NEW CASTLE (August 29, 2013) –With today’s grand opening of ReCommunity’s 35th Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), the largest pure-play recycling company in the United States launches into a 20-year agreement with the Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) to operate a state-of-the-art automated recycling facility that will serve Delaware statewide.

“Recycling is important to Delaware’s economy and environment,” said Governor Jack Markell. “ReCommunity’s investment and their technological innovation perfectly align with statewide universal recycling programs with the goal of turning ‘waste streams’ into economic opportunities for Delaware by ensuring material and resource recovery. We also welcome ReCommunity’s commitment to the state’s recycling requirements – reflecting the company’s recycling leadership in the 21^st century.”

ReCommunity invested $15 million to repurpose the existing 64,000 square foot facility, also installing state-of-the art sorting equipment within the Delaware Recycling Center (DRC) to process recyclable aluminum, plastics, paper, cardboard, tin and glass collected from throughout Delaware. 

“When DSWA reviewed the proposals for green industries at the DRC, it was clear ReCommunity is a leader in the recycling industry,” said Pat Canzano DSWA CEO. “But what was most impressive about them is their commitment to Delaware and the surrounding community.”

DSWA previously assembled the recyclable materials collected in the state at one of two transfer stations and then transported the material to ReCommunity’s MRFs located in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as other MRFs in the surrounding area.  The retrofitted facility now keeps the recycling in state, immediately creating more than 35 new jobs in Delaware, which will hopefully increase to more than 70 jobs over time. 

“ReCommunity exists to help our community partners extract value from their own resources,” said James Devlin, ReCommunity’s Chief Executive Officer. “Delaware is another shining example of our commitment to ‘Leading the Recovery Revolution^TM’ within forward-thinking communities seeking significant positive gains.”

The world-class operation and design showcased within the ReCommunity Delaware facility includes advanced automated sorting capabilities that allow identification, separation and recovery of recyclables.

The BHS-installed equipment includes screening, optical sorting, air and controls technology to recover more than 90 percent of available recyclables. The state-of-the-art facility can process more than 35 tons per hour, with the capacity to handle more than 160,000 tons per year.

At full capacity, ReCommunity Delaware will recover material that will prevent 464,331 metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gases from being emitted annually, which is equivalent to removing 85,045 cars from the road each year.  It will also save 218,587 cubic yards of landfill space and avoid 1,806,539 gallons of wastewater from entering landfills.

“Delaware is rapidly emerging as a national leader in recycling, demonstrating that environmental stewardship and economic prosperity can go hand-in-hand,” said Collin O’Mara, Secretary of  Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. “Through this state-of-the-art facility, DSWA and ReCommunity will reduce material going to landfills, create well-paying jobs, and support new market opportunities for entrepreneurs.”

To celebrate the opening of ReCommunity’s MRF and DSWA’s new Environmental Education Building, DSWA and ReCommunity will host a community Open House event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, September 7 at 1101 Lambsons Lane in New Castle. Families can tour the new ReCommunity MRF and see how recyclables are sorted and processed, as well as view interactive exhibits on recycling, waste collection and landfills on display at DSWA’s Environmental Education Building. In addition, DSWA is holding a collection event of household hazardous waste, paper for shredding and electronic equipment for recycling. For more information on the Open House and collection event, visit DSWA’s website, www.dswa.com.

Vol. 43, No. 336                                                                     -30-

About ReCommunity

ReCommunity, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is a leading recycling and recovery company that is focused on dramatically reducing the volume of landfilled waste. The company aims to lead a Recovery Revolution^TM by repositioning waste as a strategic community resource instead of a growing liability. With 35 facilities in 13 states, ReCommunity enables community partners to create additional revenue, create new jobs, and create a better future. For more information, visit www.ReCommunity.com.

Allows for multimillion dollar industry of harvesting shellfish in Inland Bays

 Rehoboth Beach, DE – Governor Markell signed House Bill 160 today to permit shellfish aquaculture in Delaware’s Inland Bays, allowing the state to reap the economic benefits of a multimillion dollar industry while improving water quality in the bays.

House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf sponsored the legislation following an extensive review of the impact of shellfish aquaculture on the state.  Center for Inland Bays (CIB) led a 14-month effort by a diverse committee of experts and stakeholders to explore the potential of shellfish aquaculture and address the challenges of the project. Working together, they came to agreement on revisions to existing Delaware code and worked to draft proposals.

“Due to the hard work of Speaker Schwartzkopf, Center for Inland Bays and its partners, DNREC, and the Department of Agriculture, we are establishing shellfish aquaculture in a responsible and beneficial way that respects the other activities in our bays,” said Markell at the Center for Inland Bays office on the Indian River Inlet where he was joined by members of CIB’s team. “Supporting this industry represents another example of how we can enact policies that boost our economy and generate millions of dollars for our state, while also better protecting our environment.”

H B 160, authorizes DNREC to direct and control the shellfish aquaculture activities within the Inland Bays and to set criteria for the approval of lease sites and applications for leasing. In 2011, the shellfish aquaculture industry on the East Coast was valued at $119 million, with ten percent annual growth.

As a conservative estimate, shellfish aquaculture in the Inland Bays could realize gross income of more than $2.5 million per year, with a total economic impact of more than $6 million by only using one percent of the total bottom area of the Inland Bays. The bill has a permanent cap on the total lease area at five percent of Rehoboth Bay, five percent of Indian River Bay and ten percent of Little Assawoman Bay. DNREC will be charged with ensuring aquaculture takes place in areas where it does not conflict with other activities, such as boating and recreation.

Speaker Schwartzkopf, whose district includes Rehoboth Bay and abuts Indian River Bay, noted that oyster aquaculture would help greatly in filtering millions of gallons of water daily, removing excess nutrients from the bays.

“I have grown up around the Inland Bays, so I know how much of a treasured resource they are to our community and how big of a tourist attraction they are,” said Rep. Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach. “This is also a resource that can produce millions of dollars in unrealized potential. We have seen states up and down the East Coast benefit from shellfish aqua farming, and we have seen what works and what doesn’t.

“That’s the beauty of this venture – we aren’t moving into uncharted waters. It’s quite the opposite. This will create jobs, produce a local product for our restaurants and clean our Inland Bays. It will create a new multi-million dollar industry in Sussex County. When was the last time that happened?”

 According to CIB, nutrient pollution continues to be the number one problem for Delaware’s Inland Bays.  While aquaculture will not solve all the problems of the Bays, the nutrient removal capacity of shellfish could significantly improve water quality while generating revenue for the local economy.

Using just one percent of the total acreage of the Inland Bays for aquaculture could produce huge environmental dividends. Every day, an amount equivalent to nine to 22 percent of the total volume of water in the Bays would be filtered by the shellfish and over 2,300 pounds of nutrients could be removed from the Bays based on a 3-year harvest cycle.

“Delaware’s Inland Bays are one of our most treasured resources and their restoration demands innovative solutions,” said Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Collin O’Mara.

“Shellfish aquaculture is one such innovative approach, which will improve water quality and habitat of the Inland Bays, while at the same time create a new multi-million dollar industry of locally-grown food, bolstering oyster and clam production and producing new jobs and opportunities for entrepreneurs.   It was a pleasure to work with the Center for the Inland Bays’ Tiger team, Speaker Schwartzkopf and all of the legislators to pass legislation that will move the vision of a thriving shellfish aquaculture industry one step closer to reality in Delaware.”

Members of CIB’s Tiger team also included representatives Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Department of Agriculture, University of Delaware Sea Grant, Sussex County Economic Development, recreation interests, commercial clammers, shellfish aquaculture interests, the Delaware Shellfish Advisory Council, and the University of Maryland Extension Service.

“The Center is very pleased to have coordinated the work of the committee that laid the scientific and educational groundwork for this bill,” said CIB Executive Director Chris Bason. “Convening stakeholders to work together is central to our mission.  I am grateful for all of the community participation and I think the bill truly reflects the hard work and careful deliberations of everyone on the team.”

Photos from the bill signing can be viewed on Flickr.

DOVER – Delaware became one of just five state governments recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for its leadership in the first year of the Better Buildings Challenge.

Launched by President Obama in December 2011, the Better Buildings Challenge is a national leadership initiative that calls on chief executive officers, university presidents and state and local leaders to reduce their portfolio-wide energy use 20 percent by 2020 and then share the results of their energy reduction strategies.

“Since joining the Better Buildings Challenge, we’ve worked hard to find innovative ways to reduce energy consumption in state buildings,” said Governor Jack Markell. “By taking simple steps, like replacing hundreds of incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving alternatives, we’ve achieved real progress in reducing the energy consumption of state government.”

On average, Better Buildings Challenge partners reduced their energy intensity by 2.5 percent in the first year of the initiative. Delaware reduced its energy intensity by 5 percent.

Overall, the State has introduced 12 energy conservation measures (ECMs) at its showcase project, the Carvel State Office Building, ranging from water and lighting improvements to heavy mechanical equipment such as HVAC improvements. Most of these measures have already been completed while others are nearing completion.

Outlined below are some of the energy efficiency initiatives implemented at the Carvel State Office Building:

• Energy efficient lighting for 3,000 bulbs (Completed in April 2012);
• Lighting controls, including installing 400 occupancy sensors (Completed in May 2012);
• Cooling tower optimization (Completed in October 2012);
• Premium efficiency motor installation for eight motors (Completed in September 2012);
• Insulated hot water piping (Completed in 2011);
• ENERGY STAR transformers to replace seven standard models (Completed in February 2013);
• Heat pump replacement of 613 original perimeter pumps;
• Roof-mounted 10kW photovoltaic system, expanding existing system for a total of 20kW (Installed in 2012 and going live in fall 2013); and
• Water Conservation, including 55 bathroom aerators (Completed in September 2012).

In addition to the Carvel State Office Building, many other State of Delaware facilities are also undergoing energy improvements as part of the Better Buildings Challenge. A sampling of some of these locations and projects is below.

• Sussex County Courthouse – 14% weather-normalized energy use reduction since joining the Challenge (45% cumulative reduction from 2008 baseline)
o Improvements include: energy efficient lighting; lighting controls and sensors; building automation system upgrade; electrostatic air filters; boiler replacement with high efficiency gas model; and a high efficiency chiller.

• Sussex Correctional Institution – 18% weather-normalized energy use reduction since joining the Challenge (24% cumulative reduction from 2008 baseline)
o Improvements include: demand control ventilation; energy management system upgrade; high efficiency ice machines; water conservation; energy efficient lighting; programmable thermostats; ozone laundry system; and heating system conversion from propane to natural gas.

• James Williams State Service Center – 10% weather-normalized energy use reduction since joining the Challenge (51% cumulative reduction from 2008 baseline)
o Improvements include: building automation system upgrade; energy efficient lighting; HVAC reconfiguration; night and weekend setback schedule; window replacements; water conservation; and solar heat reflective window film.

To date, more than 110 organizations representing more than two billion square feet of space have joined the Better Buildings Challenge and committed to share portfolio-wide energy consumption data, publicize their cutting-edge showcase projects that demonstrate significant energy savings and to share their approaches to overcoming barriers with the marketplace.

“Through the Better Buildings Challenge, our Partners are breaking through barriers to reducing energy intensity and achieving lasting results that save money and create jobs,” said David Danielson, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. “We applaud these Partners for their leadership in making their organizations more energy efficient which keeps American businesses competitive and communities prosperous.”

For more information on Delaware’s activities and accomplishments in the Better Buildings Challenge, visit http://www4.eere.energy.gov/challenge/partners/better-buildings/state-of-delaware.

  Laws designed to shut down secret labs and curb “smurfing” practice that helps criminals produce illegal drugs

Dover, DE – Joined by legislators and leaders in the law enforcement community, Governor Markell signed two laws today to reduce illegal production of methamphetamine in Delaware by making it harder for criminals to gain access to the materials they need to make meth and giving police tools to crack down on its production.

Markell stood with State Police Superintendent Col. Nathaniel McQueen Jr. and Secretary Lewis Schiliro from the Department of Safety and Homeland Security to outline how the laws would close down clandestine labs and help prevent a practice by which criminals make purchases at multiple stores to acquire illegal quantifies of nonprescription pseudoephedrine (PSE), which is then used to produce meth.

“Methamphetamine production and use pose serious, and often deadly, risks for users and manufacturers, as well as innocent people who just happen to live in a community where something goes wrong in a secret meth lab,” said Markell during a bill signing ceremony at the Delaware State Police Museum. “Together, these laws help protect our young people from being introduced to highly addictive drugs and they protect our communities from the extreme health and environmental hazards that can result from exposure to meth.”

HB 28, sponsored by Rep. Steve Smyk (R-Milton) and Sen. Bruce Ennis (D-Smyrna), makes it a Class C felony to operate a clandestine laboratory with the intent to unlawfully manufacture a controlled substance or other substance in violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. A person convicted of operating such a lab would be responsible for associated cleanup costs at the site, recognizing that meth production endangers the people in the labs, neighbors, and the environment because of the potentially explosive and toxic results.

“This bill targets methamphetamine production, but I believe it will be useful for fighting drugs that may not even be on the street yet,” said Rep. Smyk.  “Police and prosecutors can use this law when dealing with the next problem; the next illegal drug manufactured at tabletop level.”

HB 130, sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Walker (D-Middletown) and Sen. Bethany A. Hall-Long (D-Middletown), will require that pharmacies and retailers selling pseudoephedrine products over the counter submit identifying information of the purchaser to the National Precursor Log Exchange system. It prohibits pharmacies and retailers from completing pseudoephedrine sales in the event that the National Precursor Log Exchange system generates a stop sale alert.

The legislation also provides that the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators will forward Delaware transaction records to the Drug Diversion Unit of the Delaware State Police weekly and provide real-time access to National Precursor Log Exchange information through the National Precursor Log Exchange online portal to law enforcement in the state.

“Criminals are always looking for ways around our laws, so we as a state have to take action to close off loopholes. In this case, criminals are buying small quantities of pseudoephedrine at multiple pharmacies so they can make methamphetamine,” said Rep. Walker, an emergency room nurse and the lead sponsor of HB 130.

“Delaware has seen a significant increase in the number of meth labs and methamphetamine abuse in recent years due to the availability of this drug. The solution is to join 25 other states in a national PSE sales blocking system. By taking advantage of this system and working with pharmacies, healthcare providers and law enforcement throughout the country, we can make it harder for criminals to get their hands on large quantities of PSE and curb meth production while protecting our ability to still obtain this medication legally.”

“In Delaware, manufacturing of methamphetamine hasn’t reached the level it has in other states,” said Sen. Hall-Long, who was the bill’s lead Senate sponsor. “We hope this new monitoring system will help us keep the issue in check by making it tougher to get the products needed to make meth. I am pleased to have helped take this new step to protect our children and families.”

“We’ve made a lot of progress at limiting the amount of over-the-counter drugs someone can get within Delaware to make meth,” said Sen. Bruce Ennis, D-Smyrna, who supported the law in the Senate. “By joining this interstate effort to track and flag sales of the drugs used in making meth, we’re making it harder for people to go back and forth across state lines to buy more than the legal limit. I hope this helps control our meth problem.”

Law enforcement agencies throughout the State have seen a steady increase in methamphetamine arrests. The number of meth-related arrests increased nearly 75% from 2011 to 2012. In 2011, there were 23 arrests and in 2012, 40 arrests were made. Delaware has not seen meth-related incidents this high since 2003, when 42 arrests occurred. With this increase, police also are encountering a growing number of clandestine labs used to make meth. In 2011, police uncovered only one meth lab; in 2012, that number increased to 15 and so far this year, police have discovered 11 labs.

“Protecting our families and children from illegal drugs and the crimes that often accompany them is an ongoing battle for Delaware law enforcement,” said Secretary Schiliro. “We are very fortunate to be able to work with our Governor and members of our General Assembly who truly have an understanding, dedication and compassion for those who are impacted by the effects of illegal drugs in our State. Today we have added a valuable tool in this effort focused on the use of methamphetamines.”

 ###

Photos from the bill signing are available on flickr.

Ice cream social for potential volunteers to be held
at the Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover on Sept. 5, 2013

The Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs will be holding an open house/ice cream social for potential volunteers on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Johnson Victrola Museum, located at 375 S. New St. in Dover, Del. The informal gathering will provide potential volunteers with an opportunity to learn about the division’s programs and speak with current volunteers about their experiences working at the agency. The event will also include an after-hours museum tour. Admission is free and open to the public, however, reservations are requested by contact the division’s volunteer services coordinator, Deanna Rishell, at 302-736-7411 or HCA_VolunteerSvcs@delaware.gov.

The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is an agency of the state of Delaware that provides a diverse array of services including administration of the state historic preservation office, operation of six museums and a conference center, conservation of the state’s archaeological and historic-objects collections and management of historic properties across the state. Potential volunteer opportunities at the division include service in museum tours, historic preservation, archaeology, collections management, maintenance, special events, friends groups, marketing, information technology, research, horticulture, administration and much more.

Volunteers working at the division will be making a valuable contribution to the preservation of Delaware’s historical and cultural legacies. In addition, volunteer service provides meaningful, hands-on work, opportunities to meet new people and become a valuable team member, a chance to share talents with others and learn new skills, and opportunities to earn credit for internships or service hours.

For additional information about the volunteer open house/ice cream social and about volunteer opportunities at the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, go to the following Web address: https://www.smore.com/at81.
The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs enhances Delaware’s quality of life by preserving the state’s unique historical heritage, fostering community stability and economic vitality and providing educational programs and assistance to the general public on Delaware history and heritage. Primary funding for division programs and services is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, a federal agency. However, the contents and opinions expressed in the division’s programs and services do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Department of the Interior.

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 Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone:  302-736-7413
E-mail:  Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web:   http://history.delaware.gov