Winning poster focuses on tire processing and recycling.
The Washington-based Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) and its affiliated JASON Learning project have announced the winners of the 2021-2022 Youth Recycling Video and Poster contest. Contestants in grades K-12 submitted original posters or videos designed to communicate one central theme: Recycling can make a positive impact on climate challenges.
Mark Monteleone and Joei Tarrazi, high school seniors from Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) in Highlands, New Jersey, are this year’s poster winners. Monteleone and Tarrazi focused their entry on how rising sea levels affected their coastal New Jersey community and how recycling rubber tires can be a solution.
The poster identifies the problem and provides steps local residents can take, such as donating old tires to local manufacturers or processing the tires into a gravel substitute, wastewater treatment filter or garden mulch.
Ani Nishanian and Namira Meghla, fifth graders from Willow Springs Elementary School in Fairfax County, Virginia, were awarded this year’s winning video entry. The winning video was designed to inform young people about the growing problem of climate change, the importance of recycling, and actions citizens can take in their own communities.
“This year’s entries for our Youth Recycling Awareness contest were outstanding, but the four winners went above and beyond to reinforce the essential message of recycling,” says ISRI President Robin Wiener. “They creatively combined STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] education with imagination to identify problems and craft solutions. Congratulations to our four winners on a great job.”
“Beyond educating the future generation on recyclable materials and best practices, the Recycling Video and Poster contest helps students develop foundational STEM skills and empowers them to be environmental stewards,” says Dr. Eleanor Smalley, president and CEO of JASON Learning. “Fun efforts like these help introduce kids to STEM skills utilized in environmental careers and inspire them to be lifelong recyclers.”
ISRI partners with JASON Learning annually on the video and poster contest for grades K-12 that features recycling-related themes. Winners will receive their awards on March 24 as part of the ISRI2022 Convention and Exposition in Las Vegas.
Wisconsin-based U.S. Gain will supply renewable natural gas to Southern California county’s waste and recycling fleet.
Appleton, Wisconsin-based U.S. Gain says it has entered into a supply agreement, after a competitive bidding process, with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD). U.S. Gain will provide what it calls renewable natural gas (RNG) to fuel LACSD-owned fleet vehicles at two maintenance yards.
As part of its sustainability goals, LACSD received a Carl Moyer Program grant in partnership with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and South Coast Air Quality Management District to work toward guidelines for reduced air pollution. As part of the grant, LACSD solicited proposals to help support its emission reduction goal, improve fleet operations and find alternative solutions for fleet fueling.
“LACSD is very appreciative of the Carl Moyer grants received from the South Coast Air Quality Management District,” says Dave Bolderoff, LACSD’s fleet manager. “These grants have helped our agency replace older vehicles and engines with newer, cleaner-burning equipment and install alternative fuel infrastructure, thus helping us further fulfill our mission of protecting public health and the environment.”
A condition of this grant was finding a supplier that had RNG ready within a short time frame. U.S. Gain, which describes itself as a leader in the development and distribution of alternative fuel and renewable thermal energy, says its ability to supply fuel immediately “was a differentiator.”
“Demand for RNG continues to skyrocket within the California transportation market, serving as an affordable, clean solution that supports immediate emission reduction goals,” says Scott Hanstedt, U.S. Gain’s director of sales. “Our vertical integration and ability for expedited turnaround allowed us to act quickly and provide RNG on day one to comply with the grant requirements.”
LACSD describes itself as a public agency focused on converting waste into resources like recycled materials, recycled water and energy. The agency consists of 24 districts serving about 5.6 million people in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Gain says it develops renewable natural gas at farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants and is building out “a platform of alternative fuel solutions that enable the polyfuel future [that] fleets demand.
Hino Inclusev, available from the company’s nationwide dealer network, offers EV consulting, intelligent charging solutions, warrantied infrastructure and more.
Hino Trucks—a Toyota Group company based in Novi, Michigan—has introduced Hino Inclusev, a portfolio of end-to-end electric vehicle (EV) enablement solutions. Exclusively available from Hino’s nationwide dealer network, Inclusev includes customer EV consulting, intelligent charging solutions, warrantied infrastructure, Hino electric trucks in development, 24-hour customer service and more.
Dominik Beckman, director of brand experience for Hino, says of the new product, “A first of its kind solution, Hino Inclusev keeps the dealer and customer unified through the ownership journey, leveraging Hino Truck’s leadership in delivering the ultimate ownership experience. Unlike other programs, our dealers are engaged every step of the way and consult with customers from start to finish.”
He adds, “Our dealers will help determine if EV is the right solution for a fleet and if so, support in setting up what is needed—including a site evaluation, charging solution spec'ing, grant applications, end-to-end financing, installation, maintenance, optimization and service. Our dealer network is fully equipped to ensure businesses can be electrified seamlessly. This is turn-key in its truest form.”
The program is enabled by a collaboration of “innovative front-runners” in electric vehicle solutions that have teamed up with Hino Trucks, according to the company. These collaborators include ChargePoint, EnTech Solutions and Mitsubishi HC Capital America.
“Minimizing touchpoints by being centralized around the customer and dealer, Hino Inclusev uniquely eliminates the complexity, frustration and inferiority of searching out multiple third parties to achieve the needed solution,” says Glenn Ellis, Hino Trucks senior vice president of customer experience. “Inclusev is a solutions portfolio poised for evolution and expansion through innovation, integration and partnerships.”
As part of Hino’s partnership with ChargePoint, a Campbell, California-based electric charging solution company, customers have access to one of the largest open charging networks in the U.S. and end-to-end electrification services from deployment to ongoing support.
Meanwhile, Menasha, Wisconsin-based EnTech Solutions—a full solution provider for EV infrastructure—works to ensure customers’ systems are operating at the highest efficiency. In addition, their charging solutions are scalable and can grow as operations expand.
The final component of Hino’s Inclusive program is financing provided by Mitsubishi HC Capital America, Norwalk, Connecticut. As a long-time partner of Hino Trucks, Mitsubishi HC Capital America provides a collaborative, partnered approach to developing highly customized programs. They offer a single source of financing for the entire supply chain of EV transition from dealer site assessment and infrastructure development, to financing the vehicle for the end customer.
The company says its Allison 3000 RDS transmission offers greater versatility for customers in 4x2 refuse, tank and dumping applications.
Mack Trucks, Indianapolis, has announced the launch of the Allison 3000 RDS transmission for the Mack MD Series models. The company made the announcement during the 2022 Work Truck Show, March 8-11, at the Indiana Convention Center.
According to a news release from Mack, the transmission adds more options for applications that require more power but are best suited for medium-duty vehicles.
“Mack is pleased to now offer the Allison 3000 transmission as an option,” says Dayle Wetherell, vice president of medium duty sales at Mack. “The transmission enables customers to haul more payload and utilize a live power power takeoff (PTO), both of which are critical for our customers desiring a medium-duty vehicle that can handle demanding applications.”
The company says the Allison 3000 RDS transmission offers greater versatility for customers in 4x2 refuse, tank and dump applications. The MD Series equipped with an Allison 3000 RDS transmission is approved at a 33,000-pund gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) for refuse and recycling applications, allowing the Mack MD to haul more. The Allison 3000 also allows for a live power PTO for MD Series tanker trucks delivering heating oil, water, fuel and propane and dump trucks, enabling the vehicle to move while using the PTO at the same time.
“The ability to have a direct-drive PTO is extremely important for some of Mack’s medium-duty customers because they can lift and lower a dump body while driving without worrying about what gear the truck is in,” says Tim Wrinkle, construction product manager at Mack. “It’s also important for snowplows and salt spreaders that need to work at the same time.”
The Allison 3000 RDS also offers a higher gross combination weight rating (GCWR), allowing customers to drive the Mack MD Series model and pull utility trailers with small excavators. The Mack MD Series equipped with an Allison 3000 RDS will have a GCWR of 45,000 pounds.
The Mack MD Series can be spec’d to be a Class 6 with a GVWR of 25,995 pounds and a Class 7, with a GVWR of 33,000 pounds. With the MD Series, Mack now offers a lineup of vehicles from Class 6 to 8. Both MD Series models are exempt from the 12 percent federal excise tax.
The MD Series meets a wide variety of needs for medium-duty trucking applications, including dry van/refrigerated, stake/flatbed, dump and tank truck vocations. The Class 6 model does not require a commercial driver’s license to operate for nonhazardous payloads.
Customers interested in the Mack MD Series can visit Mack booth No. 3523 at the Work Truck Show in the Indiana Convention Center, their local Mack dealer or click here.
Mid America began operations in 2000 and recycles 1.5 billion pounds of scrap annually.
Schupan and Sons Inc., a materials recycler, processor, distributor and manufacturer based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has acquired Des Moines, Iowa-based Mid America Recycling.
“Mid America Recycling’s multimaterial recycling and deposit container operations align perfectly with being an industry leader in providing sustainable, high-quality, recycled materials,” says Tom Emmerich, Schupan’s chief operating officer. “Mid America has been a recycling leader in Iowa for years and has a knowledgeable team with strong customer relationships.”
Nationally recognized for its Michigan deposit container processing system, the acquisition of Mid America Recycling also aligns with Schupan’s strategic growth plans, domestically and abroad, says Marc Schupan, CEO of Schupan.
The company says it looks forward to getting to know its new employees and learning more about the Iowa marketplace.
“While we are certainly excited to hit the ground in Iowa, we know we must first get to know our new employees and build relationships with Iowa distributors, retailers, the legislature and communities,” says Emmerich.
Mid America Recycling began operations in 1979 in response to the passage of Iowa’s bottle bill. The company’s professional management, plant and administrative team has more than 200 years of combined recycling industry experience. The company says it recycles 1.5 billion pounds of scrap annually.
“I have known the Schupan organization for years and have always respected the way they operate and treat people,” says Mick Barry, co-owner and president of Mid America. “I strongly believe we are leaving our company in the right hands.”
EDITORS' NOTE: This is a developing story. Recycling Today has reached out to Schupan and Mid America Recycling for more details.