In This Issue:

1 | House committee looks to slash EPA budget by $3 billion

The words "cuts" and "tough choices" have been on the lips of many Washington politicians as the president and Congress querulously hash out budgets that will almost certainly slash funding for many government operations. The Environmental Protection Agency, which administers recycling programs, is no exception. Details on the upcoming budgets are still being worked out, but it's clear the EPA will have less money to work with when the dust has settled.

READ MORE>>

2 | PRC 2011: Mapping clear paths to increasing supply

Communities are interested in increasing recycling rates. Plastics recyclers have made significant investments in processing infrastructure. Manufacturers want to plan on consistent material streams. So what�s the key to each? Supply! It is no secret that everyone needs more high-quality material. This session — hosted by the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) — will begin with brief overviews from each stage of the materials management stream: local collection, MRF sortation, reprocessing and application into new consumer goods. But the panel will then engage the audience in a discussion on how best to move past identified supply barriers.

The Plastics Recycling Conference is universally considered a must-attend event for industry insiders and is an excellent opportunity to meet and network with clients, prospective partners, colleagues, vendors and industry leaders. For more information on how to attend the 2011 Plastics Recycling Conference, March 1-2 in New Orleans, visit www.plasticsrecycling.com or click the banner below.

3 | Exports of scrap material up and down in 2010

Scrap exports for 2010 were a mixed bag of results — volumes down, prices up — but was mostly a happy story for exporters of scrap materials in the U.S. The volume of plastic scrap exported in December, at 374.29 million pounds, was down 13.6 percent from its November figure. And, when matched against its December 2009 position, the volume of exports decreased by a minute 0.4 percent.

READ MORE>>

4 | Michigan Recycling Coalition issues state of recycling report

The Michigan Recycling Coalition has unveiled its first report detailing the state of recycling in Michigan. Although it finds that the state lags others in recycling, it does argue that addressing the issue could generate significant economic growth.

READ MORE>>

5 | Chinese fiber demand dips

Paper and paperboard mills in China bought 11.5 percent less recovered paper from foreign suppliers in 2010 in comparison to their year-earlier purchases. Total imports were 26.8 million tons. While imports of mixed paper remained relatively flat in 2010, purchases of old corrugated containers slumped 12.8 percent and imports of old newspapers dropped 17.3 percent.

6 | Greenstar and Waste Pro align

Two large recycling companies have announced a cooperative agreement in the Atlanta, Georgia area that they say will create an economy of scale and enhance both business operations.

READ MORE>>

7 | Coke/KAB bin grant program applications open

Government agencies, civic organizations, schools and nonprofit groups that manage local recycling operations can apply to get a leg-up from a grant program jointly operated by Coca-Cola Recycling and Keep America Beautiful.

READ MORE>>

8 | Sims ends FY2010 strong

Sims Metal Management has released a market update ahead of its financial results for the second half of 2010, revealing a picture of health for the company, which it attributes to strong shipments.

READ MORE>>

9 | CO, WA legislatures introduce bottle bills

Bills have been introduced in the Colorado and Washington legislatures that would add them to the 11 states that have passed legislation enacting beverage container deposit systems.

READ MORE>>

10 | NewsBits

Republic Services sells a lot more recycleables in 2010, Madison crows about its recycling collection while Syracuse moans and the U.S. House eliminates green utensils in its cafeteria — that and more all in this week's NewsBits.

READ MORE>>

11 | Upcoming conferences

Click here for a complete directory of upcoming conferences!

12 | Jobs Available & Sought

Project Manager, Kessler Consulting, Inc. (Tampa, Florida).
Details are available here.

Recycling Programs Supervisor, Orange County Solid Waste Management (Chapel Hill, North Carolina).
Details are available online.

Recycling Coordinator, The Alabama Environmental Council (Birmingham, Alabama).
Details are available online.

Construction Millwright, Global Electric Electronic Processing Inc. (Barrie, Ontario).
Details are available here.

Wireless Process Engineer, Global Electric Electronic Processing Inc. (Barrie, Ontario).
Details are available here.

Project Engineer, Global Electric Electronic Processing Inc. (Barrie, Ontario).
Details are available here.

Recycling Coordinator, Bio-Pappel (Colorado Springs, Colorado).
Details are available here.

Plant Manager, Bio-Pappel (Colorado Springs, Colorado).
Details are available here.

Plastics Business Development, Continental Waste Management LLC (Raleigh, North Carolina).
Details are available here.

PET Procurement Specialist, Perpetual Recycling Solutions (Richmond, Indiana).
Details are available here.

New Business Development Inside Sales Representative, Sims Metal Management (West Chicago, Illinois).
Details are available online.

New Business Development Field Sales Representative, Sims Metal Management (West Chicago, Illinois).
Details are available online.

Account Executive, Sims Metal Management (West Chicago, Illinois).
Details are available online.

Outside Account Representative, Global Green Solutions of Indiana (Indianapolis, Indiana).
Details are available here.

Organics Recycling Operations Manager, Waste Management, Inc. (Southern U.S. Region).
Details are available online, search for job number 102782.

Materials Recovery Facility Manager, Waste Management, Inc. (Minneapolis).
Details are available online, search for job number 102790.

VP Sales and Marketing, Omni Resource Recovery, Inc..
Details are available here.

Various Positions, General Kinematics (Crystal Lake, Illinois).
Details are available online.

Jobs Sought
Database of job seekers available here.

If you would like to submit a job available or job sought listing, send an email to managing editor Dylan de Thomas at [email protected].