2025 Annual Report
JULY 1, 2024 - JUNE 30, 2025
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
I am proud of the NERC team for delivering timely, impactful content that has advanced the sustainable materials management ecosystem over the past year. Through creative partnerships and targeted programs, we expanded our reach at the Rethink Resource Use Conference, hosted additional high-quality webinars and forums, and published new resources that will help guide the Northeast in its resource use and materials management.”
Megan Schulz-Fontes
Executive Director, Northeast Recycling Council
Our Impact
96%
of survey participants reported
webinars and forums to be valuable
700 unique individuals participating across
15 educational webinars and forums
137
individuals participated on NERC Committees, 32% on two or more
representing 69 state and advisory member organizations
98%
of RRU Conference attendees reported
all sessions to be valuable
90% reported the Conference to be very informative and engaging
Words From Our President
Dear NERC Community,
I’d like to thank you for your support and engagement in our shared mission to minimize waste, conserve natural resources, and advance a sustainable economy through facilitated action and collaboration. Collaboration is in NERC’s DNA, and the past year’s accomplishments demonstrate that. I invite you to explore the highlights below and throughout this report.
- Through a dedicated, primarily state-member subcommittee, NERC developed a Chemical Recycling Policy Position to guide environmentally-responsible chemical recycling of plastics.
- In collaboration with the Center for Sustainable Materials Management (CSMM) at SUNY ESF, the team was able to execute the first of its kind, three-day Conference, with 193 attendees.
- NERC held 15 webinars and forums with over 700 individual participants, focused on topics such as artificial intelligence in the waste stream, bio-medical plastics recycling, the lifecycle of textiles, plastic and organics waste in industrial food production, battery embedded devices, and material reuse.
- NERC engaged additional material recovery facilities (MRFs) across the region in the quarterly MRF survey and report, expanding the state representation from 10 to 12.
- A new Committee was launched to address the growing food and organics waste stream, bringing new stakeholders into a regional conversation on ways to advance sustainable organics management.
I am excited to see what’s to come as the NERC team develops new resources and establishes new partnerships to support material sustainability.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 |
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