The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Jackson, Miss., has awarded the Golden Triangle (Miss.) Regional Solid Waste Management Authority a $90,000 waste tire grant. The authority will use the funds to continue the local waste tire collection program for small quantity generators of waste tires for Choctaw, Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha and Webster counties.

The DEQ provides funding for waste tire grants through an account funded from a fee charged on the wholesale sale of every new motor vehicle tire sold in Mississippi. This fee provides the funds to ensure and encourage the proper management and disposal of waste tires.

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), Washington, D.C., has released its first "State Metals Theft Statutes" publication, an online compilation of all state laws related to metals theft designed to help scrap recyclers with their compliance obligations under state law.

ISRI says that 49 states (Alaska being the exception) have passed laws intended to combat metals thefts, each with varying requirements that affect recyclers. The association says the guide serves as a tool to help recyclers, law enforcement and other stakeholders better understand the laws that apply in each individual state as well as an important resource to what other states are doing.

“In recent years there has been a wave of new legislation regarding metal theft across the country, often with multiple bills passed within any given state, making it extremely challenging for recyclers to stay on top of current requirements,” says Robin Wiener, president of ISRI. “ISRI’s 'State Metals Theft Statutes' publication serves as a guide to help recyclers understand their most up-to-date compliance requirements as the recycling industry continues its efforts to be part of the solution to the problem of metals theft.”

The information will be updated throughout the year as new state laws are passed or amended, ISRI says. In 2013 alone, 28 states passed amendments to existing laws within their jurisdictions. In the coming months, ISRI plans to supplement this information with an interactive, searchable database of statutory requirements related to metals theft, which will be available on its website at www.isri.org and available to all stakeholders.

Recofloor, a United Kingdom-based organization founded by flooring manufacturers Altro and Polyflor, will honor what it calls vinyl flooring recycling champions at its 2014 annual awards event, to be held March 12 in Birmingham, U.K.

Recofloor is a national vinyl flooring recycling program designed to work with the supply chain to divert vinyl flooring waste and scrap from the landfill.

“Demonstrating our commitment to green issues certainly acts as a ‘selling tool’ for our business,” says Sean Dawson, managing director of Hull Flooring and a previous Gold Award winner. “As margins get tighter, this helps to differentiate our business and attract new customers through being able to offer that little bit extra.”

Material collected by the Recofloor’s more than 500 members is recycled back into products such as new flooring.

Nominees are being selected in eight categories, plus Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards, that reward members’ commitment, contribution and achievements in 2013.

The categories are: Construction Project of the Year; Contractor of the Year; Distributor of the Year; Drop-off Site Member of the Year; Greatest Improver; Best Newcomer; Recofloor Champion and Outstanding Achievement.

“The Recofloor Awards program is a much-anticipated event by our members, offering excellent networking opportunities to share expert knowledge and learn more about how the scheme can work for your business,” says Carla Eslava, Recofloor’s project officer.

(In the photo above right, the Recofloor Green Apple Award for 2013 is displayed by Matt Charlton, left, and Carla Eslava, right, of Recofloor with Miss UK Green Queen Sophie Desbrow in the center.)