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Archived
News
In a departure
from tradition, the Commission honored four hauling companies who
serve the 11 communities that make up the Commission. The haulers
were cited for close cooperation that allowed the Commission to
provide the State DEP with comprehensive back-up documentation on
which grant money is awarded. Previous luncheons honored individuals
and companies in each community who best exemplified excellence
in recycling.
"We use our
annual luncheon to recognize those companies and individuals who
take the 'extra step' to make sure recycling works," said Edward
J. Brandt, Chairman of the Commission and Chairman of the Board
of Supervisors from Lower Gwynedd Township.
"Haulers play
a major role in our efforts to encourage and promote recycling.
Without their help and active cooperation, our job would be much
tougher. "When we started, the idea of recycling was relatively
new. Today it's become an established practice that will continue
to grow," Brandt said.
The haulers
who received awards included: Allied Waste, Ches-Mont Disposal,
J.P. Mascaro and Sons, Inc., and Waste Management.
The Commission
is the third-largest political entity population-wise in the state
behind Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Over the past 11 years, it has
given over 100 "Excellence in Recycling" awards to companies, organizations
and individuals who have done a superior job of recycling or promoted
recycling.
"The winners
of our award demonstrate a commitment to recycling that makes them
good neighbors and good citizens. We are pleased to recognize them,"
Brandt said.
The awards are
normally given each year to the business, organization, politician
or other individual that best exhibits a commitment to recycling
in each of the 11 municipalities.
The NMCRC is
an organization that coordinates recycling activities among its
11 member communities. Communities include Ambler Borough, Franconia
Township, Hatfield Borough, Hatfield Township, Lower Salford Township,
Lower Gwynedd Township, Montgomery Township, North Wales Borough,
Souderton Borough, Telford Borough, and Towamencin Township.
The Commission
meets at 4:30 P.M. on the first Tuesday of every month at Souderton
Borough Hall. The public is invited to attend.
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Ed Brandt,
chairman of the Northern Montgomery County Recycling Commission
is shown with Monica Francis of Allied Waste. Ms. Francis
accepted the "Excellence in Recycling" Award for
Allied Waste at the most recent Commission luncheon held April
27..
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| Jeff Dietterich
(right) Vice Chairman of the Northern Commission, is shown with
J.P. Mascaro III who accepted the "Excellence in Recycling"
award for J.P. Mascaro and Sons, Inc. |
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| Richard
Prescott, Treasurer of the Commission, is shown with Ches-Mont
Disposal representative Jill Ladov. Ms. Ladov accepted the "Excellence
in Recycling" award on behalf of the company. |
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| Richard
J. Roller (left), Secretary of the Commission, presents the
"Excellence in Recycling" award to Michael Reitz,
who was representing Waste Management. |
Commission
Members Hear Report on Passage of Recycling Reauthorization Bill
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Mark
Brown, Legislative Research Analyst to the Environmental
Resources & Energy Committee talks about passage of
HB 1902. Brown's wife, Diane, is on his left. To his right
is Rep. Kate Harper who attended the luncheon. |
Northern Montgomery
County Recycling Commission members at the December meeting received
a blow-by-blow report on how HB 1902 moved through the legislative
process before it was enacted.HB
1902 reauthorized funding for all of Pennsylvania's recycling activities
until 2012.
Mark Brown,
Legislative Research Analyst to the PA House Environmental Resources
& Energy Committee, helped direct lobbying activities that led to
the bill's being passed. He described how the bill seemed dead but
then came back to life with the support from groups such as the
Northern Commission.
The meeting
was held at noon at the SAVE "Connections" building instead of the
usual time of 4:30 at the Souderton Borough Hall. Ed Brandt, chairman
of the Commission and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors from
Lower Gwynedd Township said he favored holding the meeting at the
SAVE facility because it showed continued support for the environmental
group.
"We've supported
them with money in the past. I think it's important that we show
support in other ways," Brandt said. Brandt also said he believed
that the December meeting provided an ideal forum for a "legislative
update"
Turnout for
the meeting included several area legislators including newly elected
State representatives Jay Moyer (70th) and Bob Mensch (147th). Other
State representatives attending included Bob Godshall (53rd), Carole
Rubley (157th) and Kate Harper (61st).
SAVE
Sponsors Recycling Event
After two false
starts because of inclement weather, SAVE (Students Against Violating
the Earth) finally held its long-planned community recycling event
on Saturday, November 11 from 9 AM to 1 PM. Judging from the steady
stream of vehicles going into and out of the Broad Street Elementary
School in Souderton, the event was an overwhelming success.
Everything was
organized by SAVE, an organization of Souderton High School students
that has received wide support from the community including the
Northern Montgomery County Recycling Commission.
Residents bringing
items drove onto the grounds of the school where a volunteer asked
them a few quick questions about what they had. Then, the donators
proceeded to various points along a circular route where they dropped
off their items.
"We were overwhelmed
when we opened up," SAVE faculty advisor Ken Hamilton said. "People
were lined up ready to go. And we have had a steady stream of cars."
The major drop off stations included ones for paper, clothes, car
batteries, scrap metal and cardboard. SAVE recycled a lot of cardboard.
One large dumpster was overflowing. Hamilton spent much of the time
trying to get a second large dumpster to handle the overflow.
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Kirsten
Kelly, a secretary at Souderton High School directs recyclers
to their final destinations.
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Three
Sounderton High School 10th graders (from left) Will Butcher,
Kevin Weiss and Sean McWilliams filled one dumpster with
cardboard and were waiting for a second to handle the overflow.
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Souderton
High School junior Dana Feiss slings a bag filled with paper
into the paper recycling container.
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Visits
to the scrap metal dumpster were intermittent but many deposited
unused items for the drive.
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A
special drop-off site for car batteries was available for
residents many of whom took advantage of it.
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Souderton
High School juniors (from left) Julie Mokrzycki, J.D. Schaffer
and Jackie Bauza posed in front of two almost-loaded trucks
that contained several hundred used tires.
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(1)
The Commission held its
annual Excellence in Recycling luncheon on April 28 (2006). Plaques
were awarded to the winners in 11 communities. In addition, the
Commission awarded Ken Hamilton, the Souderton science teacher who
founded SAVE (Students Against Violating the Earth) a special award.
(2) The Commission awarded SAVE an $8,000 grant towards the construction
of a special building. The building will have a plaque dedicated
to the late Merrill H. Bergey, who headed the Commission for many
years and was instrumental in supporting it in its early formulative
days.
NORTHERN
MONTGOMERY COUNTY RECYCLING COMMISSION PRESENTS EXCELLENCE IN RECYCLING
AWARDS TO ELEVEN
The Northern
Montgomery County Recycling Commission (NMCRC) on April 28th (2006)
presented “Excellence in Recycling” to 11 businesses and organizations
located in Montgomery County for recycling work that was done in
2005. The awards were presented at the 11th annual awards luncheon
which was held at the Indian Valley Country Club in Franconia Township.
The presentation
of the awards to the winners was made by various commission members.
Edward J. Brandt, chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Lower
Gywnedd Township and chairman of the NMCRC, served as emcee to the
celebratory luncheon at which the winners were honored. “These winners
represent organizations that have excellent recycling programs,”
Brandt said. “They set a good example to others in their communities
which we hope will be emulated throughout the year.”
Each year the
11 communities that make up the NMCRC present an “Excellence in
Recycling” award to one company, organization or individual located
within the boundaries of its member communities.
This year the
awards were given to the following organizations:
- Ambler Borough----Ambler
Savings Bank
- Franconia
Township----MOPAC
- Hatfield
Borough----Grace Lutheran Church
- Hatfield
Township----Hatfield Quality Meats
- Lower Gwynedd----Wissahickon
School District
- Lower Salford
Township----H.P. Cadwallader
- Montgomery
Township----Giant Markets
- North Wales
Borough---Alliance
Graphics, LLC
- Souderton
Borough----Univest
- Telford Borough----Fybroc
Division of Met-Pro
- Towamencin
Township----Genuardi's Market
What follows are photographs and short thumb-nail descriptions
of the winners and their recycling activities.
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Ambler
Borough
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AMBLER
SAVINGS BANK: Banks deal in documents that are extremely
confidential. Because the bank does not want to see sensitive
documents blowing around a landfill, the Ambler Savings Bank
has a program to shred paper on a regular basis because of
the sensitive nature of the many transactions. The paper is
first collected in special bins placed in strategic locations
throughout its branches. Then it gets shredded.
Once the
paper, much of it high quality office paper, is shredded,
it is sent for recycling rather than to a landfill. The Ambler
Savings Bank, which has 50 employees, has been successfully
dealing in confidential documents since its founding in 1874.
The bank has branches in Limerick and Schwenksville. The recycled
materials are picked up twice a month. The firm has been a
good neighbor in the borough and has practiced recycling for
the past 15 years.
Because
of its active recycling program, Ambler Borough is pleased
to give the "Excellence in Recycling" award for 2005 to the
Ambler Savings Bank.
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| Bud
Wahl (right) presents the Excellence in Recycling award for
Ambler Borough to Martin Brown, president of the Ambler Savings
Bank. |
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Franconia
Township
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MOPAC
Mopac has been recycling long before it was required. The
company recognized early on that it needed to keep materials
smoothly moving in the large facility. As a result, Mopac
has developed a recycling program that is efficient and works
extremely well.
The company
has recycling bins for office paper scattered throughout its
facility. They get emptied every other day into a dumpster.
The company also bales all of its cardboard. That pays off
for Franconia Township and the Northern Commission. Last year,
Mopac recycled more than 31 tons of office paper and more
than 418 tons of corrugated cardboard.
Because
of its dedication to recycling and its efficient method, Franconia
Township is pleased to award its "Excellence in Recycling"
in Franconia Township to Mopac.
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| Jeff Dietterich
(left) the representative of Franconia Township on the Commission,
presents the Excellence in Recycling award to Durrell Frankenfeld
of MOPAC. |
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Hatfield
Borough
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GRACE
LUTHERAN CHURCH In 2000, the pastor of Grace Lutheran Church
of Hatfield Borough searched for ways for the congregation
to involve its members in what it calls the "stewardship of
the earth." Recycling became the answer.
Since
that time, the church has sponsored an active recycling program
that has involved almost every parishioner. The church has
recycling containers outside for use by the families. There
are recycling bins inside all buildings. Even the church bulletin
gets recycled. After church-goers read the information, they
are encouraged to deposit the bulletins in special containers
in the church---unless they need them for reference.The
youth of the congregation are recycling aluminum cans as one
way to finance a trip it plans to take to Texas.
Because
of its active recycling program, Hatfield Borough is pleased
to award its Excellence in Recycling Award for 2005 to the
Grace Lutheran Church.
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| Robert
Kahler (left) the representative of Hatfield Borough on the
Commission, presents the Excellence in Recycling award to Administrative
Assistant Pat Kennedy of the Grace Lutheran Church. |
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Hatfield
Township
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HATFIELD
QUALITY MEATS Hatfield Quality Meats has a long history of
recycling. The company, which is over 100 years old and employs
some 1500 people, considers it good business to make sure
that materials not used directly in making product are recycled
quickly and efficiently.
Raw product
is shipped into the plant packed in cardboard cartons on large
wooden pallets. All of the cardboard that is not contaminated---some
300 tons a year---is broken down, baled, and trucked directly
from the plant to a recycler. In addition, the company scraps
the unusable wooden pallets that are ground up and used for
mulch by gardeners.
Because
of its active approach to recycling, Hatfield Township is
pleased to give Hatfield Quality Meats the "Excellence in
Recycling" award for 2005.
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| Jim O'Byrne,
the representative from Hatfield Township
on the Commission, presents Tom Clemens of Hatfield Quality
Meats with the Excellence in Recycling Award for Hatfield Township
for recycling completed in 2005. |
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Lower
Gwynedd Township
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WISSAHICKON
SCHOOL DISTRICT This year, the Wissahickon School District
started a district-wide recycling program that may just end
up serving as a model for other districts to follow. It has
recycling dumpsters at each of the seven schools as well as
the administration building.
In addition,
each classroom has a recycling container as well as all office
spaces. While having containers does not always mean compliance,
the district did not neglect communicating its plan. It sent
recycling flyers home with all students. In addition, it has
recycling posters prominently displayed in all classrooms
and offices.
Because
of its comprehensive approach to recycling, Lower Gwynedd
Township is pleased to give the Wissahickon School District
the Excellence in Recycling award for Lower Gwynedd Township.
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| Pictured
above are (from left) Meredith Soto, a teacher from the district,
Todd Covel, of the Wissahickon School District, Charlene Stephens,
Assistant Lower Gwynedd Township Manager, and Ed Brandt, chairman
of the Northern Montgomery County Recycling Commission and Chairman
of the board of supervisors from Lower Gwynedd Township, |
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Lower
Salford Township
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H.P. CADWALLADER,
INC. When H. P. Cadwallader Inc. was founded in 1980, the
owners knew from the start that they wanted the company to
be as "recycling friendly" as possible. They have succeeded.
The company, that manufacturers corrugated boxes, recycles
virtually everything.
For example,
they recycle all the waste that occurs during the box-making
process. Its bound up and sent to be reprocessed. The company,
that has over 30 employees, recycles the wooden pallets they
get from their suppliers. They have recycling bins scattered
around the factory to collect office paper.
The company
even has a special machine that binds the green plastic strapping
which wraps the raw materials that come into the plant.
Because
of its active recycling program that could serve as a model
for other similar plants, Lower Salford Township is pleased
to award the "Excellence In Recycling" for 2005 to the H.
P. Cadwallader company.
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Montgomery
Township
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GIANT
MARKET The Giant Market in Montgomery Township employs about
200 full and part-time employees. When they are hired, part
of the program includes a description of the recycling activities
of the store.
Like other
large markets, Giant receives almost all of its goods in cardboard
cartons. Every time these employees break down a box or carton
of canned or fresh goods, the resulting cardboard is carefully
folded and then baled. Then, it is shipped back to corporate
headquarters where it is resold for use once more.
Because
of its emphasis on recycling, these 200 Giant employees are
ambassadors for recycling. It paid off in a big way for Montgomery
Township and the Northern Commission. In 2005 Giant recycled
over 447 tons of corrugated cardboard as well as over 10 tons
of plastics.
For its
dedication to recycling, Montgomery Township is pleased to
award the Excellence in Recycling in Montgomery Township to
Giant Markets.
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Souderton
Borough
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UNIVEST
CORPORATION The Univest Corporation deals in paper. The firm
has been recycling for as long as anyone can remember---long
before it became law. But it faced a unique challenge. Since
many of the documents it recycles are confidential, the company
needed to make sure the privacy of its customers was insured.
Today,
Univest recycles tons of paper most of which is shredded to
insure confidentiality. Each of the bank's more than 30 facilities
recycles all office paper. The materials from its many neighborhood
branches, the operations center, and corporate offices are
collected at a central point in Souderton before they are
hauled away first for shredding followed by recycling.
Because
of its active recycling program, Souderton Borough is pleased
to award the "Excellence in Recycling" award for 2005 to the
Univest Corporation.
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| Edward
Hunsicker, the Souderton Borough representative to the Northern
Montgomery County Recycling Commission presents the Excellence
in Recycling Award in Souderton Borough to Dianbe Moyer of Univest. |
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Telford
Borough
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FYBROC
DIVISION OF MET-PRO The Fybroc Division of Met-Pro, which
has some 70 employees at its facility, manufactures pumps
from plastic resins for companies and institutions that need
to circulate everything from acids (chemical plants) to seawater
(aquariums).
In
1991, just two years after Pennsylvania passed the law that
mandated recycling, employees of the Fybroc Division of Met-Pro
voluntarily recycled cardboard and mixed office paper on a
voluntary basis. However, that effort soon expanded to include
bi-metal and steel containers along with aluminum cans.
The
company collects cardboard and bi-metallic steel recyclables
as part of the manufacturing process. The aluminum cans and
mixed office paper are collected in bins scattered strategically
throughout the plant. Last year the company recycled some
13 tons of material.
Because
of its active recycling efforts Telford Borough is pleased
to award the "Excellence in Recycling in Telford Borough"
to the Fybroc Division of Met-Pro.
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Stanley
Nyce (right), the Telford Borough representative on the
Northern Montgomery County Recycling Commission, presents
the Excellence in Recycling Award in Telford Borough to
James Board of the Fybroc Division of Met Pro.
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Towamencin
Township
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GENUARDI'S
MARKET The Genuardi's Market in Towamencin Township is typical
of today's supermarket operation. Over the course of a week,
it receives carton after carton of cans, fresh produce, and
other materials that its customers purchase on a regular basis.
Almost
every piece of cardboard is broken down, bailed and sent to
be recycled. That's a lot of cardboard. The store recycles
between 4 and 6 bales a week. The store, which was built in
1990, employs between 150 and 200 people.
When they
are hired, all of them receive in-house orientation that includes
a detailed description of the store's recycling program. Genuardi's
is a good neighbor and an active recycler.
Because
of its active recycling program, Towamencin Township is pleased
to award the Excellence in Recycling award for 2005 to Genuardi's
Market.
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Jim
Sinz (right), the Towamencin Township representative on the
Northern Montgomery County Recycling Commission is shown with
Kirk Moyer, manager of the Towamencin Township Genuaradi's
Market, winner of the Excellence in Recycling in Towamencin
Township. The award was given for recycling completed in 2004.
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BOROUGH OF NORTH WALES
JOINS THE NORTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY RECYCLING COMMISSION
The Northern
Montgomery County Recycling Commission (NMCRC) has expanded from
ten to eleven members as a result of North Wales Borough joining
the group. The announcement was made on March 1 by Edward J. Brandt
Chairman of the Commission and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors
from Lower Gwynedd Township.
“We’re extremely
pleased to have North Wales as a part of our organization,” Brandt
said in welcoming the Borough into the Commission. “The Northern
Commission demonstrates the value of municipal cooperation. As a
large entity, we are more efficient in organizing and carrying out
our recycling activities. We are more effective at gathering recycling
data as a group than if we functioned as ten---now eleven--- individual
municipalities. The fact that the recycling performance grant money
has increased dramatically over the past several years demonstrates
this.”
The Commission
is now composed of eleven member communities. They include Ambler
Borough, Franconia Township, Hatfield Borough, Hatfield Township,
Lower Gwynedd Township, Lower Salford Township, Montgomery Township,
North Wales Borough, Souderton Borough, Telford Borough and Towamencin
Township. The Commission meets at 4:30 P.M. on the first Tuesday
of every month at Souderton Borough Hall. The public is invited
to attend
Winners of the
9th annual "Excellence in Recycling" awards for recycling
activities which occurred in 2003.
- Ambler Borough----Acme
Markets
- Franconia
Township----Alderfer Glass Co.
- Hatfield
Borough----Surco/Hatfield Rubber Co.
- Hatfield
Township----Valerio’s Produce Inc.
- Lower Gwynedd----Township
Spring Hill Estates
- Lower Salford
Township----Pheasant Run Apartments
- Montgomery
Township----Staples
- Souderton
Borough----Wawa
- Telford Borough----Washington
Glen Apartments
- Towamencin
Township----Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers
- The NMCRC
also awarded an “Excellence in Recycling by a Processor”
to Accurate Recycling of Lansdowne.
March 1, 2001
Recycling
News to undergo face lift
Watch
your mailboxes. Over the next couple of weeks, you'll receive the
latest editon of the Recyclilng News. Let us know what you think.
9th ANNUAL EXCELLENCE
IN RECYCLING AWARD TO BE HELD ON APRIL 30TH
The Northern Montgomery County Recycling Commission will hold the
9th annual "Excellence in Recycling" awards luncheon on
April 30th at the Indian Valley County Club.
The awards are given each year to the business that best exhibits
a commitment to recycling in each of the eight municipalities that
comprise the Commission. The Commission also gives awards to elected
officials or governmental agencies, individuals or groups that are
recognized for their achievements or special accomplishments that
advance recycling.
For information about the luncheon, contact your representative
at the Commission.
MERRILL
H. BERGEY, LONGTIME COMMISSION CHAIRMAN, PASSES AWAY
Merrill H. Bergey, who served as chairman of the Northern Montgomery
County Recycling Commission, passed away December 18, 2003 after
a long illness. Merrill was instrumental in the formation of the
Commission and served as its chairman. He was a member of the Franconia
Township Board of Supervisors.
NORTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY RECYCLING COMMISSION AWARDS PLAQUES
TO WINNERS OF EXCELLENCE IN RECYCLING FOR 2002
The Northern Montgomery County Recycling Commission (NMCRC) on
May 2 awarded Excellence in Recycling awards for recycling activities
that occurred in 2002 at a special award luncheon held at the Indian
Valley Country Club. In addition, the board presented its longtime
chairman Merrill H. Bergey with a clock for his service to the Commission
and his community.
"Every year as I watch individuals come up to receive their awards,
I think about how frustrating it sometimes has been to motivate
more people to start recycling," said Edward Brandt, vice chairman
of the commission who made the presentation. "The frustration has
been made a little easier by working with someone that has the qualities
of Merrill H. Bergey.
Merrill has a talent for overseeing a Commission that consists
of seven different individuals who often have seven different opinions.
Somehow Merrill manages to gain a consensus through gentle persuasion,
intelligent arguments and, most importantly, a sense of humor,"
Brandt said.
"I believe I speak for everyone on the Commission when I say that
it is a pleasure to work with Merrill. Merrill has given unselfishly
to the community for many, many years and his accomplishments are
too numerous to mention. "Over his years of public service, he's
received many awards and honors. Now I have the pleasure of presenting
him with one more---a small token of our thanks to him for a wonderful
job as Chairman of the Northern Montgomery County Recycling Commission."
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