Annual Report FY2025
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
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Megan Schulz-Fontes
Executive Director, Northeast Recycling Council
Our Purpose
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.
Our Approach
Our goal is to
bridge informational gaps across the public and private sectors, develop educational resources, and advance conversations on critical issues across sustainable materials management (SMM).
Education
NERC held 13 informational webinars and forums. Topics spanned from battery embedded devices, textiles, bio-medical waste, and more. Over # unique individuals registered for the webinars. The highest number of attendees was # and the average # attendees. View our webinar and material reuse forum libraries.
Resources
Northeast Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) Commodity Values Report
Four quarterly Northeast MRF Commodity Values Reports were released to map fluctuations in the value of commodities processed by the region’s MRFs: July 2023, November 2023, February 2024, and May 2024. The educational tool is valuable for promoting improved residential recycling and participation and provides useful data for recyclers, MRFs, municipalities, and state agencies.
NEED TO UPDATE
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Collaboration
Annual Conference
100% of survey respondents found the event informative and engaging
“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
Fall 2024 Conference: rethinking resource use: regional perspectives
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. 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.
This year’s program featured two keynote speakers: Dr. Gary Cooper, CEO and Co-Founder 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.
Attendees praised the conference for its “wide variety of interesting presentations and mix of government, nonprofit, consulting, and private industry voices,” as well as for providing “easy-to-access knowledge on waste management.”
Committees
NERC facilitates seven active substantive committees that are comprised of state member representatives and advisory member organizations: organics; bottle bill; chemical recycling; diversity, equity, and inclusion; glass markets; regional recycling markets; and supply side policy. These committees work collaboratively to advance policies, best practices, and market development opportunities in the recycling and materials management sectors. Focus areas during Fiscal Year 2025 are provided below.
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
Good Point Recycling celebrates its 25th anniversary, marking a legacy of leadership in sustainable electronics recycling. Founded in Vermont and Massachusetts, the company has championed reuse, fair trade recycling, and global integrity, ensuring valuable electronics are refurbished and responsibly managed. Recognized as one of the “Top 100 Recyclers Globally” by Recycling International, Good Point Recycling continues to set industry benchmarks for ethical e-waste management and global stewardship. As they celebrate this milestone, they remain committed to building a greener future through innovation and equitable partnerships.
Outstanding Organization: Helpsy
Helpsy is a certified B Corp with an environmental mission to keep clothes out of the trash, to create honorable work and to be profitable. Helpsy collects 100,000 lbs of clothes per day in cooperation with 1,500 communities, businesses, and nonprofits. Helpsy supplies environmentally sound used goods to thousands of thrift stores, resellers, sorting companies, and consumers worldwide.
Outstanding Municipality: Town of Woodbury
In response to the trash disposal crisis that Connecticut is facing, the Town of Woodbury applied for and received a DEEP (Department of Environment and Energy) grant, and with the assistance of the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), entered a pilot program to reduce the amount of trash that is hauled from the Town. In February of 2023, this trial food-scrap diversion, along with a re-emphasis on reducing the amount of trash, using town-designated trash bags, recycling and reusing items taken to our Transfer Station, the Town has successfully reduced the hauling fees through unit-based- pricing (pay-as-you-throw).
Outstanding Program: Chittenden Solid Waste District
“CSWD’s collaboration with Astronomers Without Borders to collect, sort, and reuse more than 115,000 solar eclipse glasses shines a spotlight on the power of local communities and their unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship. This project was truly a team effort that highlights the impact of community engagement and helped make CSWD one of the most successful collection programs in the country. With only one landfill in Vermont, it is our responsibility to find creative ways to reduce and properly manage the waste we generate." - Sarah Reeves, CSWD Executive Director
Northeast Waste Management Officials' Association (NEWMOA)
NERC continued its coordination with NEWMOA to address the needs of northeast state members, while maximizing the effectiveness of both organizations. Additionally, NERC partnered with NEWMOA on an EPA grant centered on Anaerobic Digestion and Environmental Justice Regulation in the Northeast.
National Center for Recycling Electronics (NCER)
NERC continued its partnership with the NCER to serve as the fiscal agent for the Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse (ERCC), providing administrative and financial management support. ERCC provides a forum for information exchange among state agencies implementing electronics recycling laws and all impacted stakeholders. NCER administers ERCC programs.
Vermont E-Waste Recycling Program
NERC continued to serve as the in-state administrator for the Vermont state E-Waste Recycling Program, facilitated by NCER.
RecycleCT
NERC continued its contract with RecycleCT Foundation to serve as its fiscal agent and Board Secretary, and provide assistance in ensuring state requirements are met.
Financials
JULY 1, 2023 - JUNE 30, 2024
Revenues
Dues from state membership and advisory membership make up roughly half of NERC's annual revenue. The remaining revenue comes from conferences and other events, grants and consulting projects, and other sources such as interest on financial assets or reimbursed expenses.
Expenses
The majority of NERC expenses are programmatic (75%), which includes planning and execution of webinars, conferences, and other events; resource development; outreach, services, and support to both members and non-members.
FY2024 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
NERC Team
Megan
Schulz-Fontes
Executive Director
Mariane
Medeiros
Senior Project Manager
Sophie
Leone
Development and Program Manager
Justin
Giddings
Sustainability and Data Management Intern
NERC’s programs are supported and delivered by a dedicated team of professionals. View our current team.
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 | Regional Recycling Markets | Supply Side Policy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut (CT DEEP) | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Delaware (DSWA) | X | X | X | |||
| Maine (ME DEP) | X | X | ||||
| Maryland (MDE) | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Massachusetts (MA DEP) | X | X | X | X | X | |
| New Hampshire (NH DES) | X | X | X | |||
| New Jersey (NJ DEP) | 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 Recycling | DE&I | Glass | Regional Recycling Markets | Supply Side Policy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ag Container Recycling Council | X | X | ||||
| American Beverage Association | X | |||||
| Association of Plastic Recyclers | X | X | ||||
| Carton Council | X | |||||
| Casella Waste Systems | X | X | ||||
| Chittenden Solid Waste District | X | |||||
| City of Salem | X | |||||
| Coca-Cola | X | X | ||||
| Consumer Technology Association | X | |||||
| EFS-Plastics | X | X | X | |||
| EREF | X | |||||
| Fibre Box Association | X | |||||
| Glass Packaging Institute | X | |||||
| GreenBlue | X | |||||
| Housatonic Resourse Recovery Association | X | X | X | |||
| Keurig Dr. Pepper | X | |||||
| NWRA | X | |||||
| NRRA | X |
| Bottle Bill | Chemical Recycling | DE&I | Glass | Regional Recycling Markets | Supply Side Policy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastics Industry Association | X | X | ||||
| Pozzotive | X | |||||
| Primo Brands | X | |||||
| ReMA | X | X | X | X | ||
| RECYC-QUEBEC | X | X | X | |||
| Republic Services | X | X | X | |||
| RRS | X | X | ||||
| Reverse Logistics Group | X | X | ||||
| SMI | X | X | ||||
| South Carolina Department of Commerce | X | |||||
| SUNY-ESF | X | X | ||||
| The Container Recycling Institute | X | X | ||||
| The Recycling Partnership | X | X | X | |||
| TOMRA | X | X | X | |||
| WM | X |
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