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<br />"We're just getting whacked by the economy," Powell says. <br /> <br />How Should Recyclers Respond to <br />Market Crash? <br /> <br />Current worldwide economic woes have directly <br />impacted the recycling chain from consumer to <br />processor across the nation and in Pennsylvania. <br />Despite the state of the recycling marketplace, <br />recycling program managers are encouraged to remain <br />calm and resist the temptation to make wholesale <br />changes to local programs. PROP offers the following <br />thoughts on weathering the current storm. <br /> <br />What happened? <br /> <br />. A slumping global economy has resulted <br />in a slowdown in the production of goods <br />(cars, carpets, appliances. . .). This has <br />decreased the demand for recycled <br />materials and created a surplus of <br />materials available for purchase. <br />. In addition to the slumping economy in <br />the United States, issues of high <br />transportation prices and over-production <br />overseas have resulted in a drastic <br />reduction in the need to export recycled <br />materials, further increasing the amount of <br />materials available domestically. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />How do we weather the storm? <br />. Don't over react or vanic. - Review <br />collection and processing programs for <br />increased efficiency. To rapidly eliminate <br />a collection route or collection of a <br />specific commodity will only prove <br />confusing to your customers. Consider the <br />impact to performance grant awards, <br />program goals, and the additional costs of <br />disposal in lieu of recycling ifportions of <br />a collection program are eliminated. <br />· Focus on quality. - Now more than ever - <br />QUALITY COUNTS! Know your <br />purchaser's and mill's specifications to <br />include out throws and prohibitives. The <br />consistent delivery of good materials to a <br />processor and buyer builds a positive relationship. <br />· To shiv or To store. - Slow demand can result in a large inventory of materials (baled, piled, loose) <br />awaiting processing or shipment. Some items are sensitive to light and/or moisture, such as <br />Newsprint and Plastics and require protection for storage. Temporary storage trailers and <br />contracted warehouse space are other options but each has a cost of space, handling (double <br />handling), and the need for additional material handling equipment requirements. Check local <br />zoning requirements or codes for onsite or offsite storage requirements for compliance. <br /> <br />