Under the Wire

STEEL EXPORTS REACH NEW HIGH

The United States exported 885,926 net tons of steel mill products in September 1995 – the highest level since May 1970, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute, Washington. September shipments were 24 percent higher than shipments in August 1995, and 156 percent higher than the 345,831 net tons exported in September 1994. Overall, exports of steel mill products for the first nine months of 1995 were 74 percent higher than those in the first nine months of 1994.

Conversely, the U.S. imported 1.6 million net tons of steel mill products during September 1995 – down 37 percent from the same month in 1994, and an 11 percent decrease from imports in August 1995. For the first nine months of 1995, the U.S. imported 19.5 million net tons, down 10 percent from the same nine-month period in 1994.

The most significant changes in steel imported to the U.S. during the last year include a 35 percent reduction in steel imports from the European Union and a 22 percent decline in imports from Japan. The big gainers were Turkey, which increased its steel imports to the U.S. by 47 percent; the Ukraine, which achieved a 46 percent gain; Russia, which made a 40 percent gain; and Mexico, which acheived a 37 percent gain. The European Union is still the largest importer of steel to the U.S., and Japan is still the second largest.

IPS STAGES GRAND OPENING IN GEORGIA

International Press & Shear, Baxley, Ga., a subsidiary of Waste Technology Corp. and sister company of International Baler Corp., both based in Jacksonville, Fla., held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and plant tour on December 12 which was attended by more than 350 people. The new 60,000-square-foot facility has already begun manufacturing its own line of vertical balers, two-ram balers and high-capacity auto-tie horizontal balers.

IPS is headed up by Sidney Wildes, president; Forrest Wildes, executive vice president; Fred Johnson, vice president of sales and marketing; and Sunny Rosser, vice president of engineering. The facility is expected to produce four to five two-ram balers a month, depending on demand, as well as 100 to 125 vertical balers monthly, and auto-tie balers as needed. Within the next six months, say officials, the company will design and manufacture a scrap metal shear as well.

“We are on the cutting edge in baler technology,” says Wildes. “We have new leadership and new designs, and we are young and energetic. In addition, IPS and International Baler act as a very effective team under the parent company of Waste Technology Corp.”

MATCHMAKER TRIP TO PACIFIC RIM PLANNED

The U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Washington, is organizing an Environmental Technologies Matchmaker Trade Delegation to Korea, Singapore and Indonesia April 22 to 30, 1996.

The Matchmaker will match United States companies with potential business partners in these emerging Asian markets for environmental technologies. Space is limited to the first 20 qualified companies. For more information call Derek Parks at (202) 482-0287.

PAY-AS-YOU-THROW GETS BOOST FROM EPA

Citing reduction in landfill waste and increased recycling as the two major benefits, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, is now encouraging municipalities nationwide to consider implementing pay-as-you-throw programs. EPA is promoting pay-as-you-throw through workshops, satellite forums, fact sheets and a tool kit to help communities make an educated decision about the waste collection alternative.

According to EPA, pay-as-you-throw programs have helped communities reduce waste by as much as 25 percent to 45 percent, and increase recycling rates significantly. In addition, reports from the field indicate that illegal dumping does not increase in communities that have implemented pay-as-you-throw programs.

Under pay-as-you-throw, residents are charged for waste collection based on the amount of waste they throw away. As a result, they are motivated not only to recycle more, but to think about ways to generate less waste in the first place, according to EPA officials.

For more information about the EPA workshops call (703) 308-7264.