RE: Paper Blankets

["Richard Illig (717) 327-3568" <ILLIG.RICHARD@a1.pader.gov>]

    To Whom It May Concern,
    
    The tone of the "Paper Blanket" message seemed set on 
    DISPOSAL...unless the waste is hazardous (not expected but not 
    clearly stated) remaining options would leave landfilling or 
    incineration.  Either type of facility would most likely want to 
    perform their own analysis of the waste to insure the waste meets 
    permit requirements for disposal.  You should take the time (and 
    are required by law in chapter 262.11) to perform a hazardous 
    waste determination in order to rule out this possibility.
    
    Since the EMA is not an industrial operation the waste would be 
    considered "municipal" if it is not hazardous.  The only way you 
    would really get the attention of a disposal facility is if you 
    notify them of the waste shipment or ship the waste in one big 
    load.  In this case, the disposal facility will probably want to 
    check the waste and may require you to jump through a few 
    analytical/paper work hoops for them prior to accepting the waste 
    for disposal, unless they have prior experience with this type of 
    material.
    
    I AM NOT RECOMMENDING THIS COURSE OF ACTION but by disposing of a 
    small portion of the blankets in your waste container over time 
    and on a regular basis you will probably achieve the same ends 
    without a lot of fuss, and without breaking any laws.  One catch 
    to this scenario is that storage of the waste in excess of one 
    year would be considered disposal without prior DEP approval (see 
    6018.103, definition of "storage").  First, be sure the waste is 
    non-hazardous.
    
    If you are considering RECYCLING options, did the contamination 
    you mentioned come from the fire retardent of have the blankets 
    been exposed to another source of contamination??  Are they fit 
    for use by people or animals??
    
    If the blankets are usable, some "reuse/recycling options could 
    include:
    1) Donate the blankets to a shelter for the homeless.  Even an 
    animal shelter may find a bedding use for the blankets.
    2) Again, if safe for use perhaps a farmer could also employ them 
    for animal bedding.  (Be sure the farmer knows what he is getting)
    3) The blankets were for emergency purposes...keeping one or two 
    in a car may be a thought.  Perhaps they could be given to "the 
    public" for use as part of an emergency kit either in cars or the 
    home.  A blanket give-away could be combined with a promotion for 
    emergency preparedness (maybe with an instruction sheet on what 
    else one might wish to include in an emergency kit).  
    4) Would hospitals, clinics, ambulance services, etc. be able to 
    use the blankets as disposables?
    5) Donate to charity for use overseas.
    6) A composting operation may be able to process the material.  
    Commercial facilities should have the same permit concerns as a 
    landfill or incinerator.
    7) If incineration is selected, at lease try to go to a 
    co-generation facility where the waste will be used as a fuel.
     
    Ric
    illig.richard@a1.dep.state.pa.us