Potential roles for partners include: 1. Municipal Recycling Coordinator

Act as liaison between the town residential recycling program and the business community. Facilitate opportunities for businesses to participate in the existing residential recycling program. Provide information about the cooperative to interested businesses.

2. Chambers of Commerce

Advertise the cooperative through mailings and newsletters. Promote the cooperative when talking to local businesses and new or potential members. Provide pro bono support to the cooperative through mailings, press releases to the local paper, and staff time. Designate a staff member to serve on the Advisory Committee. Include the cooperative in trade shows and events to help recruit more businesses.

3. Service Organizations

Promote cooperative at meetings and in newsletters. Participate on cooperative Advisory Committee. Encourage members to participate.

4. NonProfit Recycling Organizations

May be able to provide overall coordination for program development and implementation. Advise local partners on program design. Provide technical assistance to develop contract and select a service provider. Serve as a liaison between partners and the recycling service provider. Assist recycling service provider with outreach and education. Recruit businesses to participate.

Step 2: Check List Successful cooperatives will work best with motivated community and organization leaders. Strong partnerships will also help in business recruitment and participation and can help to keep down the costs both to run the program and to participate in it. Have you approached business and civic organizations to recruit their participation? Are all partners aware of their responsibilities for the cooperative? Have you developed a Memorandum of Understanding to outline the responsibilities of each of the partners?