Page 27 from: March 2008
have the capability to produce more
than 300 million pounds of its engi-
neered rubber powder which it sells
to manufacturers in the automotive,
rubber, plastics and other polymer
product-consuming industries.
‘We continue to see great demand
for our ultra-fine rubber powder
across the tyre, plastics, carpet, coat-
ings and other industrial manufac-
turing industries,’ says Anthony
Cialone, founder and Chief Operat-
ing Officer of Lehigh. ‘The final four
states are aggressive in helping to
bring new economical and environ-
mental products to market. Their
commitment to clean technology and
products that take on environmen-
tal sustainability is great, making
them terrific candidates as we in-
crease the volume of our rubber pow-
der.’
The Staubach Company, a Texas-
based real estate advisory firm, is
leading the quest to identify the best
locations for the new plants.
Telecom firms
dial into
recycling
A number of large cell phone
manufacturers, as well as service
providers, have joined the US Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency’s Plug-
In to eCycling programme to pro-
mote the recycling of cellular tele-
phones. Partners in the scheme
include AT&T Wireless, Best Buy,
LG Electronics, Motorola, Nokia, Of-
fice Depot, Samsung, Sony Ericsson,
Sprint, Staples and T-Mobile.
To kick off the campaign, the EPA
has released a series of public service
announcements carrying the message
‘Recycle Your Cell Phone. It’s An Easy
Call’. These are intended to highlight
the convenience and environmen-
tal/social benefits of recycling a cell
phone. EPA has also introduced a
podcast that addresses many common
questions on cell phone recycling.
Further information about the
cell phone recycling campaign can be
found at: www.epa.gov/cellphone
EPA rules on
mercury release
from EAFs
The US Environmental Protec-
tion Agency has issued new air emis-
sion standards for mercury released
from steelmakers’ electric arc fur-
naces. The rules require facilities to
buy motor vehicle scrap from
providers that participate in an
EPA-approved programme for the
removal of mercury switches.
Known as the National Vehicle
Mercury Switch Recovery Program,
this is designed to remove mercury-
containing switches from scrap vehi-
cles before these are flattened, shred-
ded and melted to make new steel.
The switches have been used for light-
ing in hoods and trunks, as well as in
the anti-lock braking systems of many
vehicles manufactured prior to 2003.
US battery
collection jumps
increases
The Rechargeable Battery Recy-
cling Corporation (RBRC), a non-
profit public service organisation in
the USA dedicated to recycling
rechargeable batteries and cell
phones, has reported a 12% increase
in collection totals. More than 6.3 mil-
lion pounds (2.8 million kg) of
rechargeable batteries have been re-
cycled in the USA and Canada
through its Call2Recycle programme.
‘We are proud to report an in-
crease in rechargeable battery col-
https://www.scrap.org
lection numbers this year, which is a
true testament to the efforts and
participation of our many retail, con-
sumer and community partners who
have joined forces to further raise
awareness of rechargeable battery
recycling,’ comments Doug Smith,
Chairman of the RBRC’s board of di-
rectors and Director of Corporate
Environmental Affairs at Sony Elec-
tronics. ‘Additional factors such as
state and local legislation and grass-
roots involvement have helped boost
overall environmental awareness
and underscore the importance of
rechargeable battery recycling.’
Call2Recycle is a nationwide
rechargeable battery and cell phone
recycling scheme which is designed
to provide a convenient means of col-
lecting and recycling old cell phones
and used rechargeable batteries
found in cordless electronic prod-
ucts, such as cordless power tools,
two-way radios, cordless and cellu-
lar phones, lap-top computers, digi-
tal cameras and camcorders.
Steinert
honoured for
innovation
German firm Steinert Elektromag-
netbau GmbH and its Separation
Technology business unit has been ho-
noured for its innovation. Professor
Andreas Pinkwart, Germany’s region-
al Minister of Innovation, Science, Re-
search and Technology presented a
certificate marking its achievements
to Steinert GmbH’s Managing Direc-
tor Franz Heiringhoff.
In his tribute to the award winner,
Dr Hjalmar Kuntz, Chairman of the
jury, praised in particular Steinert’s
continuous product development and
its thoroughly international approach
to market development. In lauding
Steinert as a ‘hidden champion’, Dr
Kuntz said medium-sized companies
from North Rhine-Westphalia were
among the driving forces of the Ger-
man economy.
R O U N D U P
Recycling International • March 2008 27
RI_034 Round Up:Round Up 28-02-2008 15:28 Pagina 27
