CLYNK

Sophie Leone • February 21, 2024

We are pleased to welcome CLYNK as new Sustaining Advisory Member to Northeast Recycling Council

Founded in Maine in 2005, CLYNK first laid its roots down well after Maine became the nation’s third bottle bill state. CLYNK recognized the need to make redemption far easier for the consumer while taking redemption out of the grocery store. Since then, they have grown and expanded into New York, Iowa, and in a matter of weeks, the state of Connecticut. With their unique technology and user-friendly experience, they have been able to amass ~500,000 consumer accounts processing over 2.5 billion containers through bottle and can redemption within these states.


Bottle bills have not been enacted in most states, which may leave many unfamiliar with what they are. A bottle bill is a law that allows you to turn in a can or bottle for money back. This bill holds producers responsible for recycling their product and incentivizes customers to make returns. The bottle bill has a long history that dates back to 1971 when Oregon became the first state to enact this law and has since expanded into a limited number of states.


CLYNK’s role in the bottle bill realm has become one of groundbreaking importance. Their platform has created an avenue that makes it easy for consumers to participate in recycling efforts with the bonus of reimbursement through your returns. In participating areas, consumers can bag their redeemable bottles and cans using recyclable CLYNK bags and then tag them with their personalized CLYNK tag. Once the bag reaches CLYNK they will scan the items and deposit your reimbursement accordingly into your account which is linked to you through your personalized tag. Alternatively, there is also the option to donate your reimbursement to a charity of your choosing through CLYNK.


This innovative bag drop platform is not only easy for consumers but also allows CLYNK to provide key data and measurable financial benefits to recyclers, beverage manufacturers, and retailers. They have been able to create a high efficiency cycle for can and bottle recycling that benefits everyone involved. In Oregon, where CLYNK helped OBRC establish Bag Drop, the state has achieved a redemption rate of 90%.


Their growth is helping to set a new standard for recycling in the United States. CLYNK customers have praised their efforts and accessibility, saying, “CLYNK makes it easy, and I like that I can control when I get my money back. It’s like a savings account in some ways.” Another consumer from Maine stated, “Great idea for business, environment, and everyone seems to win. This is a simple concept for consumers, suppliers, and producers that pick up all the pieces and the end product is returning the cash back so it can be spent over and over.”


 “We are very proud of what we’ve built at CLYNK, and we are committed to continuing to revolutionize consumer recycling for all stakeholders, with a focus on compelling consumer experiences,” said Matt Prindiville, CLYNK’s CEO. “CLYNK has achieved some considerable scale and momentum and believe our patented technology solutions represent the future of consumer recycling.”


NERC is pleased to welcome CLYNK to its team of Sustaining Advisory Members. We look forward to collaborations that will expand their technology.


For more information about CLYNK click here

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Apparel Impact

By Sophie Leone • February 12, 2026
Established in 2015, Apparel Impact has been working within their community to reduce textile waste, fight clothing insecurity, create jobs, and ensure those in the community in need of clothing never go without. This family and veteran owned company is built on the foundation of disruption for good. The Apparel Impact team has been working to make real changes in an industry that has remained the same for many decades. They continuously push for transparency, accountability, and working solutions in the field. Today Apparel Impact works with over 1,800 partners and locations, including schools, towns, nonprofits, national brands, and small businesses across six states. Apparel Impact is also working to bring textile sorting and grading capacity back to the Northeast, while launching upcycling brands aimed at scaling textile reuse across the region. For Apparel Impact, it is all about “changing the way people think about clothing, proving a for-profit company can still put people and communities first, and making sure what we collect helps someone’s life, not a landfill.” Their impact and reach continue to grow every year. “Textile recovery only works at scale. It takes leadership, accountability, and real collaboration across states and sectors. We joined NERC because we believe in building infrastructure that actually changes outcomes, not just talking about it. We’re proud to stand with the NERC and others in the Northeast who are ready to move the industry forward.” NERC is excited to welcome Apparel Impact to our growing group of textile focused members. We look forward to amplifying their voice and helping to expand textile recovery in any way we can. For more information on Apparel Impact visit.

Sensoneo

By Sophie Leone • February 12, 2026
For more than a decade, Sensoneo has been driving innovation across the waste and recycling industry worldwide. Headquartered in Europe and active in more than 80 countries, the company has recently expanded into the United States by opening its Boston office. From the outset, its mission has been clear: to help cities, businesses, and governments address two of the sector’s most pressing challenges—operational efficiency and data transparency. Sensoneo brings proven, large-scale experience, operating nationwide end-to-end IT platforms for deposit return systems (bottle bill programs) in nine countries and supporting Extended Producer Responsibility programs with robust data management, reporting, and compliance tools. Its smart waste solutions power the world’s largest deployment of sensor-based waste-monitoring technology, enabling municipalities and facilities to optimize collection operations. “With the launch of our U.S. subsidiary, we are excited to expand collaboration with organizations advancing sustainable materials management and stronger recycling systems,” said Martin Nestepny, CEO of Sensoneo USA. “As a global technology partner, Sensoneo supports PROs, recyclers, and policymakers with actionable data to enhance program performance, ensure regulatory compliance, and deliver measurable environmental outcomes - priorities that closely align with NERC’s mission.” NERC is pleased to welcome Sensoneo to its growing membership and looks forward to supporting the company’s work to improve performance and drive greater effectiveness across the waste and recycling industry. For more information on Sensoneo visit.

Planet Aid

By Sophie Leone • January 20, 2026
Planet Aid is a nonprofit established in 1997 to divert clothes and shoes from the U.S. waste stream and fundraise for community development programs around the world. With thousands of donation bins and centers across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, Planet Aid’s mission is to inspire positive change by making it easy for donors, partners and communities to take small steps that add up to a big impact. Over three decades, Planet Aid has collected more than two billion pounds of clothes and shoes for reuse. These donations have helped Planet Aid raise more than $100 million to fund community-led projects in the U.S., Africa, Asia, and Latin America. With headquarters just outside Baltimore, MD, Planet Aid serves thousands of communities in 14 states, including New York, New Jersey, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and more. For those without a yellow collection bin or white donation center nearby, they've developed a donation through mail option. By partnering with Give Back Box, you can pack up and mail your donation items directly to their thrift store. This inclusive approach allows them to reach more communities, diverting even more waste that may have gone to a landfill or incinerator. “Planet Aid is excited to join NERC, an organization that shares our goals of minimizing waste, conserving natural resources, and advancing a sustainable economy,” said Uli Stosch, Planet Aid’s Chief Officer of Strategic Development. “We looking forward to collaborating with NERC’s members to help U.S. communities in the Northeast minimize textile waste while maximizing reuse to limit the negative impacts of fast fashion.” NERC is excited to welcome Planet Aid into our growing group of nonprofit members. We look forward to helping share the excellent work they are doing in the NE and around the world. For more information on Planet Aid visit.