Talk & Tour showcases Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital Ozaukee’s award winning C&D debris recycling program
On Wednesday, March 28 from 4 – 6 p.m., professionals from M. A. Mortenson, WasteCap Wisconsin and the recycling, construction and waste industry will gather at Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital Ozaukee in Mequon for the first Talk & Tour of the 2007 Series. Attendees will tour and learn about the award-winning and highly successful construction and waste recycling program taking place at Columbia St. Mary's Hospital Ozaukee. The project won the 2006 Big Diverter Award for highest recycling rate on a new construction project. There are a limited number of spaces still available. Registration is required. For more information and to register, visit www.wastecapwi.org/events.

Earth Week Talk & Tour visits the largest construction site in the state
Do you think recycling on tight sites is a challenge? Try recycling across 345 acres with more than 900 workers. Learn how to coordinate a successful large construction debris recycling program and get an inside view of Wisconsin’s largest construction site; Wisconsin Public Service’s Weston 4 Power Plant in Rothschild, WI. Participate in the tour and hear the presentations at this Earth Week event taking place April 18 from 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. Recycling professionals, contractors, haulers and large developers are especially encouraged to attend. Space is limited. Register by April 12. For more information and to register, visit www.wastecapwi.org/events.

Registration open for spring Construction & Demolition Waste Management and Recycling Training
Waste reduction, reuse and recycling allow contractors and owners to use project funds for building instead of waste disposal. This training will give you the skills you need to develop, manage, monitor, document and promote a successful recycling program for construction and demolition debris. It will also help you learn how to obtain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) points for MR 2.1 and 2.2. Successful completion of the training will award registrants with WasteCap Accredited Professional status. There are a limited number of spaces still available. This full-day training program will be held on Thursday, May 17 (at the USDA Forest Products Lab), the day after the Building Materials Reuse Association Conference at UW-Madison's Memorial Union from May 14 – 16 (DECON 07). For more information on the training program and to register, visit www.wastecapwi.org/training. For more information on the DECON 07 conference, visit www.buildingreuse.org.

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2. UPCOMING CONFERENCES / GRANTS / JOB OPENINGS
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Wisconsin Environmental Working Group accepting nominations for Friends of the Environment Award
Deadline: March 16, 2007
The Wisconsin Environmental Working Group is accepting nominations for the 18th Annual Business Friend of the Environment Awards, honoring companies that have made significant improvements in the areas of pollution prevention, environmental innovation and environmental stewardship. The awards will be presented May 2 at the Country Springs Conference Center in Waukesha and publicized statewide and locally. Recognize a company that strove for environmental excellence in 2006 by submitting a nomination. Self-nominations are encouraged. For a nomination form, visit www.wmc.org/wewg or contact Karen Mahlkuch at kmahlkuch@wmc.org or call (608) 661-6938.

The Nuts and Bolts of Building Information Systems Symposium
When: March 27, 2007
Where: Panos’ CharHouse Athenian Room in Brookfield, WI
Presenters from Eppstein Uhen Architects, JH Findorff & Son, and M. A. Mortenson Company will showcase the Building Information Modeling process. Symposium is presented by AIC-WI and ASA of Wisconsin. Tabletop exhibits and dinner included. For more information, email aicwi@wi.rr.com or call 414-771-3392.

Grants to promote waste reduction and management available
Deadline: April 11, 2007
EPA Region 5 has released its 2007 Solid Waste Management Assistance funding solicitation for 2007. Grant funding is provided to government agencies and non-profit organizations to promote waste reduction and the safe and effective management of solid waste. For more information, please visit www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/wptdiv/solidwaste/funding.htm.

DECON07 conference on C&D recycling, deconstruction and building material reuse
When: May 14 - 16, 2007
Where: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Deadline: Friday, April 13, 2007 for lodging reservations and charges paid in full. The international conference, presented by the Building Materials Reuse Association, will feature talks and discussion on deconstruction, building materials reuse, and construction and demolition debris recycling. Incorporation of reused and recycled materials into new and renovation construction will also be discussed as well as many other topics. WasteCap Wisconsin will offer a full-day post-conference accreditation training workshop on C&D debris recycling the day after the conference. For more information, please visit www.buildingreuse.org.

JOB OPENING: Office manager with the Sustainable Engineering Group in Madison
The Sustainable Energy Group is looking for someone to manage the office and maintain their financial records. Activities include: bookkeeping, invoicing, report creation and assistance, office supply maintenance, electronic organizing, filing, and mailing. Working knowledge of computers and bookkeeping software is required. Position is 10 to 30 hours per week, possibly full-time within the next year. For more information, please visit www.wgba.org/artman/publish/article_497.shtml.

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3. RECYCLING NEWS THAT AFFECTS YOU
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CONSTRUCTION / DEMOLITION

Steel recycling in America
Source: American Recycler, February 2007
There is approximately 100 million tons of new steel produced annually in the United Sates and 80 million tons of it is recycled annually. “We save a lot of precious raw materials by using scrap rather than virgin materials,” said Bill Heenan, the president of the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI). “Scrap is the number one ingredient in the manufacturing of new steel. It’s a natural for steel and other metals to be recycled. It is something we don’t need enforced.” To read the full article, please visit www.americanrecycler.com/0207/steel.html.

Green buildings need more incentives in U.S.
Source: Reuters, February 14, 2007
Seventeen U.S. states and 59 cities including New York and Chicago offer incentives for green buildings or require certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). But Jeffrey Schwartz, chief executive of ProLogis, the world's largest developer, said the U.S. government is not doing enough to help green buildings. To read the full article, please visit www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN2328357720070214.

FOOD WASTE RECOVERY / COMPOSTING

New trends in Europe for the treatment of woody biomass
Source: Waste Handling Equipment News, March 2007
In March 2006, the European Parliament called for the percentage of renewable energy, as part of the total energy consumption of the EU, to be increased to 25 per cent by 2020. In order to achieve these objectives, it will be necessary to make massive efforts in all sectors (power generation, heat generation, cooling and biofuels). These efforts will be associated with widespread investment. To read the full article, please click here.

COMPUTER / ELECTRONICS RECYCLING

Dell given environmental award from National Recycling Coalition
Source: American Recycler, March 2007
Dell is the recipient of the National Recycling Coalition’s (NRC) Recycling Works Award for its efforts to promote individual producer responsibility. The award, which honors organizations or individuals who have demonstrated leadership in recycling and conservation of the environment, will be presented at the NRC annual gala, recognizes Dell’s leadership in recycling computer equipment and its global policies making it easier for customers to become effective environmental stewards. To read the full article, please visit www.americanrecycler.com/0307/dell.html.

RECYCLED PRODUCTS AND REUSE

Becoming a zero-emissions brewery
Source: BioCycle, February 2007
Diverting 600 tons annually from landfills turns hops, grains, pallets, cardboard, glass, office paper and shrink wrap into major savings – and great beer!! The microbrewery currently recycles or reuses 98 percent of its residuals with a goal of generating zero waste. To read the full article, please visit www.jgpress.com/archives/_free/001252.html#more.

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4. MEMBER PROFILE/WELCOME NEW & RETURNING MEMBERS
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MARSHALL ERDMAN & ASSOCIATES
Striking a balance between caring and functional efficiency
For more than 50 years, Marshall Erdman & Associates has specialized in working with group healthcare practice and hospital administrators, physicians and other healthcare providers to create innovative medical facilities. Healthcare facility planning, design and construction are its specialty.

Marshall Erdman's comprehensive process begins by incorporating the identification of post-construction benefits into the pre-design process, which they call Beneficial Outcomes.SM When a facility is designed, a balance is struck between caring, comforting spaces and functional efficiency, as well as between serving current needs and offering flexibility for future adaptation. Civil, mechanical, electrical and structural engineers work in the same building as the architects resulting in engineering solutions that are compatible with the architectural design.

Marshall Erdman recently designed the Dean East Multi-Specialty Clinic project in Madison, which consolidated four locations into one new multi-specialty facility thereby reducing the need for costly equipment and process duplication. Through their design and construction, they ensured energy efficiency and high-quality materials to reduce overhead and high life-cycle costs. The 146,000 square foot facility also houses Healing Hospitality® elements, including a four-story water feature, aquariums, natural lighting and framed art.

The Southwest Regional Health Center in Platteville, Wisconsin, features such amenities as a walking garden and full-service cafeteria contributing to higher satisfaction among patients and their families. The center also offers single-occupancy rooms, which incorporate the latest innovations in wellness to deliver improved medical outcomes. For more information about Marshall Erdman & Associates, visit www.erdman.com.

WE ENERGIES
Working to lessen CO2 emissions
We Energies serves more than 1.1 million electric customers in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and more than one million natural gas customers in Wisconsin. We Energies also serve about 2,500 water customers in Milwaukee’s northern suburbs and about 500 steam customers in downtown Milwaukee.

Besides providing energy to more than a million customers, We Energies also works to lessen green house gas emissions through its Energy for Tomorrow program. Customers can decide what percentage of their energy bill will be matched by We Energies – 25, 50 or 100 percent. We Energies produces or purchases renewable energy to match the percentage of electric usage. More than 14,000 customers have partnered with We Energies in producing electricity through clean renewable sources. That is the equivalent of planting 6.3 acres of trees or the output of 10,286 sports utility vehicles.

One of We Energies newest environmentally conscious efforts is the construction of a Blue Sky Green Field wind project located in the towns of Calumet and Marshfield in northeast Fond du Lac County. According to a We Energies press release, the project will consist of approximately 88 wind turbines, will generate up to 203 megawatts of electricity, and will be capable of powering up to 45,000 average homes. It is anticipated that construction will begin in 2007 or early 2008. It is expected to cost up to $400 million. For more information about We Energies, visit www.we-energies.com.