NRC Aligns with Resource Recycling for 2012 Conference

 

We are excited to announce that this year's annual member meeting and board of directors election will be held in conjunction with the 2012 Resource Recycling Conference!

Save the Dates: Aug. 27-29, 2012

Location:
Hilton Austin
500 East 4th St.
Austin, TX 78701

Message from NRC President, Mark Lichtenstein

National Recycling Coalition Applauds US Senate for Passage of Resolution 251 - A 'Resolution in Support of Recycling' - And Focuses on 'What's Next?'

Read the full message in this document.

NRC Sustainable Materials Management Webinar Series

Following in the footsteps of a similar partnership with the Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center, the NRC has developed a new partnership with the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center and Penn State University in delivering innovative programming to those who are seeking integrated opportunities for sustainable materials management.

From the comfort of your own location, join us for this webinar series held the second Monday of each month - July 2011 through June 2012.

View the webinar schedule and descriptions.

For more information, contact NRC Staff Assistant Lisa Ruggero.

2011 KAB Recycling Symposium

MORA Executive Director, Angie Gehlert, joined other state recycling leaders in Columbus, Ohio to attend KAB’s recycling symposium. We urge you to view the presentations made available by KAB.

Click to view presentations.

RONA Seeks Candidates for National Training Standards Board

The Recycling Organizations of North America (RONA) has officially adopted a plan for developing National Standards for Certification of Training Programs and Professionals. At its August Board meeting, the Board unanimously adopted these standards, following discussions with a cross-section of members and stakeholders who participated in discussions about the Plan. The Standards would certify training programs and professionals in Sustainable Resource Management (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to Zero Waste).

Marjie Griek, President of RONA notes "These National Standards are being developed to enhance the credibility and value of state-based Certification training programs. RONA will also work with national and international organizations to develop transferability of the value of training programs offered by states with those offered nationally and vice-versa. Key next steps to implement the Plan will be to form a Certification Board to guide the process, and to get continued input on jobs available and skills needed to prepare students for those jobs. RONA has surveys on its website at: www.recyclingorganizations.org (then click on Certification) to provide input to the jobs/skills analysis, and nominations for the Certification Board."

"This Plan is the culmination of many years of effort by the Recycling Organization Council (ROC) of the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) and RONA" continued Marjie Griek. "During the past year over 200 members and stakeholders participated in a wide variety of in-person meetings and conference calls to contribute their best ideas to this Plan. This has truly been a collaborative process."

Project Manager Gary Liss noted, "This effort was funded under a grant from the President’s Community Based Job Training Grants. RONA invited all State Recycling Organizations to participate in calls and meetings RONA convened, as well as representatives from Canadian provinces and topical associations (e.g., NRC, U.S. Composting Council, U.S. Green Building Council, Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), and the Reuse Alliance)."

RONA Board member John Frederick noted “More programs, communities and businesses are trying to address climate change and striving for sustainability, creating a demand for qualified staff trained in Sustainable Resource Management. State and provincial recycling organizations (ROs) are working to address the needs of the growing recycling and resource management industry at the local and regional level. We believe that the National Standards will strengthen RO training programs and professionals that benefit from them by:

• Employers obtaining employees with a clear understanding of tasks.
• Professionals distinguishing themselves from others, increasing their competence and credibility, and meeting new requirements of employers.
• Colleges developing for-credit classes based on such standards and offering different classes from other states to expand upon local offerings.
• Providing a framework for sharing of course content, presentations, curricula, assignments and exams around the country.”

The Plan calls for the implementation of the Plan to be done by RONA University Council (RONA U). Jack DeBell, RONA U Project Manager highlighted "The RONA Plan recommended that certification training programs should: 1) consist of a minimum of 30 hours of course work; 2) be certified by an accredited post-secondary institution; 3) include a comprehensive introductory class on Sustainable Resource Management; and 4) include a comprehensive written exam to demonstrate proficiency in what was taught. We look forward to getting good candidates who are familiar with these types of programs involved with the Certification Board in the beginning of the new year."

Gary Liss
916-652-7850
Fax: 916-652-0485
www.garyliss.com

MORA Joins National Recycling Organizations – August 2011

During the 2011 conference, the MORA membership was questioned about support or interest in joining several national recycling organizations. Based on feedback from the members, the MORA Board of Directors voted to support/join Keep America Beautiful (KAB), Recycling Organizations of North America (RONA) and the National Recycling Coalition (NRC).

MORA has paid pro-rated dues or membership fees for 2011 to both KAB and RONA and will be speaking to NRC as well. These partnerships will result in increased member benefits for all MORA members. We will forward additional information re: these partnerships in the September emessage.

Keep America Beautiful (KAB) Recycling Organizations of North America (RONA) National Recycling Coalition (NRC)

A Special Message From The Leaders of NRC and RONA

[via Resouce Recycling] Leaders of the Recycling Organizations of North America (RONA) and the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) have announced plans to move forward with formal cooperative efforts. Both have agreed that collaboration is essential if recycling is to move forward in North America. Leaders of the two organizations met on August 15 prior to the Resource Recycling Conference in Indianapolis, and followed that meeting with a public forum the next day to discuss these next steps and other ideas with current and potential members.

Beyond the collaborative approach, the organizations hope to better understand each other, determine steps to move this industry/movement forward, find common ground, identify needs, respond to feedback and requests from ROs. The groups also hope to foster and enhance formal cooperation among the state, provincial and regional recycling organizations and other local, state, national and international organizations.

"We want to create an organization that is continental in scope, that is all-inclusive and yet culturally, geographically and demographically diverse" the two groups concluded. To this end, NRC and RONA have committed to creating a steering committee made up of members of both boards and a Recycling Organization representative. This Steering Committee will be tasked with defining how to complement each other's efforts, define roles and responsibilities, determine structure, and fulfill effective member services.

Issues that will be ironed out by the steering committee include the future of an annual recycling conference, and deciding how each will continue to honor individual contracts and programs. RONA has existing relationships with sponsors of discount programs such as with Rubbermaid, it has advanced work with RONA U on designing new bins for on-campus use and developing best practices and creating zero waste principles for campuses. Additionally, RONA is currently engaged in a contractual grant relationship with the U.S Department of Labor and with colleges throughout North America to create standards for certification for the recycling industry. NRC's scholarship program and affiliated state organization agreements are obligations pushing programs forward. NRC also intends to continue its monthly webinar series and the NRC E-News.

Mark Lichtenstein, President of NRC, is confident that the cooperative agreement will bring positive results and foster a collaborative, rather than competitive, environment. "This plan maps out a strategy that will assure a complementary, rather than redundant, relationship between RONA and NRC, enabling us to once again move recycling forward."

Marjorie Griek, Chair of RONA, echoed that sentiment. "We sense a real synergism coming from this partnership that will enhance the stature of sustainable resource management across North America."

For more information:
Mark Lichtenstein, President, NRC, malichte@me.com, (315) 591-8561
Marjorie Griek, President, RONA, mgriek@cafr.org, (720) 839-9531

Carey Hamilton Elected to Keep America Beautiful's Board of Directors

--Local leader to represent national network of affiliated organizations on national board--

STAMFORD, Conn. (Jan. 14, 2011) -- Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (KAB) announces the appointment of Carey Hamilton, executive director of Indiana Recycling Coalition, to represent the interests of KAB’s State Recycling Organization partners to KAB’s national Board of Directors.

“In order to build upon Keep America Beautiful’s role in recycling and waste reduction, we need strong voices and experienced practitioners from within the SRO community,” said Matthew M. McKenna, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. “Carey Hamilton leads a dynamic organization in Indiana, and her experience will help KAB to develop and implement new tools to systems to increase recycling awareness and access nationwide.”

"I am pleased to join the board of this impactful organization as its focus on waste reduction and recycling is expanding,” said Hamilton. “There is much work to be done and I believe KAB is quickly becoming a leader in advancing waste reduction and recycling across the United States.”

Hamilton has served as IRC’s executive director since 2008 following a career in environmental consulting and advocacy. She has previously served as a program manager for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, where she specialized in air-quality issues. Under Gov. Frank O'Bannon, Hamilton led the Indiana Greening the Government Program in 1999 and 2000, overseeing environmental practices for 700 state offices.

About Keep America Beautiful, Inc.
Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation’s largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. This national nonprofit forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. For more information, visit www.kab.org.

National Recycling Coalition (NRC) October 25, 2010 Membership Meeting Update

San Antonio, Texas

INTRODUCTION

• NRC Board rescinded its decision to file for bankruptcy in December 2009.
• All current Board have resigned. Election results are listed below.
• NRC is very interested in protecting its brand equity.

KEY POINTS MOVING FORWARD

REVIVE

• National professional network
• Easy Exchange of information
• Advance practice and professional development

RESTRUCTURE

• Organization kept financially viable
• Independence and Transparency
• Sound management and accountability

KEY VALUES

• Support and represent interests of membership
• Operate with complete transparency
• Power of membership diversity
• Dialogue on contentious matters in a constructive way
• Membership input and diversity.

FINANCIAL STRATEGY

• Working with its creditors to resolve its outstanding debt.
• Have developed financial recovery plan.

ELEMENTS OF FINANCIAL RECOVERY PLAN

• Creditor repayment (Ongoing)
• Raising of new funds (Supplied by a few notable creditors)
• Special events (Senator Tom Carper, D-RI honorary dinner in July 2010; planning more such events.)

PROGRAM APPROACH

• NRC program approach based on SMART objective (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Transparent).
• Will pursue an outside assessment or organizational system.

NRC BOARD ELECTION

President: Mark Lichtenstein, of the Center for Sustainable Community Solutions, Syracuse University;

Board Chair: Jeff Cooper of Onondaga County Resource Recycling Agency;
Pam Blackledge of the Environmental Paper Network;
Susan Collins of Container Recycling Institute;
Bob Gedert of the City of Austin (TX);
Norm Staunton of the Association of Vermont Recyclers;
Meg Morris of Covanta Energy;
Richard Gertman of Cascadia Consulting Group; Fran McPoland of Colling, Swift and Hynes; Michelle Minstrell of Gershman, Brickner, & Bratton; Christine McCoy of Covanta Energy.

National Recycling Organizations News Update – 9/1/2010

Three "national" organizations committed to promote waste reduction and recycling continue to exist and compete for state recycling organization support: National Recycling Coalition (NRC), Recycling Organizations of North America (RONA) and Keep America Beautiful (KAB).

MORA was an NRC "affiliate" for many years, but in early 2009, it was apparent that NRC was in deep financial distress and attempted to merge with KAB. The NRC/KAB merger was shot down by a vote of the membership, however KAB acquired all rights to "America Recycles Day" and has since hired many NRC staff and developed numerous resources geared towards waste reduction and recycling. Earlier in 2009 KAB acquired a new program, the Curbside Value Partnership (CVP), which was established to increase participation in curbside recycling programs nationwide. In 2009 we also saw the birth of RONA and members participated in Resource Recycling’s national conference.

The MORA Board of Directors determined that paying NRC affiliation dues in 2009 & 2010 would not be fiscally responsible because of the uncertainty of NRC’s future. The board continues to monitor all three organizations and evaluate the services and support offered by each before committing funds to any one organization. Because MORA has not paid affiliation dues for 2010, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT MORA MEMBERS WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE UPCOMING NRC BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION unless you or your organization have paid membership dues directly to NRC.

National Recycling Coalition

Keep America Beautiful - Waste Reduction & Recycling
America Recycles Day - November 15th.
Website Launched - AmericaRecyclesDay.org

Recycling Organizations of North America