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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM, RIRRC, ASSISTING MIDDLETOWN OFFICE PARK IN ITS EFFORTS TO BECOME A MODEL "GREEN" OFFICE CENTER PROVIDENCE -- The Department of Environmental Management, the RI Resource Recovery Corporation, and the Aquidneck Corporate Park in Middletown, announce that they have teamed up in an effort to help the office park increase its overall recycling rate. In response to growing statewide concerns about landfill capacity and the amount of waste generated by businesses, Connie McGreavy, board member of the corporate park's tenants' association, contacted DEM for help in "going green" and becoming a model environmentally-friendly office park in the state.In response, staff from DEM and RIRRC assisted McGreavy in performing waste assessments at most of the 40-plus businesses within the office park over a three-day period. While conducting the assessments, DEM recycling coordinator Alyson Silva, RIRRC recycling manager Sarah Kite, and RIRRC waste prevention coordinator David Bordieri, found that almost all of the Aquidneck Corporate Park tenants were interested in recycling; however, only a handful currently have formal recycling programs in place. McGreavy is quick to note, however, that there are several model programs in the corporate park, dealing with everything from food waste to e-waste, including proper disposal of fluorescent light bulbs. The business park is in the process of ordering recycling bins from RIRRC, and expects to have its recycling program up and running before the end of the month, coincidentally Earth Month, which McGreavy notes is "auspicious timing." In an effort to increase recycling in the business sector, DEM over the past few months has re-invigorated a commercial recycling program to help businesses comply with the state's mandatory commercial recycling law and to help preserve landfill capacity. Rhode Island businesses generate approximately 60 percent of the waste buried in the state's Central Landfill, or about 660,000 tons a year. Despite a law requiring businesses to recycle, and those with 50 or more employees to submit an annual recycling report to DEM, the commercial sector recycling rate is very low. DEM's re-invigorated program features a new online reporting system. Additionally, the Department will perform waste assessments for companies that request them, such as those done at the Aquidneck Corporate Park. To date, DEM's Silva has performed such assessments at more than 45 companies. To further assist companies, a joint DEM and RIRRC sector-by-sector education and compliance assistance program is set to begin in late spring. For additional information on commercial recycling and/or requests for waste assessments, call DEM's Alyson Silva at 222-4700 ext. 7134, or RIRRC's David Bordieri at 942-1430 ext. 110. -30- |
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