NORA - Association of Responsible Recyclers

NORA Celebrates America Recycles Day

noemail@noranews.org — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:00:00 GMT

November 15^th is America Recycles Day, the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and to buy recycled products.

“NORA congratulates America Recycles Day for reaching its 11^th year,” stated NORA Executive Director Scott D. Parker. “Each year, NORA members collect millions of gallons of used oil and recycle it to generate energy or re-refined lubricants. America Recycles Day is a wonderful opportunity to remind all Americans about the environmental and economic benefits of recycling materials, including used oil and related resources.”

NORA, An Association of Responsible Recyclers (NORA) is a trade association of 225 companies involved in responsibly recycling used oil and related materials that would otherwise negatively impact the environment. Instead, NORA members work every day to ensure these resources are collected, recycled and given another useful life.

NORA provides information and materials about the importance of properly recycling used oil to local governments as well as school systems and universities.

Parker assisted in the creation of America Recycles Day in 1997 and served as the Co-Chairman of the organization in 1998.

Wild Wild West: 2008 NORA Closing Party (Sponsorships Available)

noemail@noranews.org — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

You are invited to attend the 2008 NORA Closing Party on the evening of Friday, November 7th. SPONSORSHIPS ARE NEEDED! We can only make this happen with your help! This event is included for FREE with any conference registration or spouse/guest package. Make sure you stay over Friday night for this once in a lifetime event. However, NORA needs sponsorships to pull this off. NORA’s Closing Event is a trip back in time…using jeeps as our steady steeds, we’ll take you on a trip to an old desert mining camp. The mining camp is a historically authentic replica of the Wild West mining camps that sprang up in the 1800s. You’ll ride through the canyons along the eerie San Andreas Fault, try your hand in the shooting gallery, rope yourself a straw cow, or just relax by the campfire to the live music. You can also meander through the town and enjoy the colorful local history and legends of a rowdy by-gone era when settlers came here in search of freedom and fortune. Kick up your...

NORA Participates in Illinois Manifest Hearing

noemail@noranews.org — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:00:00 GMT

The full potential of a trade association was on display on October 1st in Chicago, Illinois. In a hearing before the Illinois Pollution Control Board, representatives from NORA and the Illinois EPA addressed the issue of burdensome manifesting requirements of used oil in Illinois. This is an extremely important issue to NORA members in Illinois as well as NORA members in other states as a matter of principle. The used oil market in Illinois is one of the most competitive in the United States. However, the members were able to unite behind NORA to address this issue of concern to all. Representatives from Future Environmental, RS Used Oil, Southwest Oil, Safety-Kleen, Heritage - Crystal Clean and Excel Environmental all participated in the hearing. Under the magnificent leadership of Vickie Custer of Southwest Oil, the NORA Illinois Working Group has persisted in navigating this project. NORA’s General Counsel Chris Harris served as the primary representative in...

NORA Membership Grows to Over 225

noemail@noranews.org — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:00:00 GMT

In September 2008, NORA membership reached 225 member companies thanks to you!

Your association relies heavily on word-of-mouth marketing and you have continued to refer NORA to your peers and suppliers.

The last few months have seen a surge in membership with NORA attracting twelve new members – helping NORA to reach the 225 members milestone. We extend a warm welcome to new members:

AB Environmental, Bohemia, NY
Amchem Inc., Longview, TX
Certified Labs/Purewash, Irving, TX
Clear Choice Antifreeze, Denver, CO
Enterprise Oil, Knoxville, TN
Houlihan Lokey, New York, NY
Plummer’s Environmental Services, Byron Center, MI
Purvin & Gertz, Houston, TX
Vertex Residual Management (VRM), Houston, TX
VLS Recovery Services, Mauldin, SC
Werts Welding & Tank Service, Wood River, IL

As you know, NORA is holding a Member-Get-A-Member contest with terrific prizes. The contest runs until October 10th. Prizes include upgrade to suite at the NORA Annual Conference in Rancho Mirage, limo from the airport to the hotel, iPods, wall plaques and more. For more information on this fun and EASY contest, go to www.noranews.org.

So keep up the good work! Continue to encourage your peers and trading partners to join NORA, the leading liquid recycling association. With your help, we’ll continue to save the earth, one drop at a time.

NORA Posts Purdue Study Online

noemail@noranews.org — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:00:00 GMT

NORA Members may now download the full Purdue Study online! The study titled Effects of Hot Plant Fuel Characteristics and Combustion on Asphalt Concrete Quality was performed by Purdue University for South Dakota DOT and published in 2003. The large report has been broken into downloadable sections that NORA Members can access in the Resource Center at www.noranews.org. This information is only available to NORA Members. REPORT ABSTRACT This report summarizes the results of an extensive and comprehensive study to evaluate the possibility of contaminating a hot mix asphalt due to the use of alternate fuel types and through poor combustion of the fuel. Eleven different fuels were used, and the plant burner was adjusted to optimum, insufficient oxygen and excess oxygen conditions. Samples of aggregates and of hot mix produced under these combinations of fuel and combustion conditions were collected and tested using a variety of chemical and physical tests. Gravimetric...

Save the Date: NORA Announces 2009 Winter Meeting Dates & Location

noemail@noranews.org — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Join NORA in New Orleans for the 2009 winter meeting at the Ritz Carlton, New Orleans, February 4-6, 2009.

The NORA Winter Meeting generally attracts over 100 leaders from the liquid recycling industry for networking and to address regulatory and business issues facing members.

Registration and hotel info will be distributed later.

Situated at the confluence of the mighty Mississippi River and the picturesque Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans, Louisiana is often referred to as the most unique city in America. Due in part to its prominent annual events such as Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest, New Orleans is continually ranked among the world's most popular tourist destinations.

The Big Easy, as New Orleans is known, was originally a French colony in the early 1700’s. The Spanish took control from 1769 to 1800 when Spain transferred Louisiana back to France. In 1803, U.S. President Thomas Jefferson adroitly bought the territory from France for $15 million when the territory was sold to the United States by Napoleon as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The city’s ever-present celebratory spirit is evident in the French Quarter, embodied by those who live here and can be found in every neighborhood throughout the city.

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans hotel welcomes visitors with genuine Southern hospitality and singular flair. From its premier location on the edge of the French Quarter, the hotel's location provides guests easy access to most of the city’s popular and unique attractions. The hotel features a newly-renovated 25,000 square-foot destination spa with twenty-two treatment rooms and Spa Café, a new signature restaurant, two lounges, 35,000 square feet of meeting space and it is in close proximity to numerous antique stores, art galleries and restaurants.

Hotel rooms will be available during the NORA meeting for the discounted rate of $189/night.

NORA Creates Used Oil Analytical Sub-Committee to Address Utah Lab Study

noemail@noranews.org — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:00:00 GMT

On June 20th, 2008, the NORA Board of Directors decided to establish this new Used Oil Analytical Sub-Committee for the purpose of reviewing analytical practices of the Used Oil Recycling industry.

The Board established the following directives/objectives for this new Sub-Committee;

Peer review of the Utah Analytical Study.
Provide a report to the NORA Conference in November 2008

The initial members of this Sub-Committee are:

Dan Cowart, Aaron Oil Company (Chairman)
Chris Bergstrom, NOCO Energy Corp. (Vice Chairman)
Jack Waggener, URS
Jack Mahon, Dexsil Corp.
Drew Frye, FCC
Lab Reps as needed

If you have questions regarding this sub-committee, contact NORA.

NORA meets with ILMA

noemail@noranews.org — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

On July 22, 2008, NORA Executive Director Scott D. Parker met with ILMA Executive Director Celeste Powers at the ILMA Headquarters Office in Alexandria, VA.

The two Executive Directors discussed each of their industries and ways that the two groups can work together. They addressed the importance of promoting proper recycling of lubricants, the changing additive packages in today's lubricants and the increasing role of re-refining oil as a base lubricant.

Together, the two have decided to explore formalizing a relationship between NORA and ILMA.

ILMA is the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Associaiton and their members are independent lubricant companies that produce over 25% of all lubricants and 80% or more of the metalworking fluids and other specialty industrial lubricants sold in North America.

NORA Posts Ideal Recyclers' Handbook Online for Members Only

noemail@noranews.org — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:00:00 GMT

In 2006, NORA contracted industry attorney Christopher Harris to update a handbook of paperwork that every professional recycler should have compiled. These documents are mostly compliance-related, but also contain business documents that your business could show to regulators, trading partners and your customers.

The Ideal Recyclers’ Environmental Compliance and Facility Information handbook is set up under 7 tabs to help you organize your records.

Tab 1: Insurance and Permits
Tab 2: Corporate Policies
Tab 3: Regulatory Compliance
Tab 4: SPCC Plan, Generator’s Profile and Service Station Dealer’s Exemption
Tab 5: Awards and Customer Relations
Tab 6: Regulations and Interpretive Guidance
Tab 7: Superfund Liability

Ideal Recyclers, Inc., is a fictional used oil transporter and processor operating in the fictional state of West Dakota as created for the purposes of this handbook. The documents presented are an example of the documents your facility should have easily accessible.

The Ideal Recyclers’ Environmental Compliance and Facility Information handbook is a free business tool created for and available to NORA Members only. Click Ideal Recyclers to view or download the handbook.

NORA Posts Entropy Study Online for Members Only

noemail@noranews.org — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:00:00 GMT

NORA Members may now download the important Entropy Study from the NORA Website.

The Entropy Study titled Quantification of Metals Emissions from Burning Used Oil Fuel was performed for the Used Oil Recycling Coalition in July of 1996. This was a two phase project that evaluated metals emissions from used oil combustion.

Of particular importance to NORA Members, the second phase of the Entropy Study found:

"Comparison of the emissions from the different fuels fully supports the contention that metals removal in baghouse-controlled plants is very high. At Facility A, lead content of the recycled oil was 50 times higher than that of the virgin oil, yet emissions remained at or below the detection limit with corresponding removal efficiencies greater than 99.98 percent."

Please view or download the complete Entropy Study in the NORA Resource Center.

NORA Visits Member DeMenno/Kerdoon

noemail@noranews.org — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:00:00 GMT

NORA Executive Director Scott D. Parker visited NORA Member DeMenno/Kerdoon’s eight acre recycling facility in Los Angeles, California in mid-March.

Brian Schmidt, an Area Manager for Thermo Fluids Inc., described the history and process of the facility to the NORA visitors. Additionally, the group discussed opportunities and the future of anti-freeze recycling in the United States and actions NORA should consider to protect and grow that sector.

Parker noted, “The Thermo Fluids anti-freeze recycling operation was first-rate and very impressive. NORA’s mission is to promote responsible recycling and this facility certainly is an example of that.”

NORA’s Executive Director will be meeting with members around the country this year and reports will be made to members.

NORA Promotes Responsible Recycling at AOCA Show

noemail@noranews.org — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT

NORA's message of promoting 'responsible recycling' received a big boost in early March.

From March 11-13, 2008, NORA exhibited at the Automotive Oil Change Association Convention and Fast Lube Expo. NORA provided information to the nearly 1200 attendees about the importance of choosing a responsible recycling partner.

A complete list of all NORA members was distributed to those who visited the NORA booth. In addition, NORA promoted the association's Guiding Principles.

NORA also began to build strong relationships with larger generators, media outlets and the oil companies.

NORA's Scott D. Parker stated, "This show was a fantastic opportunity for NORA to promote the industry's message of responsible recycling."

NORA President Ben Cowart also represented the association at the trade show.

NORA's booth was generously underwritten by sponsorships from RS Used Oil Services, DeMenno/Kerdoon, Vertex Recovery, Safety-Kleen, Southwest Oil, World Petroleum and Heartland Petroleum.

NORA members who exhibited independently at the show included Emerald Services, Bedford Industries, Clean Burn, FCC Environmental, and Thermo Fluids.

NORA Visits Member Thermo Fluids Inc Anti-Freeze Recycling Plant

noemail@noranews.org — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:00:00 GMT

NORA Executive Director Scott D. Parker and NORA President Ben Cowart visited NORA Member Thermo Fluids Inc.'s anti-freeze recycling facility in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 11, 2007.

Brian Schmidt, an Area Manager for Thermo Fluids Inc., described the history and process of the facility to the NORA visitors. Additionally, the group discussed opportunities and the future of anti-freeze recycling in the United States and actions NORA should consider to protect and grow that sector.

Parker noted, "The Thermo Fluids anti-freeze recycling operation was very impressive. NORA's mission is to promote responsible recycling and this facility certainly is an example of that."

NORA's Executive Director will be meeting with members around the country this year and reports will be made to members.

NORA Members Recommit to NORA Guiding Principles

noemail@noranews.org — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:00:00 GMT

All NORA members are in the process of renewing their membership for 2008. The process includes each member signing a statement that confirms their commitment to NORA's Guiding Principles.

Each year NORA members receive education related to the best practices in liquid recycling and have access to the network of leaders in the country. This helps make NORA an "association of responsible recyclers."

A copy of NORA's Guiding Principles follows:

The NORA Guiding Principles

As a member of NORA, An Association of Responsible Recyclers, our company is committed to management of a sound environmental policy, a high standard of integrity, continual improvement, and the implementation of the following principles in conducting our business activities:

1. We make health, safety, and environmental considerations a top priority in our planning for all existing and new facilities, processes, products, and services.

2. We are committed to complying with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.

3. We will identify and implement, where practicable, pollution prevention measures, source reduction, and waste minimization that are appropriate to the nature, scale, and environmental impacts of our activities and services.

4. We will participate with government and others in creating responsible laws, regulations, and standards to safeguard our community, workplace, and environment.

5. We will communicate this commitment to responsible recycling and these guiding principles to our employees, customers, and community.

6. We will continually seek opportunities to improve the principles and procedures of responsible recycling by sharing experiences with others and periodically reviewing our overall environmental performance.

NORA Welcomes Three New Members

noemail@noranews.org — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:00:00 GMT

NORA is pleased to announce that Oldcastle Materials/Appalachian Materials Group, PESCO-BEAM Environmental and Q Environmental, Inc. have joined the Association. Oldcastle Materials/Appalachian Materials Group is located in Dunbar, West Virginia and Lee Cooperrider is the primary contact. He can be reached at 304-768-9733 or lcooperrider@wvpaving.com. PESCO-BEAM Environmental is a manufacturer of recycling equipment located in Roanoke, Virginia and Luke Staengl is the President/CEO. He can be reached at 540-206-2788 or lukestaengl@mindspring.com. Q Environmental, Inc. recycles used oils and antifreeze and is located in Houston, Texas. Kaemerz P. Dotiwala is the President. He can be reached at 713-678-7800 or q.environmental@sbcglobal.net. NORA Executive Director Scott D. Parker comments, We welcome these three new members and are excited that our membership base continues to grow more than ever. Each new member NORA gains allows the association to increase the level of...

NORA to Exhibit at AOCA Convention

noemail@noranews.org — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:00:00 GMT

NORA is pleased to announce that it will be exhibiting at the Automotive Oil Change Association (AOCA) Convention and Fast Lube Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 10th through 13th in Booth 541.

NORA President Ben Cowart of Vertex and NORA Executive Director Scott D. Parker will be representing the association and its members at AOCA.

AOCA is a non-profit trade organization representing the convenient automotive service industry. AOCA has more than 1,200 members representing over 3,000 auto maintenance centers.

NORA Executive Director Scott D. Parker comments, “NORA continues to build relationships and work within the industry to promote our message of responsible recycling. Attending this show will not only serve that purpose, but will also give us the opportunity to market the services of our members to potential customers. We will distribute a list of of our members and their service areas at the show.”

NORA and AOCA have formed a close alliance. The associations share similar views on many important issues. NORA is confident that attending the AOCA convention is an important step toward an even closer industry relationship in enhancing the image of NORA members.

NORA anticipates seeking sponsorships in February, 2008 to help underwrite this effort.

For more information about AOCA, please visit their website at http://www.aoca.org.

CEO Roundtable Featured at NORA Winter Meeting

noemail@noranews.org — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:00:00 GMT

On February 11, 2008 during the Winter Meeting, NORA will host a CEO Roundtable. The purpose of the roundtable is to provide NORA members with an insight into the forward thinking CEOs in the liquid recycling industry. The session will be moderated by NORA General Counsel Chris Harris. The participants in this program are expected to be: Ken Cherry, VP/GM, Siemens Hydrocarbon Services Fred Florjancic, CEO, Safety-Kleen Corp. Ian Hislop, CEO, Thermo Fluids Inc. Alec Thomas, CEO, Atlantic Industrial Services It is expected that the session will be audio recorded and made available to NORA Members who will not be in attendance via the NORA website. Many topics will be explored during the session including consolidation in the used oil recycling industry, crude oil prices relation to profitability, extended oil change interval impacts, re-refining future plus much more. NORA Executive Director Scott D. Parker comments, This luncheon will be a...

NORA Member Invites Attendees to Visit a New Re-Refining Plant at end of Winter Meeting

noemail@noranews.org — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:00:00 GMT

NORA Member Oil Re-Refining Company invites members attending the 2008 NORA Winter Meeting in Tahoe to attend a "field trip" to a new used oil re-refinery. The Encore’s, INC facility is located in Bango, Nevada. The trip will begin on Tuesday, February 12^th at 1pm which is after the conclusion of the NORA meetings.

According to the company, the facility is a nine-month-old facility and is awaiting its new Hydrotreater, which should be up and on line in 3 months. This new facility represents just under 15 million dollars worth of investment.

The entire trip should take approximately 4 to 5 hours to complete, Transportation and lunch will be provided. Seating is limited.

If you are interested in participating, contact Charles Johnson of Oil Re-Refing Company at CharlesJ@orrco.biz or call (800) 367-8894.

Developing Markets for Used Oil Power Point Now Available

noemail@noranews.org — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Power Point presented by Scott D. Parker, NORA Executive Director at the University of Texas

Click here to open this Power Point presentation

NORA 2008 Conference Information Center

noemail@noranews.org — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:00:00 GMT

The 2008 NORA Annual Recycling Conference and Trade Show will be held November 5-7, 2008 at Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California. HOTEL INFORMATION: Call the hotel at 866-423-1195 to book your room using code nora118. If the hotel reports a night is sold out, put your name on their wait list (They are required to offer you a wait list). Each year dozens of rooms become available in the last two weeks. QUICK LINKS: Registration: Return by close of business Monday, November 3rd or bring onsite. Exhibitor Personnel Form: Return by close of business Monday, November 3rd or bring onsite. Conference Sessions Keynote Speaker: Delos Smith will address What World Do We Live In? The Past? The Present? The Future? Detailed Agenda: Make sure you plan on attending the amazing closing party on Friday night. Wild Wild West: Closing Party Red Jeep Tour on Friday: Register Now Exhibitor List Sponsorship: See what's left and who's...