DNREC revises proposed amendments to Aboveground Storage Tank Regulations and reopens public comment period

DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Waste & Hazardous Substances has reopened the public comment period and revised proposed amendments to Delaware’s Regulations Governing Aboveground Storage Tanks, as set forth in 7 DE Admin. Code 1352. The 30-day public comment period regarding the revised proposed amendments will be from Feb. 1 through DNREC close of business March 3.

The Department has revised the proposed amendments based on comments received prior to the Dec. 21, 2016 end of the initial public comment period. The revisions also correct formatting errors found in the original proposed amendments. The purpose of the proposed regulatory action is to clarify technical requirements applicable to aboveground storage tank (AST) systems and specify applicable industry-based reference standards published by the American Petroleum Institute and other trade organizations. Additionally, the regulations propose minimum distances for locating new ASTs near private and public wells consistent with requirements set forth by DNREC’s Well Permitting Regulations. Also, actions required in terms of both reporting and corrective action when AST releases occur have been updated to provide greater clarify and specificity.

The revised proposed regulations were published in the Feb. 1, 2017 edition of the Register of Regulations and can be viewed on the DNREC website at http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/tanks/Pages/AST-Program.aspx

A public hearing on the initial draft of the proposed amendments was held Dec. 6, 2016. An additional public hearing will NOT be held on the revised proposed amendments unless the Secretary of DNREC receives a request. Comments may be emailed to Lisa Vest or sent by US Mail to Lisa Vest, Hearing Officer, DNREC, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

This proposed promulgation falls under the Regulatory Transparency and Accountability Acts of 2015, which requires that agencies proposing new or amended regulations that affect small businesses or individuals to submit a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (RFA) and Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS). Both these documents are available on the Delaware.gov website, and include consideration and addressing of possible economic impacts of the proposed regulatory amendments.

Media contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 47, No. 27

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Recycling Public Advisory Committee to meet Wednesday, Jan. 25 in Dover

DOVER – Delaware’s Recycling Public Advisory Council (RPAC) will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, in the Sussex Conference Room, Department of Insurance, 841 Silver Lake Blvd., Dover, DE 19904.

RPAC agenda topics include:

  • Call to order, introductions
  • Public comments (20-minute cap, priority given to written comments)
  • Approval of minutes from Nov. 16 meeting
  • Cycle 8 Marketing Firm recipient introduction
  • DSM Environmental – Presentation on Waste Characterization and Recovery Rate Reports
  • RPAC Annual Report presentation
  • Universal Recycling Regulations update
  • Recycling market update
  • Old/new business
  • Additional public comments

The Recycling Public Advisory Council was enacted into law by Senate Bill 234 in May, 2010, and charged with advising the Governor’s Office, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, and the Delaware Solid Waste Authority on all aspects of recycling, including: development of grant criteria and selection of applications; a methodology for measuring recycling rates; and possible outreach activities designed to achieve higher recycling rates.

For more information about RPAC, please visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/whs/awm/Info/Pages/RPAC.aspx.

For more information or for directions to the meeting location, please contact Bill Miller, DNREC Solid & Hazardous Waste Management Section, at 302-739-9403.

Media Contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 47, No. 19

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Christmas tree recycling, a Delaware post-holiday tradition, carries on across the state

Take your tree to a yard waste site or contact your waste collector for opportunities to give back to the environment through recycling

DOVER – Delawareans are encouraged to give their recycling spirit a boost after the holiday season by delivering their Christmas trees to one of many yard waste recycling facilities located throughout the state. Please note that Christmas trees are no longer accepted for recycling at any Delaware State Park locations.

Christmas trees will be accepted free of charge for recycling from Delaware residents at facilities listed below. Residents may bring in their trees as as late as Jan. 30, but first should contact a facility for specific hours and details. Trees will not be accepted from commercial haulers or tree vendors without prior approval from a yard waste facility. Also, Christmas tree decorations, including hooks, wire, tinsel and ornaments, as well as wood and metal tree stands, must be removed from all trees before dropping them off for recycling.

“Many Delawareans have been recycling their Christmas trees for many years, and we encourage everyone to establish or continue this eco-friendly tradition,” said Bill Miller, program manager in DNREC’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Section. “Recycling Christmas trees that are a product of nature is a wonderful way of giving back to the environment.”

Christmas tree recycling also saves valuable landfill space. At least 23 percent of residential waste in the state is composed of grass, leaves, brush, trees and other lawn maintenance and landscaped materials. Prior to Delaware’s yard waste bans, these materials – considered a resource for recycling rather than waste – were deposited in landfills, using capacity while at the same time limiting local markets for mulch and compost products.

Many entities across the state also collect Christmas trees, including various waste haulers and landscapers. Your regular trash hauler may offer special collections for Christmas trees in January. Kent County will collect Christmas trees from Jan. 9-13 and Jan. 16-20 (on your regular trash day) for customers in trash districts that have yard waste collection service.

Christmas trees – again with the stipulation that they are stripped of all decorations and detached from tree stands – can be dropped off by Delaware residents for free at any of the following locations:

New Castle County

Polly Drummond Hill Road Community Yard Waste Demonstration Site
Located in the Pike Creek area on Polly Drummond Hill Road, about 1/2 mile north of Kirkwood Highway.
Hours: Saturdays and Sundays ONLY, 8 a.m. – sunset, through Jan. 15. The site will close on Jan. 16 and reopen April 1 (More info: www.dnrec.delaware.gov/yardwaste)

South Chapel Yard Waste Site (operated by Holland Mulch)
1034 S. Chapel Street, Newark, DE 19702; phone 302-737-1000
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m. – noon*

Copeland’s Mulch Depot (free for trees purchased at Copeland’s; otherwise $2)
2 Honeysuckle Drive, Stanton, DE 19804; phone 302-633-9536
Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.- 1 p.m.*
Closed until Jan. 2.

Sussex County

Blessings Greenhouses
9372 Draper Road, Milford, DE 19963; phone 302-393-3273
Hours: Monday-Saturday 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.*

Grizzly’s Landscape Supply Service
18412 The Narrow Road, Lewes, DE 19958 (phone 302-644-0654)
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.*

Mr. Mulch
22288 Coverdale Road, Seaford, DE 19973 (phone 302-629-5737)
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.*

Millville Organic Center
Whites Neck Road (0.5 miles North of Rt. 26) Millville, DE 19967 (phone 302-423-2601)
Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.*

Selbyville Pet and Garden Center (free for active customers within the last 6 months)
38205 DuPont Boulevard, Selbyville, DE 19975 (phone 302-436-8286)
Hours: Thursdays and Fridays 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.*

Stockley Materials
25136 DuPont Boulevard, Georgetown, DE 19947 (phone 302-856-7601)
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.*

*Please call ahead as businesses may alter their hours of operation around the holidays.

Only Christmas trees from Delaware residents will be accepted for free. Please note that facilities may charge a fee for other yard waste. Also that there are other locations than those listed above throughout the state also accept Christmas trees for recycling, but charge a fee for the service. For information on other yard waste drop-off sites in Delaware, go to: www.dnrec.delaware.gov/yardwaste and click “Yard waste drop-off options.”

Delawareans are also reminded that DNREC’s Polly Drummond Hill Road yard waste site is closing Jan. 16, 2017, and is tentatively scheduled to reopen on April 1, 2017.

For more information about yard waste, visit DNREC’s website, www.dnrec.delaware.gov/yardwaste or call 302-739-9403 ext.1.

Media contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 427


DNREC reminds Delawareans to make the holiday season another recycling season

Simple ways for reducing holiday trash, saving landfill space and protecting the environment

DOVER – From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, Americans throw away 25 percent more trash than at any other time of year. Boxes, wrappings, packaging and party goods add tons of extra garbage to Delaware’s landfills. When deposited in a landfill, a Christmas tree can take up as much space as a washing machine. Thus DNREC reminds Delawareans that holiday time is the right time to reduce your “waste-line” while helping the environment – by recycling your Christmas tree along with all those extra mail order boxes, gift-wrapped packages, tags and cards.

“It’s easier than ever to recycle holiday materials through Delaware’s Universal Recycling program,” said Bill Miller, program manager in DNREC’s Solid & Hazardous Waste Management Section. “Universal Recycling is single stream, meaning cardboard, paper, junk mail, plastic containers, glass bottles and metal cans can all get tossed into your recycling container for curbside pickup or dropped off at a Delaware Solid Waste Authority recycling drop-off center.”

Single-stream recycling collection service is included with trash collection service at all single and multi-family residences. It is also available to all businesses, non-profits, organizations, municipalities, and schools in Delaware. An updated “How to Recycle” guide is online at www.recycling.delaware.gov. The guide’s center page features a handy list with images of items that are accepted for recycling in Delaware.

Electronics, plastic bags, and Styrofoam are not accepted in single-stream recycling programs. Here are some helpful tips to recycle these and other materials this season, as well as reduce waste year-round:

  • Recycle unwanted boxes, wrapping paper (without foil backing), card stock type gift tags, cards and envelopes along with all the holiday catalogues and promotional mail. These items can go in your curbside recycling bin or be taken to a recycling drop-off center.
  • Recycle your Christmas tree. Trees must be free of all ornaments, lights and other trimmings, as well as tree stands. Information on free drop-off options for Christmas trees can be found in another DNREC press release issued today. For other management options, contact your waste hauler or visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/yardwaste. Also, please note: Christmas trees are no longer accepted at Delaware State Parks.
  • Collect and reuse boxes, tissue paper, ribbons, bows and other gift decorations for next year. Save used holiday cards to cut up as gift tags for next year.
  • Take plastic retail bags back to grocery stores and other retailers. Plastic bags cannot be recycled in single-stream recycling programs. However, most stores have collection containers for plastic bags (usually located near the entrance or customer service area).
  • Recycle your old electronic devices. Some manufacturers and retailers have free take-back programs (e.g. Staples, Dell, etc.). The Delaware Solid Waste Authority also offers drop-off sites and collection events for electronics in Delaware.
  • Donate usable toys, appliances, clothing, and household goods to organizations like Goodwill, the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity. Support those retail outlets as great options for gifts, clothing, and building supplies.

More information can be found at recycling.delaware.gov or by calling DNREC’s Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances at 302-739-9403.

Media Contact: Melanie Rapp, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 428

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Gov. Markell, DNREC Sec. Small announce $714,076 in recycling grants awarded to schools, businesses and municipalities

Announcement held at H.O. Brittingham Elementary School in Milton

MILTON – Governor Jack Markell and DNREC Secretary David Small were joined by Delaware Recycling Public Advisory Council Chair B.J. Vinton today to announce $714,076 in recycling assistance grants to schools, businesses and municipalities (PDF) for projects that develop or expand waste reduction, reuse or recycling activities. The announcement was held at H.O. Brittingham Elementary School in Milton, whose recycling program was showcased as a recipient of a state recycling award.

DNREC’s Recycling Assistance Grant Program is marking its sixth year as a competitive, matching grant program. The program encourages recipients to provide at least 25 percent of the total project cost in either cash or in-kind services. Since the grant program’s inception, 112 grants, totaling more than $8.5 million, have been awarded to bolster recycling activities in the state.

“Delaware has made great strides in universal recycling – establishing a system that provides services that are cost effective and convenient for every residence and business, and that promotes jobs and economic growth,” said Gov. Markell. “As a result, in less than 6 years, we have gone from modest recycling statewide to diverting nearly 43 percent of recyclables from our landfills – ranking among the nation’s leaders in recycling. The grants we are announcing today make it possible for us to increase diversion rates even more.”

“At the outset of his administration, Gov. Markell made recycling a priority for Delaware,” said DNREC Sec. Small. “I want to thank the Governor, under whose leadership Delaware’s Universal Recycling Law, policies and programs have reduced landfill waste, conserved natural resources, saved Delawareans money, reduced greenhouse gases and improved the health of residents. As a result, 347,000 households receive curbside recycling service and an estimated 20,000 multi-family households receive recycling collection.”

Delaware’s Recycling Public Advisory Council (RPAC) is charged with advising the Governor, DNREC, and the Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) on all aspects of recycling, including developing grant criteria and selection of applications, the methodology for measuring recycling rates and outreach activities designed to achieve higher recycling rates. Council Chair B. J. Vinton said. “The Universal Recycling legislation will benefit Delaware for generations to come. As a result of the law, more than $17 million in investments and over 120 direct jobs have been created in the state. If we continue on the track set for us by the law, we will more than double the useful life of our existing landfills and stave off the need for new landfills by decades.”

In this year’s grant cycle, H.O Brittingham Elementary School, where state and local officials gathered today for the awards announcement, received a grant which will be used to expand school-wide recycling by providing recycling containers for classrooms and hallways and purchasing reusable water bottles for students that will reduce waste, save money and help create a sustainable earth.

Cape Henlopen School District Superintendent Robert S. Fulton was on hand to watch students explain their recycling program to Gov. Markell and to applaud the success of the Delaware schools and districts awarded recycling grants this year.

]“With so many of our schools participating in recycling through the grant program we not only increase the recycling rate, but, also, a whole generation learns the value and process of recycling and will carry that learning home to influence parents and others in their communities. This is a win-win for recycling in Delaware,” said Superintendent Fulton.

The 2016 grant awardees include eight individual public schools, three school districts, including Red Clay Consolidated, Smyrna, and Dover, and two universities – University of Delaware and Delaware State University. Nine businesses, including waste haulers, service companies, poultry integrators and a railroad maintenance facility, as well as two municipalities – the cities of Rehoboth Beach and Milford – were also awarded grants. (The full list of awardees is attached to this press release.)

Several of the public schools received awards to implement school-wide or district-wide recycling programs, including purchasing recycling bins, desk-side recycling containers, centralized-hallway wheeled carts, and education materials for students, teachers and administration staff. One school, Postlethwait Middle School in the Caesar Rodney School District, will receive an award to expand composting of organic food waste from the school’s cafeteria – an innovative project that will measure how much food is thrown away that could be properly composted and applied to the school’s gardens. Other programs being implemented by businesses, universities and cities include comprehensive recycling programs and recycling education and public awareness campaigns.

In his remarks, Gov. Markell highlighted Delaware’s 2010 Universal Recycling Law that set in motion the first comprehensive recycling program in the state. Universal recycling has provided residents, commercial and institutional entities and non-profits with effective and convenient access to single stream recycling. The program has created jobs and new industry, as well as recycling nearly half of the trash that formerly went to landfills, slowing the need to expand Delaware’s landfills or start new ones. From the year prior to enactment of the Universal Recycling Law (2009) to 2015, an additional 2.9 million tons of recyclables have been diverted from landfills.

Through the Recycling Assistance Grant Program, grants have assisted schools, businesses, communities and non-profits in implementing recycling programs; helped waste haulers and municipalities with the start-up of curbside recycling; funded recycling equipment at businesses and institutions; helped establish recycling companies in the state to collect and process materials; created yard waste drop-off sites; supported the diversion of recyclables that would otherwise be landfill-disposed; and funded recycling outreach and education.

Funding for the grant program came from a $0.04 recycling fee paid by retailers to the State on certain types of beverages sold and from proceeds from Delaware’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative – the program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector. Reducing landfill wastes lowers greenhouse gas emissions from landfills and other sources, supporting Delaware’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.

For more information on DNREC’s recycling assistance grants and about Universal Recycling, contact Bill Miller, or DNREC’s Recycling Team at 302-739-9403, ext. 8, or visit: recycling.delaware.gov.

Media Contact: Melanie Rapp, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 413