Paper Products

The roughly 300 employees of Frank Parsons Paper Co. Inc., who had held 30 percent of the Landover-based paper distributor's shares, have purchased the remaining 70 percent, the company said yesterday.Doug Parsons, former chief executive officer and son of the founder, had owned about 65 percent of the company's shares with his brother, David, who is not in the business."Because of the importance of the business to our family, my brother and I took the view that we had the responsibility to continue it," said Parsons, 60, who is retiring from the company.

EAST COLUMBIA library's Kevin Lewis was saluted as a 1998 Star Performer by Howard County Library staff as part of Staff Day on Nov. 11.Lewis is assistant circulation supervisor and has been on the library staff for 15 years.He was selected for his sense of responsibility and ability to motivate his staff."When dealing with his peers and the public, he pursues whatever route is necessary to get the job done well," the citation read.Gifts neededAs part of its community service, Boy Scout Troop 613 is collecting items to be given to Christian Services for Howard County.

Boosted by a sharp increase in construction equipment and paper products, general cargo moving through Maryland Port Administration terminals increased 9 percent during the first quarter.Cargo during the first three months of the year was 1.6 million tons, up from 1.4 million tons in the first quarter of 1997."Roll-off/roll-on" cargoes, the category that includes construction equipment and heavy machinery, increased 19 percent to 127,200 tons. Paper products almost tripled, to 46,096 tons.

In a recent item on MacKenzie-Childs Inc.'s new paper products, I said that a majolica mug from the designers could cost as much as $75. A company representative was quick to let me know that would be the cost of a mug and saucer. Mugs alone are no more than $50.Paper napkins made elegantDevotees of MacKenzie-Childs will be delighted to learn that they can soon get a bit of disposable joy in their lives with the firm's latest designs: paper plates and napkins. Considering that a MacKenzie-Childs' handcrafted majolica mug retails for as much as $75 -- don't even ask how much the painted furniture costs -- these pretty paper products are also affordable ephemera.

What a difference a year makes in the recycling business. It's confirmation that the market economy drives the system. And it's confirmation that government policy keeps the program going in hard times.Recycling is cyclical. A combination of approaches is needed to carry the system through feast and famine, defying the naysayers who hold fast to polarized views of free market versus government mandate.The scrap paper market was dead a year ago. Recyclers couldn't give the stuff away. They had to pay to get someone to take the unwanted newspapers and waste paper.

You hold in your hands a valuable commodity -- and that's not pulp fiction.Because of a worldwide surge in the demand for wood pulp, the price for paper products of almost all kinds -- including the newsprint on which this newspaper is printed -- is soaring.Executives of companies that use or sell paper say they've never seen anything like it.The price increases have been so steep, National Public Radio reported last weekend, that thieves in New York have taken to swiping bundles of used paper before the city's recycling trucks can pick them up.The effects are being felt in a multitude of ways -- some visible to consumers, some hidden but all very real.

Late into the race, Harford County has emerged as a clear winner in recycling its solid waste. Last year the county recycled one-quarter of its trash, more than 50,000 tons of unwanted metal, glass and paper products and other detritus.That's well ahead of the 20 percent recycling goal set by the 1988 state recycling act for larger counties in Maryland. Harford's program has exceeded that standard, even without the 5 percent extra credit given by the state for the county's waste-to-energy incinerator at Magnolia.

The following is a list of several area organizations accepting donations that will make Christmas brighter for some people. These groups responded to a recent Sundial invitation to list their needs.* Christopher Place, 709 E. Eager St., a shelter serving homeless men in Baltimore city needs new underwear, toiletries, canned goods, paper towels and toilet tissue. Call (410) 576-0066.* Catholic Charities is collecting donations for the homeless and the needy at Hunt Valley Mall. Take donations of non-perishable food, new clothing, toiletries, canned goods, paper products and new toys to the empty store next to Lane Bryant near the Food Court (on the second level of the mall)

Susquehannock Environmental Center, a non-profit recycling station near Bel Air, will begin accepting mixed paper on Tuesday.Used paper products, including magazines, junk mail, cereal boxes and egg cartons can be dropped off at the center. Susquehannock is at 700 N. Tollgate Road near Harford Mall, just off U.S. 1.The center will continue to accept used newspapers and certain grades of office paper, including computer paper.Susquehannock officials said paper products should be separated by mixed paper, office paper and newspapers.

The city will expand its curbside recycling program to more neighborhoods next week and the program will be available in all neighborhoods by no later than December, says George G. Balog, the city public works director.Curbside recycling of paper, plastics, cans and bottles is now under way in several neighborhoods in north and northeast Baltimore with outside contractors.Mount Washington in the 5th Councilmanic District and Lauraville in the 3rd District will be the first neighborhoods to receive the service when it is expands, Balog told City Council members this week.