Buy It Again!
Newsletter of the New Jersey Buy Recycled Business Network –Winter, 2002

Reuse is the Name of the Game at the Trenton Materials Exchange

Companies in the Mercer County area no longer need to throw out used office furniture or office equipment when remodeling or upgrading equipment as these items can instead be donated to the Trenton Materials Exchange where they will be showcased and resold to non-profits, schools, small businesses and the general public for minimal handling fees. This unique non-profit organization was established in 1999 by Carol Royal who recognized that much of what gets discarded by companies is still in fine condition and can be reused by others for many years to come.

With its focus on educating the public about reuse, the organization soon started accepting obsolete computers, used medical equipment and donated building supplies. Used computers are carefully inspected and provided to Trenton day care centers or sent to a facility that disassembles the computers for reuse or recycling of their internal components. Medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, crutches, canes and hospital beds, is donated by those in the medical field or by individuals no longer in need of such equipment and is available to the general public, as well as to charitable organizations. Used, discontinued and slightly nicked building materials are also available at the Trenton Materials Exchange. In addition to items such as kitchen cabinets, doors, windows, tubs and sinks, the facility also has architectural artifacts available.

Through the efforts of the Trenton Materials Exchange, almost 350,000 tons of usable equipment was kept out of landfills from January, 2000 through December, 2001. In recognition of its work, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection presented its 2001 Source Reduction Award to the Trenton Materials Exchange. The facility is located at 800 New York Avenue in Trenton and can be contacted at 609-278-0033. The organization’s website, www.TMEx.org, includes a detailed list of those items that are available at the facility.

The Road to Sustainability

 

The strategic initiatives that New Jersey State government is pursuing to achieve the goals of a "Sustainable State" are the subject of a new report that was recently released by the Office of the Governor. The report, entitled "Governing with the Future in Mind: Working Together to Enhance New Jersey’s Sustainability and Quality of Life," also includes a number of broad strategic recommendations.

By definition, a "Sustainable State" is one that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs," (1987 Report of the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development). Increased procurement of recycled products and other environmentally-preferable products is one of the key recommendations found in the report, as is the creation of an Environmental Procurement Specialist position in the Department of Treasury. The report also highlights the New Jersey Buy Recycled Business Network as an innovative private sector purchasing network.

"Governing with the Future in Mind" is available on the Department of Environmental Protection’s web site at www.state.nj.us/dep/.

Marcal Still Going Strong

For over 50 years, Marcal Paper Mills, Inc. of Elmwood Park, New Jersey has produced high quality napkins, facial tissues, bath tissue and paper towels from recycled magazines, advertising mail, glossy catalogs and school and office paper. The company’s paper products are made with virtually 100% recycled content and are available for use in the home, as well as in settings outside the home. Marcal’s manufacturing process keeps thousands upon thousands of tons of paper out of landfills and incinerators every year.

Marcal also produces recycled content absorbents made from the natural clay and unusable paper fibers removed during the recycling process. Clay is derived from the recycling of glossy paper, such as that found in magazines. For further information about Marcal products, visit www.marcalpaper.com.

Did You Know…

  • According to a recent report by the Northeast Recycling Council, the multi-state recycling organization has received commitments from newspaper publishers in the Northeast that will ensure that 86% of the newsprint used in the northeast will have an average recycled content rate of 27%.
  • A new line of terrazzo tile products from Wausau Tile uses recycled glass instead of stone chips. The new tile contains approximately 60% recycled glass by weight and is stronger and more water-resistant than conventional tile. For more information, visit www.wausautile.com.
  • Tyvek envelopes are made from recycled milk and water jugs and contain 25% post-consumer recycled content. Visit www.dupont.com/Tyvek/envelopes for more information.
  • The U.S. Navy has begun a pilot project wherein plastic soda bottles and other plastic containers generated on a ship are compacted and sent to I-Rock Industries in Bradley, Illinois for recycling into pier fenders for a Navy shipyard.
  • McDonald’s is testing an Earthshell biodegradeable Big Mac container that is made from reclaimed potato starch, limestone, water, biodegradeable polymer and wax coatings and post-consumer recycled paper. For more information on Earthshell, visit www.earthshell.com.
  • PREFORM Mfg. Inc. of Germany is now beginning operations in the United States with a high tech line of business furniture made from over 80% recycled content raw materials. Visit www.preformpanels.com for more information.
  • Husky Products, Inc. offers a high-quality 100% recycled paper (40% post-consumer) for the same price as virgin paper. Contact Dawn Reske at 248-624-7070 or visit http://www.huskyenvelope.com/html/recycled.html for further information.
  • According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association, there are currently 110 new products made from scrap tires. Visit www.rma.org for more information.

SmartWood a Smart Option

Trees that are removed from residential properties and urban settings in New Jersey are usually chipped and marketed as recycled mulch. While this approach is well established, successful and beneficial to the environment as opposed to disposing of the material as waste, there is another option being pursued by D. Stubby Warmbold of Ewing, New Jersey. Mr. Warmbold has established a business that utilizes whole trees generated by residential and urban tree removal projects to make new products such as kitchen cabinets, furniture, flooring and molding. These high value products are produced by Mr. Warmbold’s network of Amish saw mills in Pennsylvania and are marketed under the SmartWood Rediscovered name.

By using trees from these sources for its manufacturing operation, the company is helping to create a more diversified recycled wood market and helping to preserve forests and forest wildlife. Contact D. Stubby Warmbold at 609-538-8680 or at Stubwarm@aol.com for more on SmartWood Rediscovered products.

NJBRBN News

  • The NJ Buy Recycled Business Network will participate as an exhibitor at the National Association of Purchasing Managers - NJ Innovation Forum at the Hanover Marriott in Whippany on April 10, 2002.
  • A "Buy Recycled" PowerPoint presentation has been developed and is available to any Network member.
  • Please welcome the following company as a new member of the Network:

Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems, Inc., Piscataway – Contact Debbie Manna, 732-562-3244 or dmanna@hcsus.jnj.com.

New Jersey Buy Recycled Business Network
Joseph Verga, Verizon
Co-Chair 973-266-9033 or Joseph.A.Verga@Verizon.com

Steven Rinaldi, NJDEP, Bureau of Recycling and Planning
Co-Chair, 609-984-3438 or SRinaldi@dep.state.nj.us
Editor: Steven Rinaldi Printed on Recycled Paper