November Bulletin
NERC’s Advisory Members
Distinguished Benefactors
Benefactors
Sustaining Members
A list of all the logos of our Sustaining Members can be found under Advisory Members
Advisory Member Spotlights
Earth Bio Technologies and Harvard University
New & Renewing Members
- GDB International
- Blount Fine Foods
- Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS)
- Bulk Handling Systems *New
- International Sleep Product Association
- Harvard University *New
- Sustainable Packaging Coalition
- Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority
NERC News
- NERC Northeast Recycling Market Report
- NERC's Fall Conference Presentations
- NERC Advisory Members Receive EPA Grant Funding
Upcoming Events
- Material Reuse Forum 5: Reuse in Climate Action Plans
- Tuesday January 9th, 2024, 1:30 - 3:00 PM EST
- NERC event highlights 3 trends to watch in EPR implementation.
State Updates
- Connecticut announced their first CT Compost Conference.
- Massachusetts recapped their MassDEP Deconstruction Workgroup Meeting.
- New Hampshire Solid Waste Work Group will meet December 1.
- Vermont has established a household hazardous waste webpage.
Advisory Member News
- AMP Robotics was named a winner at the Sustainable Packaging Summit.
- Carton Council has announced the release of their second podcast episode.
- Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority is hiring.
- Delaware River & Bay Authority announced a save the date.
- NEWMOA is hiring 3 project managers.
- Northeast Resources Recovery Association has been awarded an EPA Grant.
- Resource Recycling Systems team members have recently published articles.
- Sonoco recently commissioned AYTM to conduct a national survey.
ADVISORY MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
We are pleased to welcome two new Supporting Advisory Members to Northeast Recycling Council: Earth Bio Technologies & Harvard University
Earth Bio Technologies
Earth Bio Technologies states, “Our mission is to enhance environmental initiatives, improve operations through prevention, and return bottom-line savings to our clients who drive the food service industry.” The company offers several proprietary formulas to biologically break down organic wastes in drain systems, grease traps & lift stations. The company also manufactures drain system safeguard solutions to prevent solids from causing blockages. Read More.
Harvard University
Readers seeking a deeper dive into Harvard’s sustainability efforts are encouraged to visit its Office for Sustainability. In May of this year, the University published its Sustainability Action Plan. According to coverage in the Harvard Gazette, “this strategic roadmap is built around three pillars of climate, equity, and health, and offers a unifying and holistic vision for creating a more sustainable institution, and in turn a more sustainable world.” Read More.
NEW & RENEWING MEMBERs
Membership is key to Northeast Recycling Council's regional and national commitment to circularity and sustainable materials management. For more information about NERC's Advisory Member program, please visit Nerc.org/Advisory-Members/What-Is-A-NERC-Advisory-Member and view our Advisory Membership Brochure.
Thank you to the following members for their support. We appreciate your commitment to Northeast Recycling Council and its mission.
Sustaining Members
Supporting Members
- International Sleep Product Association
- Harvard University
- Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC)
- Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority (HRRA)
nerc news
Northeast Recycling Market Report | November 21, 2023
The Northeast Recycling Market Report for the periods April – June 2023 and July – September 2023 showed a slight rise in the average commodity price for Q2 followed by a decline in Q3. The average value of all commodities dropped by 6% with residuals and 7% without from Q1 to Q3.
The average percentage for outbound tons marketed per commodity in calendar year 2022 reflected a slight increase for most materials compared to 2020. Notably, the average percentage per ton of bulky rigids and mixed plastic decreased.
This is the 17th report in NERC’s series of quarterly reports on the market value of commodities from MRFs in the Northeast. The report includes information from ten states: Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.
Fall Conference Presentations
The speaker presentation, attendee list, as well as the conference program are now available on NERC's website.
Advisory Members Receive EPA Grant Funding
Northeast Resource Recovery Association, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, and EcoMaine are among many who have been selected by the U.S. Environmental protection Agency to receive funding from the Recycling Education and Outreach Grant program and the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia. Learn More.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Material Reuse Forum 5: Reuse in Climate Action Plans
Tuesday January 9th, 2024, 1:30 - 3:00 PM EST | View Presenters and Register
Explore the growing trend of integrating reuse practices into climate action plans during our forum "Reuse in Climate Action Plans." Governments are increasingly recognizing the environmental benefits of reusing durable goods, spanning construction materials, consumer items, household goods, electronics, books, textiles, and fixtures. Join us for insightful discussions featuring three expert speakers who will share their perspectives on how reuse can play a pivotal role in sustainable climate action plans.
State News
Connecticut
Calling all composters! The CT Compost Alliance is excited to announce that the first CT Compost Conference will be held on March 14, 2024, at Connecticut College in New London, CT. This informative day will include keynote speakers, breakout sessions, networking, a catered lunch, and exhibitors. Attendees will benefit from a variety of themed breakout sessions, providing education on composting related to the basics, home, farm, municipal, schools, and medium to large scale operations. The event will highlight how composting can benefit local communities, businesses, the environment, and improve climate resiliency.
CT Coalition for Sustainable Materials Management will be holding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Working Group meeting on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. Register Here.
Massachusetts
On October 25th MassDEP held their fifth meeting of MassDEP’s Deconstruction Workgroup, focused on How Massachusetts Practitioners Capture the Value of Building Materials Before Demolition. They heard inspiring case studies from Peter Serafino from Home City Development, Kristen Fritsch from Elkus-Manfredi Architects, and Dan Costello from Costello Dismantling. They extend a Thank you to their incredible speakers!
MassDEP also wants to thank the 100+ participants who joined them from diverse stakeholder groups, including demolition and general contractors, architects, local/state/federal officials, waste haulers, nonprofit organizations, consultants, reuse organizations, historic preservationists, and others who are eager to support reuse of buildings and building materials in Massachusetts.
The meeting recording and presentations have been posted to MassDEP’s Reduce & Reuse Working Group website and may be found at this link. The next virtual meeting of the MA Deconstruction Workgroup is scheduled for January 17, 2024, from 1:30-3:30 EST. Click here to pre-register for this meeting.
New Hampshire
The State of New Hampshire Solid Waste Working Group's next meeting is Friday, December 1st from 9:30am – 12:00pm. Legislative study committees, including EPR and landfill-related issues, have issued their reports and legislative recommendations, which can be found below.
Vermont
VT DEC has established a webpage with information on Vermont’s Household Hazardous Waste extended producer responsibility law adopted in 2023 which includes an implementation timeline. The HHW EPR FAQ and HHW EPR Covered Products List are both posted for a 30 day public comment period. Please submit all comments to Shannon Choquette at Shannon.choquette@vermont.gov by December 11th at 4pm. More information will be added to the site as the program nears implementation in 2026.
The Rutland County Solid Waste District (RCSWD) is hiring a Waste Diversion Outreach Coordinator to coordinate all phases of assigned programs in areas such as community and business materials management, education and community outreach, research, and technical assistance. Learn more.
Advisory Member News
AMP Robotics' compact robotic sortation system, Cortex-C, was named to TIME's Best Inventions 2023 list earlier this month. At the Sustainable Packaging Summit in Amsterdam this week, AMP was named a winner not only in the Machinery category, but also the overall winner, in the Sustainability Awards 2023 for our AI-powered solution for film removal and recovery.
Carton Council is excited to share that the second episode of The Road to Recycling podcast series is now live! “The Road to Recycling: A School Striving for Zero Waste” features Jeremy Drake of Strategy Zero Waste Solutions and Michele Wagner, Carton Council schools and field team member. An audio-only podcast, it discusses how while schools across the country have been striving to become more environmentally conscious, is zero waste really possible? Listeners can hear tips and resources on how schools in Missoula, Montana are recycling cartons and diverting additional materials from the school waste stream.
Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority is hiring for Curbside Operator (CDL Class B Required) and Processing Helper. Applicants should visit the CCRRA website for more information on how to apply and complete the online application.
World Environment Day will be at Veterans Memorial Park in New Castle, DE on May 29, 2024 (10:00AM – 2:00PM). The event is free and open to the public. Any business, government organization, school, or NGO interested in exhibiting at no cost, contact Albert Fralinger at albert.fralinger@drba.net or 856-777-3434. Last year, there were 90 exhibitors with over 900 public attendees. All equipment and supplies are provided at no cost. Local food and refreshments will be available at no cost.Resource Recycling Systems published the following recent articles:
- Beyond the bottle: Exploring other end markets for recycled glass, (Recycling Today, Sara Nicols) explores the diversity of glass end markets and is about expanding demand for glass cullet.
- Can AI Rescue Recycling? (Wall Street Journal, Dieter Holger) discusses how AI is helping recycling centers address worker shortages but also provides an extraordinary amount of data that are likely to inform advances in recycling policy, engineering, and packaging design as its capabilities expand.
Sonoco recently commissioned Ask Your Target Market (AYTM) to conduct a national survey focused on identifying what kinds of recycling information U.S. consumers wanted and viewed as helpful. Discover the top three insights.