ISRI News: July/August 2009

July/August 2009

Government Topics Dominate ReMA Board Meetings
The ReMA board of directors held two meetings prior to the association's annual convention, held in Las Vegas in April, and followed up with two additional meetings at ReMA's summer governance gathering and congressional fly-in in Washington, D.C., in mid-June. At those meetings, the board took the following actions:

• Approved a motion to support H.R. 1799, the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act of 2009, which proposes to increase the federal maximum truck weight hauling limit from the current level of 80,000 pounds to 97,000 pounds. Under the act, operators will have to pay a tax on trucks that qualify for the additional weight limits.

• Gave ReMA's government affairs staff leeway to address federal metals theft bills, with the goal of incorporating a pre-emption feature in such legislation if possible. On this issue, the ReMA staff will provide updates to and consult with a three-member advisory group: Marc Madden of Schnitzer Steel Products Co. (Oakland, Calif.), Shelley Padnos of Louis Padnos Iron & Metal Co. (Holland, Mich.), and Chris Bedell of The David J. Joseph Co. (Cincinnati).

• Directed ReMA's government affairs staff to support and work cooperatively with the Obama administration and Congress on passage of a federal "Cash for Clunkers" bill, which would provide financial incentives to individuals who retire their older, fuel-inefficient vehicles and purchase more fuel-efficient new cars. (President Obama signed a "Cash for Clunkers" law June 25.)

• Authorized the expenditure of $45,000 to complete work on the ReMA radiation training and safety program, which had been suspended during recent budget cuts.

• Approved the "Recommended Fire Safety Practices for Scrap Tire Recycling Facilities" drafted by the Scrap Tire Processors Chapter.

• Approved the association's 2008 financial audit.

• Made permanent nearly $1 million in expense reductions in the 2009 ReMA budget.

• Adopted the association's first formal code of conduct, an aspirational document that outlines member values regarding customers, employees, government/law enforcement officials, and communities as well as business conduct guidelines in the areas of business practices, safety, materials theft, and compliance with applicable laws.

• Elected two new audit committee members—Brian Shine of Manitoba Corp. (Lancaster, N.Y.) and Nick Cerminaro of Keywell (West Mifflin, Pa.)—and three new directors-at-large—Manny Bodner of Bodner Metal & Iron Corp. (Houston), Greg Dixon of Baker Iron & Metal Co. (Lexington, Ky.), and Brian Shine. The board also filled three positions on ReMA Services Corp., which oversees the association's Recycling Industry Operating Standard: John Hayworth of Sims Metal Management (Jersey City, N.J.), to serve a new full three-year term from 2009 to 2012; Bill Long of TechTurn (Austin, Texas), to complete a previous director's unfinished term from 2009 to 2010; and Tamara Deiro of SA Recycling (Orange, Calif.), to complete a former director's unfinished term from 2009 to 2011.

• Approved a request from the materials theft task force for $3,000 to be set aside in the 2009 budget for state outreach efforts, supporting the attendance of ReMA government relations staff at state legislative events.

• Passed several changes to the ReMA investment policy, covering such topics as the objective of ReMA's investment fund, asset allocation ranges, rebalancing the portfolio, the performance benchmark for the fund, and notification procedures on issues that could affect the fund.

• Voted to have no policy on federal tax credits and direct rebates for the U.S. paper industry's use of black liquor—a pulping byproduct—as an alternative fuel.

Fourth Fly-In Another Resounding Success Nearly 100 ReMA members participated in the association’s fourth annual congressional fly-in June 17, visiting more than 185 representatives and senators to promote the recycling industry’s legislative issues. The fly-in, held in conjunction with ISRI’s summer board meeting in Washington, D.C., gave members and ReMA government relations staff the chance to discuss with elected officials priority topics such as funding for the national mercury-switch removal program; the need for a recycling provision in the energy and climate change legislation under consideration in Congress; metals theft legislation in the House and Senate; a proposed ban on e-scrap exports; and the use of crumb rubber in road projects. Fly-in participants also invited their elected officials to join the recycling caucuses in both houses and invited them to visit their scrap recycling facilities to learn more about the industry.

ISEC Meeting Covers Safety, Environmental Spectrum
Attendees at the ReMA Safety and Environmental Council's conference May 11-14 in St. Louis took home a wealth of safety information to share with their companies. Topics ranged from creating a safety culture to accident investigations to environmental issues and best practices.

Several sessions addressed creating a safety culture in the workplace. Valerie Cantrell of Caterpillar (Peoria, Ill.) addressed the barriers to safety that must be overcome by understanding the different generations' learning styles in a company's workforce. How people think about accidents affects their environment, Renneth Jones and Chuck O'Donnell of CMC Steel South Carolina (Cayce, S.C.) explained. All injuries are preventable, they said. "Machines don't cause injuries. People do." The two shared how their company created—and how others can develop—a safety culture. Being proactive is the key to preventing accidents, they said.

Accident prevention and reporting was another focus of the meeting. Andy Knudsen of Zero Accident Consulting (Libertyville, Ill.) covered the steps to reporting an accident, performing a root-cause analysis, and developing a corrective action plan. At first, root-cause analyses are a reactive measure, he said, but as a company gains expertise with them, the method becomes a proactive tool because the company can use it to predict the possibility of a future event. Daniel Katt of Rumpke Consolidated Cos. (Cincinnati) explained the differences between investigating a vehicle crash and reporting it. He also advised attendees how to build an accident investigation kit and how to conduct an investigation.

Other presenters addressed working with OSHA. Stephen Larsen of Sierra Recycling & Demolition (Bakersfield, Calif.) shared his company's experience with an OSHA recordable accident so that others could learn from it. He outlined the steps leading up to the accident, the causes, and finally what steps and procedures the company took to keep a similar incident from happening in the future. For his candid review, Larsen received The Red Kimono Trophy—an award the ReMA safety staff created to recognize those who share a firsthand experience so that others can learn from it. The safety staff also recognized Debbie Hays of Sims Metal Management (New York) for a presentation she gave at the November 2008 ISEC meeting.

Mark Lies, a partner at Seyfarth Shaw (Chicago), reviewed the rights of employers and employees during an OSHA inspection. Lies cautioned that the new Obama administration could mean changes to OSHA investigations. Hays shared tips and techniques she has used for maintaining control of an OSHA compliance audit. She advised attendees to do their homework before an OSHA inspection takes place: Learn what regulations OSHA focuses on in your region and industry and find an attorney with OSHA experience. She also suggested creating an inspection team beforehand with defined roles and procedures.

On the environmental side, storm­water was the subject of a couple of sessions. Brian Wilson of Deffenbaugh Industries (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) focused on stormwater management and the legislation that governs it.  A stormwater pollution plan helps prevent the problem and ensures legal compliance, he said. Jerly Olson, also a partner with Seyfarth Shaw, likewise addressed stormwater in a session that covered environmental issues more broadly. She noted that companies should have both feasible and economical control measures, such as good housekeeping and maintenance programs, and spill prevention and response procedures. She also discussed requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

ISEC meeting attendees also heard from members of ReMA's safety staff. 
John Gilstrap , director of safety, updated attendees about the soon-to-be-released ReMA Safety Manual and the upcoming ReMA radiation manual and training program. Tom Herod, director of transportation safety, reviewed ways to keep drivers safe and named resources ReMA has on the subject. And David Wagger, director of environmental management, discussed environmental issues facing scrapyards and described a dual management approach that involves keeping risks out of a yard and controlling those on site. Presentations from the conference are available online at www.isri.org. 

Scrap Receives Two Writing Awards Continuing its winning tradition, Scrap garnered two writing awards in the 29th annual Excel awards competition sponsored by the Society of National Association Publications (McLean, Va.). The article "Appetite for Destruction" won a gold award for feature writing among publications with circulation between 10,001 and 20,000. The May/June 2008 article by freelance writer Theodore Fischer reviews the challenges and opportunities in the electronics data destruction sector. The contest judges praised the article's "strong, compelling lead" and its "clear, concise language," further recognizing its "good use of primary and secondary sources, solid editing, and excellent pacing." In sum, the judges said the article is "both memorable and forward-looking." Scrap also won an honorable mention for the September/October 2008 "Commentary" column "What's Wrong With WALL·E?" by Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Kent Kiser. The column offers a whimsical look at the recycling messages in the animated movie WALL·E.

ISRI Discusses Indian Shipment Rules
ISRI President Robin Wiener and ReMA member Ikbal Nathani of the Nathani Group of Cos. (Mumbai, India) met May 29 with Indian government representatives in New Delhi to discuss 
concerns about its new rules and notices affecting shipments of scrap metal, paper, and plastics into India. Wiener represented ReMA and Nathani represented the Bureau of International Recycling (Brussels) at their meetings with the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, and Ministry of Steel. Representatives from the U.S. Commercial Service in India also participated in the meetings. In addition to seeking clarification of the new rules, Wiener and her colleagues explained to the Indian officials that specification-grade scrap commodities such as paper, plastics, and ferrous and nonferrous metals are not hazardous waste and do not merit some of the additional requirements in the new rules. Though the Indian officials made no commitments during the meetings, they noted that they are evaluating changes to the rules.

ISRI also heard that the commissioner of customs at Nhava Sheva, India's largest container port, reportedly has decided to suspend many  
of the new rules' reporting and lab analysis requirements.

Contact Robin Wiener, 202/662-8512 or robinwiener@isri.org, or Scott Horne, 202/662-8513 or scotthorne@isri.org.

ISRI Updates Industry Facts
ISRI has updated its "Scrap Recycling Industry Facts," the annual statistical overview of the scrap recycling industry, with 2008 figures provided by various U.S. government agencies. To access the new fact sheet, go to www.isri.org/facts. ReMA also is including this new fact sheet in the "one-pagers" in its image campaign portfolio. The one-pagers are fact sheets that outline the industry's key messages for the industry as a whole and for individual scrap commodities. ReMA members can view these updated information sheets at www.isri.org/imagecampaign. Nonmembers can access these pages by visiting www.original recyclers.org.

Contact Bruce Savage, 202/662-8510 or brucesavage@isri.org 

ISRI in Brief
Gary Bush , ReMA's director of materials theft prevention, spoke June 21 at a workshop at the National Sheriffs' Association annual convention in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. He also submitted an article for publication in the association's magazine. The article stresses the need for partnerships in combating metal theft and describes ReMA's scrap theft alert system as a tool for assisting law enforcement officials.

Contact Gary Bush, 352/433-2477 or garybush@isri.org.

The ReMA board of directors held two meetings prior to the association's annual convention, held in Las Vegas in April, and followed up with two additional meetings at ReMA's summer governance gathering and congressional fly-in in Washington, D.C., in mid-June.