WasteWise Annual Conference
The 2005 WasteWise Annual Conference was exciting and educational-an event not to be missed! In case you were unable to attend, we kicked off the conference with informative sessions on the Resource Conservation Challenge and EPA's goal to reach a 35 percent national recycling rate. Attendees learned about various topics, including electronics recycling, the climate-waste connection, and RecycleMania. We rounded out the conference with a partner roundtable discussion and awards ceremonies. For summaries, presentations, and photos, go to the WasteWise 2005 Annual Conference* page in the Member Services section of the WasteWise Web site.

Lending a Helping Hand: EPA's Response to Hurricane Katrina
At the 2005 WasteWise Annual Conference, Tom Dunne gave an emotional account of EPA's involvement in Hurricane Katrina rehabilitation efforts. EPA's experience served to remind partners that the reduction of municipal solid waste is a pertinent issue. For example, the rate at which debris is collected and properly disposed of will control the speed at which residents can return to New Orleans. EPA is working in conjunction with Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Environmental Health Needs Assessment and Habitability Taskforce (EH-NAHT), which collects and provides scientific data to decision makers to identify environmental health and safety concerns in the affected areas.

To aid hurricane victims, EPA has compiled resources on debris disposal and the demolition of structurally unsound buildings damaged by Hurricane Katrina. For more information, please see Dealing with Debris and Damaged Buildings and Disaster Debris. In addition, EPA partnered with Dell Inc. on December 3 for a free electronics recycling event in New Orleans to increase the collection and to ensure the proper disposal of computers and other electronic equipment destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. For more information, please go to EPA's Plug-In To eCycling Web site.

To learn more about EPA's involvement in Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, please visit Current Activities and Hurricane Response 2005.

Paper Recycling Awards and Outreach Resources
The American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) has free educational resources that might help educate employees about your paper recycling program. Useful tools include a customizable color poster, videos, and fun facts about paper. Please go to AF&PA's Recycling: In the Workplace Web site to download these valuable resources.

In addition, AF&PA presents paper recycling and recovery awards annually. Those engaged in successful recycling programs are encouraged to apply. Entry forms are now available on the 2006 AF&PA Recycling Award Descriptions Web site.

Member Services Update
Coming Soon! Be on the lookout for a new and improved Member Services section of the WasteWise Web site. All of the same resources will be available, but organized in a more user-friendly manner.

It's That Time of Year Again...
The beginning of winter means only one thing (besides colder weather)—reporting season is coming soon! Please look out for e-mail updates early in the year.

*To access this section of the WasteWise Web site, please enter the username: partner and the password: iamwise.