Michigan’s northern half is well known for lumber, snow, and wine but thanks to initiatives by Emmet County, it is making a name for itself in the recycling world.  Emmet County, located at the tip of the mitt of the Lower Peninsula has worked for 20 years to build an effective recycling program.  The program continues to grow, thanks in part to the expansion of the County’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF). 

On Friday June 25^, 2010, the County will celebrate the completion of the MRF expansion with a Grand Opening and 20^th Anniversary Party held at 7363 Pleasantview Road in Harbor Springs, Michigan.  The celebration will include a tour of the facility, food, and entertainment. Festivities kick off at 10:00am and run to 3:00pm.  The event is open and free to the general public.

RRS has had the proud distinction to work with Emmet County on not only this MRF expansion project but for many years as they have developed and expanded their recycling program.  RRS would like to say thank you and congrats for all your hard work. 

For more information check out www.EmmetRecycling.org or call  (231) 348-0640 .

Schools’ out for the Summer! Memorial Day may be the unofficial start of summer but summer official begins on June 21^st at 7:28 EDT when the sun will rise to the highest point of the year, know as Summer Solstice.  Summer solstice creates the longest days and shortest nights of the year.  

With the first day of summer quickly approaching, many families are planning their vacations.  Vacations are a great time to relax with your family but, if you aren’t careful, can be detrimental to the environment.  Many people want to get away and explore a new place.  This can mean an increase in fuel consumption, water usage, and waste.  However, there are ways to holiday this summer without increasing your carbon footprint. 

Read the whole story…

Ann Arbor, MI –  Sundays are best know as a day of rest, a day for church and family dinners, and the occasional holiday.  On Sunday June 20, 2010, 64.3 million American fathers will gather with their children and spouses to celebrate Father’s Day.  A holiday first observed on June 19, 1910, Father’s Day is the one day a year set aside for the patriarchs of families, to honor what they do every day for the prosperity and happiness of their family.

First conceived by Mrs. John B. Dodd in 1909 to honor her own father William Smart, a civil war veteran and father who raised his six children alone on a rural farm in eastern Washington State after his wife died during childbirth.  Mrs. Dodd’s vision did not become a reality until 1966, when President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3^rd Sunday of June as Father’s Day.

Today, a hundred years after the first Father’s Day was observed in Spokane, WA, more than 50 countries around the world celebrate dads on the 3^rd Sunday in June.

RRS would like to wish all Father’s a happy and green Father’s Day!

Oak Brook, IL – Last week the Illinois Recycling Association kicked off their annual conference held this year in Oak Brook, IL.  This year’s conference “Greening Illinois Together” was a joint venture with the Illinois Chapter of SWANA.

RRS consultants Anna Collinson and Katy Duggan-Haas were stationed at the RRS/Carton Council booths where attendees learned about adding aseptic packaging to their program, had an opportunity to win a basket of goodies, and completed the  State of Illinois Recycling Opportunities Survey 2010.

The  State of Illinois Recycling Opportunities Survey 2010 is a joint project with the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) designed to help analyze the scope and direction of their future recycling related initiatives.  The data will be used as a tool for local recycling officials to more accurately respond to recycling opportunities in the State.  Ms. Collinson also be shared what had been collected so far during a breakout session on Wednesday June 9^th.

Collinson says “the survey is an important step in determining recycling opportunities in the State.  I encourage anyone who works in the recycling industry in Illinois, whether you are a government official, hauler or processor, to fill out the survey.”

On Tuesday June 8^th at 10am Anna also presented on ReTRAC during the “Measuring Waste Generation” break out session.  ReTRAC is an online tool for municipalities to track their waste generation and is a part of the Emerge tracking products.

RRS was the “carbon sponsor” helping to make this event carbon neutral.

Ann Arbor, MI – The beginning of June celebrates two eco-inspiring holidays – World Environment Day (June 5) and World Ocean Day (June 8).  As both United Nations holidays remind us to not only celebrate our Earth’s biodiversity, they call us into action to share our planet and its resources to protection this amazing biodiversity. Read the whole story…

Flint, MI –  Transforming human, farm and forest waste materials into fuel for furnaces and engines may be nothing new in Sweden, but it has only recently gained attention in the U.S.

And the Mott Foundation’s hometown of Flint, Michigan, is playing a lead role in the domestic development of this alternative energy.

The Center for Energy Excellence at Kettering University, a Mott grantee located in Flint, and other local partners have been working with Swedish Biogas International (SBI) since September 2008 on the design and launch of a $7-million biogas processing facility in Genesee County.  The facility, expected to be operational in early 2011, will transform waste materials from an adjacent water treatment facility into biogas, a low-cost, renewable energy frequently used for heating.

The project’s second phase, also to be spearheaded by Kettering, will focus on upgrading the biogas product into biomethane, which could be used to fuel the City’s mass transit and public utility vehicles. Read the whole story…

Flint, MI –  Creating a sustainable community requires more than adopting good environmental practices, says Martin Seaman, a vice president and senior consultant with Resource Recycling Systems (RRS), an environmental and engineering firm based in Ann Arbor.

It also means expanding living wage jobs in growing industries; building affordable, quality housing; and promoting health and wellness throughout the population. And, he notes, it requires that such strategies be connected and responsive to one another. Read the whole story…