Document g2nLqRBMZzdq9BGMRvEBDZwyG

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEETING Wyndham Greenspomt Hotel 12400 Greenspoint Drive Houston, Texas Tuesday December 13, 1988 1:00 p.m. Attendees: Pat Benkner, Vinyl Institute Frank Borrelli, Georgia Gulf Larry Brecker, Witco, Argus Division Donald Goodman, Occidental Chemical Roy Gottesman, Vinyl Institute Marcelo Hirschler, BFGoodrich Steve Hookanson, Vista Chemical Bryan Kazmer, BFGoodrich John Krokosky, Dow Chemical Debbie Neale, BFGoodrich A1 Reventas, Shintech I. SELF-INTRODUCTIONS Following self-introductions, Roy Gottesman indicated that Committee Chairman Chuck Bush would be unable to attend this meeting due his required presence at a high-priority meeting at Goodrich. Nevertheless, Dr. Bush had agreed with the desirability of holding this meeting and asked Dr. Gottesman to chair it. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF OCTOBER 18. 1988 MEETING On motion by Marcelo Hirschler, seconded by Don Goodman, the minutes of the prior Technical Committee meeting on October 18th were approved as received. Ill. PROJECT REVIEWS A. Solid Waste Management 1. Recycling a. Plastics Recycling Foundation (PRF) Roy Gottesman discussed the progress at Rutgers in the programs being sponsored by the Plastics Recycling Foundation (PRF). He passed out copies of a report on "Utiliza tion of Commingled Plastics Diverted From Municipal Solid Wastes and Experiments to Design the Product and Optimize the Process" SP1-U079 2- - which had been presented at the PRF Indus trial Advisory Committee Meeting on December 9th by Dr. Thomas Nosker. Excellent progress is being made at Rutgers and it is planned to have a demonstration project carried out in which products such as fences, car stops, picnic tables, waste can receptacles, etc., made from 100% post-con sumer plastics will be displayed. Companies making such products from commingled plas tics will be invited to participate. Copies of the information distributed to the attendees at this meeting are being sent to those members of the Technical Committee who were unable to attend the meeting, along with these minutes. Don Goodman indicated that comments were made at a recent presentation that he gave in Philadelphia by Sid Rankin of Rutgers that were counter-productive. He mentioned that following his presentation, Rankin made some gratuitous comments such as "it's a shame to burn plastics" , thereby trying to negate Don's presentation on the NYSERDA work. It was agreed that Roy Gottesman will contact Dr. Darryl Morrow at Rutgers ex pressing the Vinyl Institute's displeasure at having Dr. Rankin appear at meetings and providing such a negative message. b. Plastics Recycling Applied Research Insti tute (PRARI) Roy Gottesman advised that he and Lee Fishbein had attended a Board Meeting of PRARI on November 10th at New England CRInc.'s headquarters. He discussed the problems that were evident including the fact that Gretchen Brewer had resigned from her position with the State of Massachusetts and was no longer involved in PRARI activi ties. Fran Eagle, who is associated with the Massachusetts Centers of Excellence was suggested as an Executive Director and was to be interviewed by1 a subcommittee of the Board. Don Goodman indicated that he had met Fran Eagle recently and was impressed with her overall'knowledge. Ms. Eagle is to make contacts concerning fundraising, as it is now apparent that other sponsors never materialized. industrial In addition, Roy Gottesman indicated that the technical program under Dr. Chen appears to be unfocused and it was difficult to get SPI-11080 -3- progress reports. He indicated that the Rutgers program appears to be fulfilling the needs that we saw to develop information in the area of commingled plastics and it is doubtful that he and Dr. Fishbein would recommend continuing the PRARI program after this fiscal year. c. Council on Solid Waste Solutions (CSWS) Roy Gottesman updated the group on recent activities by the Council on Solid Waste Solutions and discussed a public opinion research program that had been carried out by Cambridge Associates. Copies of the transparencies which he showed giving the results of that opinion research are append ed to these minutes as Appendix X. d. Delaware Valley Collection Program Roy Gottesman indicated that the Pipe Industry Task Force had viewed the video tape that had been shot at two locations in which PVC recovered from the Delaware Valley Collection Program which had been processed at Rutgers was converted into pipe and fittings. The Pipe Industry Task Force felt that the video tape should not be used without extensive editing. Action Item: Roy Gottesman will arrange to have the video tape version sent to Don Goodman and Bryan Kazmer for their review and recommendation as to how it might be integrated with the currently-available recycling video tape. e. Vermont Republic Industries Don Goodman discussed the programs at Vermont Republic Industries and continues to be very enthusiastic about the progress made. Little vinyl appears to be showing up in landfills and a survey is being completed to identify potential industrial scrap that might be recycled. He noted that the project is on schedule and continues to have high visibility. f. South Bronx Economic Development Recycling Opportunity Roy Gottesman reported that he had recently been approached by Michael Schedler, Direc tor of Operations for R2B2, a recycling SPI-11081 -4- operation program of South Bronx 2000 Economic Development. This group has been in the recycling business for some 6 years and is recycling both rigid and flexible PVC's. They have asked the Vinyl Institute to participate in their program. Specifi cally, they are looking for technical help in identifying markets and the nature of the plastics materials they receive. Further, they have asked for financial support in the way of an equity contribution of approxi mately $25,000. After discussion, because of the obvious benefit to both parties in such a venture, it was agreed that a subcom mittee of the Technical Committee, together with Roy Gottesman would visit R2B2 on January 10, 1989 for the purpose of seeing their facilities and determining whether we should participate in this program. The group will consist of Larry Brecker of Witco, Bryan Kazmer of BFGoodrich and Don Goodman of Occidental Chemical. (Subsequent to the meeting, arrangements were made for this visit and the subject was raised at the Executive Board Meeting on December 15th. At the Board meeting, Roy Gottesman was asked to explore the possibility and, if funding appears appropriate, to poll the Board by phone regarding some funding during this fiscal year.) g. ASTM Task Group on Voluntary Consensus Standards For Plastics Recycling Frank Borrelli updated the group on this task group. He advised that the original ballot had been invalidated and it is necessary to re-ballot. At the present time, there are two task groups, one in volved in terminology and guidance documen tation and the second involved in standards. Mr. Borrelli will continue to follow the activities of the ASTM Task Group and will report to the Technical Committee at its meetings. h. San Diego Task Force Debbie Neale reported that a task force is being put together by San Diego County to develop a plan for plastics recycling and they have asked for representation from the vinyl industry. This would require atten dance at one meeting per month for 6 months. They would like to develop a curbside pick-up program. Ms. Neale was requested to have James Lantry, the inter-governmental SPl-11082 -5- relations consultant send agendas and information to Roy Gottesman. The problem of a time commitment for such frequent attendance in San Diego was noted and Bryan Kazmer agreed to check with the BFGoodrich Long Beach Plant to see if someone could attend these meetings on a monthly basis. Action Item; When notice of these meetings is obtained, Roy Gottesman will attempt to see that there is coverage by someone within the Vinyl Institute Technical Committee. i. Marketing of Recycled Vinyl Roy Gottesman noted that a number of inqui ries have recently been received at the Vinyl Institute office requesting informa tion on products that can be made from recovered recycled vinyl. The problem appears to be shifting from who will handle vinyl in a recycling operation to "where can the recovered vinyl be used". With this in mind, the Technical Committee will be asked to supply Roy with their ideas on possible market areas by January 5th. Action Item: Roy Gottesman is to send the Technical Committee a letter requesting their ideas on products that could be made from recovered recycled vinyl. 2. Incineration/Ash Disposal Roy Gottesman noted that a report had been prepared by Dr. Richard Magee, which is a litera ture survey on incineration of plastic materials. A copy was passed around and participants in the meeting were asked to sign up if they wanted a copy for their use. Action Item: copies of Dr. it. Roy Gottesman is to distribute Magee's report to those requesting Incinerator ash disposal and the VI position regarding toxic metal stabilizers was discussed. Steve Hookanson distributed a memorandum entitled "Memo on Technical Feasibility of Replacing Cadmium and Lead-Based Stabilizers in PVC Prod ucts" and is included as Appendix II to these minutes. As regards cadmium, Don Goodman indicated that there was ambivalence on this point at Occidental Chemical. Larry Brecker pointed out that on a SPI-11083 6- - technical basis, there are a wide range of replacements for cadmium stabilizers that provide heat and light stability and processing latitudes. While he feels the pendulum will swing away from cadmium, it is his belief that big users will dictate whether cadmium is replaced or not. He noted that Japan has already de-emphasized cadmium systems and that a directive in the European economic communities will limit the level of cadmium to a level that will effectively result in its being phased out. It was agreed by the group that while technical replacements appear feasible it would be inappro priate for the Vinyl Institute to do anything pre-emptively in advance of a governmental ruling. As regards lead, there is no material that technically can be used to replace lead stabiliz ers in wire and cable insulation. If Pb were banned, this could effectively write PVC cable primary insulation materials out of the market. Larry Brecker noted that there would be a huge economic penalty even if a replacement could be found. There was some discussion as to the desirability of the Vinyl Institute funding a research program for the development of alternatives although it is recognized that an R & D success would be very low. Action Item: Roy Gottesman will discuss these considerations at the Executive Board Meeting. (At the Executive Board Meeting on December 15th, Dr. Bush agreed to head up a small task force to develop VI position papers with regard to both cadmium and lead stabilizers.) B. Pipe Issues 1. Pipe Industry Task Force Roy Gottesman reported that this task force had met on November 15th in Dallas, at which time presentations were received from Edward Howard and Company regarding a public rela tions/communications program and from Robert Walker and Dave Eckstein of Uni-Bell. As a result of that meeting, the task force will recommend to the Board that a limited public relations/advertising program be undertaken and that support be given to a university seminar program at Utah. SPI-11084 8- - He noted that the NIBS Combustion Toxicity Program to develop a toxicity hazard assessment on building materials and products is advancing very rapidly and it was noted that that the Executive Board will be asked to approve a contribution of $10,000 for this program at the December 15th Board Meeting. Action Item: Marcelo Hirschler is to provide Roy Gottesman will invoices for costs relative to Dr. Galloway's services since June 1, 1988 to date and a projection of expenditures anticipated to the end of this fiscal year. (May 31, 1989) 2. San Juan Dupont Plaza Hotel Fire Litigation Bryan Kazmer and Marcelo Hirschler have reviewed this treatise and have provided their critique to Attorney Carl Henlein. 3. Medical Health Effects Program Roy Gottesman reported that the Executive Board will be asked to approve $34,571 for the comple tion of technical papers for publication in peer review journals. It is anticipated that the three publications can be completed within 4 months after approval has been received at Southwest Research Institute. 4. Smoke Obscuration - Letter Ballot In his presentation. Dr. Hirschler guidance regarding ASTM activities obscuration. asked for on smoke Action Item; Dr. Gottesman will letter ballot the Technical Committee offering them three alternatives in order to obtain guidance for Marcelo Hirschler on this item. D. Redamation of PVC From Wire and Cable Sources Bryan Kazmer indicated that he had talked with Dr. Brady in Akron and was not overly impressed with the reclamation program proposed in that there was nothing terribly new. He will however, plan to visit the operation as time permits but indicated that this was not a high-priority program with him. Frank Borrelli has been unsuccessful in establishing contact with a New Jersey-based organization also interested in this item. SPI-11085 -9- IV. TECHNICAL INFORMATION PAPERS A. VCM Generation In Landfills John Krokosky reported that he has redone the litera ture search and is following up on leads. He has essentially gotten all of the papers uncovered earlier by Don Goodman and a few additional ones. He indi cates that no one suggests that depolymerization of PVC is occuring and it appears that the primary generation is from other chlorinated materials in the landfill. Action Item; John Krokosky is to complete his search and then develop a technical paper for review and publishing. B. Indoor Pollution From PVC Frank Borrelli reported that his initial draft of a paper on this subject has been sent to Nora Jacobs at Edward Howard and Company. Action Item: Frank Borrelli is to contact Nora Jacobs and arrange for completion of this technical informa tion paper in final form. V. NEW BUSINESS A. Incineration of Hospital Waste Roy Gottesman indicated that this subject has been raised several times recently, and for that reason, he has sent out to the group some papers relating to incineration of hospital waste containing PVC. He recommended that for the present, nothing be done, but that we continue monitoring this. B. First Annual Congress on Identifving/Developinq Markets For Recyclable Materials Roy Gottesman noted this conference which is to be held in New York, and of the attendees only Bryan Kazmer requested that information me sent to him on this. C. Liaison From Technical committee To Task Forces It was agreed that Al Reventas will serve as the Technical Committee's liaison with the Pipe Industry Task Force and Steve Hookanson will serve in a like capacity with the Electrical Materials Task Force. SPT-11086 -10VI. NEXT MEETING DATE/LOCATION The next meeting of the Technical Committee will be held on March 8, 1989 at the Wyndham Bristol Hotel in Washington D. C. VII. The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted. SPI-U087