RecycleBank, the incentive-based recycling program that tripled recycling rates in a Philadelphia pilot program, has figured in two major announcements in recent weeks -- Cascade Engineering’s national rollout of it RFID equipped waste containers and the purchase of Blue Mountain Recycling by Casella Waste Systems.

Cascade's "smart" waste containers emit radio signals that allow sanitation personnel using an electronic reader to collect key data on the container's use. The new bins combine the company's expertise in engineered plastics systems with a technology known as radio frequency identification, or RFID, that has gained popularity in a number of other applications. The benefits from this new container technology include:

· More effective maintenance. Automated data collection creates a "container history" that prompts for maintenance or replacement;

· Ease of use. The tags are easy to program, can be read from a distance of up to 15 feet, and don't need to be within the line of sight; and

· Security. Because the tag is embedded in the container material, it is virtually tamper proof. In addition, each container has its own unique code, which makes it easy to track and reduces the possibility of loss or theft.

The company partnered with the City of Philadelphia and RecycleBank to launch a six-month, incentive-based program that was designed to help increase participation rates in Philadelphia's residential recycling program.

As part of this program, Cascade supplied nearly 2,000 of its new RFID-enabled waste containers to Philadelphia residents.

For more information visit the Cascade Engineering website.

Casella’s acquisition of Blue Mountain Recycling, a RecycleBank partner, drew this comment from Casella, “We believe Blue Mountain's and RecycleBank's platform, combined with our existing recycling infrastructure, represents several unique short- and long- term opportunities.

“First, there is an opportunity to increase the volume of processables in our markets, resulting in a significant return on net assets and capacity utilization increases at our existing facilities. It also allows us to potentially extend the utilization of our valuable long-term disposal capacity.”

9/30/2005