Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), Morton Grove, Illinois, announced Oct. 4 that it has acquired Madison, Wisconsin-based Royal Container Service, a dumpster and recycling services provider. According to the LRS, the acquisition creates a scalable waste and recycling platform in southern Wisconsin and expands the LRS service area. Financial terms were not disclosed and the acquisition is effective immediately.
As a result of the acquisition, Royal’s 50 employees, 25 trucks and more than 1,000 roll-off dumpsters will now be a part of LRS. The company also will oversee control of three facilities previously owned by Royal located in Madison and its surrounding communities, including one of the few automated construction and demolition (C&D) recycling facilities in Wisconsin. Royal manages nearly 100,000 tons of material and successfully recycles or diverts in excess of 75 percent of that material.
“We welcome all Royal employees and customers to the LRS family through this milestone acquisition as we expand into southern Wisconsin,” LRS CEO Alan Handley says. “We look forward to offering Royal customers access to all LRS services, including residential and commercial waste collection, roll-off dumpsters, portable restrooms, street sweeping and on-site storage. Royal’s leadership team has always run a first-class customer-focused operation, and we look forward to working with their senior leadership team as we continue to execute on our aggressive geographic expansion.”
Royal has been led through its transition by owners David Vander Velde, Steve Olsen and Kim Lindholm. Effective immediately, Velde will remain part of the Royal team managing daily operations and Olsen will remain on as an active shareholder in LRS. Through their efforts and leadership, LRS says Royal has outrivaled other local waste providers and is the hauler of choice for contractors throughout Dane, Sauk and Columbia County, serving approximately 80 percent of construction hauling needs for Madison-area contractors. With more than 1,500 customers, Royal will utilize this key knowledge and pride of service as it works alongside LRS.
“We are thrilled to be a part of the LRS family and look forward to offering our customers more services than ever before,” Velde said.
The U.S., Canada and Mexico reached an agreement late on Sept. 30 to update the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA was first enacted in 1994 as a way to govern more than $1.2 trillion worth of trade among the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Trump’s administration had been working to renegotiate NAFTA with the governments of Canada and Mexico.
As a result of the agreement, the new deal will be known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), according to a news report in the Washington Post. Most of the key provisions of the deal won’t go into effect until 2020 since leaders from all three countries have to sign it and then Congress and legislatures in Canada and Mexico have to approve it, the Washington Post reports.
A number of industry associations responded to share what this new deal means for the recycling industry.
Thomas J. Gibson, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), Washington, offered his statement in reaction to the announcement of USMCA.
“We appreciate the administration’s hard work to reach this trade agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico—especially regarding measures that ensure North American steel continues to be used in automobile production,” Gibson says. “We are pleased that the agreement is trilateral, as the relationship between our three countries has been extremely beneficial for the steel industry and resulted in robust trade and investment in the region over the past 25 years. This new agreement is significant, as it will keep our manufacturing supply chains strong throughout North America.”
Regarding customs clearances, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), Washington, says it is hopeful the USMCA’s more detailed guidelines for the three governments will allow for improved border crossings, including information sharing, law enforcement collaboration and procedures for adjudicating disputes. ISRI notes that the USMCA enhances collaboration between the government to prevent illegal transshipment by outside parties.
ISRI adds that USMCA does not mention specific standards or standards bodies as preferred guidelines, so the association is “hopeful that ISRI Specifications will be acknowledged as the guidelines for scrap.”
In USMCA’s Rules of Origin, ISRI notes that waste and scrap “maintain the same origin classification as in the NAFTA in that scrap materials are considered ‘originating’ in North America if processed in one of three countries … as well as derived from used goods collected in one of the three countries for purposes of extracting raw materials.” The association notes that this aspect of USMCA is beneficial for manufacturing customers that produce goods from scrap commodities processed in North America since they will be able to include scrap as part of the new 60 percent transaction value (or 50 percent of cost) cumulation threshold for duty-free trade within North America.
The USMCA deal did not bring about the removal of 232 U.S. tariffs on steel or aluminum from Canada or Mexico. ISRI says reports indicated that those negotiations “will happen separately but no timeline was given.”
Additionally, the Arlington, Virginia-based Aluminum Association released a statement expressing its disappointment that the latest agreement didn’t include a Section 232 tariff resolution.
“The Aluminum Association is disappointed that the Section 232 aluminum tariffs were not addressed as a part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA),” says Heidi Brock, president and CEO of the association. “Now is the time for the United States to work with Canada and Mexico to provide a full exemption—without quotas—for aluminum imports from those countries. This should occur as soon as possible, and certainly before the final agreement is signed.”
Brock adds that integrated North American supply chains are a main reason the aluminum industry has been able to meet growing demand every year. However, she says, as the industry is in a deficit market, additional barriers in the supply chain, such as the tariffs, will threaten growth.
“The current Section 232 tariffs are hurting U.S. aluminum companies, making them less competitive on the world stage,” Brock says. “Ninety-seven percent of domestic aluminum industry jobs are in mid- and downstream production and processing. By artificially raising input prices and constraining metal supply, tariffs and quotas risk harming demand, growth and investment in the United States. We will continue to review the specifics of the agreement and work towards tariff- and quota-free trade of aluminum with our North American trading partners.”
OSHA updates National Emphasis Program on trenching and excavation safety
OSHA’s NEP will increase education and enforcement efforts while its inspectors record trenching and excavation inspections in a national reporting system. Additionally, each area OSHA office will develop outreach programs as part of the initiatives.
“Removing workers from, and helping workers identify, trenching hazards is critical,” says OSHA Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt. “OSHA will concentrate the full force of enforcement and compliance assistance resources to help ensure that employers are addressing these serious hazards.”
The emphasis program began Oct. 1 and will kick off a three-month period of education and prevention outreach. During this period, OSHA will continue to respond to complaints, referrals, hospitalizations and fatalities. Enforcement activities will begin after the outreach period and remain in effect until cancellation. OSHA-approved state plans are expected to have enforcement procedures that are at least as effective as those in this instruction.
OSHA has also developed a series of compliance assistance resources to help workers avoid trenching and excavation hazards. The trenching and excavation webpage on OSHA’s website provides information on trenching hazards and solutions that workers can use to stay safe on the job.
Audrey Copeland has been named the next president and CEO of the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), Lanham, Maryland. She will assume the new role at the NAPA 2019 Annual Meeting in January.
Copeland succeeds Mike Acott, who has served as NAPA’s president since 1992. Over the coming months, Acott and Copeland will work together to transition the leadership of NAPA. During the transition period, Copeland will serve as NAPA’s chief operating officer.
The selection of Copeland comes after an intensive search process conducted by a succession task group comprised of NAPA members and led by Kevin Kelly, president and CEO of Walsh & Kelly Inc., Griffith, Indiana.
“We engaged in a long and very thorough search, and Audrey clearly stood out as the best person for the job,” Kelly says. “She brings a high level of expertise, passion and perspective to NAPA.”
Copeland’s selection was confirmed unanimously by NAPA’s executive committee.
“Audrey’s technical background, combined with her experience with federal agencies and her relationships with NAPA members and industry partners around the world, position her well to take on the challenges the industry faces from day one,” says Craig Parker, 2018 NAPA chairman and executive vice president of Silver Star Construction, Moore, Oklahoma. Parker also served on the succession task group.
Copeland joined NAPA in 2012 as vice president for engineering, research and technology. In that role, she has grown NAPA’s engineering team and forged strong relationships with the state Asphalt Pavement Associations; Asphalt Pavement Alliance, Orange Park, Florida; National Center for Asphalt Technology at Auburn University in Alabama; the Asphalt Institute, Lexington, Kentucky; the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); and other industry professionals and partners. She served as technical lead for more than $2 million in industry-funded research projects. She also secured a cooperative agreement with the FHWA that has invested more than $2 million in government funding to advance asphalt technologies.
“I am honored to serve the asphalt industry as NAPA’s next president,” Copeland says. “NAPA has played an important role over the years leading the asphalt industry through challenges, guarding the industry’s interests and forging partnerships for success, all while working to foster and encourage innovation and excellence. I will continue that tradition as we address today’s needs and prepare to take full advantage of tomorrow’s opportunities.”
The transition in leadership will happen at the NAPA 2019 Annual Meeting on Jan. 21–23 in Marco Island, Florida, marking the end of Acott’s 27-year term at the helm of NAPA.
“It’s difficult to step away from something that has been such a big part of your life, but I know that NAPA, its members and the asphalt pavement industry as a whole are in good hands with Audrey. I look forward to seeing where she takes the industry,” Acott says.
Prior to NAPA, Copeland served as a highway and materials research engineer with FHWA. She earned her doctorate in civil engineering from Vanderbilt University and holds degrees in civil and environmental engineering from Tennessee Technological University. She is a licensed professional engineer in Maryland and Virginia.
According to a CalRecycle news release, final inspections on cleared lots are underway and should be complete by mid-October. Since Aug. 27, crews removed more than 13,670 tons of wildfire debris from 49 private properties, including:
9,835 tons of ash/debris
2,371 tons of contaminated soil
1,009 tons of concrete (recycled)
391 tons of metal (recycled)
“The completion of wildfire debris removal in Siskiyou County is a significant milestone in California’s wildfire recovery efforts,” says Scott Smithline, CalRecycle director, in a company news release. “CalRecycle is incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made together with our state and local partners to help these communities heal and put homeowners in a position to rebuild.”
In addition, CalRecycle-managed crews continue to make progress on three additional wildfire debris removal operations on properties impacted by the Carr Fire in Shasta County, California, as well as Lake County properties affected by the Pawnee and Mendocino Complex fires, CalRecycle reports.
CalRecycle implements phase two of California’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program under the leadership of CalOES and local governments, according to a CalRecycle report. Following the removal of household hazardous waste in phase one, CalOES and local officials will coordinate with CalRecycle to execute contracts and fire-related debris removal on private properties at no out-of-pocket costs to homeowners.
EvoQuip, Dungannon, Ireland, has launched the Cobra 290R crusher. The Cobra 290R compact impact crusher builds on the features of the Cobra 230 and is designed to provide a solution for on-site recycling in urban areas. Features of the impact crusher include:
ground-level setup and two-button start-up sequence
can be used in several applications, including with reinforced concrete, recycled asphalt, C&D debris, coal and natural rock
throughput potential of up to 320 tons per hour, depending on feed material and apron setting
hinged radiator pack, hinged diesel tank and product conveyor that can be removed quickly for major maintenance
Buffalo Grove, Illinois-based Liftomatic Material Handling Inc., a material handling equipment manufacturer, has expanded its line of drum handling equipment to include the new model 3A-HD-BHDL, a below-hook drum handling system. Features of the 3A-HD-BHDL include:
a fully automatic and mechanical below-hook attachment
can be used to lift 55-gallon drums from an overhead position for placement
three radial arms that conform to the drum body and engage at the underside of the drum chime
Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Asgco is describing its complete conveyor solutions magnetic separator as an overhead magnet and nonelectric material separator that can be suspended over a conveyor or head pulley to remove ferrous metals. Features of the separator include:
requires no external power source
can extract all ferrous contamination, including very fine particles, in dry or wet conditions
is ideally suited for material recovery facility (MRF), mixed metal recycling, e-scrap and construction and demolition (C&D) materials
can be arranged to be installed inline or as a crossover magnet, depending on the specific installation needs
Terex Washing Systems (TWS), Dungannon, Ireland, recently displayed two new products at Hillhead—the AggWash 300 and the Terex AquaClear. Features of the AggWash 300 include:
was designed to address higher production requirements for recycling customers and quarry owners
brings together rinsing, screening, scrubbing and sand washing capabilities on a single plant
portable format makes it suitable for green field applications, contractor use and temporary planning permission sites
incorporates two triple-deck horizontal screens, rolling chutes, a logwasher, a trash screen and an integrated sand plant
Morbark LLC, Winn, Michigan, is now offering the iQ-View Smart Controller on its 3-liter gas engines for the Beever M12R, M12D and M12RX models of brush chippers. Features of the iQ-View include:
smart display and controller designed to present engine and machine parameters to the operator and control the chipper’s autofeed function
user can select four parameters to display simultaneously
a second screen can be set to display four additional parameters
on-screen diagnostics can be used to troubleshoot system issues
United Kingdom-based CP Automation says its handheld, cordless radio control units for cranes and hydraulic material handlers allow operators “to remain on the facility floor, out of range of load swings and potentially dropped loads.” Features of the units include:
cordless flexibility that allows the operator to move to a different location
cranes can be fitted with CP Automation and motion control products made by Magnetek Inc. as an integrated package
package can include power delivery systems, collision avoidance systems, radio remote control transmitters, motor gearboxes, failsafe brakes and variable frequency drives (VFDs)
a single operator could potentially manage some of the operations with below-the-hook attachments such as magnets, grabs or C-hooks
Lincoln, Nebraska-based BinMaster says the stockpile estimating tool it offers can bring “precision and reliability to measuring and monitoring volume and tonnage in freestanding stockpiles.” Features of the BinMaster’s Stockpile Reports service include:
automates pile measurement using pictures from a cell phone, drone, plane or a fixed camera
data is accessed and shared on a web portal
customer has access to a dashboard populated with photographs, site statistics and reports with vital information
is scalable from five to more than 500 piles for one site or for multiple locations managed by a company
Rotochopper, St. Martin, Minnesota, manufactures industrial wood waste grinding equipment. The B-66 can transform a range of raw materials into mulch, animal bedding and more. Features of the B-66 include:
colorizer that injects water and colorant directly into the grinding chamber
screen change system that lets operators switch screens at ground level with no need for overhead lifting equipment, fasteners or special tools
track and dolly system that switches from road travel on tires to site navigation on tracks
engine options include 755 to 1,050 horsepower diesel engine or 500 to 1,000 horsepower electric motor(s)
