

This is a ground-breaking project with far reaching environmental benefits. It could potentially help change the way construction is approached worldwide. This building will be replacing traditional Portland cement, both structurally (i.e., footings, foundations, slabs, sidewalks, driveways, exterior classing panels, countertops, and flooring) and aesthetically. This will be the first known building in the world to replace all concrete with recycled glass and fly ash. This new cutting-edge mixture of glass and fly ash helps conserve resources. Traditional concrete production is estimated to consume about 10 percent of the world’s resources.

The commercial building (6,711 square feet) used more than 1,000 tons of glass and fly ash in the project. The building sets the mark in saving energy and resources.

Hayfield Subdivision in Helena

Sand filters are part of a non-proprietary anaerobic septic treatment system in which the sand acts as a mechanical and biological filter. Research suggests that using crushed recycled glass in place of sand may lower construction costs and improve the overall performance of the treatment system. Engineers working on the project for a new subdivision in  Helena worked on final approval to replace the sand and gravel used in the sand filter septic treatment system with the glass cullet.

Hayfield has used cullet as septic tank drain field and drain pipe bedding instead of sand 

The Importance of Plastic

Plastics are modern, synthetic materials. Plastics are oil and gas based, and consume less than four per cent of our oil and gas reserves. The superior properties of plastics, such as their hygiene (clean or free from disease causing microorganisms), their fluid and air barrier capacities, and their light weight and durability contribute significantly to our health and quality of life. The tremendous growth of the plastics industry is expected to continue. The factors that have contributed to this growth include the energy efficiency of plastic. All studies show that it takes less energy to make a product from plastics than just about any other material. As plastics continue to demonstrate that they are a safe and reliable alternative to traditional materials, new applications will emerge.

Why are there so many different types of plastics?
The reason is that the actual type of plastic used is determined by the demands of the application. For example, if the plastic bottle needs to be squeezable, like a mustard bottle, then it’s going to be made of a different plastic from one that doesn’t need to be squeezable, like a milk jug.

All plastics are not created equal. Some seal in moisture or seal out air more effectively than others. Some are stronger, some lighter, some easier to work with, and some are more economical than other plastics to process. Each plastic type brings a unique blend of properties to the packaging design table and has been engineered to package a particular type of product. For example, PET plastic or "1" plastic, has been specially designed to help soft drinks remain carbonated. This plastic has been designed for an excellent gas and moisture barrier, making it the ideal choice for other applications as well, such as edible oils and salad dressings.

Recycling Plastics
The Department of Environmental Quality promotes recycling and works to develop markets for recyclables within the state. Recycling of all plastic bottles is strongly encouraged, primarily PET 1 and HDPE 2 bottles, because there are well-established end-markets for these types of plastics. Markets for recyclables are the key to recycling success. By building these new markets for other types of plastics, the ease of recycling for all types of plastic will be as available as those for HDPE 2.

Developing local businesses or markets for recyclables is key to successful long-term recycling in Montana. Establishing local markets for recycled materials is important for a number of reasons, including: reduced need to transport collected materials over long distances; reduced need to import raw materials and end products; expansion of the local manufacturing sector; creation of employment opportunities; preservation of natural resources; and expansion of the local tax base.

Why Is Recycling Plastics Important?
Recycling and reuse of plastics have the obvious benefit of decreasing the amount of used plastics that end up in landfills. With increased plastics recycling, fewer natural resources need to be extracted to produce virgin plastic. Producing new plastic from recycled material uses only two-thirds of the energy required to manufacture it from virgin raw materials. Five two-liter recycled PET bottles produce enough fiberfill to make a ski jacket; 36 recycled bottles can make one square yard of carpet.

In addition, a great amount of plastic waste is found in the world's oceans. "The world now uses 230 million pounds of plastic annually ... much of this is for one-trip packaging that is thrown out within a year of production, on average. Because the plastic that enters the ocean tends to fragment, it is likely to remain in the environment for hundreds, if not thousands, of years,” notes Richard Thompson, a researcher at Plymouth University, U.K., who has published two studies on plastics in oceans and the effect on marine animals.

How You Can Recycle Plastics

Recycle Your Plastics - This site is designed to offer an easy-to-use gateway for information on plastics recycling.

Visit Where To Recycle or go to www.Earth911.org to find out what kinds of plastics can be recycled in your area.

Follow these tips when Recycling Plastics

• Rinse your bottles.
• Remove caps from bottles. Caps are made from a different kind of plastic and contaminate the plastic.
  
• Stomping your plastic bottles before placing the crushed bottles in the proper recycling bins will save your community money. So STOMP IT!
• Check with your recycler to see what kinds of plastic the business handles and only put the kinds of plastics your recycler accepts in the bin. Also, unless your recycler asks for more than bottles, only place bottles in recycling containers.

Office Paper

Check with the nearest recycling business, such as Pacific Steel & Recycling, Allied Waste Industries, and BFI to find out if they accept office and mixed paper for drop-off from individuals and businesses. If one of these businesses is not located in your town, be sure to check with your local recycling organization. Also check the Earth 911.org website for locations by typing in your zip code.

Paper Bags

Paper grocery bags can be recycled with cardboard. Please remove any contaminants (trash & non-cardboard items) and put in cardboard collection bins. 

Plastic Shopping Bags

Most grocery stores will accept back plastic shopping bags for recycling. Look for a barrel just inside their doors that is marked for recycling these bags. 

Hint: if you reuse these bags for garbage, please “Tie A Knot” before placing in the garbage. This helps prevent the wind from catching loose plastic bags at the landfill and littering the area surrounding the landfill.

Smoke Detectors

DEQ encourages recycling of smoke detectors because some smoke detectors contain small amounts of radioactive material. Smoke detectors can be recycled by sending them back to the original manufacturer, or taking them to a household hazardous waste collection event. Contact your local public works department to ask about upcoming hazardous waste collection events.

Following is a list of major manufacturers of smoke detectors in the U.S.

• First Alert/BRK brands
  1-800-323-9005
• American Sensors
  1-800-387-4219
• Code One/Firex/Maple Chase
  22820 Thatcher Road
  Downers Grove, IL 60515
• Safety's Sake/Funtech
  388 N. Elliot Creek Road
  Amherst, NJ 14228
• Dicon
  3334 Main Street
  Skokie, IL 60076
• Life Saver/Frynetics, Inc.
  1055 Stevenson Court, Suite 102
  W. Roselle, IL 60172

Printer Cartridges

These retail stores accept inkjet cartridges for recycling.

• Best Buy (cell phones, inkjet cartridges, and rechargeable batteries)
• Recycling for Charities - Protecting our earth while helping charities! Donate your old ink or toner cartridge to be recycled and benefit the charity of your choice!

DEQ staff provide assistance to local and state government employees wishing to learn more about reducing waste, recycling more, and using natural resources wisely. The list of resources and tools here provide information on diverse programs available to help governments manage solid waste and promote sustainable activities.

Local Governments
Pay-As-You-Throw
Waste collection fees are not always obvious to residents. Rate structures that directly tie to the amount of garbage generated can provide incentives for increased recycling, waste reduction and backyard composting activities.

Cooperative Purchasing Program
Local and Tribal Governments can purchase supplies and services in cooperation with the State of Montana through the Cooperative Purchasing Program. This program allows local and tribal governments to benefit from the greater buying power of state government and realize increased savings on many purchases. Local and tribal governments must enter into an agreement with the State of Montana as explained at the above link.

Mercury Containing Lamp Recycling
DEQ urges schools, local and tribal governments to take advantage of the term contract for recycling of fluorescent bulbs that contain mercury. These bulbs should not be thrown out in the trash; rather, they should be recycled. The successful contractor sends trucks on "milk runs" to pick up bulbs from diverse Montana locations in response to requests for service. Review the contract for contact information and specific requirements.
Term Contract T.C. # SPB05-954D, Effective July 1, 2010
 

DEQ Solid Waste Management
DEQ is responsible for regulating solid waste management in Montana. This website provides assistance with solid waste permits, applications, and regulatory requirements.

State employees “Lead by Example” and every one of us can be leaders in Source Reduction, Reuse and Recycling.

Follow the links below to learn how to reduce environmental impacts and promote Sustainable Government.

• Responsible Purchasing
  
  State funds spent wisely will contribute to local economies, encourage production of "healthy-for-us" products, and "close-the-loop" on recycling.

• Source Reduction & Energy Conservation
  
  Tips for reducing energy at work and at home.

• Quick Tips
  
  Find something you can start doing right away!

• Recycle
  
  State-sponsored paper recycling program, battery and cell phone recycling programs, and more.

• Recycling Market Development Task Force (RMDTF)
  
  This task force provides guidance to DEQ and Department of Administration staff regarding responsible or green products to target for increased acquisition, and suggests changes in operations or policies that enable agencies to implement sustainable operating practices.

• Sustainable Operations
  
  State agencies are engaged in diverse sustainable operations that support a healthy Montana economy, while using tax dollars wisely. This waste reduction program is a result of the Montana Integrated Waste Management Act of 1991. The Act directs state government to assume a leadership role in developing and implementing source reduction and recycling programs and in developing markets for the purchase and use of recycled materials. DEQ coordinates this program and provides technical assistance to agencies and state employees.

3Rs in State Government

Tools and Factsheets

Many organizations have developed tools that will help State agencies continue to enhance their Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (3Rs) efforts. State agencies are also learning a great deal from their ongoing 3Rs experiences and developing useful information that can be shared with other agencies and organizations. A sample of these tools and factsheets are available below. We will continue to post new information to help others learn from these experiences as it is developed.

Recycle at Work

Montana State Constitution
Article II Declaration of Rights
Section 3. Inalienable Rights

• States that all persons have a right to a clean and healthful environment.

Article IX Environment and Natural Resources
Section 1. Protection and Improvement.

• The state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations.
• Directs the legislature to provide adequate remedies for the protection of the environmental life support system from degradation (natural resources).

Montana Statutes

75-10-803. Solid waste reduction goal and targets.

(1) It is the goal of the state to reduce, through source reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting, the amount of solid waste that is generated by households, businesses, and governments and that is either disposed of in landfills or burned in an incinerator, as defined in 75-2-103.

75-10-806. State government procurement of recycled supplies and materials.

• Directs the Department of Administration to write purchasing specifications requiring materials/supplies made from recycled materials.

“If the use is technologically practical and reasonably cost-effective.”

• Establishes a goal that 95 percent of paper product purchased by state agencies must be made from post-consumer recycled material.
• Establishes this task force to:
  
  • (a) assist DOA develop purchasing specifications;
  
  
  • (b) develop methods for state government to increase markets for preferred products;
  
  
  • (c) identify procurement barriers that discriminate against preferred products; and,
  
  
  (d) recommend activities for employee educational program.

10x20 Energy Initiative (per Governor Schweitzer’s memo of 1/15/08):

• Directs state agencies to:
  
  “Lead by Example to make smart decisions and changes in state government to address climate change.”
  
   
• Directs agencies to implement the tasks outlined in a 1/15/08 memo from DOA and DEQ.
  
  Includes energy savings recommendations, and “buying green products.”

Measure and Calculate Savings

Use these online calculators to measure reduced environmental impacts, including energy saved, greenhouse gases reduced, avoided pollution, and resources saved.

• Report the results in the semi-annual reports on agency efficiency to the Department of Administration.
• And report results as part of agency green purchasing activities under the 20x10 Energy Conservation Initiative.

WAste Reduction Model (WARM)
Does your office recycle? Get credit for all your efforts by calculating the reduced environmental impacts of recycling.

WARM calculates and totals GHG emissions that would occur if a measured amount of waste is recycled, composted or landfilled. The EPA model calculates emissions in metric tons of carbon equivalent (MTCE), metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2E), and energy units (million BTU) across a wide range of material types commonly found in municipal solid waste (MSW).

Recycled Content (ReCon) Tool
Does your office buy recycled-content products? Use this calculator to get credit for your purchases. The EPA Recycled Content (ReCon) Toolestimates life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy impacts from purchasing and/or manufacturing recycled-content materials.

Paper Calculator
Make better choices about the paper used in your office. Placing paper in the recycling bin is just the beginning of the recycling loop – close the loop and support recycling by purchasing the highest recycled-content paper affordable.

Use this calculator provided by the Environmental Defense Fund to calculate the wood, water and energy saved, as well as trash and pollution avoided. Change to 100% recycled-content paper for the most impact. (See Buy This – Not That Handout) for Central Stores product information).

Electronics Stewardship Calculator
Starting soon, state term contracts for computers will be required to meet EPEAT standards for recyclability, fewer toxic ingredients, less packaging, energy efficiency, and more. Visit the EPEAT site before purchasing new computers. 

Energy Star Savings Calculators
Scroll down the page to find energy savings calculators for consumer and commercial equipment ranging from building materials, to computers to dishwashers.

Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator
Can’t make sense of all those GHG numbers and equivalents? Use this calculator to turn those numbers into something easier to understand.

Developed by the US Climate Technology Cooperation, this calculator expresses GHG data in a way that is easier to comprehend, such as number of cars, gallons of gasoline, acres of forest, etc.

For more information and to seek assistance contact:

Dusti Johnson
Recycling and Market Development Specialist
406-444-6499
dujohnson@mt.gov

Find "Green" Contract Language

Proposals for Bid and final contract language are tools that provide important instructions for vendors. Use these tools to ensure that the products and services needed by your agency contribute to personal and environmental health.

The State Procurement Office already includes requirements for recycled-paper and many recycled-content products. Many of their contracts also require energy-efficient products and products with fewer hazardous ingredients.

Consider this:

• Many products today contain substances known to be carcinogenic or toxic.
• Sick Building Syndrome: Reduce exposure to toxic gas released from products containing formaldehyde, phthalates and other harmful ingredients that change the quality of air we breathe.
• Many, many alternatives are available to manufacturers –your contract could be the push they need to reduce the harmful ingredients in their products!
• Ask us for help!
• Product Stewardship Institute (PSI)
  PSI is a membership-based organization that encourages product design changes to reduce the health and environmental impacts of consumer products.
  • The Department of Environmental Quality has joined PSI and participates in national discussions with manufacturers, retailers, federal agencies and environmental groups working to work towards solutions regarding federal electronics stewardship legislation, reducing use of mercury and other harsh chemicals in products, and much more.

Find "Green" Products

Montana-Specific:

• Organic Consumers Association keeps an online Directory of Eco-Friendly Products in Montana
• Western Sustainability Exchange. Provides information on sustainable food grown in Montana, as well as some sustainable products.

Other Resources:

• U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance
  A great source for “green” contract language. Also a one-stop source for public agency access to a broad line of environmentally certified products and services.
• GreenSeal.org 
• SCS Eco-Products
  Currently certified products include office furniture systems, components, and seating, building materials, carpet and rug, hard surface flooring, paints, finishes, wood products, and cleaning products, among others.

Using the state’s purchasing power to “Close the Loop” and create markets for recyclables.

Recognizing that we need to create our own markets for recyclables here in Montana, this task force was created to use the state’s purchasing power to create demand for products with recycled content.

The Task Force was created to provide direction for state procurement personnel regarding environmentally-friendly products to target for purchase, explore new green purchasing initiatives, and encourage policy changes that create more environmental stewardship opportunities for agencies and employees.

Current Activities and Priorities:

• Advocate for purchase 100% recycled-content copy paper.
• Increase awareness of Universal Waste management (recycling) requirements for spent fluorescent lamps as agencies complete lighting retrofits.

The Department of Environmental Quality has primary responsibility for the task force, but shares this responsibility with the Department of Administration. Please contact Dusti Johnson with any further questions.

Source reduction is an important part of reducing impacts. Buying only what is needed, seeking recyclable products, reducing paper use, and similar actions reduce costs and promote sustainable operations.

State agencies routinely seek to lower operating costs by increasing energy efficiency and promoting energy conservation. 

Responsible Purchasing
Purchasing Energy Star-rated equipment, recycled-content products and other sustainably-made products helps reduce overall energy use, while encouraging market development of such products.

• Re-Use Tips for the Office (68KB)
• Source Reduction Tips for the Office (145KB)
• Set Printer Default to 2-Sided Printing
• Paper Recycling for State Offices (84 KB)

Energy Conservation Tips for Your Desktop