Recent News

  • 11 Jul 2018 2:26 PM | Jen Dabbs (Administrator)

    In May, a group of organizations representing various segments of the recycling industry met to discuss ways to better collaborate to advance the industry as a whole. The initial meeting, which took place in Washington, DC, at the headquarters of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, was an open discussion aimed at identifying ways throughout the recycling stream to improve quality, increase demand for material, and promote products made with recycled content.

    As part of the initial phase, the organizations have released the following statement of cooperation:

    As representatives of the complete recycling chain, we understand that improving the quality of the recycling stream and increasing the demand for recyclables in the manufacture of new products will deliver economic and environmental benefits nationwide. We commit to actively engaging with one another to enhance the nation’s recycling systems, while simultaneously continuing our own organizations’ work to influence change.”

    The groups have scheduled a meeting in August to determine specific courses of action and efforts to work on collectively. 

    Organizations participating in the effort include:

    • American Forest & Paper Association
    • Ameripen
    • Association of Plastic Recyclers
    • Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
    • Keep America Beautiful
    • Northeast Recycling Council
    • National Recycling Coalition
    • National Waste & Recycling Association
    • Plastics Industry Association
    • The Recycling Partnership
    • Southeast Recycling Development Council
    • Sustainable Packaging Coalition
    • Solid Waste Association of North America.
  • 09 Jul 2018 8:49 AM | Jen Dabbs (Administrator)
    This symposium is being held in cooperation with the Georgia Recycling Coalition (an NRC affiliate). Marjorie Griek, NRC Executive Director, Sarah DeSouza, NRC Executive Assistant and the members of the NRC Market Council are working on developing the agenda and confirming speakers for the July 31st symposium. This second symposium will take a different approach then the April 4th Regional Market Development Symposium in Portland, OR.


    The markets in the Southeast for most materials are relatively strong (albeit at lower prices). The NRC Markets Council would like to focus this workshop on generating quality supply of materials which will further satisfy the needs of the end markets in this part of the country.


    The Symposium will take place on July 31, 2018 at the Crown Plaza Atlanta SW in Peachtree City, GA.  More information to follow on the NRC website

  • 21 Jun 2018 11:50 AM | Jen Dabbs (Administrator)

    Join industry leaders Rick Anthony, Kate Bailey and Kate Davenport to discover how recyclers that embrace Zero Waste are addressing the current challeng es in the recycling industry. They continue to achieve high quality and work to get higher than average market prices. Their high quality also continues to help them sell all materials collected in curbside recycling programs today. They will discuss how businesses and communities that have adopted Zero Waste goals and policies are better able to market their materials, while improving and decreasing operational costs.

    There is a $25 fee for attending. Learn more

  • 21 Jun 2018 10:08 AM | Jen Dabbs (Administrator)

    The National Recycling Coalition (NRC) needs your input to understand markets issues in the Atlanta / Southeast area.  

    NRC is planning the next in its series of Market Development Workshops in Atlanta in July.  As part of our preparation for this in-depth workshop, they need to gather information on local conditions, opportunities, gaps, etc.  

    Please help by filling out the workshop "pre-survey" below.  Thank you in advance. 


  • 18 Jun 2018 8:45 AM | Jen Dabbs (Administrator)

    All year, the men and women of the waste management industry are hard at work collecting, processing, filtering, and recycling over 250 million tons of garbage. They do this to keep our environment clean and our communities safe. The week of June 17th is our time to come together and collectively show our appreciation.

    Take a minute this week to thank your garbage and recycling man for the important, yet unappreciated jobs they do.

    Read more

  • 13 Jun 2018 4:11 PM | Jen Dabbs (Administrator)

    EPA is announcing a new resource in the fight against food loss and waste: the Excess Food Opportunities Map. This national, interactive map can help you save money, feed people, and keep food out of landfills. The map identifies more than 500,000 potential generators of excess food (e.g. correctional facilities, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, hospitality industry, food manufacturers and processors, and food wholesalers and distributors) and estimated generation quantities, as well as over 4,000 potential recipients of excess food (e.g. anaerobic digestion and composting facilities, food banks).

    The map can help users identify:

    • potential sources of food for rescue;
    • potential feedstocks for compost and anaerobic digestion;
    • potential infrastructure gaps for managing excess food; and
    • alternatives to sending food to landfill.

    The map is intended to give users the tools to understand the potential magnitude of excess food in their communities, and help make connections between generators and recipients such that more food is diverted from landfills and put toward more beneficial uses. Find out more here: www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/excess-food-opportunities-map.

    This demonstration and discussion of methodology will be accompanied by a presentation about how this data can be used at the community level.  The webinar is Thursday, July 12, 2018 at 1:00 - 2:30 pm EDT.

    Speakers
    Melissa Pennington, Sustainability Coordinator, EPA Region 3
    Melissa Pennington spent the first 22 years of her EPA career as a project manager in the Superfund Division specializing in cleanup implementation and enforcement. This time was divided between Region 3 (Philadelphia) and Region 9 (San Francisco). In July 2011, she switched gears and dove into voluntary programs as a Sustainability Coordinator in the Office of Materials Management. Her overall focus is to build capacity for organics recycling in Region 3 and at the national level through collaboration with strategic partners. Most notably, Melissa assembled and leads the Core Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Technical Team. This team includes individuals from many different EPA offices and Regions with technical expertise in AD systems. The nature of this team demonstrates EPA's desire to break down silos and to develop consistent AD policy. Team projects include: a white paper on the basics of AD, an ongoing data collection project, and development of EPA's AD website (www.epa.gov/anaerobic-digestion).

    Claudia Fabiano, Sustainable Management of Food Team, EPA Headquarters
    Claudia Fabiano joined the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery in 2016. In her role on the Sustainable Management of Food team, she leads EPA's food waste measurement methodology revisions and co-leads development of EPA's Excess Food Opportunities Map. She also works with Canada and Mexico on the Steering Committee for the Commission for Environmental Cooperation project, Measuring and Mitigating Food Loss and Waste, and leads EPA's Food: Too Good to Waste peer network. Prior to this, Claudia was a team leader in EPA's Office of Water working on water quality policy and regulations. Outside of her work at EPA, she is an active member of Washington DC's Food Recovery Working Group.

    Register here

  • 06 Jun 2018 12:37 PM | Jen Dabbs (Administrator)

    With the introduction of more complex packaging materials comes increased pressure to add such materials to the blue bin. Often times there are questions surrounding its recyclability which causes friction between MRFs and the host municipality that is eager to include it.

    In this webinar you'll learn about ISRI's Inbound Scrap Specifications, how to craft careful language for your contract, and the right mix of elements that should be included in the agreement. Join this webinar and hear how you can start utilizing these tools and ideas with other stakeholders to develop a successful recycling program.

    Will Sagar, SERDC's Executive Director will be one of the speakers.

    Read more and register


  • 06 Jun 2018 12:34 PM | Jen Dabbs (Administrator)

    You’ve invested time, money, and energy into providing the tools, education, and training that you hope will enable households, businesses, and institutions to successfully source separate organics. But what now… is participation low or waning? Are there too many contaminants in the organics bin? Too many organics in the trash bin?


    To gain insights on how to tackle these and other organics recycling challenges, join the Composting Collaborative for a dynamic webinar with Jennifer Tabanico and Kaitlin Phelps of Action Research, a firm with more than 15 years of experience changing human behavior through the application of traditional marketing activities blended with cutting-edge research findings from social and behavioral sciences.


    Read more and register


  • 22 May 2018 10:13 AM | Jen Dabbs (Administrator)

    Recycling Day at the NC Capitol is about educating our lawmakers on how great recycling is for North Carolina. Be a part of something special! Join us on the Halifax Mall in Raleigh right outside of the NC Capital Building and advocate for our industry. Many legislators simply aren’t aware of the positive economic, environmental, and social impacts of recycling in North Carolina. Not to mention, we make old stuff into new stuff instead of tossing it in the trash! 

    Recycling Day is a chance for you to have face-to-face interactions with the men and women who represent you. For our 2018 Recycling Day, we’re going to entice them with free treats on the Mall. And then WHAM! You, our participants will give them something to think about, including informative signage, information about recycling’s impact in the communities they represent, the benefits for NC, and the economic impacts of recycling.

    Event partners, the Carolina Recycling Association (CRA) and the Southeast Recycling Development Council, we will host two webinars before Recycling Day to help you have maximize your impact during the event . These will take place on Thursday, June 14 at 10 am or Friday, June 22nd at 1:00 pm. 

    Event info including webinar registration links, parking, and other important logistics will be emailed to registrants ahead of the event.

    Go to CRA webpage

    Register to attend Recycling Day at the NC Capitol

  • 17 May 2018 10:25 AM | Jen Dabbs (Administrator)
    Pre-proposal topics must relate to sustainable solid waste management practices and pertain to the following topic areas:

    • Waste minimization
    • Recycling
    • Waste conversion to energy, biofuels, chemicals or other useful products. This includes, but is not limited to, the following technologies:
    • Waste-to-energy
    • Anaerobic digestion
    • Composting
    • Other thermal or biological conversion technologies
    • Strategies to promote diversion to higher and better uses (e.g. organics diversion, market analysis, optimized material management, logistics, etc.)
    • Landfilling

    Additional details regarding pre-proposal formatting and submission requirements can be located at "How to Apply for a Grant."

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software