November 2014

Volume III Issue IX

Wastren Advantage, Inc.

1571 Shyville Rd. Piketon, Ohio 45661

(740) 443-7924

www.wastrenadvantage.com

In this Issue
Page 1

Its Time For Growth!

Page 2

Page 3

GTP Wins Award

TWPC News

Page 4-5 Open Enrollment

Page 6

Being Thankful

Page 7

Christmas Tree

Page 8

Wellness Corner

Page 9

Holiday Food Drive

Birthdays
Randall Johnson
Larry Moore
Chad Wilson
Ron Jones
Sam Lagunas
John Adams
Keith Tucker
Dean Ylitalo
David Ward
John Witte
Doug Gels
Duane Smith
Rod Falter
Patrick McClary
David Kaveshan
David Gladden
Doug Collins
William Sames
Mariah Begay
Kennith Byrne
Rod Allen
Roel Olivera
Dan Allshouse
Fred Heacker
Genna Morris
Terrance Acox
Arden Gill
Bill Wattson
Brian Ramey
Stevem Gupton
Larry Bertz
Salvatore Thomas

11/1
11/2
11/2
11/3
11/5
11/5
11/6
11/6
11/8
11/8
11/9
11/10
11/10
11/11
11/11
11/14
11/18
11/19
11/19
11/20
11/21
11/22
11/22
11/22
11/24
11/26
11/26
11/26
11/27
11/28
11/28
11/30

Exciting growth predictions for Wastren Advantage Inc. was the main topic
at the WAI managers meeting at the Piketon, Ohio, headquarters in early
November.
Managers representing WAI projects across the country came together
November 5-7 to talk about our successes, lessons learned, current state
of business and future opportunities. CEO Steve Moore kicked off the
meetings with an update on WAIs overall performance through 2014 and
shared strategic initiatives the company will implement to grow the business
in 2015.
Going forward, Moore said, WAI will focus on preparing for the proposed
increase in the small business size standard from 500 to 1,250 employees
with the 1250 in 2017 Initiative and pursuing expansion opportunities in
the commercial and federal markets.
Project reviews were also presented to the group by each manager, followed
by updates from the Business Management Office, Finance, and Business
Development.
The most significant change in WAI has been the commercial work
expansion. After acquiring Geo-Tech Polymers, an advanced polymer
recycling technology headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, WAI completed
a 300,000-square foot expansion project in Waverly, Ohio, and created
several new entities to manufacture specialty chemicals: Geo -Tech
Industrial Solutions (GTIS), Industrial Chemicals and Packaging (ICP), and
Performanx Specialty Chemicals (PSC).
WAIs commercialization effort will lead to investment and production
throughout the United States.

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November 2014
Volume III Issue IX

Geo-Tech Polymers Win Innovative Plastics Recycling Award

The American Chemistry Council this month selected Geo-Tech Polymers of Waverly to receive its 2014
Innovation in Plastics Recycling Award, which recognizes companies and individuals whose vision and
perseverance bring new technologies, products, and initiatives to the plastics recycling marketplace.
The council honored Geo-Tech and two other recipients at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14, and
announced the award in conjunction with America Recycles Day on Nov. 15.
Every day, innovative companies like Geo-Tech are finding new ways to divert used plastics from the waste
stream, and, in the process are creating sustainable new products that contribute to everyday life, said Steve
Russell, the councils vice president of plastics.
This years award recipients are helping overcome some of the hurdles needed to take plastics recycling to new
levels, Russell said. Their innovations will help expand the ongoing growth in plastics recycling and make more
recycled plastics available to manufacturers.
Geo-Tech, which is owned and operated by Wastren Advantage Inc. of Piketon, is the nations leading supplier
of solutions that transform low-value plastics waste into high-quality products for financial and environmental
benefit.

The company developed a patented process for removing coatings such as ink, chrome, paint, films and labels
from used plastics prior to reprocessing. These coatings can impact the value or utility of recycled plastics if not
removed. The process decreases the amount of plastics that are going to landfill while also increasing the number
of applications available for recycled plastics, according to Ron Whaley, Geo-Tech president.
Geo-Tech is honored to receive this award, Whaley said. We take pride in our teams hard work to provide
products with unprecedented quality.
The ACC awards contest is open to all U.S. companies, individuals or government groups that either collect
or process plastics for recycling, manufacture equipment used to collect or process plastics for recycling,
or manufacture a new product made in whole or part from recycled plastic. The other 2014 winners were
GreenBlue, a non-profit group based in Charlottesville, Va., for its development of the How2Recycle Label; and
QRS Recycling, based in St. Louis, Mo., which established facilities to collect plastics that local material recovery
facilities do not recycle.

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November 2014
Volume III Issue IX

TWPC Processes 100th cask of remote-handled waste

On August 8th, the Cask Processing Enclosure (CPE)

team at the Transuranic Waste Processing Center
(TWPC) in Oak Ridge completed processing its
100th cask of remote-handled transuranic waste.
The CPE allows operators working in bubble suits to
manually sort, segregate, size reduce and repackage
waste from casks generated at the Oak Ridge National
Laboratory (ORNL). Initially scheduled to be performed
in the hot cell with remote manipulators, TWPC
discovered that most of the older transuranic waste
packaged at ORNL in casks contained predominately
lower dose waste that could be safely and more efficiently
handled directly. The CPE was constructed and
commissioned on July 12, 2012, to process approximately
170 of the 365 casks in inventory at a cost savings of
almost $20 million due to significant schedule reduction.
Casks weighing up to 18,500 pounds are introduced into
the CPE through a series of airlocks using an overhead
crane hoist and electric carts. The casks are put on a
large tilter and laid on their side adjacent to a downdraft
sorting table (modeled after a mortuary table) so the
waste can be pulled out and processed by the operators.
Congratulations to the team at TWPC for their hard work
and continued success.

Also Happening in Tennessee

Recently, WAI displayed its capabilities at the

Energy, Technology, and Environmental Business
Associations (ETEBA) annual conference in
Knoxville, Tennessee.
The conference attracts companies in the industry
and provides them with the opportunity to connect
with others, as well as learn about new trends
and opportunities in the energy, technology and
environmental community.
Ben Thompson attended the event and answered
questions at our booth. According to Ben, one of
the highlights of the weekend was when a lady
walked by and proclaimed, Oh, its Wastren
Advantage! EVERYONE knows them! Ben was
fairly sure this was a compliment and was most
pleased that she actually pronounced Wastren the
right way.

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November 2014
Volume III Issue IX

Choose Your Benefits NOW - Online

Now is the time to sign up for benefits. The open
enrollment period ends December 5th.
WAI conducts a positive enrollment. This means
that every employee must go online using the
following instructions and complete the enrollment
process regardless of the level of benefits you elect or
waive.
Here are a couple of items to highlight:
Basic Life, Basic AD&D, Voluntary Life-Employee
Coverage & Voluntary AD&D-Employee coverage
These amounts are preloaded in the system and
should reflect your current level of coverage.
If you have not elected the Voluntary Life in 2014, you will need to complete the Evidence of Insurability
(EOI) form. The online system will auto generate the form for you.
If you have not elected the Voluntary AD&D coverage in 2014, you may elect coverage in 2015 without the
need to complete the EOI form.
Basic Life-Spouse and Basic Life-Child Coverage
These coverage amounts are not loaded in the system, but will be reflected once you enter your dependent information.
Voluntary Life-Spouse | Voluntary Life-Child
These election amounts are not loaded in the system. You will need to enter your dependent information.
If you have elected this coverage in 2014, once your dependents information is entered, you will need to
select the amount you currently have in order to prevent the necessity of completing the EOI. Note: For
coverage elections that are equal to the coverage election for 2014, the system may still indicate you will need
to complete the EOI, however, you may disregard. HR will follow-up with you if you are required to complete the EOI.
If you have not been enrolled in any of the Voluntary Life coverage in 2014 or wish to increase the coverage
level for 2015, you will need to complete the EOI form.
Voluntary AD&D-Spouse | Voluntary AD&D-Child
If you have elected this coverage in 2014, once your dependents information is entered, you will need to select
the amount you currently have or you may increase the coverage level up to the available amounts without the
necessity of completing the EOI.
If you have any questions, please feel free to Sharon-Kaye Miller at 865-574-6801.
Please see enrollment instructions on the following page.

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Volume III Issue IX

Connection
Online Enrollment

Step 1: To Begin

Please make sure to have the following information available prior to logging onto the system:
Social Security Numbers for you and your dependents | Birth Dates for you and your dependents
NOTE:
If you need to log off the system before completing enrollment, any data you have entered will be saved.
The next time you log on, you will be taken directly to the last screen saved.
Step 2: Log on to the System:
Access the site at: https://www.benefitsconnect.net/wai
Username:
Password:

Up to the 1st 6 characters of your last name | 1st letter of your first name | Last 4 digits of your SSN
Your Social Security Number with no dashes or spaces.

Example:

John Johnson
Jane Doe

123-45-6789
987-65-4321

Username: johnsoj6789
Username: doej4321

Password: 123456789
Password: 987654321

After you have logged in, a Usage Agreement will be displayed.

To accept, click Continue. You will then be prompted to create and confirm a new password.
When finished, click, Save and Continue.
Step 3: Enter or Update Personal & Dependent Profiles
Complete applicable fields. Fields in bold are required. When finished, click Save and Continue.
The system will now take you to the Dependent Information section Spouse and Child(ren):
Click on Add Spouse or Add Child
To add multiple children, click on the Add Another Child at the bottom before you save;
Keep this box checked until you have added all benefits eligible children.
When you finish editing dependents, click Save and Continue.
Step 4: Make Benefit Plan Elections
Next, the system will take you to the Benefit plan Enrollment Section and shows each plan one by one.
To enroll in a plan, click the circle by the plan and in the box beside any dependent you wish to cover.
If you would like to waive coverage, check next to I waive enrollment and reason.
For the Accident, Cancer, Critical Illness or Legal benefits, click if you are interested in find out more; otherwise you
can waive these benefits. When you are finished electing each benefit, click on Save and Continue to progress through.
Step 5: Complete Your Enrollment
At the Consolidated Enrollment For page, review your selections.
If you wish to edit your selections, click on Click here to edit and make corrections.
To complete the enrollment process, click Finished (and print a copy for your records).
You will then see the Enrollment Completed screen.
Make sure that you reach this screen.it is your confirmation that you have successfully completed your
enrollment. Click on Logout at the upper right hand corner of the screen when finished.
Contact Brooke Maedel at Russ Blakely & Associates with questions or problems:
brooke@rbabenefits.com 423.266.8306 or 877.266.8330
Please note: Russ Blakely & Associates will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on
Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28.

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November 2014
Volume III Issue IX

By Ben Thompson
Where did the year go?
It seems like yesterday I was putting the final touch on my new years resolution list while finishing off my last donut for the next 365 days ... well, at least for the next couple of weeks! Suddenly, here we are in November, quickly
approaching what is the busiest time of year.
Weve seen our first snow (a little early wasnt it?), Christmas music is commonplace, and stores are decking their
aisles with holiday cheer, right next to the jack-o-lanterns and candy corn marked down by 75 percent.
Theres no denying it: the holidays are here. And that means different things to different people. Perhaps you look
forward to watching the Lions play on Thanksgiving Day, or the bowl games in December. Or, maybe your prize
is the endless dinner parties, celebrations, programs and banquets over the next six weeks. Maybe youre looking
forward to receiving gifts, or maybe to giving them. Shoppers have already mapped their Black Friday strategy,
while others want to avoid all the hustle and bustle and just enjoy some feel-good Hallmark moments in front of a
crackling fireplace.
One thing we should all be able to agree on is that we have many reasons to be thankful. And we should make
that attitude of thanksgiving a cornerstone to the holiday season. If you find yourself struggling with a negative
attitude these next few weeks, challenge yourself to adjust your perspective. Oftentimes, the things we stress over
arent things worth stressing about.
Its easy to get caught up in the stress the season can bring, and once we give in to stress, it becomes difficult to see
the holidays through a positive lens. Perhaps the greatest key to remaining positive this holiday season is to focus
on things that bring value to your life:
Family and Friends - most of us can find lifes greatest value in the people around us who share our lives.
Job - if youre reading this newsletter, you have one. You have something that many do not have.
Health - some of us may be in better health than others, but if youre reading this, you are in good enough
health to enjoy the gift of life.
Food, shelter and the means to live your life - your childrens names arent on the Christmas trees for other
people to support, are they? And your holidays will be spent somewhere warm, with plenty of food at the table.
We could all add more items to this list. But these represent some of our greatest blessings. Dont wait until theyre
gone to be thankful for them - start now.
Enjoy the holiday season by choosing to view it through the lens of thanksgiving. Who knows? maybe what
weve heard is true: those who are positive and grateful attract good things.
Let the fun (and thankfulness) begin!

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November 2014
Volume III Issue IX

For the first time, WAI is participating in the Gifts program sponsored
by the employees at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, which
provides Christmas gifts to local children who otherwise might not
receive any presents.
The program started in 1992, and serves local schools and childrens
organizations from the six counties surrounding PORTS. More than 40
volunteer employee coordinators are currently working with designated
points-of-contact within their assigned schools or organizations to
develop a list of disadvantaged children to be helped by the program.
All of the children within an identified home are included in the
program.
Schools provide the childrens names, addresses, clothing size and a
suggested gift. Coordinators put some of this information on a card,
which is placed on Christmas trees across the plant site, including one at
the WAI headquarters in Piketon. Employees at those sites are then encouraged to select one or more cards and
buy Christmas gifts for the children. The coordinators you might also call them elves are then responsible for
wrapping all the gifts, and making sure they get delivered to the childrens homes in time for Christmas.
Local fire departments are a huge help with the deliveries and the children love seeing the fire trucks, and maybe
even Santa, pull in with their Christmas gifts. In many cases, these may be the only gifts the children get for
Christmas.
The program serves between 2,000 and 3,000 children a year, and no child is ever turned away. The program
organizers are appreciative of the financial support received from several area companies and contractors,
including WAI. In addition, the Gifts program conducts fundraisers throughout the year to raise money for this
cause.
WAI coordinators/elves Cristy Shanks, Susan Holbrook and Marty Tomlinson have collected more than 200
names of children from the Piketon and Eastern school districts. Please consider taking a card (or two) off the
Gifts tree at Piketon, and helping making Christmas brighter for some area children. Gifts should be turned in
by Dec. 4. Please put the items in a gift bag (do not wrap).
Anyone not able to shop is welcome to donate money to the program and the Gifts volunteers will be glad to
do the shopping for you. Monetary donations can go to Cristy, Susan or Marty at WAI Headquarters.

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November 2014
Volume III Issue IX

The annual WAI Christmas Party will be held on

Friday, December 12th at Shawnee Lodge and
Conference Center (4404B State Route 125, West
Portsmouth, OH 45663). Social hour begins at
6:00p.m. and dinner is at 7:00p.m.
See you there!

Tips for Keeping a Healthy Balance this Holiday Season

1. Plan time to exercise. Exercise helps relieve stress and prevents weight gain. Even a 10 or 15 minute walk during a break at work can go a long way in creating a more healthy lifestyle.
2. Be realistic. Dont try to lose pounds during the holidays, instead try to maintain your current weight.
3. Dont skip meals early in the day in hopes of saving room for larger portions later. Try to stick to a normal plan
of eating several times a day. This will help you to avoid overeating.
4. Eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed. Savor your favorite holiday treats while eating small portions.
5. Be careful with beverages. Alcohol can lessen inhibitions and induce overeating; non-alcoholic beverages can
be full of calories and sugar.
6. If you overeat at one meal go light on the next. It takes 500 calories per day (or 3,500 calories per week) above
your normal/maintenance consumption to gain one pound.
7. Try bringing a healthy dish to a holiday gathering.
8. Practice healthy holiday cooking. Preparing favorite dishes lower in fat and calories will help promote healthy
holiday eating.

Take extra precautions when driving and walking during the winter to avoid accidents. 1. Be aware that
black ice is almost invisible. 2. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and tunnels and in early morning
when the air temperature is rising faster than the pavement temperature. 3. Never brake while driving
on ice. Applying pressure to your brakes while on ice will cause a vehicle to skid. Brake only during your
approach. 4. Keep your distance. The distance needed to stop on ice is twice as long as under normal driving
circumstances. Keep at least a three-car distance from the vehicle directly in front of you.

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November 2014
Volume III Issue IX

Holiday Food Drive

Donations of canned and boxed food, as well as paper products, are being collected by WAI employee Amanda
Gilmore at the Piketon headquarters, to donate to Fathers Table Ministry, which provides about 3,000 meals a
year through the Salvation Army in Portsmouth.
Amanda is collecting items through Nov. 30, and can provide anyone with a flyer listing all the needed items. She
can be reached at amanda.gilmore@wastrenadvantage.com or by calling 740.443.7141.