College students can earn money and experience while interning at one of the TDEC offices.  Internships are available to full time undergraduate and graduate students.  GIS and GPS experience a plus.  See link here.

The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers is continuing its popular workshop series ‘Into the Bin and Back Again’ with a set of three free, web-based seminars. Individual registration is required for each session.

Details of the first of three workshops and links for registration are below:

—————————–
Getting to Know You: The Ins and Outs of the Plastics Recycling Industry

Date:Thursday, July 10, 2008
Time:1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT
Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/839651766

This free, hour-long web seminar is designed for the recycling program that would like to improve their plastic recycling techniques. Get real tips from the industry to make sure your program is operating free of kinks and at full profit potential. Learn about plastic recycling resources to make your job easier. Leave with a checklist of possible program improvements.

–Forwarded from TRC–

The Tennessee Recycling Coalition in partnership with Goodwill Industries is hosting a community waste reduction and recycling workshop focused on East Tennessee.
The workshop will be held on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2008 from 8:00 A.M. TO 2:30 P.M. EDT with lunch provided.

Workshop Agenda:

8:00 to 9:00–Registration and Networking/Coffee and Pastries
9:00 to 9:30–Welcome and Introductions   -Jack Horner, Goodwill Industries Knoxville, Inc.
9:30 to 10:15–School Milk Container Recycling   -Jill Henderson, Southeast United Dairy Industries, Inc.
10:15 to 10:30–Break
10:30 to 11:00–Markets Forum Open Discussion
11:00 to 11:45–Curbside Recycling Success   -Brenda Whisnant, City of Johnson City
11:45 to 1:00–Networking Lunch
1:00 to 1:45–Zero Waste Events  -Tom Salter, Knox County Solid Waste
1:45 to 2:30–Recycling and Recreation   -John LeCroy, Panther Creek State Park
2:30–Adjourn
Location:
COMFORT INN
1790 EAST ANDREW JOHNSON HIGHWAY
GREENEVILLE, TENNESSEE

Registration:

Registration info found at http://www.trc-online.org/workshop.html

–from Mike Cary–

Obion County’s  event is scheduled for Sat. May 31st from 8:00 AM till 1:00 PM. The event will be held at the Obion County Recycle Center located at 1003B Mt. Zion Rd. in Union City. (see map here.)

Contact Mike Cary at (731) 885-8109 for further information.
The average home in Tennessee produces 20 pounds of household hazardous waste each year. Typical items to dispose of include cleaning fluids, pesticides, mercury thermometers and thermostats, swimming pool chemicals, paint thinner and automotive fluids. Also accepted are fluorescent bulbs and electronics, such as televisions, computer monitors, keyboards, computer mouse devices and computer processing units. Console televisions must be dismantled.

Items no longer accepted are alkaline and rechargeable batteries. Alkaline batteries sold after May 13, 1996, have no mercury added and may be discarded in the regular trash. Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd), nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH), lithium ion (Li-Ion) and small sealed lead-acid (Pb) batteries may be recycled through the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation. You may find a drop-off location near you by entering your ZIP code at http://www.rbrc.org/call2recycle/dropoff/. Other items not accepted include microwave ovens, ammunition, explosives, medical waste and any items from a school, commercial business or agri-business.

Mike Cary
Solid Waste Director
Obion County, TN

Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s mobile household hazardous waste collection service will be in Humphreys, Jefferson, Roane and Robertson Counties on May 10.

“Our household hazardous waste mobile collection service provides the people of Tennessee with a safe, environmentally friendly way to dispose of unwanted household chemicals and other potentially hazardous wastes at no cost,” said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke.  “This service travels across the state holding collection events in local communities, and we encourage all Tennesseans to take advantage of the opportunity to utilize it.”

On Saturday, May 10, any Tennessee resident may bring his or her household hazardous waste to the following location.  (Note that hours listed indicate the local time for each event.)

Humphreys County – Fairgrounds in Waverly from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.  The local contact for this HHW collection event is Jere Corlew at (931) 296-1555.

Jefferson County – Jefferson County Landfill in Dandridge from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. The local contact for this HHW collection event is Bobby Hubbard at (865) 397-3544.

Roane County – Roane County Recycling Center in Midtown from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.  The local contact for this HHW collection event is Ralph Stewart at (865) 590-7779.

Robertson County – Robertson County Fairgrounds in Springfield from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. The local contact for this HHW collection event is Korey Drake at (615) 384-0683.

The average home in Tennessee produces 20 pounds of household hazardous waste each year.  Typical items to dispose of include cleaning fluids, pesticides, mercury thermometers and thermostats, swimming pool chemicals, paint thinner and automotive fluids.  Also accepted are fluorescent bulbs and electronics, such as televisions, computer monitors, keyboards, computer mouse devices and computer processing units.  Console televisions must be dismantled.

See the TDEC link for additional information.

SWANA is offering online short courses in May geared toward Transfer Station Design. These are affordable ways to earn SWANA credit without leaving your office. Check out the link for information on registration and fees. The courses will detail how design can improve health and safety, plus go over what Construction and Operation factors should go into design criteria.

The three 75 minute courses can be used to secure 3 SWANA CEU hours toward your certification.

Vanderbilt University has partnered with the University of Memphis and East TN State University to host a statewide FREE electronics recycling event May 14-17. The Middle TN event will be held in the LP Field (Titans Stadium - Directions) parking lots from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. each day. Any type of computer system, printers, copiers, fax machines, TVs, cell phones, iPods and mp3 players, game consoles, and other types of consumer and office electronics will be accepted for recycling during this event. See link for further details.

Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s mobile household hazardous waste collection service will be in Sevier and Williamson Counties on May 3.

“Our household hazardous waste mobile collection service provides the people of Tennessee with a safe, environmentally friendly way to dispose of unwanted household chemicals and other potentially hazardous wastes at no cost,” said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke. “This service travels across the state holding collection events in local communities, and we encourage all Tennesseans to take advantage of the opportunity to utilize it.”

On Saturday, May 3, any Tennessee resident may bring his or her household hazardous waste to the following location. (Note that hours listed indicate the local time for each event.)

Sevier County – Sevierville City Hall from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The local contact for this HHW collection event is Janice Hendrix at (865) 774-6677.

Williamson County – Williamson County Administrative Complex in Franklin from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. The local contact for this HHW collection event is Lewis Bumpus at (615) 948-4805.

NACO (through the support of our Green Government Initiative sponsors) will be hosting a series of FREE green government webinars. The intended audience is any elected county official or county staff; however anyone interested in learning more about the county role in green government practices is encouraged to register. Participants will learn valuable background information on each subject, discover new resources, and hear case studies from various counties. See this link to register and read more about NACO’s Green Initiatives.

Each webinar will cover a different green subject. The first webinar will be an introductory Green Counties webinar on May 7, 2008. To participate all you need is a computer with internet access and a phone line! Please take a look and forward to other appropriate staff in your county as you see fit.

Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s mobile household hazardous waste collection service will be in Giles, Monroe and Weakley Counties on April 26. On Saturday, April 26, any Tennessee resident may bring his or her household hazardous waste to the following locations.  (Note that hours listed indicate the local time for each event.)

Giles County – Sam Davis Park in Pulaski from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The local contact for this HHW collection event is Dan Watson at (931) 424-7035.

Monroe County – Monroe County Highway Department, Highway 68 in Madisonville from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. The local contact for this HHW collection event is Mike Adkins at (423) 442-2497.

Weakley County – Weakley County Convenience Center in Dresden from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The local contact for this HHW collection event is Linda Gallimore at (731) 364-6798.

Full event details at this link.