MVR NEWSLETTER  SPRING 2010
Webpage version
PLASTICS. Remember the Graduate??  Looks like he was right! Nowadays there are about 540 billion pounds of plastic produced per year, and about a third of that is food contact. That means it gets used once and then recycled or thrown away.  Single serve plastic, is ideally suited to a product like Mirel, a new type of biodegradable plastic developed by ADM, and Metabolix:    www.metabolix.com .
This plastic will bio degrade in the landfill on its own.  Imagine (guilt free) garbage bags made from plants? That would be a good day. We will keep you informed. Meanwhile please continue to separate your plastic into three types … pop/milk/ solid. Check our separation guidelines LINK HERE.
ALUMINUM CANS: ALCOA http://www.alcoa.com/alcoa_recycling/en/home.asp is donating 50,000 Aluminum (Al) can recycle bins across the nation and is committed to donating 1,500 plastic Alcan recycling bins to schools across Montana. The bins are made from corrugated cardboard and will be be distributed by the Montana DEQ , and Recycle Montana, the statewide recycling association.. MVR will notify schools participating in the RITS program, so that we may get our share.
The difference in energy saved recycling aluminum compared to any other recycled commodity is astronomical. That’s why Alcoa Company is donating 1500 recycling bins to schools in Montana.
CARDBOARD: MVR is starting to save non-corrugated cardboard for a local business that will use the material to make postcards for mailings and advertisements, business cards, or whatever you like. They also are using old billboard sign materials to make items. Check their website at: www.retreadwerks.com for more information.

CATALOGS; MVR WILL NOW ACCEPT CATALOGS WITH GLUED BINDINGS. That is because we found a place to take them. See, Andy drops off at Allied Waste, and they don’t want glued bindings, but Pacific said they would take them, so were are asking you to separate them out from magazines so we can get them recycled. Currently Andy has been leaving them in your recycling because we could not drop-off. Now we can. Yippee.
RECYCLING SHEDS FOR THE HOME: THE HAPPY RECYCLER Makes it as easy as possible. A shed in the alley or just inside the fence allows the Happy Recycler to keep it out of the house, and to forget about the recycling pickup day. It suddenly disappears when MVR takes it away to be used again.  A Former employee of MVR, Elias Harms, has made some nice recycling sheds with space for cardboard on top and bins underneath. He uses all recycled materials, and can make them to your specifications at a reasonable cost. Check our website for a picture (photo). You can reach K and E Services at 370-9910.

RECYCLING IN THE SCHOOLS
The Recycling in the Schools program has faced some challenges this year.  Basically, we are looking for more sponsors. The good news is, the amounts we are receiving from the schools have gone up this year. It’s nice to know that Schools that that were not recycling 3 years ago now got it goin ON in the C.
 In some cases, we need more sponsors for additional service.Rockin Rudys is sponsoring Hellgate High,  but twice a month pickup is not enough to take care of that many students. So thanks to Knights of the Round Table, we are now taking about 750 pounds of paper every week.  MVR is co-sponsoring three schools. Tom is happy to provide in-service classroom presentations, and organizing paper drives. Hawthorn is having their third annual paper drive the week of Earth Day.
Spring is always a welcome sight. Please take a minute to make sure your reusable bins are still usable, clean, and have your name and address written on them with permanent ink.
We wish to welcome Costco, Diversified Plastics, Peace of Mind, Pipestone Mountaineering, The Missoula Federal Credit Union, Montana Caregivers, The Stoddard Apartments, and The Garden District, as customers who are now making recycling part of the business model.
 Don’t forget to get your bedding plants in early.

Have a great spring.