2026 Annual Report

JULY 1, 2025 - JUNE 30, 2026

Eleven states united in a mission to minimize waste, conserve natural resources, and advance a sustainable economy through facilitated collaboration and action.

Table of Contents

XXX

Megan Schulz-Fontes

Executive Director, Northeast Recycling Council

Our Impact

XX%

of survey participants reported

webinars and forums to be valuable


XX unique individuals participating across

XX educational webinars and forums

XX

individuals participated on NERC Committees, XX% on two or more


representing XX state and advisory member organizations

XX%

of RRU Conference attendees reported

all sessions to be valuable


XX% reported the Conference to be very informative and engaging

Words From Our President

XXX

Michael Nork

NERC Board President, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

Overview

NERC believes in a world in which waste is minimized and natural resources are conserved. NERC works directly with state, regional, and local agencies, the private sector, trade associations, and others to help address sustainability challenges and achieve environmental goals for the Northeast region of the U.S. NERC accomplishes this by fostering a platform for collaboration across states and industry sectors and producing educational programs and resources to support advancing sustainable materials management programs and operations.

EDUCATIONal Programs and Resources


state and advisory member collaborations & COmmittees

rethink resource use annual conference

Programs and Resources

Educational Webinars and Forums

NERC held 15 webinars and forums with 1,888 unique individuals registering for multiple events. Of those unique individuals, over 700 participating during the events, while an estimated 500 users visited our webinar and material reuse forum libraries. Of survey respondents, 96% reported valuable events.

Webinars

The Lifecycle and Future of Battery Embedded Devices(May 2025)

Material Reuse Forums

Material reuse forums are planned by the Material Reuse Forum Group volunteers, which includes representatives from Finger Lakes Reuse, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Reuse Minnesota, Reuse Worx, and Zero Waste Washington.


MR Forum 6: Online Materials Exchange: Challenges, Viability and Reach(September 2024)


MR Forum 7: Unpacking Reverse Logistics(December 2024)


MR Forum 8: Online Resale Business Models(March 2025)


MR Forum 9: How to Make Reuse Centers Economically Viable(June 2025)


Webinar and Forum Series

Examining and Identifying Solutions for Plastic and Organic Waste in Industrial Food Production, in collaboration with the Center for Biological Diversity  (April 2025)

  • Part 1: Addressing Impacts of Plastic in Industrial Food Production 
  • Part 2: Strategies for Addressing Waste in Animal Agriculture

Benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Waste Stream(December 2024)

  • Part 1: Optimizing Waste Stream with Machine Learning
  • Part 2: Innovations in Recycling Processes

Reducing and Diverting Plastic Waste in Bio-Medical Laboratories and Facilities  (September - October 2024)

  • Part 1: Challenges and Opportunities in Biopharma and Medical Institutions
  • Part 2: Diverse Solutions to Meet the Supply of Bio-Med Plastic Waste

Extending the Life Cycle of Textiles Forum Series(September 2024)

  • Forum 1: Community Planning
  • Forum 2: Policy Landscape
  • Forum 3: Corporate Strategy, Case Studies
  • Forum 4: Technological Advancement

Northeast Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) Commodity Values Reports

Four quarterly Northeast MRF Commodity Values Reports were released to map fluctuations in the value of commodities processed by the region’s MRFs: Q2 2024, Q3 2024, Q4 2024, and Q1 2025.



This past fiscal year, we grew the number of participating MRFs from 14 to 19, adding five and expanding states represented from 10 to 12. These states include all eleven NERC states with the addition of Virginia.


The educational tool is valuable for promoting improved residential recycling and participation and provides useful data for recyclers, MRFs, municipalities, and state agencies.

Chemical Recycling Policy Position

The Chemical Recycling Committee, which was established to better understand processes that fall under the umbrella term ‘chemical recycling’ and their environmental impacts to make informed policy decisions.


This past year, a subcommittee was formed for the purpose of developing a policy statement that would articulate guiding principles for environmentally responsible chemical recycling of plastics. Subcommittee members included Committee Chair Tom Metzner, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP); Claudine Ellyin, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP); John Fay, Northeast Waste Management Officials' Association (NEWMOA); Anthony Fontana, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Retired; Michael Fowler, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP); Timothy Kerr, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Left MDE; Shannon McDonald, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE); Chaz Miller, Ex-Officio, NERC Board; Elizabeth Moore, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP); Marc Moran, Pennsylvania Department Of Environmental Protection; Michael Nork, New Hampshire Department Of Environmental Services; Megan Schulz-Fontes, Northeast Recycling Council (NERC); and Richard Watson, Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA).


The Policy was adopted by the NERC Board in May 2025. View the Policy Statement.


Return to Table of Contents

Rethink Resource Use Conference 2024


“As an emerging professional in this field, it is very valuable to hear about the paths that other states and organizations have taken. I have a newfound sense of the role that public-private partnerships plays and I met some very well networked people, and it was a major contribution to meet so many experts from across the region.“


-Fall 2024 Conference Attendee

NERC's Fall 2024 Conference took place October 28–30 at SUNY ESF in Syracuse, New York,  bringing together 193 attendees from across the U.S. and Canada. Of survey participants, 98% reported valuable sessions, and 90% reported the event was engaging and informative.


The event was hosted in partnership with the Center for Sustainable Materials Management at SUNY ESF and in collaboration with the Institute for Sustainability Engagement at Syracuse University.


The program featured two keynote speakers: Dr. Gary Cooper, CEO and CoFounder of Rheaply, and Erin  Simon, Vice President and Head of Plastic Waste and Business at the World Wildlife Fund. Over two and a half days, participants engaged with expert speakers covering a wide range of topics,  including extended producer responsibility (EPR), organics, reuse, sustainable procurement, and more.


You can view Conference presentations, speaker biographies, the attendee list, and

photo albums at nerc.org/conference-records.

State and Advisory Membership

NERC is an eleven state member organization. In addition to our state members, we have nearly 100 advisory member organizations that represent recycling organizations, collectors and haulers, material recovery facilities, processors, brand owners, industry trade associations, and much more. You can view a complete member directory.


All members are eligible to participate on committees, receive discounts to courses, the annual Rethink Resource Use, receive exclusive monthly regional recycling market updates produced by Chaz Miller, Ex Officio Director, NERC, and much more.  


Committees foster valuable connections, ideas, and resource development. The work accomplished during FY2025 is described below. Committee members included 137 individuals representing 69 organizations, 32% of which participate on two or more committees.

Bottle Bill

The Committee discussed opportunities for improving and enhancing regulation and system effectiveness. A state-only meeting was also held to discuss best practices and opportunities for improved systems. 


FY25 Chair: Gary Feinland, New York State DEC

Chemical Recycling (State & Approved Advisory Members Only)

The Committee learned about life cycle analyses of chemical recycling processes, policy considerations, and facility operations.


A subcommittee was formed to develop the NERC Chemical Recycling Policy Position, which was adopted by the NERC Board in May 2025. 


FY 2025 Chair: Tom Metzner, Connecticut DEEP

DE&I

The Committee began developing an inclusive recruitment and retention guidebook for the industry, reinforcing NERC’s commitment to inclusivity. Members also supported the expansion of the Emerging Professionals Program.


FY25 Chair: Jessica Levine, The Recycling Partnership

Glass

The Committee welcomed presentations from glass processors to better understand the dynamics of the value chain regionally and discussed developing new resources. The Committee reviewed the Flow of Glass in the Northeast Report which should be published in Fiscal Year 2026 with the goal of improving glass collection while supporting policy measures that encourage sustainable glass recycling.


FY25 Chair: Jennifer Heaton-Jones, Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority

Regional Recycling Markets

The Committee heard from ten guest speakers on varying topics including technological advancements in MRFs, commodity market trends, end market development case studies, and interactive material flow maps. Chaz Miller, the Chair, authored 12 monthly market reports. 


FY24 Chair: Chaz Miller, Ex-Officio Board Member, NERC

Supply Side Policy

The Committee’s goal is to increase the supply of post-consumer plastics, glass, and paper to the marketplace by exploring different supply-side strategies. New case study authors of the Guide to Increasing Recycling Supply were invited to present. The Guide was developed as a complimentary resource to existing minimum post-consumer recycled content model legislations.


This past year, a new case study was added to the Guide- the first in the brand and manufacturer category of the value chain. This case study was submitted by Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast and focuses on enhancing the recyclability of plastic packaging by transitioning from green PET bottles to clear PET bottles. 


FY24 Chair: Chair: Bradley Baker, Maryland DE

The Committee, newly launched this past year, began planning a webinar series focused on food waste management, sourcing case studies to feature at the 2026 RRU Conference, and building an outline for a diverting food waste guide to share with schools and municipalities. Additionally, members welcomed guest speakers from across the value chain to discuss key topics.


FY24 Chair: Debra Darby, Tetra Tech

Environmental Leadership Awards

NERC recognizes leaders in environmental sustainability every year. In its eighth awards ceremony in fall 2024, NERC honored four organizations for their dedication to NERC’s mission and outstanding leadership in our industry. Visit awardee page.

Outstanding Member: Good Point Recycling

Founded in Vermont and Massachusetts 25 years ago, the company has championed reuse, fair trade recycling, and global integrity, ensuring valuable electronics are refurbished and responsibly managed.

Outstanding Organization: Helpsy

Helpsy collects hundreds of thousands of pounds of clothes per day in cooperation with 1,500 communities, businesses, and nonprofits. The certified B-corporation supplies environmentally sound used goods to thousands of thrift stores, resellers, sorting companies, and consumers worldwide.

Outstanding Municipality: Town of Woodbury

The Town of Woodbury reduced and diverted waste by 45% from 2022 after entering a pilot program funded by Connecticut DEEP for trash and food scrap collection. As of Fall 2024, they had collected 139,000 pounds of food scrap singe February 2023.

Outstanding Program: Chittenden Solid Waste District

CSWD collaborated with Astronomers Without Borders to collect, sort, and reuse more than 115,000 solar eclipse glasses, shining a spotlight on the power of local communities and their unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship. 

Financials

JULY 1, 2024 - JUNE 30, 2025

Expenses

The majority of NERC funds are spent on programming, which includes planning and execution of webinars and forums, resource development, outreach, state and advisory member services, and support for members and non-members. 

Revenues

State and advisory member dues make up half of NERC’s revenue. Remaining funds to support NERC programs and operations are derived from event registration and sponsorships, as well as contract services and other sources such as interest on financial assets or reimbursed expenses.

Board of Directors

NERC's Board is comprised of a state agency representative from each of the 11 states NERC represents. Our Ex-Officio board members are non-voting members who provide expert council to NERC.

Executive Committee

  • President:  Josh Kelly, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
  • Vice President: Michael Nork, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
  • Treasurer: Richard Watson, Delaware Solid Waste Authority


Ex-Officio (Non-Voting)

  • Resa Dimino, Resource Recycling Systems
  • Chip Foley, Consultant
  • Jennifer Heaton-Jones, Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority
  • Chaz Miller, Maryland Recycling Network


Directors

  • Chris Nelson, Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
  • Bradley Baker, Maryland Department of the Environment
  • John Fischer, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
  • Brian Beneski, Maine Department of Environmental Protection
  • Erin Jensen, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
  • Jared Rhodes, Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation
  • Jeff Bednar, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection


Staff

NERC’s programs are supported and delivered by a dedicated team of professionals.


Megan

Schulz-Fontes

Executive Director


Mariane

Medeiros

Senior Project Manager


Sophie

Leone

Development and Program Manager


Justin

Giddings

Sustainability and Data Management Intern


Advisory Members

Our members make up a large, diverse community that believes in a world in which waste is minimized and natural resources are conserved. Members are key to shaping NERC’s events and priorities for discussion, training, and projects. Visit our Member Directory.

Committee Representation

NERC State Members Represented on NERC's Committees

Bottle Bill Chemical Recycling DE&I Glass RRM Supply Side Organics
Connecticut (CT DEEP) X X X X X
Delaware (DSWA) X X X
Maine (ME DEP) X X X
Maryland (MDE) X X X X X X
Massachusetts (MA DEP) X X X X X X
New Hampshire (NH DES) X X X
New Jersey (NJ DEP) X X X X X X
New York (NY DEC) X X X X
Pennsylvania (PA DEP) X
Rhode Island (RIRRC) X X X
Vermont (VT DEC) X X X X X

NERC Advisory Members Represented on NERC's Committees

Bottle Bill Chemical DEI Glass RRM Supply Organics
ACSWMD X
Ag Container Recycling Council X X
American Beverage Association X
Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) X X
BioCycle X
Blount Fine Foods X
Bright Feeds X
Carton Council X
Casella Resource Solutions X X
CSMM at SUNY ESF X X X
CCRRA X
CET X
Chittenden Solid Waste District X X
Circular Services X
City of Salem X
CLYNK X X
Coca-Cola X X
Eco Products X
EFS-plastics Inc. X X
Bottle Bill Chemical DEI Glass RRM Supply Organics
EREF X
Eunomia Research & Consulting X X X
Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) X
Good Point Recycling X
GreenBlue X X
Harvard University X
HRRA X X X X
Keurig Dr Pepper X
Maine Resource Recovery Assoc. (MRRA) X
NH Recycles X
NYSAR3 X
PA Recycling Markets Center X
PLASTICS X X X
Pozzotive X
Primo Brands X
Recycled Materials Association X X X X X
RECYC-QU�BEC X X X
Republic Services X
Resource Recycling Systems X X
Reverse Logistics Group X X X
Revolution X
SC Department of Commerce X
Sibelco X X
Tetra Tech X
The Container Recycling Institute X X
The Recycling Partnership X
TOMRA X X X
WM X X X X X
Yale Office of Sustainability X

Engage with NERC

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@northeastrecycling

@NErecycling

@Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

@Northeast Recycling Council (NERC)