Purpose of this page
Background Information
The Arcata Community Recycling Center(ACRC) was established in 1971 by Americore/Vista volunteers as part of a federal work program. These volunteers were paid to do services in the community. They opened a recycling center and volunteers started collecting recyclable material even though it was of very small scale. Currently ACRC has three locations: Arcata, Eureka, and Samoa. Together the three sites recycled 10,000 tons in 2008[1], recycling 98.1 %[2] of the items brought in. ACRC has been serving and saving the community for thirty eight years making it the longest running recycling center in America. Mark Loughmiller, is our contact at the site. He has been in the recycling business for the last 30 years. Mark joined the ACRC in 2001. He is the chief executive officer in charge of all operations in Arcata. Before ACRC, Mark worked for a similar company in Champaign, Illinois during the 80's. He then worked for a government agency for ten years during the 90's.
How does the Recycling center save the residents of the area money?
ACRC saves residents money by eliminating disposal fees.
Important Upcoming Changes
- Curbside pick up is going to be offered to Arcata residents.
- The thrift store and the reusables depot (right next to the drop off recycling) will be expanded.
- Drop off services will be cancelled due to the loss of a government contract.
Services Provided
- Thrift store
- Reusable Depot.
- CRV buy back program.
- Drop off recycling services.
- Outreach programs for the community, including educational programs for local schools.
- Paper pick up services .
Funding
- ACRC is nonprofit organization(501c3).
- Residents donate material to the drop off and the recycling center handles it and sells it. For example the center sells bales of cardboard for $70 per ton.
- Operation of the thrift store and Reusables depot.
- Government contracts, for example the contract to operate the Drop off center.
- State fees related to CRV programs.
Retrofit information
- What is a retrofit?
- In this case the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, with the help of government grants came to the ACRC and offered to change the exsisting light fixtures for more energy efficient fixtures.
- What were the retrofits done?
9th st building
- Break room- from 2 incandescent 60 watt bulbs to 2 compact fluorescent 13 watt lights-the installation cost $26.14, annual savings $5.74
- Main building- from 6 metal halide 400 watt lamps to 6 high output T5 4'(4 bulb) lamps-the installation cost $1897.5, annual savings $656.02
- Habits of ACRC after the retrofits
- The recycling center tries to promote an ideology of conservation, but they must use the following energy intensive machines regularly:
- Industrial book chopper.
- Oil filter crusher.
- Can flattener.
- Metal sorter.
- Oil pump.
- Network room.
- Thus their habits did not change after the retrofits occurred.
- ACRC motive behind the retrofits
- Mark Loughmiller strongly believes that "it was the right thing to do" to help the environment and save the company money in the long run.
- Would the ACRC have completed the lighting upgrade without assistance of Redwood Coast Energy Authority?
No because there are only 4 months out of the year where there is a great use of the canopy lights; the lights are used outside at the drop off in the winter when it begins to get dark early. During the spring and summer months the outside lights are rarely used.
- Will the ACRC perform more retrofits?
- The ACRC has already performed more retrofits at the drop off recycling canopy. They do not foresee more retrofits.
- The center replaced six 15 watt flood lights for 6 Fluorescent light fixtures with 6 bulbs a fixture. The light bulbs are 32 watts. There are 36 bulbs at 32 watts each giving a total energy use of 1152 watts per hour.
- The ACRC's retrofit improved lighting but it increased costs.
- Was ACRC satisfied with the work RCEA did?
- Mark was very satisfied with the work that was done for the ACRC. He recommends other business's to take advantage of the grants that are out to lower energy consumption.
- Does the recycling center like the new lights? Why?
- Mark likes the new lights because they do not flicker as they are warming up. He also say that retrofits are brighter, which is helpful in the winter months for the drop off recycling center.
Analysis Of ACRC Energy Use
- Retrofit Completed On 8/19/07
- As shown by the table and the graph below, right after the retrofit there is a significant spike in energy use. Shane and I investigated further and we found out that the ACRC's cat, Riley, was the cause of the energy increase.
- Riley was diagnosed with nose cancer on September, 2007. The community and the center kept Riley comfortable in his last year of life by keeping him warm with presto heat dish with uses 1000 watts[3]
- Riley passed on during the month of August, 2008.
| Bill date | Kw hour | Bill date | Kw hour | Bill date | Kw hour | Bill hour | Kw hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/17/09 | 1095 | 9/16/08 | 1494 | 9/20/07 | 1456 | 9/20/06 | 1241 |
| 10/16/09 | 1139 | 10/16/08 | 1439 | 10/19/07 | 1484 | 10/20/06 | 1336 |
| 11/20/09 | N/A | 11/17/08 | 1638 | 11/19/07 | 2131 | 11/20/06 | 1609 |
| 12/20/09 | N/A | 12/17/08 | 1654 | 12/19/07 | 2678 | 12/20/06 | 2274 |
| 1/16/09 | 1939 | 1/17/08 | 3056 | 1/22/07 | 2457 | 1/23/06 | 2213 |
| 2/18/09 | 2018 | 2/19/08 | 3693 | 2/21/07 | 2496 | 2/22/06 | 1879 |
| 3/19/09 | 1495 | 3/19/08 | 2765 | 3/22/07 | 2188 | 3/23/2006 | 1912 |
Energy Consumption Graph
CO2 Offset
Links
References
