northeast-recycling-council-139891

Maryland PaintCare Program Becomes 13th State-Wide Paint Recycling Program

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:18:41 GMT

Marylanders can now recycle their leftover paint with PaintCare ! PaintCare is a nonprofit organization that plans and operates paint stewardship programs in states that have passed the paint stewardship law. The Maryland PaintCare program launched on April 1, 2026, making it the thirteenth jurisdiction to pass paint stewardship legislation. With the addition of Maryland, PaintCare now serves one-third of the U.S. population.

PaintCare operates a network of over 100 drop-off sites across the state where households and businesses can recycle their leftover paint at no additional cost. Most drop-off sites are located at local paint retailers, making it convenient for Marylanders to responsibly dispose of their leftover paint. To find a drop-off site near you, visit the drop-off site locator on PaintCare’s website.

PaintCare offers a large volume pickup (LVP) service, which provides free pickups of 100 gallons or more of eligible paint products. Those with large quantities of paint are encouraged to use this service to responsibly dispose of leftover paint. Large volume pickups can be requested through the large volume pickup request form.

The paint stewardship law requires a fee, called the PaintCare fee, to be added to the purchase price of new paint. The fee is based on container size and funds all aspects of the program. This includes paint collection and recycling, consumer education, and program administration.

The PaintCare fee in Maryland is as follows:

To learn more about PaintCare and the Maryland PaintCare program, please visit www.paintcare.org or reach out to PaintCare at info@paint.org.

PaintCare Inc., a non-profit organization, continues to expand its reach through partnerships with organizations including NERC. PaintCare sets up drop-off locations for leftover paint, arranges for recycling and proper disposal, and conducts public education. More than 88 million gallons of architectural paint products have been managed by PaintCare in 12 states and the District of Columbia. Together, households and businesses can find convenient ways to responsibly dispose of leftover paint, keeping it out of the waste stream.

A greener goal, at a cost: recycling in Arlington is no longer free

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 19:48:39 GMT

As the cost of recycling continues to rise across the country, the community will decide how to cover the costs at the ballot box this weekend.

Arlington is an environmentally conscientious community. It’s been ranked at number two in a list of the “ top 10 greenest towns ” in Massachusetts. Town leaders, employees, and residents have created climate goals and are putting policies in place to achieve them, such as electrifying transportation , building energy-efficient homes , and expanding recycling across the town.

So when the town announced at the beginning of the year that paper cups would be added to the list of recyclable items , many celebrated it as a step toward a greener Arlington.

Environmentally speaking, it is something to celebrate. But at a time when recycling is becoming more expensive than ever, the question arises: Is this progress the town can afford?

“The recycling commodity market continues to falter, with our recyclables generating less and less revenue to offset the cost of their processing,” Town Manager Jim Feeney wrote in an email to YourArlington.

The collapse of the recycling market

The pivotal shift of the recycling market dates back to January 2018, when China, the largest importer of waste, enacted its National Sword policy ; extreme limitations on shipments which denied recyclables mixed with trash, the wrong type of and low-quality recyclables.

At the beginning of this year, Feeney spoke at the Jan. 12 Select Board meeting to discuss the town’s trash and recycling budget for fiscal year 2026, during which he explained the recycling streaming costs and consequences of the declining commodity values.

“Now, we have to pay roughly $125 per ton to have our recycling stream processed at a Materials Recovery Facility, also known as a M.R.F.” Feeney explained during the meeting.

A new contract, a new reality

As many in town now know, the town signed a new waste hauler contract with Waste Management , effective as of July 2025. With this new contract, according to Feeney, the town now owns its recyclables and can profit from the materials it collects, but only when commodity prices are strong.

When municipalities send their waste products to MRFs, the blended value of their commodities, from cardboard, plastics, mixed paper, and more, is subtracted from the charge per ton, meaning the town’s final tab depends on the strength of the recycling market.

“If the blended value exceeds the charge, the town would see the revenue… if it doesn’t, then we pay the net difference between the two,” said Feeney in the meeting.

From $0 to $500,000

In January 2025, when the town was still bidding and receiving proposals for its new solid waste contract, the market value for the blended commodity items was approximately $67 (see diagram on Your Arlington website). Meaning, Arlington had both expected and budgeted to pay $58 per ton to process its recyclables.

In addition to China’s National Sword policy, the country is currently in a “K-shaped” economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic, which has resulted in fewer household sales, fewer packages, and fewer shipping boxes. According to the Northeast Recycling Council , in 2025, commodity values went down for every recyclable item.

“Through the first five months of fiscal year 2026, we’ve been paying, on average, $100 per ton to process our recycling,” Feeney said. In a report sent to YourArlington, Feeney estimated that if current trends continue, the town could face at least $185,000 in additional costs in fiscal year 2026, based on roughly 4,400 tons of recycling.

The report indicates the town could spend as much as $500,000 to handle its recyclables this fiscal year—a striking increase from fiscal year 2025, when those costs were effectively zero.

Before signing the new waste hauler contract, Arlington relied on JRM Hauling for trash and recycling collection – which was acquired by Republic Services in 2022. Under this contract, the hauler covered the recycling processing fees.

While many municipalities have been faced with the effects of the declining recycling market for years, Feeney explained why Arlington has been insulated by a buffer that protected the town’s budget until this recent fiscal year.

“Our old waste hauler [JRM] was looking for a contract extension prior to their acquisition by Republic. We agreed to the extension at the time, but only under the same terms, so we experienced an additional three years without bearing a cost for processing our recycling.”

Covering the cost: what residents should know

With Arlington’s recycling shifting from being cost free to a major budget burden, the issue at hand is how the community will cover these rising costs — a decision that may ultimately come down to how residents vote in this weekend’s town election.

Feeney wrote that there may be a fee increase in the future for residents who request a second recycling cart from Waste Management, but otherwise, the town does not have plans to introduce a new recycling fee or raise taxes specifically to cover these costs.

“At present we are absorbing this cost into the existing budget, and have updated budget projections for the upcoming fiscal years to reflect this experience,” Feeney wrote in an email to YourArlington.

Recycling and trash collection are paid for out of the town’s General Fund, which also supports schools and other municipal services. That means the rising cost of recycling is factored into the town’s overall budget, including the proposed $14.8 million tax override on this year’s ballot .

Balancing cost and climate goals

While the outcome of this weekend’s vote could shape how these costs are managed, early data is already offering a look at how Arlington’s new recycling and trash collection system has been working.

According to Feeney, early tonnage numbers have indicated that the town is experiencing a decrease in both trash and recycling waste streams under the new cart program.

However, there has been a more “pronounced decrease” on the trash side than recycling—an encouraging sign that disposal costs could fall and help offset the new recycling expenses.

The town now faces a crossroads where its environmental goals meet budget limitations and shifting markets—and where the cost of recycling is measured not just in good intentions, but in dollars.

Read article on Your Arlington's webiste.

Maine, Maryland pursue PFAS biosolids remedies amid landfill capacity concerns

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:56:34 GMT

Northeastern states concerned with contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in sewage sludge are moving forward with new projects and proposed legislation meant to better manage the material in 2026 and beyond.

During a Northeast Recycling Council webinar on Wednesday, officials from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Maryland Department of the Environment offered updates on how their states are managing PFAS in sludge. They also offered perspectives on how looming landfill capacity issues, proposed infrastructure projects and state legislation could influence how these states — and neighboring states — handle this material in the immediate term.

Disposal capacity concerns prompt infrastructure plans in Maine

Maine has been in the spotlight for several years for how it handles PFAS in sludge and in landfill leachate in the state. It was the first state to ban the land application of sewage sludge in 2022, and several projects are moving forward in 2026 that are meant to manage regional disposal capacity for the material as landfill space dwindles.

That pressure on disposal capacity is expected to build as more Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states consider similar sludge fertilizer prohibitions due to PFAS concerns, said Susanne Miller, Maine DEP’s director of the bureau of remediation and waste management.

“Right now, everything’s going to a landfill because there’s nowhere else to put it in Maine, and this is a big problem,” she said. Casella Waste, which operates the state’s Juniper Ridge Landfill, has been seeking a landfill expansion for several years, but that matter has been tied up in court. “Without an expansion, it’s going to be running out of capacity in about 2028 which is just around the corner.”

One project to address capacity issues is the state’s first biosolids dryer , which is being built at WM’s Crossroads Landfill to reduce liquid volume of the material.

That project, originally expected to come online sometime in 2025, is now expected to open in the second quarter of 2026, Miller said. It has a capacity of up to 200 tons a day and up to 73,000 tons a year. That project could handle up to 83% of Maine’s municipally generated biosolids, she said.

The dryer is meant to help create a closed-loop system, she said. Sludge from wastewater plants will be treated in the dryer, and landfill leachate and dryer liquids will be treated onsite via a foam fractionation system that is already in operation at the landfill, she said. Treated water goes to a nearby wastewater plant, and sludge from that wastewater plant then returns to the dryer.

Another proposed PFAS management project, a sludge processing plant by Aries Clean Technologies, could also be in the works in coming months. It aims to use a gasification and oxidization process to remove PFAS from sewage material and significantly reduce biosolids volumes in the process. The company built a similar facility in New Jersey in 2024.

The project is currently under permit review, which Miller said will likely include a DEP review, public comment period and public hearing. The proposal has faced some public pushback over potential traffic, odor and pollution concerns, Maine Public reported .

“With any kind of new technology relating to waste or that takes in a waste stream, there’s controversy and concern about it, and so we need to go through the entire permitting process to get to the point where the department is able to determine if an application can be granted,” Miller said.

Meanwhile, the Portland Water District, which Miller says is Maine’s largest wastewater treatment facility, is also exploring its own treatment system for sludge. It’s an effort to reduce reliance on limited landfill capacity and unpredictable disposal costs, she said.

The water district is considering a few different technologies like anaerobic digestion, drying and thermal treatments such as pyrolysis to reduce the amount of biosolids for disposal.

“With the prices going up to go to landfill and the space at landfills shrinking, they want to take destiny into their own hands,” she said.

According to DEP, several other sewer districts are working on similar projects. York Sewer District is planning a 2028 pilot project meant to use supercritical water oxidation technology to help destroy PFAS and reduce wastewater sludge volume.

Meanwhile, landfill operators in the state have been subject to new PFAS leachate testing rules since September. A new law requires operators to test for PFAS in landfill leachate and report results annually to DEP. Wastewater dischargers that accept leachate must also maintain leachate records to report to DEP each year.

Though these projects hold promise, Miller emphasized that source control efforts are just as important to reduce the amount of PFAS-containing materials entering landfills and being treated at wastewater treatment plants. The state has already passed laws that phase out intentionally added PFAS in certain products, with the list of applicable products expanding through the next few years to include artificial turf and outdoor gear by 2029 and most types of products by 2032.

Maryland moves forward with biosolids ban bill

Maryland is focusing on its own efforts related to PFAS in biosolids through new regulations and state legislation, said Thomas Yoo, chief of MDE’s biosolids division.

The state generates about 600,000 wet tons of sewage sludge a year, and about 56% of that is hauled out of state for either land application or landfilling, mainly to Virginia and Pennsylvania, he said.

Maryland has about 250 agricultural sites that are permitted to take sewage sludge, but in 2023 the state put a hold on issuing any new land application permits. It also began requesting PFAS data from out-of-state permittees bringing biosolids into the state and terminated permits for those that did not provide that data, he said.

Maryland also requires all wastewater treatment plants where land applied biosolids originate to sample for PFOS and PFOA . About 50 biosolids generators are submitting this data, he said.

The state already has recommended limits for PFAS in land applications , but a bill moving through the state legislature, SB 719 , would set enforceable limits starting in 2027. The bill calls for prohibiting land application for sludge that has a total concentration of PFOA and PFOS above 50 parts per billion and calls for other source tracking and mitigation plan measures.

The neighboring state of Virginia passed a set of bills on March 11 with a similar intent. If signed by the governor, the bills would regulate the levels of PFAS in biosolids and would prevent the use of biosolids as fertilizer beginning in 2027 if levels of PFOA and PFOS are too high.

Yoo says Maryland will continue to focus on state-level options for managing PFAS in biosolids as it awaits U.S. EPA guidance on the matter.

The EPA released a draft risk assessment in January 2025 that found farmers who used the sludge may be at risk of exposure, but consumers who eat food from those sources may face less risk. The draft report says certain PFAS may leach from sludge when it’s land applied, disposed of in a landfill, or incinerated. The agency has not yet finalized the assessment.

Read the article of Waste Dive

WRAP

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:20:03 GMT

WRAP is a global environmental action NGO with a mission to "embed Circular Living in every boardroom and every home". Established in the UK in 2000, it has since expanded to offices in Europe and the USA, with live projects in over 30 countries.

There are four main priorities driving their work: future-proofing food, preventing problematic plastics and packaging, accelerating the circular economy, and transforming textiles. Textiles, food, and manufactured products account for nearly half of the climate problem, and WRAP has acknowledged that a new approach is needed to mitigate the climate crisis. Their new approach, "Circular Living" — detailed as "design-make-reuse" — targets the root causes of this crisis across the entire product lifecycle.

Their website offers diverse resources, including successful case studies on housing, farming, food waste, waste collection, and much more. Along with these case studies, WRAP offers webinars, resources guides, campaign tools, reports, and more. Their dedicated work has allowed them to expand their reach globally, impact the industry on all levels, and produce critical information materials.

"Everyone I meet in this field is someone who looks at an object and says, "I can make something with that" - and they built a career on solution-seeking. In a time of supply chain disruptions and market volatility, the recycling industry's can-do (pun intended) mindset is critical for recovering value and reducing demand for resource extraction. WRAP is excited to join NERC and connect with members supporting this vital component of the circular economy." Sarah Morley – Strategic Engagement Manager at WRAP Americas

NERC is excited to welcome WRAP to our impactful team of NGO’s. We look forward to supporting their mission and the incredible work they do around the world.

For more information on WRAP visit.

University of Vermont Casella Center for Circular Economy and Sustainability

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:13:04 GMT

The University of Vermont (UVM) launched the Casella Center for Circular Economy and Sustainability in 2025, with support from a large gift by Casella Waste Systems, Inc. The Center is a “research hub developing sustainable solutions for waste and materials management that reduce pollution and create economic opportunities.” The work done in the UVM Casella Center builds on three decades of collaboration between Casella Waste Systems and UVM.

The Casella Center is a part of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. The Rubenstein School has “prepared environmentally and socially responsible leaders, scientists, practitioners, and advocates” for 50 years. While based in the Rubenstein School, the Casella Center includes UVM faculty affiliates and students spanning multiple disciplines and Colleges, including engineering, agriculture, life sciences, and policy.

“At the UVM Casella Center, we are focused on the intersection of rigorous scholarship and practical solutions. This requires us to work collaboratively with many stakeholders, including those in the public and private sectors working hard daily to improve our materials management systems. Joining NERC will help us stay connected to the Northeast sustainable materials management community.” – Dr. Eric Roy, Director, UVM Casella Center for Circular Economy and Sustainability

NERC is excited to welcome The University of Vermont Casella Center for Circular Economy and Sustainability to our growing group of academic institutions. We look forward to supporting their students and ongoing efforts to make lasting environmental impacts.

For more information on UVM Casella Center for Circular Economy and Sustainability visit .

Northeast recycled commodity values hit 5-year lows

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 17:52:08 GMT

Fourth-quarter MRF commodity values in the Northeast reached five-year lows, as they continued to drop but at a decelerating pace, according to Northeast Recycling Council survey data released this week.

The average value for all commodities fell to $68.41/ton without residuals, lower by 8.96% on the quarter. This level marks the lowest point since Q4 2020, when the grade hit $60.46.

The report includes responses from 18 MRFs representing 12 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

With residuals, average values were at $52.49/ton with residuals, lower by 12.75% – the lowest point since Q3 2020, when the grade reached $40.19.

The report also detailed the change in Q4 average values, with

For PET, PP and mixed plastics (#3-7), as well as steel cans, the rate of decrease slowed in the quarter, while OCC, aluminum cans and mixed paper continued falling at the same pace as the previous quarter.

Average pricing for both natural and color HDPE bales, brown glass containers and all other paper rose in Q4. However, clear glass, green glass and 3-mix glass containers, along with bulky rigids, fell during the period, after rising in Q3. The report points out that recovered glass often is marketed but at a negative value, meaning recipients are paid to take it away.

Single stream decreased by 7.87% without residuals and by 9.82% with residuals, while dual stream/source separated materials fell by 10.57% without residuals, and by 18.98% with residuals.

Although dual-stream MRFs did not decelerate as much as their single-stream counterparts, they did see a higher average commodity price compared to single stream for both with and without residuals. Residual material cannot be sold and is landfilled.

The report also showed the 2024 share of each material at 18 MRFs, with OCC and mixed paper representing nearly one half of incoming volumes. Of the included states, five have deposit return systems for beverage containers, which results in fewer glass bottles, PET bottles and aluminum cans winding up in MRFs there. In addition, MRFs in those states typically generate less revenue from those recyclables, the report said.

Of the three approaches reflected in the report – single stream, dual stream and source separation – single stream is the most common.

Read the article on Resource Recycling's website.

Northeast recycled commodity values hit 5-year lows

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 17:49:23 GMT

Northeast recycled commodity values hit 5-year lows

The average value for all commodities fell to $68.41/ton without residuals, lower by 8.96% on the quarter. This level marks the lowest point since Q4 2020, when the grade hit $60.46.

With residuals, average values were at $52.49/ton with residuals, lower by 12.75% – the lowest point since Q3 2020, when the grade reached $40.19.

The report also detailed the change in Q4 average values, with

Single stream decreased by 7.87% without residuals and by 9.82% with residuals, while dual stream/source separated materials fell by 10.57% without residuals, and by 18.98% with residuals.

Of the three approaches reflected in the report – single stream, dual stream and source separation – single stream is the most common.

Read report on CRA's website.

Q4 2025 Northeast U.S. Commodity Values Decelerate in Decline and HDPE Sees Slight Increase

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:51:41 GMT

NERC’s Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) Commodity Values Survey Report for the period October - December 2025 showed a deceleration in the continued decline in the average commodity prices. The average value of all commodities decreased by 8.96% without residuals to $68.41 and by 12.75% with residuals to $52.49 as compared to last quarter. Single stream decreased by 7.87% without residuals and 9.82% with residuals, while dual stream / source separated decreased by 10.57% without residuals and 18.98% with residuals compared to last quarter. Dual stream MRFs did not decelerate as much as single stream MRFs but did see a higher average commodity price compared to single stream for both with and without residuals.

The decrease seen in Steel cans, PET, Polypropylene, and Mixed plastics (#3-7) slowed as compared to last quarter, while the decrease remained consistent in OCC, Aluminum cans, Mixed paper, and Residue. Notably, average values for Natural HDPE, Colored HDPE, All other paper, and Brown glass containers reversed direction from last quarter (where they dropped in value) and saw an increase in value this quarter as compared to last quarter. Clear glass, Green glass, and 3-Mix glass containers, as well as Bulky rigids, reversed direction from last quarter (where they increased in value) and saw a decrease in value this quarter as compared to last quarter.

This is the 27th quarterly report in NERC’s series of reports on the market value of commodities from MRFs in the Northeast . This report includes information from 18 MRFs representing twelve (12) states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.

These survey results reflect the differing laws and collection options in the participating states. Five of the states included in this report have beverage container deposit laws. As a result, fewer glass bottles, PET bottles and aluminum cans are processed in MRFs in those states. Those MRFs are also likely to have less revenue from those recyclables. In addition, the report reflects a mix of single stream, dual stream, and source separation to collect recyclables with single stream being the most common approach. The type of collection used will have an impact on MRF design and operation. Thus, the data from this report reflects the unique blend of facilities and statewide laws in the reporting states.

Residual refers to the incoming material that cannot be marketed and goes to disposal. The value without residuals reflects the value of a perfect ton of marketed material, while the value with residuals reflects the value of each ton processed with the costs associated of disposing unmarketable material. Note: In many cases, recovered glass goes to market but at a negative value.

This data is not intended to be used as a price guide for MRF contracts. NERC’s database represents single and dual stream MRFs, states with and without beverage container deposits, a wide variety in markets and geographic access to markets, and variety of materials collected for processing at the participating facilities. As a result, it represents the diversity of operating conditions in these locations and should not be used as a price guideline for a specific program.

For more information, contact Megan Schulz-Fontes, Executive Director, at megan@nerc.org .

Apparel Impact

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:48:22 GMT

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

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:19:40 GMT

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

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:54:14 GMT

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.

Collaborative Solid Waste Strategies

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:50:54 GMT

Collaborative Solid Waste Strategies (CSWS) is a New Hampshire based nonprofit committed to improving the waste management landscape in NH and other states. Their work is centered around education, advocacy, and innovation. Educating the public is an essential part of effective waste management, and CSWS has an extensive list of resources on municipal solid waste management, including how to manage materials such as glass, metal, and food waste as well as strategies on how to manage landfills, incineration and more.

CSWS is a small but mighty team led by Executive Director Carol Foss. Carol sees Collaborative Solid Waste Strategies as an opportunity to help shape the next stage of evolution for solid waste management in New Hampshire. Her dedicated approach allows CSWS to lead as a strong example in the waste management advocacy field. “CSWS strives to be a catalyst for pragmatic and comprehensive approaches to sustainable solid waste management in New Hampshire.”

NERC is thrilled to welcome CSWS as members. As a fellow nonprofit, we understand how important their voice and presence are within our industry, and we look forward to collaborating with them and working to achieve our shared goals.

For more information on Collaborative Solid Waste Strategies visit.

2025 Recycling Markets Took a Beating in a Weak Retail Year

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:44:37 GMT

2025 was not a good year for recycling markets. Prices went down for everything in your bin. The only real difference is how badly each material got hit and why.

Let’s start with paper, the most important recyclable in terms of weight and volume. Old Corrugated Container (OCC, boxes) prices started rising in the spring of 2023, peaking for several months in the summer of 2024. A long slide then began and lasted for almost all of 2025. Prices for Residential Mixed Paper (RMP) did the same. Nationally, OCC is now at $46.88 per ton and RMP is $20.31 a ton. OCC went down by a third while RMP went down by half. The “good” news is that these prices have been lower in the last five years. RMP, after all, had a negative value early in 2020 and then for a few months in late 2022. (All prices in this article are national prices from RecyclingMarkets.net as of December 31).

The 2023 rise and then fall of recycled paper prices was the result of increased capacity to use OCC and RMP as raw materials along with declining overall demand for boxes. New recycled content paper capacity started coming online in 2017, peaking in 2023 when five new mills opened. Those new mills, eager to build up supply lines, caused prices to go up. Existing capacity had no choice but to also pay more. At the same time, demand for new boxes was going down. In fact, box demand has been going down for four years. Something had to give. In 2025, nine existing paper mills announced they would be closing. Old, more expensive, and less efficient to operate, they couldn’t compete with the new mills.

All four plastic resins lost value but the impact varied by resin. Natural HDPE, (mostly milk jugs) lost a third of its value. Polypropylene (mostly dairy products) went down by 40 percent. Color HDPE (consumer products such as detergent and shampoo) went down by 48 percent and PET beverage bottles went down by two thirds.

Natural HDPE is 46.81 cents a pound. Even at the lower price, this resin remains in a good price range.

PET and polypropylene are both 5.38 cents a pound. Recycled PET rose steadily from the summer of 2023 to the summer of 2024. Then it declined equally steadily until it reached a record low of 4.19 cents in early October of this year. Cheap recycled resin imports, too much domestic virgin PET resin and lower summer beverage demand gave prices nowhere to go but down. Recycled PET resin imports are now subject to tariffs, which may be responsible for its recent increase. Nonetheless, its price remains in the doldrums.

Polypropylene generally has a low price except when new capacity is coming online and building up capacity. For 46 of the 72 months since January 2020, its price has been less than a dime a pound. For 17 months, it’s been at its current not very good price or less.

Color HDPE is 2.81 cents a pound. This resin depends on construction markets because the color can’t be taken out of the resin. New housing starts have been in decline for four years. It also set a record low price in 2025.

Aluminum and steel cans are recycling market’s happy place. Their prices went down by 9.3 and 8.7 percent. Aluminum cans have a national average price of 78.75 cents while steel cans go for $158.75 a ton. Over the last few years, the aluminum industry smartly expanded into non-alcoholic beverages such as water and fruit juices. Those new uses keep demand up. After sliding last year, steel can prices stabilized.

As for glass, it’s price rarely changes. Clear glass bottles go for $38.56 a ton, brown for $27.19 and green for $10.31. Those prices all rose slightly in the spring of 2023. Mixed glass from single stream curbside collection has a “negative tipping fee” of $25.31 a ton. In other words, the MRF pays the end market to buy it. That price became slightly more negative this year. The glass industry has been in decline for some time, a victim of lighter weight aluminum cans and plastic bottles. In addition, Americans are drinking less alcohol. That’s the biggest user of glass bottles.

Our beleaguered economy is hurting recycling markets. Recyclables are just raw materials looking for a buyer. Those buyers are purchasing managers making a bet on how much raw materials they will need for their companies’ products. This can be, say, aluminum cans, boxes to ship those empty cans to beverage companies or boxes to deliver filled cans to retail outlets. When buyers are optimistic, they buy more. In 2025, they were gloomy.

Prices of all of these recyclables have been hurt by declining unit sales of consumer products and the resulting decline in box demand. We are in a “ K-shaped” economic recovery from the pandemic. This means the recovery’s impact varied by economic status. Wealthy households now account for half of consumer spending on goods and services. They spend more on “services” such as trips and entertainment than on goods. Lower income households, however, are squeezed between paying for necessities such as housing, health care, insurance and food before everything else. They are pinching their nickels and looking for bargains. Simply stated, due to the K-shaped recovery, sales are down and we need fewer packages and shipping boxes.

So what will happen in 2026? The loss of so much older paper capacity is bringing demand and supply back into a better balance. Look for prices to rebound a bit. Plastic prices will remain soft barring a reversal of the K-shaped recovery. PET prices, have the most potential if beverage demand returns. Color HDPE, will remain in the doldrums until new housing construction increases. Natural HDPE will stay where it is or go up a bit. Polypropylene will probably stay where it is. As for glass, change isn’t likely.

I realize that’s not optimistic. Given the projected rise in health, insurance and energy costs this year, Americans will still be pinching pennies. Box production will decline as unit sales fall. Our K-shaped economy needs to become a rising economic tide lifting all boats. Recyclables, afterall, are commodities subject to the economy’s ups and downs. When our economy truly rebounds, recycling markets will thrive again.

Read on Waste360.

Commodity values further decline for Northeastern MRFs

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 14:55:14 GMT

MRFs in the Northeast United States reported a decrease in average prices for nearly all recycled commodities — with glass and bulky rigids providing the rare bright spot — during the third quarter of 2025, according to a report from the Northeast Recycling Council. This continues the downward trend reported in the region since Q2.

In Q3, average blended commodity value without residuals was $75.14, a decrease of 21.9% from the previous quarter. When calculating the value with residuals, prices were $60.16, a decrease of 27.24%, says the quarterly MRF Commodity Values Survey Report.

Single-stream MRFs saw values decrease sequentially by 23.32% without residuals and 28.86% with residuals. Dual-stream or source-separated MRFs saw decreases of 17.33% without residuals and 21.76% with residuals compared to last quarter.

The report includes information from 19 MRFs representing 12 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.

The NERC report is meant to offer a regional look at price trends and is a part of the group’s ongoing work to promote and boost recycled commodity supply and demand in the Northeast. It surveys a variety of MRFs in numerous markets, including those in five states with beverage container deposit laws, which it says affect material flows into MRFs.

NERC says its reports are not meant to be used as a price guide for MRF contracts because it “represents the diversity of operating conditions in these locations.”

NERC adopted a new report format at the beginning of 2025 that now provides average prices for specific commodities in addition to aggregate values. According to the Q3 report, most commodity categories fell significantly, with the exception of glass and the “special case of bulky rigids.”

The average price for bulky rigids in the quarter was $43.26, a 93% increase from the previous quarter. NERC did not offer insight into the increase.

The average price for PET was $125.58 in the quarter, down 60%, while prices for Natural HDPE fetched about $955.31 a ton, down 46%. OCC saw an average price of about $86.23, down 10%, according to the report.

Major publicly-traded waste companies echoed similar commodity trends during their Q3 earnings calls .

Casella, which operates in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, reported that its average recycled commodity revenue per ton was down 29% year over year in Q3. To reduce the impact from low commodity values, the company typically shares risk with customers by adjusting tip fees in down markets. Recent upgrades at a Connecticut MRF helped raise revenue for processing volumes in the quarter, executives said.

Meanwhile, Republic Services is planning to build a polymer center for processing recycled plastic in Allentown, Pennsylvania, next year. During the Q3 earnings call in October, executives said they expect strong demand at such centers from both a pricing and volume standpoint, despite the decline in commodity prices. The company already has similar polymer centers in Indianapolis and Las Vegas, which consume curbside-collected plastics from Republic’s recycling centers and produce products such as clear, hot-wash PET flake and sorted bales of other plastics.

Read on Waste Dive.

Northeast Commodity Values Continue Steep Decline in Q3 2025

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 15:17:45 GMT

NERC’s Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) Commodity Values Survey Report for the period July - September 2025 showed a continued decline in the average commodity prices for Q3 2025. The average value of all commodities decreased by 21.90% without residuals to $75.14 and by 27.24% with residuals to $60.16, as compared to last quarter. Single stream decreased by 23.32% without residuals and 28.86% with residuals, while dual stream / source separated decreased by 17.33% without residuals and 21.76% with residuals compared to last quarter. Dual stream MRFs saw a slightly smaller decrease with residuals than single stream.

Individual commodity price averages this quarter denote the decrease felt across all commodity categories apart from glass and the special case of bulky rigids.

This is the 26 ^th quarterly report in NERC’s series of reports on the market value of commodities from MRFs in the Northeast. This report includes information from 19 MRFs representing twelve (12) states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.

For more information, contact Megan Schulz-Fontes, Executive Director, at megan@nerc.org .

Maryland Environmental Service

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 22:07:08 GMT

Currently employing almost 800 individuals, Maryland Environmental Service (MES) was established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1970. The goal of its formation was to assist with the improvement, management, and preservation of the air, land, and water quality, natural resources, and to promote the welfare and health of the citizens in Maryland.

Dedicated to helping Maryland communities, MES is currently working on over 1000 environmental projects across the state and the Mid-Atlantic Region. Tackling environmental solutions through environmental justice is of high priority, “in FY23 and FY24, MES supported the preparation, writing, and submission of grant applications totaling over 163M dollars, and provided letters of support for many others.”

NERC is thrilled to welcome Maryland Environmental Service as members. The work they do toward environmental justice and the help they provide their communities is a testament to their dedication. We look forward to supporting the important work they do.

For more information on Maryland Environmental Service visit .

From Waste to Worth: Highlights from the Rethink Resource Use Conference

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 14:02:36 GMT

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) held their annual event from October 7 – 8 in Boston, MA. Renamed the Rethink Resource Use Conference, the name reflects an update in the approach of managing materials and discussing key strategies to drive sustainable practices forward in communities. “The new name, Rethink Resource Use, makes us consider how we can leave a more positive impact. NERC brings together professionals from across the materials management chain to improve management practices and ensure the health of the people and the environment. The event aims to mobilize others to take action and engage people in recycling programs, community engagement, trends, and more,” said NERC’s Executive Director, Megan Schulz-Fontes. Gathering together leaders from academia, government, and the sustainable materials industry, the conference was a great way to reconnect through networking and learning opportunities.

RRU DAY ONE

Material Shifts and New Terrain

On Tuesday morning, October 7, Schulz-Fontes welcomed attendees to Boston and expressed that she was looking forward to having meaningful discussions and making connections with people around the industry. With great speakers from across the world, a wide range of important topics would be covered from innovations in infrastructure to technology. She also thanked talented colleagues who evaluated this event and made it even better, welcomed emerging professionals, and emphasized that it is important to acknowledge that human practices are shifting and evolving, and new programs and regulations are coming online to address the growing waste problem. We need to safeguard public health and biodiversity to help life on earth.

Schulz-Fontes then introduced John Fischer, Deputy Division Director for Solid Waste Materials Management for the Massachusetts’ Department of Environmental Protection, who made the opening remarks, reflecting on Massachusetts’ Solid Waste master plan. He pointed out that they set an aggressive reduction goal—to reduce 1.7 tons of waste by 2030. While they have seen progress in certain areas, waste has continued to rise. So, they are reviewing it now to see how they can shift elements for greater progress. Massachusetts has been successful in food waste reduction (from small businesses and residents) with a waste disposal ban and recycling market grants, as well as loans to try to build the infrastructure. He said they have also seen success in their mattress disposal ban and an increase in textile recovery since implementation in 2022. There is also a long-standing disposal ban on construction waste to ensure more effective separation. In 2020, diversion was at 15% and increased to 20% in 2025. They would like to get to 30% by 2030. Fischer also pointed out that the Massachusetts DEP needs to take a comprehensive approach and grow market funding. They have collaborated with state and local health officials to create best practices with food containers and replace single waste food service ware to reusables. There are growing suites of market recycling program grants, including market reduction innovation grants launched this year. Smaller and more flexible grants could grow waste diversion over time and help facilities grow at scale. He said that while they are looking at doing the best they can to manage waste, the goal is to learn from colleagues in other states and in the business communities.

David Allaway, Senior Policy Analyst, from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, gave the keynote address, first pointing out that about 20 years ago, they started taking a deeper look at their solid waste and recycling program and the connection with the waste and climate situation. Because of that, it caused a shift in programming. Going back to 2004, the Department was tasked with looking at solid waste management opportunities—recycling and waste prevention was primarily reducing in other states but not Oregon. The community was ready for climate protection, but emissions reductions don’t count. That was the beginning of Oregon’s Consumption-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (CBEI) and the results were an eye opener and the inventory has been updated since to look at current trends. The key takeaways from this was that all studies point in the same direction—materials matter! The production and use of materials does have a profound impact on our environment. Most impacts occur upstream of use and disposal. Recycling and composting can be helpful but alone are insufficient. From this, Oregon’s 2050 Vision and Framework for Action was born. This also included end of life materials. Allaway explained that the legislative report and technical supports were published last fall. For Oregon:

Materials are driving growth in emissions
Most emissions occur pre-purchase (most in food and vehicles and parts)
Sector based emissions have flattened while consumption-based emissions have grown
Emissions are out of state but not out of reach

Oregon Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Solid Waste Management) includes:

Landfill methane reductions
Recycling improvements
Expand composting
Prevent wasting of food
Plant-rich diets
Upstream packaging EPR
Reduce embodies carbon

He pointed out that not all materials are equally beneficial to recycling, and not all recycling pathways are equally beneficial. Maximizing recycling is not the same as optimizing recycling. Lifecycle impacts versus material attributes begs the question; how well do popular material attributes correlate with reduced environmental impacts? When comparing different packages based on recyclability, recyclable packages are better for the environment, however, downstream impacts must be taken into consideration. Recycling and composting are a means to an end—the conservation of resources and reduction of pollution, however, not all are effective. Design your programs to maximize them instead of just chasing tonnage diversion targets. Is education effective? It depends on how recycling is communicated and how local authorities think about it and treat it. Whether it is advanced through policy through broader benefits, it depends on you and what choices you make and the paths take in the coming years.

Discussions on EPR

After the welcome remarks and morning keynote, focus turned to “EPR for Packaging State of Mind: Lessons and Progress in the Northeast” Moderated by Kevin Budris, Deputy Director for Just Zero, the discussion featured Jason Bergquist, Vice President of U.S. Operations for RecycleMe; Erin Victor, PhD, Member of the Senator George J Mitchell Center Research Team at the University of Maine; Shannon McDonald, Natural Resource Planner at the Maryland Department of the Environment; and David Allaway, Senior Policy Analyst for Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

Bergquist kicked it off by talking about the current EPR landscape in the U.S. Seven EPR packaging bills have been passed and 10 states have introduced legislation for EPR for packaging from 2024 to 2025; this number continues to rise. Those that have been signed into law include Oregon and Maine (2021), Colorado and California (2022), Minnesota (2024), and Washington and Maryland (2025), with implementation ranging from July 2025 to July 2029. California has the most ambitious goals—by 2032 100% of all packaging must be recyclable or compostable, 65% of all single-use plastic packaging to be recycled, and there should be a 25% reduction in packaging. He said that challenges producers face in the west are when is a producer a producer, when is a package a package, where should the focus be (fees, targets, modulation plans). There are always different definitions, two different scopes, bottle bill vs non-bottle bill, primary, secondary, tertiary—which is in scope?

Victor covered the research she’s been doing the past couple of years. Her research approach included a qualitative case study of the emergence of Maine’s EPR for packaging legislation situated within a larger 24-month ethnographic research project on the politics of disposable packaging. Maine is a primarily rural state and much of it relies on drop off centers. However, the state has yet to meet the 50% waste diversion goal, so something more needs to be done. She did explain that there have been disruptions to Maine’s materials management system that have been a challenge: centralized waste planning agencies disbanded, Green Fence/National Sword, COVID, and the shuttering of the Coastal Resource of Maine facility in Hampden. Maine’s packaging journey started in 2019 when the DEP recommended EPR for packaging. In 2021, the state passed the first in the nation EPR law, the rules were adopted in 2024, and in 2025, the goal is to define ‘readily recyclable’ and selecting a stewardship organization. She emphasized that it is critical to have a strong commitment to stakeholder outreach, maintain municipal operational control over materials management, look at the need for more transparent and robust data and the burden of reporting (for both producers and municipalities), and consider what elements of packaging regulation to address through market-based approaches versus command-and-control regulations. Fortunately, LD1423 was introduced this year which really updated and harmonized the program. She said that she is currently working on estimating the impact of tradeoffs in U.S. EPR rulemaking scenarios.

Read the full article on Waste Advantage.

Pressurized Cylinder Industry Association

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:33:10 GMT

The Pressurized Cylinder Industry Association is a 501C(6) trade association comprised of leading pressurized cylinder producers. They are “working to advance industry interests through advocacy, sustainable stewardship development, education, and innovative collaboration on shared challenges that impact our industry, our customers, and consumers.”

Advocacy, Sustainable Stewardship, Education, and innovation are the pillars of the work they do, including collaborating with state legislators, regulatory officials, and other industry associations, particularly related to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy work. To expand their impact on EPR legislation, PCIA established a nonprofit Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) called the Cylinder Collective, which recently launched its first cylinder collection program in the State of Connecticut.

“The passage of the legislation in CT, as well as the subsequent implementation of the CT statewide cylinder collection program, allowed PCIA and its staff to gain experience in developing the local partnerships required to implement sustainable solutions at the local level.” David Keeling, Executive Director, Pressurized Cylinder Industry Association and The Cylinder Collective.

NERC is thrilled to welcome the Pressurized Cylinder Industry Association to our diverse group of trade association members. We look forward to supporting their industry work and education efforts through collaboration and action.

For more information on the Pressurized Cylinder Industry Association visit .

Town of Stonington

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:53:19 GMT

The Town of Stonington in Connecticut has a history dating back to the 1640’s. Today the town features an active community with miles of beach, historic homes, and a dedication to sustainability. Ensuring continued connection to the community, the Town holds over 30 boards, commissions, and committees that help regulate and advise the surrounding area. These Boards include Affordable Housing, Conservation Commission, Cultural District, Water Pollution Control, and more.

Stonington is a member of the Southeastern Connecticut Regional Resources Recovery Authority (SCRRRA). Being a member of SCRRRA provides the Town with cost savings on solid waste and recycling, access to specialized disposal services, public education programs, and grant opportunities. The regional approach to waste management gives Stonington and other member towns greater negotiating power and access to resources that would be more difficult to obtain alone.

The Town of Stonington is committed to advancing sustainability and responsible resource management within our community. Through initiatives such as Pay-As-You-Throw curbside trash collection, textile and electronics recycling, and household hazardous waste events, they work to reduce waste and promote reuse. Stonington continues to expand its sustainability programs by exploring food scrap diversion and supporting regional collaborations that protect our environment and conserve natural resources.

“As a proud new member of the Northeast Recycling Council, we look forward to sharing ideas and strengthening our community’s impact through innovation and partnership.”

NERC is thrilled to welcome the Town of Stonington to our growing list of municipality members. We look forward to working with them to help continued education and accessibility for local recycling efforts

For more information on the Town of Stonington visit .

EPR anxiety: CPGs and regulators prepare for generational policy shift

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:48:27 GMT

Stress levels are high for CPG companies and packaging groups as extended producer responsibility programs unfold in multiple states.

This was on display at three recent Boston events hosted by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, How2Recycle and the Northeast Recycling Council, with questions flying about costs, policy harmonization and relationships with regulators.

Paul Nowak, executive director of GreenBlue, adopted the role of support group leader for a room full of representatives from many of the world’s largest CPG companies in his opening talk at SPC Advance. He reminded them that “you are not alone” and urged them to take the long view on this major industry shift.

“What you see at the end of the change is not what you see during the change,” said Nowak, drawing on examples from prior industry shifts as well as other major life events. “You are in this uncomfortable period right now where it’s not moving as rapidly as you would think and you don’t have the historic perspective yet of where it could go.”

Sticker shock

While CPGs are familiar with EPR costs from programs in other countries, the complexity and scale of the U.S. rollout in seven states is presenting its own unique challenges.

Oregon is the only state that’s begun collecting fees, and already the costs are high. Circular Action Alliance, the producer responsibility organization selected for the majority of state programs to date, estimates a budget of $188 million in the program’s first year, with that figure growing in the years ahead.

Charlie Schwarze, board chair for CAA and senior director of packaging stewardship at Keurig Dr Pepper, said the costs are starting to resonate with major companies. KDP, for example, has been working to sort out different aspects of its packaging in terms of licensing arrangements, private label manufacturing partnerships and other factors. This requires a close relationship with the company’s finance, R&D and procurement teams to gather data and make cost projections.

“It’s been a bit of a slow-moving process because the dollars, at least in 2025, are not extremely notable. But they’re going to get bigger pretty quickly,” he said, citing Colorado and California’s programs on the horizon.

Shane Buckingham, chief of staff at CAA, said it will be months until companies have a better sense of the true costs. The group set initial fees for California, which won’t be invoiced until August 2026, but those fee levels are expected to change once SB 54 regulations are finalized .

“Please don’t take our early fee schedule of being indicative of what your cost will be in 2027, it’s just a drop in the bucket,” he said. “The fees are going to go up significantly in California because we have to fund a $500 million [plastic] mitigation fund, we’re going to have system funding to improve recycling, source reduction, reuse, refill.”

SPC Director Olga Kachook encouraged attendees to think about these fees as motivation to innovate rather than a burden. In her view, avoided fees through ecomodulation could be viewed as “possible new investment capital” for covering the costs of material switches, R&D, MRF testing, consumer education campaigns and more.

“We can innovate to those lower fees by switching to incentivized materials and formats and then we can reinvest the savings back into sustainable materials and infrastructure that seemed out of reach,” she said.

Searching for harmony

All three events also featured ample discussion about if or how aspects of current EPR programs could be better aligned. While regulators are working to align certain definitions where possible, they also noted that certain state programs were uniquely designed for a reason.

David Allaway, senior policy analyst at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, said during NERC’s Rethink Resource Use Conference that he sees a potential benefit to harmonizing ecomodulation approaches in some cases. But at the same time, he said, “I fear that the push for harmonization will lead to a race to the bottom” by potentially limiting the ability for states to craft policies based on their respective needs.

As for those who critique other unique aspects of Oregon’s law, such as responsible end market requirements , Allaway said “that’s not negotiable for us,” as market issues were a leading motivation for the law in the first place.

Allaway said Oregon’s system was established based on specific regional priorities, such as putting an end to exporting certain types of material that led to dumping in other countries. The state’s approach to ecomodulation and life cycle analysis is also informed by years of work on greenhouse gas inventories and consumption-based accounting, which challenges many commonly held assumptions about recyclability .

Each state has its own unique factors in terms of collection access and market infrastructure. Colorado, for example, has many areas that will be getting recycling service for the first time. Maine also has many rural areas that previously had access to recycling but lost it in recent years. Meanwhile, in Maryland, collection service may be more common but local end markets are lacking for certain commodities.

Jason Bergquist, vice president of consulting firm RecycleMe, said during the NERC event that he hears concerns from clients about where this is all headed.

“If we get to a couple years down the road and we’ve got, let’s just pretend, 25 states with EPR, with different deadlines, different [covered material] lists, different definitions, different ecomodulation — my concern as a fan of EPR is that the pushback will be so significant that it could get existential for the producers,” he said, in terms of costs and compliance management.

At the same time, Bergquist said the experiences of packaging EPR in Europe and Canada show it may take years to get toward any kind of harmonized system.

Back at SPC Advance and the co-located How2Recycle Summit, California loomed large throughout the week when it came to these questions.

Karen Kayfetz, chief of CalRecycle’s product stewardship branch, said regulators from different EPR states try to talk to one another as much as possible but in some cases they’re limited by the statutes that created these programs.

“We each have our own legal frameworks we have to work within,” she said. “So harmonization starts with the legislatures, and that is not our responsibility, but it is something that we could see change and evolve over the coming years.”

As all of these complex questions get worked out, Kayfetz reminded attendees that CalRecycle may currently be “the face” of the program but that’s not the long-term goal.

“What would make me the happiest is if you leave here thinking ‘let’s go talk more to CAA.’ Because EPR is a policy mechanism that is meant to be a public-private partnership where the public entity ... is overseeing the PRO,” she said. “They are your partner and we are their police.”

In a separate session, CAA’s Buckingham described the work of ramping up different state fee and reporting programs as building a plane while flying it. The group is working to streamline its own reporting processes as much as possible, but they and others anticipate things will only get more complicated in the near term.

“2026 will bring with it a new set of EPR laws and recycled content laws,” predicted KDP’s Schwarze, “and they’re going to be different than what we have right now.”

Read on Packaging Dive.

Medford Wins ‘Outstanding Community’ at the Northeast Recycling Council’s 2025 Environmental Leadership Awards for its Free Curbside Composting Program

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 18:53:42 GMT

The City of Medford won the 2025 Environmental Leadership Award for Outstanding Community presented by the Northeast Recycling Council, for its innovative work to reduce waste and create a more sustainable waste collection system through the City’s free curbside composting program.

“I'm thankful to our team at City Hall, the Solid Waste Taskforce, our consultants Strategy Zero Waste and our volunteers for working so hard to launch our curbside composting program and making it such a meaningful success for our community,” Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said. “This award shows that the work we’re doing in both composting and recycling is having real, transformative effects on how our community thinks about waste and the steps we’re taking to create a more sustainable environment for the future. We are honored to be recognized by the Northeast Recycling Council for these efforts.”

Each year, NERC honors a community, an organization, and an individual for their outstanding contributions to recycling education and innovation. This year will mark the 9th annual Environmental Leadership Awards Ceremony, recognizing individuals and organizations who help further NERC’s waste and recycling goals.

“Our committee is wholeheartedly impressed by the work of the City of Medford, and how important and impactful that work is for the community,” said Sophie Leone, Development and Program Manager at NERC. “It is a perfect representation of NERC’s mission to minimize waste, conserve natural resources, and advance a sustainable economy through facilitated collaboration and action and we are very excited to bestow the City of Medford with this award.”

You can read more about the Environmental Leadership Awards here . And if you haven’t signed up for Medford’s free curbside composting program, you can do that at medfordcomposts.com .

Read on MedfordMA.org.

Northeast commodity prices continued falling in Q2

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 19:08:59 GMT

In the Northeast, recycled commodity prices continued to decline in April-June, with MRFs experiencing an average decrease of nearly 6% compared to the first quarter of 2025, according to the Northeast Recycling Council’s (NERC) second-quarter MRF Values Survey Report.

NERC’s 25th quarterly report analyzed data from 19 MRFs across 12 states, excluding two facilities from the average blended value “because they did not market enough commodities within Q2 to provide a representative comparison with other MRFs.”

Compared to the previous quarter, the responding MRFs reported average values per ton for blended recyclables with residuals at $82.68, a decrease of 7.74%, or $96.21 per ton, a 5.99% decline without residuals. Thirteen of the 17 MRFs contributing to the weighted average were single-stream, while four operated on a dual-stream/source-separated basis.

In the Northeast, dual-stream facilities reported a blended value of $99.74 without residuals and $86.52 including residuals, experiencing decreases of 7% and 7.16% from the previous quarter, respectively. Single-stream MRFs recorded blended values of $95.08 without residuals, down 5.7%, and $81.28,down 8.3%, with residuals.

Factors such as tariffs and weak demand have led major waste haulers to adjust their forecasts, anticipating challenges due to economic uncertainty for the remainder of 2025.

This dip in commodity prices was reflected in second-quarter earnings reports, with four companies reporting an average year-over-year decrease of 15% in commodity values.

Houston-based WM projected a $15 million decline in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization due to softening demand.

However, the emergence of new and upgraded polymer facilities is enhancing processing capabilities, driven by the expectation of high demand for recycled PET.

A version of this story appeared in Resource Recycling on Sept 9.

Read on Resource Recycling.

Northeast Commodity Values Decline in Q2 2025

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:39:22 GMT

Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) Publishes 25 ^th Report Marking Six Years of Quarterly Data

NERC’s Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) Commodity Values Survey Report for the period April - June 2025 showed a decline in the average commodity prices for Q2 2025. The average value of all commodities decreased by 5.99% without residuals to $96.21 and by 7.74% with residuals to $82.68, as compared to last quarter. Single stream decreased by 5.70% without residuals and 8.30% with residuals, while dual stream / source separated decreased by 7.00% without residuals and 7.16% with residuals compared to last quarter. Dual stream MRFs saw a slightly smaller decrease with residuals than single stream.

Individual commodity price averages this quarter denote the decrease felt across all commodity categories apart from glass and the special cases of mixed paper, aseptic and gable-top cartons, and mixed plastic.

Average Blended Commodity Value Per Ton: Q2 2019 – Q2 2025

This is the 25 ^th quarterly report in NERC’s series of reports on the market value of commodities from MRFs in the Northeast. This report includes information from 19 MRFs representing twelve (12) states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.

For more information, contact Megan Schulz-Fontes, Executive Director, at megan@nerc.org .

ReMA Partner NERC Opens Annual Emerging Professionals Program

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 15:42:59 GMT

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) has opened the 2025 Emerging Professionals (EP) Program . Now, in its third year, the program provides professionals who are new to the field of recycling, sustainability, and environmental stewardship with discounted access to NERC’s Conference and Foundations Course, sponsored by their employer organization.

EPs gain valuable connections with seasoned industry professionals and peers while engaging in discussions on current trends, challenges, and innovations shaping the industry. This program is designed for those with three or fewer years of experience.

“This year, EPs also receive a discount to our Foundations of Sustainable Materials Management course (a live, instructor-led training) developed to provide the key building blocks for understanding the industry,” said Mariane Medeiros, Senior Project Manager at NERC. “It’s a great way to close the loop: gaining both a strong technical foundation and real-world connections in one experience.”

Read and Learn More.

Theory Meets Reality: Packaging EPR Goes Live July 1

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 18:46:21 GMT

Recycling coordinators know that some people and locations are stubbornly indifferent to recycling. COVID has ruptured civic values and behavior. Creating a recycling culture is harder than ever. Producers know how to sell their products. Now they need to learn how to sell recycling.

On July 1, Oregon’s packaging and paper extended producer responsibility (EPR) program begins operating. This will be a first in our country. “Producers”, instead of local governments or private citizens, will be paying to recycle packages and paper products. Colorado’s program begins operating early in 2026. For years we have heard the theory of how packaging EPR will work. At last, we will get results.

Five other states also have laws. Their programs should all be operating by 2030. None of the state laws have identical requirements. The Circular Action Alliance, the “producer responsibility organization” responsible for managing the program in most of those states, knows it has a lot on its plate.

EPR laws are not new to the U.S. Thirty-two states already have laws that cover a wide variety of products such as electronics, paint, mattresses, batteries, etc. Those laws are relatively simple. Most cover one product. The producer group is a small number of companies. Goals and programs are focused and narrow. They are a mixed bag of success and failure.

Packaging EPR is far more complex. The number of covered products is way higher. Thousands of companies are paying for these programs. Goals are challenging. Some are impossible to meet. In addition, local governments treat recycling as a normal service. Their residents will still call them if their recyclables aren’t picked up.

It probably hasn’t helped that advocates tout EPR as the solution for recycling’s problems. We are told we will have more collection and better processing with higher recycling rates. Markets will improve and even stabilize. Some of this will happen, but not all.

Collection and processing should go smoothly in Oregon. The state has high expectations for recycling. I have no doubt recycling will increase. Collection programs will blanket the state, giving more households the opportunity to recycle.

I’m not sure, though, how much of an increase we will see. Recycling coordinators know that some people and locations are stubbornly indifferent to recycling. COVID has ruptured civic values and behavior. Creating a recycling culture is harder than ever. Producers know how to sell their products. Now they need to learn how to sell recycling.

Another challenge is the “responsible end market” requirements. You’ve probably seen pictures of overseas dumps created by unscrupulous or just naïve plastics “recyclers”. In response, Oregon and the other states are requiring sellers and end markets to prove they are “responsible”. They must provide information about who and where they are, how they operate, how much was actually recycled, and more.

Recycling end markets pushed back. Paper and metals recyclers argue they shouldn’t be covered. They don’t cause those problems. As for plastics, the general manager of one of America’s largest plastics recycling companies said his company now spends time and money gathering data and filling out forms to prove they’re “responsible”. His virgin resin competitors don’t have to.

Ironically, we now import more plastics for recycling than we export. Maybe those countries should impose similar requirements on their plastics recyclers.

Colorado faces unique problems. The mountain state is large. Its population is concentrated on the I-25 corridor running north and south through Denver with low population density elsewhere. Recycling collection and processing is limited as are end markets. To make matters worse, slightly more than half of its households use “subscription” services for waste and recycling collection. Those services are funded by the households, not by taxpayers. EPR doesn’t have this experience in other countries. Colorado gets to blaze this trail. The second state to go live poses substantive challenges for producers.

The good news for both states? Local governments that pay for recycling collection and processing will see most of those costs go away. Consumers are unlikely to see prices rise, for now. National companies will simply spread their costs among all 50 states. Local and regional producers, unfortunately, don’t have that advantage.

As for improved markets, remember that recyclables are and always will be commodities subject to the ups and downs of the economy. I don’t see substantive changes in recycling markets unless the producer group’s members try to manipulate markets to their own advantage.

2025 saw new laws and changes to existing laws. Maryland and Washington became the sixth and seventh packaging EPR states. At the same time, California is rewriting its regulations and Maine significantly revised its law. Some of these changes narrowed EPR’s scope to the dismay of advocates.

I’m a member of Maryland’s EPR Advisory Council. We’ve been meeting for a year, discussing the Needs Assessment and now our new law. We have our own unique set of challenges. We also have a big advantage. We can learn from Oregon’s and Colorado’s experiences. Tune in next year to learn how we are progressing.

Read on Waste360.

Coke bottler’s switch to clear PET provides lessons learned

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:22:10 GMT

A recent case study from the Northeast Recycling Council offers insights on transitioning packaging materials, gleaned from a regional Coca-Cola bottler that switched from green PET to clear for several of its products.

The case study, part of NERC’s Guide to Increasing Recycling Supply , explores the process experienced by Coca-Cola

Beverages Northeast. The local bottler sells drinks from Coke, Keurig Dr Pepper, Fairlife milk and others in New England and upstate New York.

Coca-Cola North America announced in August 2022 it was switching to clear PET packaging for its Sprite, Fresca and Mello Yello drinks. Like other beverage brands, Coca-Cola sells concentrates and syrups to its nearly 70 bottling partners in North America for manufacture, packaging and distribution, but does not own or operate most local bottling companies, according to its website.

The primary objective of the switch was to improve the quality of post-consumer PET bales by reducing color contamination, which in turn would improve bottle recyclability and increase the efficiency of plastic reprocessing, the report said. The company did not publish any formal goals, but the move aimed to help increase supply of PCR suitable for use in food-grade applications, according to NERC.

Although the study acknowledges that Coca-Cola’s initiative was voluntary as part of its internal sustainability strategy, the lessons learned can be useful for other companies considering making changes.

Read the full article here.

NERC states preference for mechanical recycling

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 19:13:48 GMT

The Brattleboro, Vermont-based Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) has adopted a policy position on chemical recycling that was developed by a subcommittee of its Chemical Recycling Committee.

NERC, whose members are drawn from 11 northeastern states, says the purpose of the policy statement is to articulate guiding principles for environmentally responsible chemical recycling of plastics, which it notes also is referred to as molecular or advanced recycling.

NERC's Chemical Recycling Committee was established to better understand these processes and their environmental impacts to make informed policy decisions.

In line with its mission of moving toward a more circular and sustainable economy, NERC says mechanical recycling currently is the preferred method of plastic waste processing, as it creates fewer environmental impacts than other currently available chemical recycling processes.

View the full article here.

Northeast Recycling Council Publishes Chemical Recycling Policy Position

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 19:15:29 GMT

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) published its Chemical Recycling Policy Position on May 30, 2025. The purpose of the policy statement is to articulate guiding principles for environmentally responsible chemical recycling of plastics. NERC supports the conservation of natural resources, waste minimization, and recognizes the role of recycling in reaching these goals. Plastic is a prevalent material for packaging and other products due to its material properties. Producing virgin plastic from fossil fuels is an extractive process with negative environmental and social impacts. Therefore, NERC supports reduction, reuse, and recycling processes that displace virgin production in plastics where environmentally preferable. You can view the policy statement here: https://www.nerc.org/chemical-recycling .

View the full article here.

Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) Publishes Chemical Recycling Policy Position

megan@nerc.org (Megan Fontes) — Thu, 29 May 2025 22:59:54 GMT

The Policy Position was developed by the Subcommittee of the NERC Chemical Recycling Committee. Participants on the Subcommittee 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).

NERC created the Chemical Recycling Committee in 2022 with the goal of sharing information on new technologies called “chemical recycling.” The Committee shares information on the efficacy, cost, and impacts of these new technologies. Our Policy is the result of those efforts. The Committee is open to NERC state members and several advisory member organizations whose participation has been approved by the state members serving on the committee.

NERC has published several other policy positions including the Post-Consumer Recycled Content Policy (2019) and Product Stewardship and Producer Responsibility Policy (2018), which can be found among others on NERC’s website: https://www.nerc.org/policy-positions-and-statements .

For more information, contact Megan Schulz-Fontes, Executive Director, at megan@nerc.org .

NERC notes slight commodity value improvements, while MRFs announce significant upgrades

Wed, 28 May 2025 19:19:57 GMT

Northeast MRFs reported blended commodity prices rose up to 9% in Q1. Meanwhile, Casella, Eureka and the City of Phoenix announced MRF upgrades in part to help fetch higher commodity prices.

MRFs in the Northeast noted an increase in average commodity prices for the first quarter of 2025, according to a report from the Northeast Recycling Council.

In Q1, average blended commodity value without residuals was $102.34, an increase of more than 9% from the previous quarter. When calculating the value with residuals, prices were closer to $89.62, an increase of 8.6%, the quarterly MRF Commodity Values Survey Report says.

Read the full article here.

Waste Advantage: Northeast Recycling Council: Q1 2025 Shows Slight Recovery in Commodity Values

Wed, 28 May 2025 15:29:08 GMT

Waste Advantage

NERC’s Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) Commodity Values Survey Report for the period January – March 2025 showed a slight jump in the average commodity prices for Q1. The average value of all commodities increased by 9% without residuals to $102.34 and 8% with residuals to $89.62, as compared to last quarter. Single stream increased by 12% without residuals and 11% with residuals, while dual stream/source separated increased by 10% without residuals and 9% with residuals compared to last quarter.

The average percentage for outbound tons marketed per commodity in calendar year 2024 showed decreases for all commodities as compared to 2022, except for polypropylene and bulky rigids, which increased by 40% and 29%, respectively. We also see an increase in mixed glass and residue, as compared to 2022, by 31% and 8%, respectively, further offsetting the decreases in marketed commodity percentages across the board. Notably, green, brown, and clear glass had the largest fall with clear glass decreasing by 77%. Changes in calculation methodology may affect these trends. Percentages are derived from tonnages reported for calendar year 2024 as opposed to percentage breakdowns in previous years.

This is the 24th quarterly report in NERC’s series of reports on the market value of commodities from MRFs in the Northeast. This report includes information from 19 MRFs representing twelve (12) states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.

For more information, contact Megan Schulz-Fontes, Executive Director, at megan@nerc.org or visit www.nerc.org .

Northeast Recycling Council: Q1 2025 Shows Slight Recovery in Commodity Values

Fri, 23 May 2025 19:17:36 GMT

NERC’s Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) Commodity Values Survey Report for the period January – March 2025 showed a slight jump in the average commodity prices for Q1. The average value of all commodities increased by 9% without residuals to $102.34 and 8% with residuals to $89.62, as compared to last quarter. Single stream increased by 12% without residuals and 11% with residuals, while dual stream / source separated increased by 10% without residuals and 9% with residuals compared to last quarter.

View the full article here.

Q1 2025 Shows Slight Recovery in Commodity Values

Thu, 22 May 2025 15:35:17 GMT

2024 Average Percentage of Outbound Tons Marketed per Commodity Published; New Format: Report Includes Q1 2025 Individual Commodity Average Prices

NERC’s Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) Commodity Values Survey Report for the period January - March 2025 showed a slight jump in the average commodity prices for Q1 2025. The average value of all commodities increased by 9% without residuals to $102.34 and 8% with residuals to $89.62, as compared to last quarter. Single stream increased by 12% without residuals and 11% with residuals, while dual stream / source separated increased by 10% without residuals and 9% with residuals compared to last quarter.

This is the 24 ^th quarterly report in NERC’s series of reports on the market value of commodities from MRFs in the Northeast. This report includes information from 19 MRFs representing twelve (12) states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.

For more information, contact Megan Schulz-Fontes, Executive Director, at megan@nerc.org .

Maryland webinar gives tips on countering misinformation

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 12:44:15 GMT

In recent years, the recycling industry has seen negative media coverage that has not only perpetuated myths but also contributed to public mistrust of collection and recycling – and ultimately could be contributing to lower collection rates.

To help counteract the misinformation, the Maryland Recycling Network presented a March 27 webinar featuring Gretchen Carey, president at MassRecycle, and Chaz Miller of Miller Recycling Associates.

Misinformation about recycling was merely “background noise” to Carey until October 2022, when Greenpeace published a scathing report about the failings of plastic recycling. Soon NPR and The Boston Globe picked up the story and compounded the issue with statements like “not even plastic water bottles are recyclable,” Carey said, calling this “a patent lie.”

Carey and her colleagues were “crushed,” but after overcoming her initial anger, she reached out to NPR and the Globe to rebut the story. She also tried to get other local publications to publish her written response to the negative coverage but was rebuffed.

Seeing that these efforts weren’t going far, MassRecycle invited members of the media and the general public on MRF tours at several sites in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Providing real-time evidence of recycling infrastructure helped industry outsiders step out of the echo chamber and hear a contrasting perspective, Carey said in the webinar. “You can talk the game, but them seeing for themselves is the important part,” she explained.

During the tours, the public attendees learned that throwing away recyclables deprives the community of valuable commodities, she said, and that state guidelines restrict what can be put in the landfill.

Carey added that the tours brought home the message by explaining that recycled materials need a consistent end market to justify collection and processing. For example, Ardagh closed its glass bottling facility in Massachusetts in 2018. The closure eliminated a key end market for recycled glass and caused collector Strategic Materials to stop taking local recovered glass. Local MRFs subsequently lost that revenue stream.

When residents don’t trust recycling infrastructure, they put fewer items in their curbside bins, and ultimately paper, metals and glass wind up as collateral damage, Miller said. So it’s vital to make sure the public knows where their recyclables and that end markets exist to use these materials.

Read the full article.

City of Laurel

sophie@nerc.org (Sophie Leone) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 19:12:19 GMT

The City of Laurel, Maryland, established in 1870, has a deep and rich history within the state. Its long-standing independence and stability have fostered a strong sense of community, providing residents with valuable resources and support.

Laurel is deeply committed to sustainability, embedding green initiatives into its core values, creating a Sustainability Division and completing the City’s first Sustainability Plan as one of many ways to support a sustainable Laurel community. The city’s mission is guided by four foundational pillars: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership. Laurel defines sustainability as “meeting the environmental, social, and economic needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”

Residents can engage with their community in numerous ways, including joining local clubs, participating in municipal committees, and taking part in community surveys. The city also hosts in-person events such as parades, farmers markets, and sustainability initiatives, further strengthening community bonds. To make waste management, recycling and organics recycling more accessible, Laurel provides detailed information on its dedicated Green Living Resource page found on the City’s website and partners with Recycle Coach, an app that helps residents easily access tailored information on residential collections, recycling and organics recycling. The Recycle Coach app also notifies residents of changes to their service days and special sustainability events.

The City of Laurel continues to lead by example in sustainability and community engagement. As environmentalist Wendell Berry once said, “The Earth is what we all have in common.” Laurel’s dedication to green living ensures that future generations will inherit a thriving, sustainable community.

NERC is thrilled to welcome the City of Laurel to our growing list of municipality members. We look forward to working with them to help advance our collective missions in safeguarding the planet.

For more information on the City of Laurel visit.

Black History Month

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 16:05:31 GMT

A Time to Learn, Reflect, and Celebrate

Today is the last day of Black History Month . We invite you to join us in recognizing the achievements of Black changemakers who have shaped history through their innovation in and advocacy for environmental justice and sustainability.

We celebrate the stories, legacies, and resilience of Black communities whose ingenuity and activism continues to impact the ongoing journey towards equity and inclusion. Learn about two Black leaders in sustainability, featured below, and click the articles to explore more historical and current Black trailblazers in sustainability.

Spotlight Resource

Explore and celebrate Black history through this resource from Google Arts & Culture: Black History and Culture

Get Involved

Join NERC's Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee , open to State and Advisory Members, to support an inclusive and equitable sustainable materials management (SMM) industry through program and resource development, collaboration, and education. Not sure if your organization is a member? Contact Sophie Leone at sophie@nerc.org .
Expand Your Knowledge: Take the time to learn about the impactful figures and events that have defined Black history. Check out the online resources at the National Museum of African American History & Culture .
Support and Elevate Black voices: Celebrate the leadership of Black Changemakers in all industries.

Learn More About DE&I at NERC

Groundhog Day Alert: Recycling Under Attack Again

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:35:33 GMT

Despite claims that recycling is a "lie," the reality is that recyclables are valuable raw materials, not just waste shipped overseas, and strict industry standards help ensure their quality. While fraudulent practices exist, the U.S. is actually a net importer of recycled plastics, and more advocacy is needed to combat misinformation and highlight recycling’s success.

Once again, recycling is under attack. Once again, we are being told that recycling is a lie. That the recyclables we sort and place on the curbside are just mixed with garbage and shipped overseas. That we are sending our trash to unsuspecting countries. Once again, this is not true.

The most recent attack came in a Valentine’s Day The New York Times opinion piece The Story You Have Been Told About Recycling Is A Lie . We are told that we stopped sending our trash to the nearest landfill and instead chose to send it across the oceans. This, of course, is utter nonsense. Why would anyone send garbage overseas when the transportation cost to the nearest landfill and its tipping fee is so much less than the cost of sending it further?

What is particularly egregious is the lack of data. We aren’t told what “trash” is or how many tons we ship to other countries. Is “trash” our run of the mill garbage or is it bales of mixed plastics sold by unscrupulous dealers as recyclable plastics in spite of diapers and bags in the bales? Nor are we told about the hundreds of millions of tons of metals, paper, glass, plastics and electronics that are routinely recycled throughout the world. Why mess up a good story with facts.

The reality that con artists sell bales of contaminated “recyclables” is nothing new. That’s why the Recycled Materials Association developed specifications defining hundreds of grades of metal, paper, glass, plastic and electronic recyclables. Those specs include strict limits on “contaminants” and “prohibitives” so that buyers get raw materials, not trash. ReMA’s specs helped make metals, paper and glass recycling the success they are throughout the world. They have the potential to do the same for plastics and electronics. Oddly, the Times piece makes no mention of that success.

Read the full article.

RecycleMe

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:26:46 GMT

As a leader in sustainability, RecycleMe has become an expert in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Globally, they are relied upon by leading brands to help them achieve sustainable product packaging with top-tier EPR consulting. This expertise is fueled by their four guiding principles: Innovation, Sustainability, Global Best Practices, and Teamwork.

As an innovator, RecycleMe ensures its team of experts remains ahead of the curve, using the latest solutions when working with their clients to meet their needs at the highest level. Conserving resources and closing loops is a longstanding leading commitment of theirs. By keeping those commitments at the forefront, sustainability is always at the foundation of their work. Recycle ME has locations in 10 countries worldwide, allowing them to build a strong global community network.

NERC is excited to welcome RecycleMe to its team of Advisory Members. We look forward to working with them and supporting their extensive engagement and dedication to sustainable practices.

For more information on RecycleMe click here.

Drop in Commodity Values and Expansion of Participating States and Material Recovery Facilities

megan@nerc.org (Megan Fontes) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 14:42:02 GMT

NERC’s Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) Commodity Values Survey Report for the period October - December 2024 showed a drop in the average commodity price for Q4. The average value of all commodities decreased by 23% without residuals and 26% with residuals compared to last quarter. Single stream decreased by 28% without residuals and 32% with residuals, while dual stream / source separated decreased by 15% without residuals and 17% with residuals compared to last quarter.

This is the 23rd quarterly report in NERC’s series of reports on the market value of commodities from MRFs in the Northeast. This report includes information from twelve (12) states with the addition of Connecticut: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia. The number of participating MRFs increased from 15 to 19 as compared to last quarter.

These survey results reflect the differing laws and collection options in the participating states. Five of the states included in this report have beverage container deposit laws. As a result, fewer glass bottles, PET bottles and aluminum cans are processed in MRFs in those states. Those MRFs are also likely to have less revenue from those recyclables. In addition, the report reflects a mix of single stream, dual stream, and source separation to collect recyclables with single stream being the most common approach. The type of collection used will have an impact on MRF design and operation. Thus, the data from this report reflects the unique blend of facilities and statewide laws in the reporting states.

For more information, contact Megan Schulz-Fontes, Executive Director, at megan@nerc.org .

Northeast Recycling Council’s Fall Conference Focuses on Environmental Issues and Embraces Waste Challenges

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:21:16 GMT

Waste Advantage

During the last week of October, the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) held their annual Fall Conference in partnership with State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s (SUNY ESF) Center for Sustainable Materials Management (CSMM), and in collaboration with Syracuse University’s Institute for Sustainability Engagement in Syracuse New York. The conference featured three days of great discussion about the complex challenges that come with waste and recycling, circularity, packaging, sustainability, and other important topics around the industry.

View the Full Article Here

Eunomia Research & Consulting

sophie@nerc.org (Sophie Leone) — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 13:56:34 GMT

When first introduced to Eunomia Research and Consulting, depending on your knowledge of Greek mythology, you may not know where their name comes from. The Greek goddess Eunomia is the goddess of law and legislation, and the goddess of green pastures. In 2001 when this organization was founded, their goal and mission was to combine in-depth understanding of environmental policy and strategy with pragmatic experience of real-world implementation, to build harmony between people and the environment while working to protect the planet. Given her role, Eunomia felt like the right leader, and namesake, to build from. Now, they’ve been in operation for over 20 years and have grown to a staff of over 150 people across 5 offices from Aukland New Zealand to New York.

Over the past two decades, Eunomia has been working with both the public and private sectors providing unbiased data-driven advice to support business and organizational decision making. With these organizations, Eunomia has been incredibly successful in advancing positive environmental impact through policy, strategy, and implementation. Eunomia has leading experts in the low carbon, circular, and natural economies, and is world renowned for its policy, strategy and implementation advice on sustainable material use and reuse, recycling, and waste management strategies, assisting businesses, governments and NGOs from policy evaluation to product responsibility.

Aiming for a net-zero future, Eunomia measures and reduces carbon footprints, guides through carbon offset markets, and ensures alignment with global sustainability standards to tackle greenwashing and ensure verifiable progress.

Eunomia also offers solutions for biodiversity enhancement, sustainable land use, and nature-based investment strategies, focusing on ecological balance and economic viability.

Sarah Edwards, President of Eunomia North America said: “Eunomia has followed the great work that NERC has done over the past 8 years, and we are now happy to be part of the NERC family. For more than 20 years Eunomia has been delivering waste and resource management solutions to state and municipal governments, nonprofit and private companies. We specialize in designing, modeling, and implementing systems that drive waste reduction, improve recycling, and promote sustainability.

“We look forward to engaging with other forward-thinking organizations and companies in order to bring meaningful and impactful change.”

NERC is thrilled to have Eunomia Research and Consulting join our team of Sustaining Advisory Members. We look forward to working with them to help further their mission of protecting the planet.

For more information about Eunomia, click here.

Steady Increase in Commodity Values Continues Through Q3

megan@nerc.org (Megan Fontes) — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 14:34:16 GMT

NERC’s MRF Values Survey Report for the period July - September 2024 showed a continued increase in the average commodity price for Q3. The average value of all commodities increased by 3% for both with and without residuals from Q2 2024 to Q3 2024. Single stream increased by 2% while dual stream / source separated decreased by 5% for both with and without residuals as compared to last quarter.

This is the 22nd quarterly report in NERC’s series of reports on the market value of commodities from MRFs in the Northeast. This report includes information from eleven states: Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.

These survey results reflect the differing laws and collection options in the participating states. Four of the states included in this report have beverage container deposit laws. As a result, fewer glass bottles, PET bottles and aluminum cans are processed in MRFs in those states. Those MRFs are also likely to have less revenue from those recyclables. In addition, the report reflects a mix of single stream, dual stream, and source separation to collect recyclables with single stream being the most common approach. The type of collection used will have an impact on MRF design and operation. Thus, the data from this report reflects the unique blend of facilities and statewide laws in the reporting states.

Residuals refers to the incoming material that cannot be marketed and goes to disposal. The value without residuals reflects the value of a perfect ton of marketed material, while the value with residuals reflects the value of each ton processed with the costs associated of disposing unmarketable material. Note: In many cases, recovered glass goes to market but at a negative value.

For more information, contact Megan Schulz-Fontes, Executive Director, at megan@nerc.org .

Center for EcoTechnology (CET)

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 18:37:35 GMT

Founded in 1976 in Massachusetts, CET has spent decades operating within the sustainable materials management industry. Throughout the 1980s to 1990’s CET conducted many firsts of the industry, such as creating the first home compost bin distribution program and assisting in the administration of the first energy financing program. Into the early 2000’s and 2010’s their services expanded outside Massachusetts as they continued existing programs while simultaneously launching new programs and projects. Some of their current projects include: Wasted Food Solutions, Inclusive Utility Investments, Carbon Conscious Business Accreditation, and more.

Their mission “Is to innovate, implement, and scale the environmental solutions that communities need to thrive”. This mission is driven by their powerful core values, audacity, imagination, and collaboration. With their extensive resource library, on-site service and support, and growing clientele, their impact as an organization is nothing short of inspirational.

NERC is excited to welcome CET to its team of Sustaining Advisory Members. We look forward to working with CET as they continue to make their lasting impact on our industry.

For more information about CET click here

Recycled Content: We Need More Than Commitments and Legislation

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 18:32:48 GMT

Recycled Content: We Need More Than Commitments and Legislation

Many companies that pledged to increase recycled content in their packaging are now scaling back, citing outdated recycling infrastructure and limited supply. Without realistic assessments of recycling technology and material availability, ambitious goals are proving difficult to meet.

Recycled content is hot again. Over the last few years, numerous companies committed to use more recycled content in their packages. Whether they were for beverage, detergent, candy, or whatever, they set ambitious goals. This year, we have seen many of those companies retreating from their goals. They are blaming a “lagging recycling infrastructure” that is creating an undersupply of recycled materials.

It's easy enough to blame the recycling infrastructure. As long as processing technology improves, MRFs will always be out of date. The last MRF I visited before COVID was in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in December 2019. Yes, it was cold. Winnipeg never got above zero Fahrenheit while I was there and MRFs are hard to heat. Nonetheless the MRF was impressive, replete with all of the latest, best sorting technology. As he was pointing out the new equipment, the MRF’s manager made a prescient observation. He predicted that five years later, the MRF would have a great deal of new, more technologically advanced processing equipment.

View full article on Waste360 .

Industry Experts to Rethink Resource Use at ESF Conference on Sustainability

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 16:34:19 GMT

Syracuse, N.Y. – Oct. 25, 2024 – Experts in sustainability and resource management will gather at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) for the Rethinking Resource Use conference. Hosted by ESF’s Center for Sustainable Materials Management (CSMM), the event will run from Oct. 28-30 at ESF’s Gateway Center in collaboration with Syracuse University’s Institute for Sustainability Engagement and the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC).

Focused on the goal of achieving a circular economy, the conference will explore ways to reduce waste by keeping products, materials, and resources in use through cycles of reuse, recycling, and repurposing. Key topics will include industry research advancements, policy updates, and funding strategies to foster sustainable material management.

Conference Highlights:

The three-day event will begin with opening remarks from ESF President Joanie Mahoney and will feature insights from several ESF experts, including:

Kathryn Walker, CSMM Executive Director
Mark Lichtenstein, Executive Operating and Chief Sustainability Officer
Sue Fassler, Director of Sustainability
Delaney Demro, CSMM Program Manager
Doug Daley, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Resources Engineering
Bandaru V. Ramarao, Professor and Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering

Keynote speaker Dr. Garry Cooper, founder of Rheaply, will discuss his company’s work in promoting the sharing economy. Rheaply’s technology, now utilized by ESF, connects those with excess resources to those in need, expanding the sharing economy within New York state.

The conference offers presentations, panel discussions, and workshops designed to spark collaboration and ignite fresh ideas, allowing participants to gain insights into cutting-edge research, emerging trends, and practical applications in sustainable materials management.

Access the full conference schedule here .

Industry and Government Perspectives:

“This conference is a unique opportunity to bring together industry leaders, foster new ideas, and drive innovation for a more sustainable future,” said CSMM Executive Director Kathryn Walker.

“We are excited to gather and share our collective story of dedicated efforts to reduce consumption, foster collaboration, and inspire effective solutions that benefit all,” said Melissa Young, director of the Institute for Sustainability Engagement at Syracuse University.

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) brings an invaluable resource to the conference, working to bridge public and private sector informational gaps, develop educational resources, and lead discussions on critical sustainable materials issues. “We are thrilled to partner with ESF and Syracuse University to bring together industry leaders from across the Northeast,” said Megan Schulz-Fontes, NERC executive director.

Press Attendance and Registration:

Members of the media are invited to cover this important event. To attend, please contact Kathryn Walker, kjwalker@esf.edu

About SUNY ESF:

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable and resilient future through design, policy, and management of the environment and natural resources. Members of the College community share a passion for protecting the health of the planet and a deep commitment to the rigorous application of science to improve the way humans interact with the world. The College offers academic programs ranging from the associate of applied science to the Doctor of Philosophy. ESF students live, study and do research on the main campus in Syracuse, N.Y., and on 25,000 acres of field stations in a variety of ecosystems across the state.

About the Center for Sustainable Materials Management (CSMM) :

The CSMM was established at ESF in the spring of 2020 through a NYS Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) grant administered by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The Center places ESF, DEC, and their partners in a leadership role regarding materials (waste) reduction, reuse, and recycling in New York and the US. The Center’s mission is to inspire, lead, and connect a diverse group of people and organizations that will collectively challenge the concept of “waste,” through redefining and reimagining how we procure, produce, consume, manage, and market materials.

Capturing Medical Plastics ‘Well Suited to Recycling’

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 16:19:29 GMT

Resource Recycling

The medical and research fields hold great potential for closed-loop plastic recycling as long as logistics can be solved, some in the industry recently said – and several companies are working to do just that.

The panelists discussed their work in an Oct. 3 Northeast Recycling Council webinar, “Reducing and Diverting Plastic Waste in Bio-Medical Laboratories and Facilities, Part 2: Diverse Solutions to Meet the Supply of Bio-Med Plastic Waste.”

Sam White, CEO of GreenLabs Recycling, noted that 30,000 tons of biopharma single-use plastic is disposed of every year globally, much of it recyclable. GreenLabs recycled 200,000 pounds in 2023, he added, but “you can see the huge gap that we have to fill” collectively.

James O’Brien, co-founder and CEO of Polycarbin, added that not only is much of the plastic disposed of by research labs recyclable, but it’s an ideal stream due to the “incredible homogeneity of plastic types,” the way that lab workflows are designed, and the interest of scientists in not only recycling but recycling accurately.

He noted that there is a “unique opportunity in labs” as well as hospitals, but hospitals have more plastic types and those working in them are under more time pressure, making it more difficult.

On the hospital side of the equation, Katherine Hofmann, sustainability manager at Eastman, said the company not only makes a significant amount of specialty plastics for the medical industry but is working in partnership with the Healthcare Plastic Recycling Council and the Alliance to End Plastic Waste on a hospital plastic recycling pilot in Houston. The pilot is largely handling pre-patient material, which doesn’t come into contact with patients.

She said 85% of the plastic that comes out of a hospital is clean and not contaminated, but the trick is finding space to store it in a hospital space and creating a system that works for nurses, who are short on time and highly focused on patient care.

“There’s a significant volume here of really clean, high-quality materials that are really well-suited to recycling, given the high performance requirements for plastics in the space,” Hofmann said. “They really have a high purity, there’s very few additives, very few colorants. They really are ideal.”

The goal of the pilot project is a medical recycling system that is economically viable at scale, she said.

“We’re really looking to establish recycling in a way that does not require subsidies and continues to run in the area after we set it up,” Hofmann said, adding that the groups are also compiling a playbook for setting up these systems.

Back in the lab, O’Brien emphasized the demand from scientists for more circular options. Polycarbin runs a closed-loop, brand-agnostic system, so it takes in lab plastics and remanufactures the resin into new, similar lab products. Over 1,000 labs are now participating, he said, and Polycarbin just launched PPE and nitrile glove recycling this year.

It plans to expand from its current markets in New England and California, growing into Atlanta in 2025, and recently announced a partnership with Labcon North America.

GreenLabs’ White said that the company decided to expand by partnering with hazardous waste disposal company Veolia, which allows them to collect, sterilize and recycle used pipette tips as well as the empty pipette tip boxes.

GreenLabs takes the flake it creates and manufactures a small benchtop holding bin for the recyclable materials they seek to collect, so scientists can see what their materials are being recycled into, White said.

“We can barely keep up with demand for this product,” White added, noting that scientists are often eager to participate. “They do such powerful work for human health, and they all want to provide a healthy environment as well.”

View the Full Article Here

Employers Association of the Northeast (EANE)

sophie@nerc.org (Sophie Leone) — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 18:53:55 GMT

Employers Association of the Northeast (EANE) has been the employers’ go to’ resource for more than 100 years. With over 1025 members today across New England, EANE provides premier human resources and compliance guidance at the state and federal level. Their team of experts are dedicated to helping organizations succeed through HR support, compliance and leadership training, and delivering detailed resources that not only help organizations grow but create the best environment for their team of employees.   

EANE’s learning and development programs offer extensive tools including compliance topics, professional development training, leadership development courses and technology classes. These resources are not only incredibly extensive but also readily available. Their ability to offer virtual and on-site support allows them to work with organizations beyond the northeast.

‘We are thrilled to be partnering with NERC to offer their members quick access to HR and compliance guidance that keeps them on track and creating successful people practices,’ says Allison Ebner, President of EANE.

NERC is pleased to welcome the Employers Association of the Northeast to its team of Supporting Advisory Members. We look forward to working with EANE and helping connect their valuable services with NERC’s community and audience.

For more information about EANE click here

Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments

sophie@nerc.org (Sophie Leone) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 19:39:07 GMT

The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SCCOG) is a public agency with representatives from twenty-two towns, cities, and boroughs, formed to provide a basis for intergovernmental cooperation in dealing with a wide range of issues. The primary focuses of the agency are centered around regional planning and extend to transportation, environmental, and inter-municipal planning. SCCOG undertakes numerous studies and initiatives each year, under the guidance of its member municipalities.

The most recent report released by SCCOG is their Municipal Solid Waste Report. At the direction of its Solid Waste Subcommittee, SCCOG staff analyzed municipal solid waste data in the southeastern Connecticut region, including disposal tonnage and municipal cost data, for the five-year period from 2018-2022. The report highlights the cost and infrastructure challenges that municipalities are facing, while also providing some potential solutions and next steps to tackling the waste crisis.

“Connecticut’s solid waste crisis is impacting southeastern Connecticut municipalities, residents, and businesses. Our region has historically taken a proactive approach to solid waste management, and SCCOG seeks to support this approach by becoming a member of the Northeast Recycling Council. Participating in the Organics Management Committee especially will allow us to collaborate and exchange ideas with others facing similar issues, and collectively advance sustainable organic waste management practices.” – Amanda Kennedy, SCCOG Executive Director.

NERC is pleased to welcome the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments to its team of Supporting Advisory Members. We look forward to working with SCCOG and providing the necessary tools and support to their expansive community and network.

ECONWARD Tech Spotlight

sophie@nerc.org (Sophie Leone) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 17:27:42 GMT

ECONWARD Tech at its core is a research and development company that is dedicated to decarbonization, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction, environmental protection, increased recycling rates, and more. With Head Quarter locations in Spain and the United States, ECONWARD Tech has been able to achieve a broad reach as well impressive certifications related to UN Sustainable Development Goals and quality certifications.

ECONWARD Tech uses a one-of a kind patented technology that processes organic waste to produce biomass that has multiple certified uses. This equipment, BIOMAK®, applies a thermal hydrolysis process which changes the chemical and physical properties of the waste that is fed into it. This is a highly efficient piece of equipment that can treat 8 metric tons of waste per hour. The implementation of their technology in a waste treatment plant can prevent the emission of 10,000 tons of GHG’s.

"We are pleased to join NERC as a supporting advisory member. We believe that organics recycling is key to reducing methane emissions. As more jurisdictions implement organics diversion programs, the level of contamination in the organic solid waste stream will increase. We created BIOMAK specifically to capture the organics from a solid waste stream."

 We look forward to working with ECONWARD Tech and assist in their growth and expansion in any way we can.

For more information click here

Capital Region Council of Governments (CRCOG)

sophie@nerc.org (Sophie Leone) — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 17:17:25 GMT

The Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) resides in Hartford Connecticut where it is guided by the chief elected officials of the 38 municipalities in Hartford and Tolland counties of Connecticut. Collaborating for more than 50 years, CRCOG’s four core values are member focused initiatives, impact and high performance, collaboration and inclusivity, and innovation.

Complimenting these core values are a list of strategic goals which highlight their dedication to communication with their community, infrastructure funding, economic vitality, environmental services, workforce development, shared services, waste management and diversion, and more. To further support these goals and the services they provide, they established the Capitol Region Council of Governments Foundation, Inc. in 2005. This foundation services three key roles as an educator, convener, and a funder working to advance and support regional policies and programs.

Their Strategic Playbook, which was published September 2023, details the extensive efforts taken by stakeholders, staff, and board members to explore initiatives that can continue to grow and improve the quality of life in their region. This Playbook is a testament to the commitment of CRCOG to the region.

"CRCOG is excited to be a Supporting Advisory Member of NERC, to engage in meaningful stakeholder conversations and action items addressing environmental sustainability, waste management, diversion, and education and outreach. Together we can make a difference.

Robyn Nichols, CRCOG, Principal Program Manager, Municipal Services".

We look forward to working with CRCOG and providing the necessary tools and support to help further their goals and mission.

For more information about CROCG click here

Northeast commodity values for Q2 reach 2-year high

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 17:39:43 GMT

Resource Recycling

Average commodity prices for April-June 2024 were higher by about 40% on the year, marking their highest level since the second quarter of 2022, according to the latest MRF Values Survey Report from the Northeast Recycling Council .

Compared to Q2 2023, average values per ton for residential blended recyclables rose by 37.6% without residuals to $117.84, and by 41.4% with residuals to $108.83. Two years ago, in Q2 2022, these values were at $85.63 and $76.99, respectively.

The survey results are in line with comments made by haulers in their Q2 investor calls , in which WM and Republic Services reported quarterly commodity prices that were 45% to 57% higher than a year ago.

Compared to Q1 2024, average values rose by 6% with residuals and by 5% without. The survey used data from 15 respondents on commodities including post-consumer glass, aluminum, paper, cardboard and plastics.

Starting in late winter 2022, both recycled and virgin plastics value chains were reaching all-time highs as the start of the war in Ukraine disrupted global trade flows, particularly for crude oil and gasoline. In addition, forecasts for record summer gasoline consumption drove up prices at the pump, ultimately hampering demand from drivers.

Producers of PET – the most commonly recycled plastic – must compete with refiners for volumes of certain chemicals that are used both in making plastics and as additives for gasoline.

Of the responding MRFs, 10 were single-stream and five were dual-stream/source-separated. For the quarter, single-stream commodity values per ton rose by 11% to $122.93 without residuals, and dual-stream/source-separated commodities fell by 14% to $108.55.

The quarter-over-quarter increase was due to national and regional trends, the report said.

NERC supports recycling market development and other improvements in an 11-state region that includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

View the Full Article Here

NERC Marks Five Years of the Northeast MRF Commodity Values Report; Participation Grows to Include Eleven States

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 18:32:50 GMT

NERC’s MRF Values Survey Report for the period April – June 2024 showed a slight increase in the average commodity price for Q2. The average value of all commodities increased by 6% with residuals and 5% without from Q1 2024 to Q2 2024. Single stream increased by 11% while dual stream / source separated decreased by 14% for both with and without residuals as compared to last quarter.

The average reported processing costs decreased by 6.46% to $ 89.73/ton.

This is the 21st quarterly report in NERC’s series of reports on the market value of commodities from MRFs in the Northeast, marking five years of data collection for this project. With new participating MRFs, this report includes information from eleven states: Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.

These survey results reflect the differing laws and collection options in the participating states. Four of the states included in this report have beverage container deposit laws. As a result, fewer glass bottles, PET bottles and aluminum cans are processed in MRFs in those states. Those MRFs are also likely to have less revenue from those recyclables. In addition, the report reflects a mix of single stream, dual stream, and source separation to collect recyclables with single stream being the most common approach. The type of collection used will have an impact on MRF design and operation. Thus, the data from this report reflects the unique blend of facilities and statewide laws in the reporting states.

For more information, contact Megan Schulz-Fontes, Executive Director, at megan@nerc.org .

Recycling Council Emphasizes Importance of Supply

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 18:12:27 GMT

Resource Recycling

With industry-wide attention on building up recycled material end user demand, the Northeast Recycling Council is urging materials recovery stakeholders not to forget about ensuring there is adequate supply.

The organization last week pub lished a “Guide to Increasing Recycling Supply,” a resource for stakeholders across the recycling chain. It lays out a number of ways different stakeholders have successfully built up local material supply and covers all traditional municipal recyclables.

In announcing the guide, NERC noted that “supply and demand issues are primary components to recycling market development.” But the organization expressed that the industry dialogue has skewed largely in one direction of late.

“For many years, increasing demand for recycled materials has taken precedence over supply issues,” NERC wrote.

The council in 2023 formed a supply side policy committee aiming to “explore, discuss, and write a policy guide about supply side strategies to increase the supply of post-consumer materials to the marketplace.” The new publication is the result of that process.

A majority of the Northeast U.S.-focused guide’s case studies are government-led strategies to increase supply, but it also highlights efforts spearheaded by nonprofits, MRF operators and, in areas with container deposit systems, redemption centers.

It points to Prince George’s County’s public outreach campaign in Maryland, which included bilingual communication efforts in high-contamination service areas where county officials theorized a language barrier was hampering proper recycling practices. The case study provides several lessons county regulators learned from the campaign. For instance, when trying to reach non-English speaking residents, recycling staffers had to get creative: “Attending school meetings to promote proper recycling did not necessarily work because non-English speaking residents were not attending the school meetings, hence, the decision was to visit local supermarkets where parents shop.”

In another example, the guide highlights efforts by the Massachusetts state recycling organization, MassRecycle, to counter the “negative influence of recycling misinformation in the media.” This came after a wave of public attention on problems within the recycling world in 2022, including from a Greenpeace report and the resulting coverage in an NPR story. MassRecycle was concerned the news coverage would mislead local residents into believing the bulk of their recyclables were not being correctly processed, so the organization began a coordinated effort to respond.

“Media stories implying that recycling is landfilled led to the need for professionals to defend both recycling and their personal roles,” the organization wrote in the case study.

That effort included MassRecycle board members giving media interviews with a formulated approach: They would vet the media outlet to ensure they felt it would provide a balanced article, they would avoid acronyms, they would clearly lay out industry background information, and they would limit their discussion to recycling within Massachusetts.

NERC says the supply guide will be a living resource that will expand as more case studies come in.

To read the full article click here

The Good, the Bad and the Meh: Midsummer Recycling Markets

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 15:22:09 GMT

Chaz Miller

July 22, 2024

A bit more than halfway through the year, MRF recycling markets are blowing hot, cold, and indifferent. On the hot side are old corrugated containers (OCC), residential mixed paper (RMP), PET bottles, and aluminum cans. Steel cans and colored HDPE bottles are cold. Natural HDPE bottles and polypropylene (PP) packaging are kind of meh. At least prices aren’t as volatile as the summer of 2021 when most recyclables set record highs only to watch them disappear.

Let’s start with the hot markets. PET bottle and aluminum can markets reflect changes in seasonal demand for beverages. Beer, soda pop and bottled water sales are highest between Memorial and Labor Days. In the spring, when purchasing agents start stepping up their orders for these packages, supply is low. The increased demand drives up prices. Similarly, in midsummer, prices start to go down as supply exceeds anticipated post-Labor Day demand.

Currently, the national price for a bale of PET bottles is 17.41 cents per pound, about 50 percent higher than it was at the beginning of the year (note: all MRF bale prices are from RecyclingMarkets.net as of July 19). Aluminum cans are currently just a hair under 76 cents a pound, about a 25 percent increase in value. MRFs are benefitting from strong prices from both packages. Nonetheless, they will go down soon, as they usually do.

National prices remain strong for both OCC and RMP. The average price for old boxes is $107.50 a ton. Those prices started rising at the beginning of 2023. Their value has more than tripled since then. RMP has grown to a current value of $70.63 a ton from a negative value of -$1.50 a ton in November 2022. Prices for both have flattened out. They provide a strong base for MRF revenue.

Recycled paper prices remained strong over the last year in spite of unusual demand and supply realities. Demand for OCC and RMP is up because the paper packaging industry has experienced a rapid increase in its capacity to use recycled paper . All six facilities with new capacity in 2023 and this year are located east of the Mississippi as is a majority of the new capacity since the surge started in 2018. New and existing capacity are competing for supply, driving prices up and looking for paper further away from their mills than normal. At the same time lower paper exports have eased pressure on prices.

Supply of OCC and RMP is not keeping up with demand because inflation lowered unit sales of most consumer products. This leads to fewer boxes needed to transport those products to stores and to be available for recycling. While you and I have more boxes due to increased e-commerce, we don’t have as many as anticipated when the new capacity was being planned. The e-commerce companies are using fewer and smaller boxes to lower their costs. And when we get them, we aren’t as good at recycling them as stores. That supply shortage is keeping prices up.

To further complicate matters, due to unanticipated lower demand for their end product, a number of paper mills took “economic downtime” and temporarily stopped production until sales picked up. This includes some of the new capacity. Worse yet, the McKinley Paper Company mill in Port Angeles, Washington, which opened in 2020, recently announced it is closing . High raw material costs and sluggish demand for its products were blamed. The mill made linerboard and corrugated medium for boxes and other paper packaging.

OCC and RMP markets could stay at their current level for a while. Seasonal holiday box demand will be kicking in soon. When that is over, lower prices are likely.

The cold markets are colored HDPE and steel cans. Colored HDPE resin is primarily used for construction-related products such as water and sewer pipes because the dyes used to color the resin can’t be taken out. A year ago, the price was unusually low at 7.13 cents a pound. Then it steadily rose to 23.94 cents per pound in May before falling to 11.56 cents per pound. Colored HDPE’s price often reflects housing construction trends. New housing permits and construction starts are falling due to high housing costs. Prices will pick up when construction picks up.

Over the past year, steel can prices fell by a quarter to $152.81 per ton. Electric arc furnaces, the predominant steel making technology in the U.S., feast on any type of scrap steel. When Baltimore’s new Key Bridge is built, I hope that some of my steel cans will be in it. For now, however, steel markets are soft due to lack of demand.

That leaves us with the “meh” of natural HDPE (primarily milk jugs) and PP (primarily yogurt containers). Prices are low, but the packages are being recycled. HDPE is commonly used for detergent and shampoo bottles and many other packages. It can be dyed whatever color the package uses. A year ago, the major buyer for recycled natural HDPE stopped buying. Prices collapsed by 237 percent to 22.22 cents a pound. Since then, they have slowly increased. Still, at 37.19 cents per pound it only recently rose above its April 2020 low point. The price will get back to its normally higher levels when consumer brands decide they really want recycled content.

At 6.5 cents per pound, PP (primarily yogurt containers), is the least valuable plastic package in the bin. Its markets are primarily nonpackaging durable plastics. Sales of those products have been flat for some time, so has PP’s low price.

I’ve been tracking recycling markets for some time. Current markets are the most unusual – heck, the weirdest – I’ve seen. Part of that is COVID’s ongoing impact on the economy. Part is the stunning increase in paper recycled content capacity. Part is the ability of e-commerce companies to reduce their need for boxes. Part is the off and on demand for recycled plastic by consumer product companies. Sooner or later, this will all resolve itself. Until then, enjoy the ride.

Northeast Region Enjoys Strong Commodities Pricing in Spring of 2024

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 19:48:30 GMT

Waste 360

A Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) study shows a steady rise in the average commodity price for Q1 2024—a 19 percent rate increase when including unmarketable residuals, and a 17 percent increase after removing residuals. Processing costs dropped by 7.69 percent.

The figures include data from 13 materials recovery facilities (MRFs) across 10 states: Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia. Collectively the facilities manage single stream, dual stream and source separation, with single stream being most prominent.

To read the full article click here.

All about AD

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 19:44:22 GMT

Waste Today

As more traditional methods of waste disposal such as landfilling and incineration fall from favor—either because of shrinking capacity or legislative pushes for better waste management practices—anaerobic digestion (AD) and composting have become growing topics of conversation.

Creating a host of products, including soil amendments, animal feed and renewable energy, the processing methods—sometimes in tandem—are no doubt more sustainable solutions.

In a webinar hosted by the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), Brattleboro, Vermont, and the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA), Boston, titled Anaerobic Digestion Facilities: Operators’ Perspectives on Siting and More, panelists shared details about their AD facilities and how they’re working to divert food waste.

To read the full article click here.

NERC: MRF Bale Values Increased in First Quarter

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 19:39:43 GMT

Resource Recycling

Average commodity prices rose steadily in the first quarter of the year, buoyed by national and regional trends, according to the latest report from the Northeast Recycling Council.

Between January and March 2024, the average commodity price year over year increased by 19% with residuals and 17% without, NERC reported.

The report includes information from ten states: Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia. For this report, 13 MRFs responded, with 69% single-stream and 31% dual-stream/source-separated.

For the first quarter of 2024, the blended value of a ton, not counting the negative impact of residuals, was $111.72, up 17% from the final quarter of the previous year. Including the loss from residuals, the value was $103.15 in the first quarter, up 19% from the previous quarter.

To read the full article click here .

Steady Incline in Commodity Values for Q1 2024

megan@nerc.org (Megan Fontes) — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 18:57:40 GMT

Steady Incline in Commodity Values for Q1 2024

NERC’s MRF Values Survey Report for the periods January – March 2024 showed a steady rise in the average commodity price for Q1. The average value of all commodities increased by 19% with residuals and 17% without from Q4 2023 to Q1 2024.

Processing costs decreased by 7.69% from $93.09 to $85.93/ton.

This is the 20th quarterly report in NERC’s series of 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.

These survey results reflect the differing laws and collection options in the participating states. Four of the states included in this report have beverage container deposit laws. As a result, fewer glass bottles, PET bottles and aluminum cans are processed in MRFs in those states. Those MRFs are also likely to have less revenue from those recyclables. In addition, the report reflects a mix of single stream, dual stream, and source separation to collect recyclables with single stream being the most common approach. The type of collection used will have an impact on MRF design and operation. Thus, the data from this report reflects the unique blend of facilities and statewide laws in the reporting states.

1 Residuals refers to the incoming material that cannot be marketed and goes to disposal. The value without residuals reflects the value of a perfect ton of marketed material, while the value with residuals reflects the value of each ton processed with the costs associated of disposing unmarketable material. Note: In many cases, recovered glass goes to market but at a negative value.

For more information, contact Megan Schulz-Fontes, Executive Director, at megan@nerc.org .

Northeast Recycling Council Spring Conference Returns to Pennsylvania for Dynamic Two-Day Discussions on Sustainable Materials Management

Wed, 29 May 2024 19:27:46 GMT

Waste Advantage Magazine

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) held its Spring Conference from April 30 – May 1 in King of Prussia, PA and offered two days of education, lively discussions, and great networking opportunities. Kicking off the first day of the event, Megan Schulz-Fontes, Executive Director of NERC talked about Earth Day’s focus this year on plastics and how the industry should use this attention from the public to educate and remind the public about the importance of reduction and reuse in addition to recycle, and showcase the amazing work that is being done on materials in addition to plastic. Recycling works best when we see reduction and reuse work together with it. The public is becoming increasingly wary of impacts on their environment and are changing their consumption behavior accordingly. She stressed that regardless of the upcoming results of the November’s election, we need to continue to focus the conversation on the RRR principles and the benefits of incorporating sustainable materials management into corporate strategy and state and municipal policy. Bringing the right people around the table is essential. Schulz-Fontes thanked everyone involved in making the event happen—the development and program manager, senior project manager, board members, committee members, advisory members, sponsors, and attendees. She announced the NERC Annual Fall Conference will be held on October 28-30 in partnership with the Center for Sustainable Materials Management at SUNY ESF in Syracuse, NY.

Day 1: Welcome Remarks and Keynote

Schulz-Fontes introduced Lawrence E. Holley, Director of Bureau of Waste Management for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, who provided the welcome remarks.

Holley thanked NERC for bringing the event back to Pennsylvania and said that the partnership is important. He talked about a study they did recently that showed organics made up most of waste stream, and that recycling processing and capacity is a challenge as collection methods are limited because of access and costs. He pointed out that while source separation has the best marketability, there is no one size fits all. Recycling education needs to be strong to complement your recycling program. He discussed how the future of recycling aligns with DEI, serving everyone while seeing the emergence of different cultures. He explained that at the Department, they have even begun to translate their resources into different languages. PA Dutch in particular is a combination of two languages, and because of this, there is a real need for these resources since there is limited access to internet and other materials. With regards to industry retention, she said that while we cannot compete with the private sector regarding pay, we need to think about how we can make employees feel valued. Holley emphasized the economic and environmental impact the industry has—everything associated with it has value. Don’t count on recycling as a true metric for your program, especially considering the changes taking place and the packaging/EPR programs being developed.

Read the full article here.

NEWMOA and NERC with Partners Release Anaerobic Digestion Roadmap and Regulatory and Community Engagement Guides

Wed, 29 May 2024 17:41:57 GMT

Waste 360

The past two years, Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA) and Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) have worked collaboratively along with partners Clean and Healthy New York and the Connecticut Coalition for Economic and Environmental Justice (CT EEJ) to develop informative resources for anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities to be able to effectively navigate the regulatory requirements and engage with communities when siting and operating an AD facility.

The project was aimed at expanding awareness of AD as an option for diverting food waste across the northeast. The project was funded by a grant from EPA Region 2.

Four free webinars were hosted by NEWMOA and NERC to provide information on how to reduce wasted food, the process of siting an AD facility, AD operators’ perspectives, and best practices for engaging environmental justice communities when siting and operating an AD facility. Over 700 individuals participated.

Read the full article here.

NEWMOA and NERC with Partners Release Anaerobic Digestion Roadmap and Regulatory and Community Engagement Guides to Support Increased Diversion of Food Waste in the Northeast

Thu, 23 May 2024 19:20:37 GMT

The project was aimed at expanding awareness of AD as an option for diverting food waste across the northeast. The project was funded by a grant from EPA Region 2.

Additionally, the following resources were developed in collaboration with the project steering committee.

A Regulatory Guide to the Northeast States' Air, Water, and Solid Waste Anaerobic Digestion Facility Permitting Processes
Best Practices Guide for Community Engagement with Environmental Justice Populations About Anaerobic Digestion
What's Anaerobic Digestion and How Do I Get Involved? (English Version)
What's Anaerobic Digestion and How Do I Get Involved? (Spanish Version)

The regulatory guide provides a breakdown of the regulatory landscape around anaerobic digestion for the U.S. and the eleven northeast states. This includes information about air, water, waste, and environmental justice requirements, and contact information for different state agencies.

The community engagement guide offers best practices for engaging with environmental justice communities and describes the steps to take to endure a successful relationship with the community to achieve success in launching or continuing operations.

Informational flyers were developed in English and Spanish to support outreach efforts of AD operators in engaging communities in which they seek to operate in.

To learn more about the project and view all of the resources, visit: https://www.newmoa.org/projects/anaerobic-digestion-project/ .

Contacts:

Melissa Lavoie, Executive Director, NEWMOA, mlavoie@newmoa.org

Megan Schulz-Fontes, Executive-Director, NERC, megan@nerc.org

About Partner Organizations

NEWMOA provides a strategic forum for effectively solving environmental problems through collaborative regional initiatives that advance pollution prevention and sustainability, promote safer alternatives to toxic materials in products, identify and assess emerging contaminants, facilitate adaption to climate change, mitigate greenhouse gas sources, promote reuse and recycling of wastes and diversion of organics, support proper management of hazardous and solid wastes, and facilitate clean-up of contaminant releases to the environment.

NERC is a multi-state 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose programs emphasize source reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP), and decreasing the toxicity of the solid waste stream in the 11-state region comprised of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. NERC’s mission is to minimize waste, conserve natural resources, and advance a sustainable economy through facilitated collaboration and action.

Clean+Healthy is a nonprofit organization with a mission to build a just and healthy society where toxic chemicals are simply unthinkable. We work to enact and implement laws that protect human health and the environment, foster positive changes in the national marketplace, and empower people to engage on their own behalf. Based in Albany, NY, their work telescopes from community engagement to national impact.

CT CEEJ works to eliminate or mitigate the environmental injustices borne by low income and communities of color and to provide a seat at the table where rules, laws, and policies regarding the environment are formulated and implemented. The mission of Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice is to protect urban environments primarily in onnecticut through educating communities, through promoting changes in local, state, and national policy, and through promoting individual, corporate and governmental responsibility towards our environment.

Rezzi

Wed, 22 May 2024 18:45:39 GMT

We are pleased to welcome Rezzi as a new Supporting Advisory Members to the Northeast Recycling Council

Rezzi started out as a robotics company that aimed to develop robots who would assist in the physical challenge some people may face in taking out their trash. Their robot was particularly aimed toward assisting the elderly and through this avenue they were able to gain nationwide recognition through their appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. During the development phase of their robot, they came across some dire information that caused them to pivot their efforts.

They learned that one of the most pressing issues facing the waste management system in the United States is that landfill space in the US is diminishing rapidly. On top of that, they discovered that in the Northeast region, municipalities will have exhausted all the available landfill space as early as 2030. To help address this issue, Co-Founders Andrew Murray and Nick Balboni shifted their robotics platform to one they have named SmartCan.

SmartCan is a device that attaches to the bottom of residential trash can, one that would be collected from your local garbage truck. The goal of the device is to track metrics to more effectively measure waste generation. The device collects key data like the weight of the trash that is going into these garbage bins on a daily basis. This collection of data will allow municipalities, businesses, and institutions to target areas with high garbage levels and implement reduction programs to help reduce waste. The long-term goal is waste reduction to try and slow the fast-growing landfill levels.

“At Rezzi, we are working to empower those that can enact change to better monitor and track their waste reduction and diversion initiatives. We are excited to join the NERC community to connect with members who are looking for ways to better monitor their on-site waste generation and drive change at the ground level.”

NERC is excited to welcome Rezzi to its team of Supporting Advisory Members. We look forward to helping Rezzi in any way we can and working with them as they grow and expand.

For more information about Rezzi click here

Interstate Refrigerant Recovery Inc.

sophie@nerc.org (Sophie Leone) — Wed, 22 May 2024 04:02:26 GMT

We are pleased to welcome Interstate Refrigerant Recovery Inc. as a new Supporting Advisory Members to the Northeast Recycling Council

Since their start in 2000, Interstate Refrigerant Recover Inc. (IRRI) has grown more every Year. They currently work with over 500 towns, municipalities, scrap yards and large commercial contractors in the Northeast to recover all freon from different types of units. Their work involves recycling refrigerant from appliances that are dropped off at transfer stations, and other companies in the New England area. The importance of their work lies in the recycling of refrigerants which are part of household items such as air conditioners, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, water coolers, and some water heaters now. Refrigerant can also be found in large commercial appliances and commercial rooftop chillers.

Freon, another word for refrigerant, is an essential part of all cooling appliances but is dangerous as it contains chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which are detrimental to our ozone layer. CFCs were invented around a century ago and it wasn’t until the 1970s that their harmful effects were discovered. Since then, the Environmental Protection Agency has worked to implement regulations of CFC’s. IRRI’s work is crucial as they help facilitate the proper disposal and recycling of these substances. Interstate Refrigerant doesn’t only recover all refrigerant they also have their sister company Refrigerant Solutions Inc. where all freon is brought and reclaimed or sent out to other Companies for further processing or Disposal.

IRRI has had the privilege to be able to work with large entities including Yankee Stadium, Mass General Hospital and on some decommissioned Navy Vessels to properly remove and recycle refrigerant. The scale of their work is not only impressive but also critical for the safety of our environment and preserving the current state of our ozone.

“Protecting the Environment and Ozone Layer for the Future of Our Children”

NERC is pleased to welcome IRRI as a new Supporting Advisory Member. We look forward to seeing them expand in the Northeast and continue to do the extremely important work they do.

For more information about the IRRI click here

South Carolina Department of Commerce

sophie@nerc.org (Sophie Leone) — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 18:50:43 GMT

South Carolina Department of Commerce

The South Carolina Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) is a state cabinet agency dedicated to ensuring South Carolina’s sustainable advantage and to increasing choices for all South Carolinians by creating economic opportunities. To achieve these goals, S.C. Commerce:

Recruits companies across a wide spectrum of industries — advanced energy, aerospace, automotive, headquarters, life sciences, manufacturing and others — to the state.
Supports South Carolina’s existing industry through supply chain solutions, emergency management resources, recycling market connections and much more.
Supports South Carolina’s business ecosystem to facilitate the creation of new businesses and technology within the state.
Provides incentives to qualifying companies and communities to promote economic development across the entire state.

South Carolina’s economic success is built on the state’s infrastructure, innovative capabilities, educated workforce and dedication to its environment, which is home to some of the most diverse ecosystems in the United States. There are over 300 recycling businesses currently in South Carolina, and the industry is experiencing a period of immense growth. From 2019 to 2023, companies in the state’s recycling industry announced capital investments totaling $6.6 billion, representing over 5,000 new jobs. More updates on South Carolina’s recycling industry can be found in the South Carolina Department of Commerce 2023 Annual Report.

S.C. Commerce works to ensure the health of the state’s environment through expansive recycling efforts. To encourage companies to prioritize sustainable operations, the state offers Green Initiative Credits . These credits are used to reward qualified recycling facilities, incentivize the installation of solar energy systems and more. Another sustainability initiative, the Recycling Markets Directory , allows manufacturers in South Carolina to find recycling within their area and keep valuable materials in motion.

NERC is pleased to welcome the South Carolina Department of Commerce to its team of Supporting Advisory Members . We look forward to working with S.C. Commerce and providing the necessary tools and support to help grow their ever-expanding recycling market.

For more information about the South Carolina Department of Commerce click here

Save the date: 2024 Resource Recycling Conference

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 18:18:20 GMT

E-Scrap News

“NERC is thrilled to be engaged in such a content-rich event. The Resource Recycling Conference is distinguished as a forum for vibrant networking opportunities,” Megan Schulz-Fontes, executive director of the Northeast Recycling Council, said in a news release. “Our team looks forward to hearing from the top minds in the industry on diverse approaches to solving critical issues in the field of sustainable materials management.”

To read the full article click here.

Ask Us: Electronics recycled at Best Buy go to disposal firms certified as reputable

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 18:23:21 GMT

The Free Press

Over its history, Electronic Recyclers International has recycled more than 1 billion tons of electronics “including cell phones, televisions, computer monitors, tablets and white goods like washers, dryers and refrigerators,” according to a company profile by the Northeast Recycling Council. “Furthermore, ERI was the first electronics recycling company in the world to receive R2 and e-Stewards certification.”

To read the full article click here.

The paper industry's push toward recycled content

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 18:26:51 GMT

Recycling Today

Paper and packaging companies have been making an effort to use more recycled content over the past several years, with 25 expansion projects or new builds announced since 2017, according to data from the Brattleboro, Vermont-based Northeast Recycling Council (NERC).

To read the full article click here.

News from American Forest & Paper Association, Northeast Recycling Council and more

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 18:33:40 GMT

Resource Recycling

The Northeast Recycling Council published its quarterly MRF commodity values survey covering the fourth quarter of 2023.

To read the full article click here.

Recycled fiber capacity tracker publishes final report

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 18:29:47 GMT

Resource Recycling

All but two of 25 confirmed recycled paper mill projects announced over the past five years are completed, and new capacity activity has slowed considerably, according to a recent review led by the Northeast Recycling Council.

To read the full article click here.

Sizable Increase Seen in Commodity Values for Q4 2023

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 19:25:15 GMT

NERC’s MRF Values Survey Report for the period October - December 2023 showed a significant rise in the average commodity price for Q4. The average value of all commodities increased by 36% with residuals and 32% without from Q3 to Q4 2023.

Data from RecyclingMarkets.net shows increased prices for both Old Corrugated Containers (OCC) and Residential Mixed Paper (RMP). Both commodities steadily rose in price throughout 2023. In the fourth quarter, OCC went up in value by $20 per ton while RMP increased by $15 per ton (RecyclingMarkets.net). Those two paper grades supply slightly over 60 percent of the recyclables processed at the MRFs. This data indicates that those prices have lifted a MRF ton's value.

Processing costs increased by 6.05% from $87.78 to $93.09/ton.

This is the 18th 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.

These survey results reflect the differing laws and collection options in the participating states. Four of the states have beverage container deposit laws. As a result, fewer glass bottles, PET bottles and aluminum cans are processed in MRFs in those states. Those MRFs are also likely to have less revenue from those recyclables. In addition, the report reflects a mix of single stream, dual stream, and source separation to collect recyclables with single stream being the most common approach. The type of collection used will have an impact on MRF design and operation. Thus, the data from this report reflects the unique blend of facilities and statewide laws in the reporting states.

For more information, contact Megan Schulz-Fontes, Executive Director, at megan@nerc.org .

NERC Releases Final Update on Increased Capacity to Use Recycled Paper

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 19:28:36 GMT

The Northeast Recycling Council's (NERC) has published the final update to its Recycled Paper Capacity Increases in North America report. This update reflects continuing progress to use more recycled paper in North America. Twenty-three of the 25 projects in the report are now completed. One will open this spring and another in 2026. Download the most recent report .

This update includes projects at 25 mills, of which 23 have been completed. The 23 completed projects include five new mills. When NERC first published this list in November 2018, it included new capacity at 17 mills, of which three projects were completed.

The list of additional recycled paper capacity includes new paper mills, expansion of existing capacity at packaging mills, and conversions of printed paper machines at existing mills to produce packaging paper (e.g. from newsprint to packaging). The list also includes several mills that are producing recycled fiber pulp for export and one mill designed to use food contaminated paper from commercial sources.

The majority of new capacity increases in this list are for mills producing linerboard and corrugated medium. They will use old corrugated containers (OCC), often called “cardboard boxes”, as their feedstock. They are unlikely to use mixed paper, whether derived from residential or commercial recycling programs, unless their stock preparation system allows for its use. However, up to half of these mills plan to use mixed paper, although it is likely to be a minor input. Several mills plan to consume significant amounts of residential mixed paper (RMP) which is collected at curbsides throughout the country. Because the price for mixed paper tracks that of OCC, increased capacity and market value for OCC normally increases the price paid for RMP.

These 25 projects have the potential to use more than 8 million tons of OCC and RMP. However, less efficient, more costly capacity is often closed when new capacity comes on-line. This is already happening. While we do not know yet what the total new capacity will be, we know this expansion in using recycled paper is unprecedented.

NERC has been reporting on national investment in paper recycling infrastructure since November 2018. The report has been updated five times.

For further information, contact Megan Fontes, NERC Executive Director, or Chaz Miller, Chair of the NERC-NEWMOA Regional Recycling Markets Committee, megan@nerc.org or chazmiller9@gmail.com.

Help Correct the Record on Recycling

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 18:37:41 GMT

Recycling Today

Despite that, 23 recycled containerboard conversions or capacity expansions have been made since 2017, according to data from the Brattleboro, Vermont-based Northeast Recycling Council presented at the Southeast Recycling Conference (SERC) in Florida, in February.

To read the full article click here.

CLYNK

sophie@nerc.org (Sophie Leone) — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 19:53:11 GMT

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

Recycled Paper Mill Closes its Doors in Vermont.

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 19:41:34 GMT

Resource Recycling

In recent years, Soundview invested significantly in the facility to improve its recycled fiber capabilities. In a March 2019 presentation to the Northeast Recycling Council, company representatives described an investment of more than $1.5 million in the Putney mill to improve its pulping system.

To read the full article click here.

University of Massachusetts Lowell

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 17:46:12 GMT

We are pleased to welcome University of Massachusetts Lowell as a new Supporting Advisory Member to the Northeast Recycling Council

The latest addition to NERC’s roster of Advisory Members from the world of academia is University of Massachusetts Lowell . Its Office of Sustainability , first opened in January 2015, “provides the UMass Lowell community with essential and centralized support services which integrate, communicate, and promote sustainable opportunities that contribute to the pursuit of carbon neutrality.”

The Office’s accomplishments are several:

In 2021, UMass Lowell maintained its high ranking in Sierra magazine’s 15th annual Cool Schools ranking of North America’s greenest colleges and universities.
In 2020, UMass Lowell was named “Innovator of the Year” at the Casella Sustainability Leadership Awards for the new and creative ways that the university sustains resources and diverts waste destined for landfills.
In 2019, UMass Lowell was rated in the top schools for sustainability out of over 2,000 that The Princeton Review considered.
Also in 2019, UMass Lowell was recognized as a top performer for its campus sustainability program in the AASHE’s 2019 Sustainable Campus Index.

In fact, UMass Lowell's initial sustainability efforts began in 1989 with the launch of a recycling program. The University’s well-developed Recycling & Waste Diversion programs reduce solid waste and increase recycling efforts across all corners of campus.

The programs’ notable successes include:

A Zero-Sort Recycling Program provides occupants of personal office, lab and room trash receptacles with the means to separate their waste stream products (recyclable and non-recyclable).
Battery and electronics drop-off boxes are located throughout the campus, where items are collected, sorted and securely recycled through trusted university vendors.
Through the University’s partnership with Casella Waste Solutions and Casella Organics , a local composting facility was identified to accept food waste and create high-grade compost from it.

UMass Lowell uses a self-service request system called CAMIS to process and review specialized recycling work orders in a timely and efficient manner. Participants can access the system for:

Pickup/disposal of electronics, furniture, toner and ink cartridges, light bulbs, computer accessories, small appliances, and other miscellaneous items
Recycle or Shred Bin Replacements
Other Environmental Health & Safety Requests

Another exciting development in the University’s sustainability efforts is its Innovation Hub , a co-working space offering work and laboratory space and access to office resources in the short term, rather than long-term, expensive business leases. Earlier in 2023, the Hub launched its inaugural Clean Green Challenge , a pitch contest for entrepreneurs and startups from across the region focused on sustainability. A UMass Lowell research team placed third out of five teams with a plan to develop technology that will help recycle battery materials such as lithium, nickel and cobalt more efficiently.

Assoc. Prof. of Management Scott Latham, who emceed the event, said, “You hear a lot about artificial intelligence, but by 2025, climate technology investments by corporations will be between $1.5 trillion to $2 trillion, while AI will be only $1 trillion. You can’t overstate how important this cluster is going to be for the commonwealth, and we’re playing a big role here at UMass Lowell.”

Assoc. Vice Chancellor Arlene Parquette added, “We’ve always had a thriving community of startup companies and innovators, but we’re really pivoting now and focusing our efforts on sustainability.”

NERC looks forward to fruitful collaborations with UMass Lowell, not only in its pivot to a sustainability focus at the Hub, but in the further development of sustainability-focused programs throughout the campus and beyond.

For more information about UMass Lowell click here

Empowering Curbside Recycling for Small & Mid-Sized Communities

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 15:53:24 GMT

Bulk Handling Systems has released a flyer on Empowering Curbside Recycling for Small & Mid-Size Communities. This informative flyer highlights the limited space left in landfills and the lack of curbside recycling, as well as outlines breakthroughs in technology that have been powered by AI. BHS is encouraging individuals to take the first steps towards curbside recycling processing in communities. Reach out to them at CRS@bhsequip.com.

Viably

sophie@nerc.org (Sophie Leone) — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 03:54:30 GMT

We are pleased to welcome Viably as a new Supporting Advisory Member to the Northeast Recycling Council

Formerly known as Komptech Americas and recently rebranded as Viably , the Colorado-based company’s President describes the rationale for the name change in these terms:

“For over a decade, Komptech Americas has been a leading supplier of industrial waste and recycling equipment,” Brandon Lapsys explains. “And while you can count on our team to continue as the master distributor of Komptech technologies across North America, we’re expanding our capabilities, partnerships, and equipment lineup under the new brand name of Viably.

“We chose the name Viably because that’s how we approach everything we do. From parts and service to rental and pre-owned machine sales, there’s a lot we can do to help you increase efficiency, drive throughput, and produce the highest quality end products.”

NERC’s new Advisory Member anticipates a dramatic increase in its capabilities for distributing waste and recycling equipment, as Lapsys points out:

We will soon introduce the new Komptech Lacero high-speed grinder, engineered for tough wood and green waste applications.
We fully support Stationary Plant System integration, from design through installation and after sales support.
Viably is a distributor of the full line of Turbo Separator food waste depackagers manufactured by Scott Equipment Company. These industry-proven systems separate up to 99% of organics from institutional and consumer packaging.
We also distribute GypStream drywall recycling systems from Scott Equipment Company, which separates 99% pure gypsum from drywall paper backing.
Viably is the North American Master Distributor of Harp Renewables Waterless Biodigesters, a range of aerobic recycling systems that reduce food waste volume by an average of 70% in 24 hours, producing a nutrient-rich, premium output that can be used as a soil enhancer, biomass fuel, or anaerobic digestion feedstock.

On its website, Viably differentiates among the solutions it offers according to waste stream:

Its C&D waste processing solutions enable the diversion of more materials from landfills and transform them into profitable resources and revenue streams with economic and environmental benefits.
Its Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) technologies recover value through efficient sizing, screening, and separating materials to maximize production efficiency, lower operation and labor costs, and increase diversion rates.
Viably enables its partners to efficiently process green waste, food waste, and other organics to produce quality mulch, compost, and soil amendment products.

“We align cutting-edge waste shredding, windrow turning, screening, separating, depackaging, and biodigestion technologies with your specific production needs,” the company states. “This potent combination ensures that Viably solutions optimize your operational efficiencies and escalate your profitability.”

“Our work is not pretty,” the company continues. “Today, and every day, we tear into the waste of the world in search of more sustainable solutions. Because the path to a healthier planet requires innovation. Right here. Right now.”

For more information about Viably, please visit their website at https://thinkviably.com . Or contact the Viably team directly at hello@thinkviably.com.

NERC is pleased to welcome Viably to its team of Advisory Members. We look forward to collaborations that will improve the performance of waste and recycling technologies.

For more information about Viably click here

NERC’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Journey

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 12:38:31 GMT

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC)’s work on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) began approximately 20 years ago and continues today. The effort, spearheaded by Mary Ann Remolador, Assistant Director and Conference Organizer, started with the realization that NERC’s events were comprised of one-dimensional presenters and attendees. NERC knew it needed to diversify its constituency to gain different perspectives in conversations and obtain a deeper understanding of the issues facing Sustainable Materials Management (SMM).

In 2003, NERC began a concerted effort to invite women from its member states and organizations to submit abstracts for presentations and to attend events. This resulted in a significant increase in the number of women participating in our events. Today, not only are more than half of the members of NERC’s committees' women; NERC’s latest conference in the fall of 2023 featured women that made up over half of the presenters. Women play an influential role in guiding project work and discussions on topical issues at NERC.

Five years later, the NERC team added students to their outreach demographic to increase the number of younger participants at its conferences. Colleges and universities throughout the 11 Northeast states were given information about NERC’s events. By 2010, NERC had launched a student scholarship program that allowed interested students to attend its conferences at no cost. To date, a total of 39 students participated in the program, who expanded their professional network and gained direct exposure to the field of SMM.

It was then, NERC turned its focus to ensure that more people of color were represented across presenters and attendees to support equal representation of individuals across the industry. To continue with diversifying NERC events, the team widened its scope of groups to reach out to, which included Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and student groups such as Asian, Latino, and LGBTQ+ at colleges and universities. As a result, 16 individuals from HBCUs were provided scholarships to attend NERC conferences.

This past Fall, NERC launched the Emerging Professionals Program which invites state agencies and industry organizations to sponsor professionals new to the field from their workforce to participate in the Conference. The initial cohort included three emerging professionals.

In March 2021, NERC developed a four-part Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Training series for those working in SMM across the country. The trainings were free and open for anyone to attend. The topics explored in the series included Making the Case for DE&I, Recognizing & Addressing Unconscious Bias, Creating a DE&I Path, and Engaging with Diverse Communities. Attendees totaled 800 from 37 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Canada.

By the end of the training series, the NERC Board recognized the need to establish a DE&I Committee to formally work on incorporating DE&I into its operations and work. Additionally, a commitment was made to ensure at least one session about DE&I is featured in all conferences. Moving forward, DE&I and environmental justice (EJ) considerations will also be woven into every conference session as is relevant.

The DE&I Committee was first tasked with developing a DE&I mission statement. The statement, which was formally adopted by the NERC Board in 2023, is outlined below:

NERC works to minimize waste, conserve natural resources, and advance a sustainable economy through facilitated collaboration and action. We are dedicated to representing our diverse world while fostering equitable access to effective sustainable materials management. We are committed to building a culture based on the values of equity, respect, accountability, and trust rooted in our organizational decision-making, programs and operations, and the communities we serve.

The DE&I Committee, chaired by Jessica Levine, Diversity & Inclusion Manager at The Recycling Partnership, led the development of NERC’s latest spring conference Building a Diverse Workforce for Sustainable Materials Management , which included sessions, such as Clearing Pathways for Underrepresented Individuals and Creating Retention Strategies for an Inclusive Workplace.

“NERC's dedicated effort to integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) into its core mission reflects a significant leap forward in aligning organizational values with the evolving needs of today's society,” Levine says. “Prioritizing diversity and equity as foundational principles to advancing their mission, NERC demonstrates its dedication to environmental stewardship while also fostering inclusivity. Their mission reflects a purposeful and expanding effort to embed these values across operations and community engagement, underscoring a resolute commitment to creating a more inclusive and sustainable future.”

As NERC continues to work on embedding DE&I into its mission, values, and operations, we welcome ideas, feedback, and other comments on how to better serve the communities in our region and work towards a more equitable and inclusive industry.

All NERC State and Advisory Members are invited to join NERC’s active DE&I Committee. For more information about the DE&I work or committee, please contact Mary Ann Remolador .

Flexible Funding program awards $2.2M to 96 nonprofits

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 19:46:14 GMT

Greenfield Recorder

Notably, the videos have received recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Northeast Recycling Council. To better serve the diverse western Massachusetts communities, these videos have been translated into multiple languages, including Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian and Turkish.

To read the full article click here.

America's Recycling Discussion Heats Up: November's Top Recycling and Organics Stories

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 19:51:46 GMT

Waste 360

$169.75 per ton. That was the average value of northeastern MRF recyclables this Spring. When the Northeast Recycling Council started reporting the average value, in the second quarter of 2019, it was only $45.13 a ton. Then it went down $10 a ton, plodded along for a year and took off. In the third quarter of 2021, the value peaked at $175.95. NERC’s 2022 third quarter report will definitely be lower.

To read the full article click here.

Springfield MRF Advisory Board receives 2023 MassRecycle Award for Outstanding Institution

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 19:55:58 GMT

22News Newscast

Professional Recycling Videos: Collaborating with The Rendon Group and Reelife Productions to produce informative and engaging videos on recycling topics, garnering over 20,000 views since their release in January 2023. Remarkably, these videos have received recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Northeast Recycling Council.

To read the full article click here.

Bulk Handling Systems (BHS)

sophie@nerc.org (Sophie Leone) — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 18:14:44 GMT

We are pleased to welcome Bulk Handling Systems as a new Sustaining Advisory Member to Northeast Recycling Council

Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) designs, manufactures and installs processing systems that extract recyclables from the waste stream. BHS is a worldwide leader in the innovative design, engineering, manufacturing and installation of sorting systems and components for the solid waste, recycling, waste-to-energy, and construction and demolition industries.

The company’s areas of expertise include the following:

Municipal Solid Waste: BHS developed the first Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) recovery system in the U.S. to keep 70% of waste out of the landfill, capturing 90%-99% of high value commodities like PET plastics — on the first pass.
Single Stream Recycling: BHS manufactures sorting equipment designed to automatically separate commingled single stream recyclables into valuable commodities.
Plastics Recycling: The company’s front-end systems are a vital step in purifying post-consumer recycled PET (rPET) for a variety of uses including bottle-grade flake, pellets, bottle preforms, extruded sheet and thermoform packaging. In addition, these systems recover other recyclables including metals, aluminum & other plastics.
Compost and Organics: “Our in-line Tri-Disc screens have successfully refined wood products and green-waste for decades,” the company states. “As our customers dig deeper into the waste stream, we are leading the way with our screening, air separation, anaerobic digestion, and compost solutions.”

Subsidiaries wholly owned by BHS include Nihot (Amsterdam), NRT (Nashville, TN) and Zero Waste Energy (Lafayette, CA). BHS is also the home of Max-AI® technology, a breakthrough artificial intelligence that identifies materials, makes intelligent decisions and directs equipment such as robotic sorters.

“As we look toward the future, we see waste management companies, recyclers, and municipalities around the world facing changing material streams, unprecedented diversion expectations and a new drive toward creating energy from waste,” the company states. “BHS continues to set the pace by developing innovative solutions to these challenges, ensuring our customers will lead the industry now and in the future.”

Regional Sales Manager Todd Rubendall said, “BHS is delighted to become a member of NERC! In addition to enhancing our company presence in the Northeast and exhibiting our full range of capabilities, we are excited to learn from, and collaborate with fellow industry leaders and forward thinkers throughout the region. We look forward to the opportunity to play a key role in achieving the collective aspirations relating to environmental sustainability and a circular economy.”

NERC welcomes BHS to its roster of Sustaining Advisory Members . We look forward to learning more about the company’s efforts to add quantifiable improvements to the recycling process and collaborating to improve the process even more.

For more information about Bulk Handling Systems click here

NERC: Fiber makes up Greater Share of Tons

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 19:59:33 GMT

22News Newscast

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) recently published data on the average composition of curbside recycling bales from several northeastern U.S. MRFs in 2022. The data was included in a quarterly recyclables pricing survey published by the group.

To read the full article click here.

Slight Uptick Followed by Decline in Material Values Between April and September 2023

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 20:38:59 GMT

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.

Average Value Per Ton Trends: Q2 2019 – Q3 2023:

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.

Read the 2023 Q2-Q3 Report.

Earth Bio Technologies and Harvard University

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 18:29:33 GMT

We are pleased to welcome Earth Bio Technologies as a new Supporting Advisory Members to the Northeast Recycling Council

In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that annual food loss and waste in the United States equaled the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 42 coal-fired power plants. Furthermore, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), “when food ends up in landfills, it generates methane, an even more potent greenhouse gas.”

“The connection between food loss and waste and climate change is increasingly recognized as important,” USDA observed.

New NERC Advisory Member 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.

Noting that “roughly 35% of all food produced goes uneaten with most ending up in landfill as one of the largest waste streams by weight,” Earth Bio Tech developed a product it named Compolizer, which it describes as “as a remediation agent by accelerating the decomposition of organic material.” A recent development in the company’s extensive line of products is the ScrapDrain – Sink Solids Separator.

ScrapDrain “captures food scrap before it enters the drain line with greater capacity & finer collection,” the company states. “It keeps drains and septic systems clear from solids while helping to promote landfill diversion using compost options.”

A local new source in Earth Bio Tech’s hometown of Glendale PA covered the product launch in an article entitled Glenside’s EarthBio Technologies launches ScrapDrain .

The article reports:

“There is a long-standing belief that garbage disposals are eco-friendly. As Douglas Horner, managing director of EarthBio points out, ‘The operating facts suggest otherwise since garbage disposals use lots of electricity, loads of extra water, and produce a slurry of solids.’ This slurry, according to Horner, travels into our waterways to our wastewater treatment plants where the solids are screened out and trucked off to landfill.” “A cycle of futility”, Horner says.

ScrapDrain delivers 8x more capacity than the average sink strainer, the company reports. For residential applications, the food waste rinses into ScrapDrain where it is collected and strained. In a single motion, the stainless collection basket allows for simple transfer to the collection bin. For commercial applications, ScrapDrain prevents food solids from clogging the drain line and building up in the grease trap. As a result, the grease trap works more efficiently, and the drain lines stays clear and flowing.

Building upon its long history of addressing food waste and practical solutions to it, NERC welcomes Earth Bio Tech to its growing roster of Advisory Members. We look forward to cooperating with Earth Bio Tech in finding solutions to the issue of food waste.

For more information about Earth Bio Tech click here

Harvard University

sophie@nerc.org (Sophie Leone) — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 03:23:53 GMT

We are pleased to welcome Harvard University as a new Supporting Advisory Members to the Northeast Recycling Council

As one of the premier centers of higher education in the world, Harvard University hardly needs an introduction to readers of NERC’s Advisory Member Spotlight series. But as a new NERC Advisory Member , Harvard is afforded the opportunity to share with our readers the many sustainability successes over the past several years.

A visit to the University’s current home page underscores its unrelenting focus on sustainability. Instead of the usual bromides on academic achievements and successes in the arts and sports, Harvard chooses to highlight the issue of sustainable transportation. “Harvard experts are exploring planes, trains, and automobiles in their quest to innovate green travel, improve public transportation, and discover the future of getting from place to place,” the University reports.

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.”

“The major objective of Harvard’s plan remains Goal Zero,” the article continues. “This science-based goal, set in 2018, involves eliminating the use of fossil fuels in Harvard’s district energy supply, buildings, purchased electricity, and vehicle fleet on campus by 2050.”

“Even as we aim to achieve our big picture 2050 Goal Zero, our continued path to fossil-fuel-free and sustainable development includes a focus on holistic sustainability that addresses climate and the environment, equity, and well-being,” said Bill Clark, Harvey Brooks Research Professor of International Science, Public Policy, and Human Development at Harvard Kennedy School, and co-chair of the Sustainability Plan Subcommittee. “Our core sustainability vision is to enhance inclusive well-being in a way that does not jeopardize the ability of others elsewhere or in the future to advance their own well-being.”

Recent solutions for a zero-waste community at Harvard include:

In 2021, Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) partnered with Harvard Recycling and Waste Management to launch a plastic bag and film recycling program that has collected more than 2,000 pounds of plastic from the Harvard waste stream.
The plastic bag pilot project has also been explored by Harvard Business School (HBS), Harvard University Information Technology, Harvard Art Museums, and Harvard University Mail Services.

In Where Does our Waste Go? , the University’s Recycling & Waste Services details the paths of all items in the community’s waste stream, from composting and single stream recycling to textiles and electronic waste.

NERC is honored to welcome Harvard University to its growing roster of Supporting Advisory Members. We look forward to engaging with the University in its on-campus sustainability, as well as the applicability of its solutions to the wider community.

For more information about Harvard University click here

NERC Event Highlights 3 Trends to Watch in EPR Implementation

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 20:02:15 GMT

WasteDive

During the Northeast Recycling Council’s fall conference in Providence, Rhode Island, speakers from around the country talked through some of these emerging topics. Here are a few highlights from in-depth discussions that happened during sessions on Nov. 1.

To read the full article click here.

Glass Packaging Institute

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 17:35:42 GMT

We are pleased to welcome The Glass Packing Institute as a new Supporting Advisory Members to Northeast Recycling Council

Formed in August 2017, NERC’s Glass Committee seeks to better understand the recycled glass value chain and gaps in the Northeast, and to promote greater diversion of glass containers to the highest-value end uses. Despite the fact that glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality, challenges to the use of recycled glass exist. The weight of recycled glass presents challenges to transport over distances. In addition, debate continues over preference for extended producer responsibility (EPR) or bottle bills, although efforts are being made to reconcile the two approaches . A NERC webinar held in the Spring concluded that “bottle deposit systems and extended producer responsibility programs for packaging can complement each other, but need to be run effectively.”

With these opportunities and challenges in mind, NERC enthusiastically welcomes the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) to its growing roster of Sustaining Advisory Members . According to GPI President Scott DeFife, “We are the national trade association representing glass container manufacturers, glass recyclers and their supply chain partners in North America.”

“We support efforts to expand collection of glass containers and increase recycling rates of glass across the country,” DeFife notes. “We have successfully begun several initiatives in various areas to collect more glass from the hospitality sector, as well as supporting expansion and modernization of deposit return systems and extended producer responsibility programs that improve recycling.”

The positive impact of GPI’s membership has been felt quickly, as DeFife commented on the Glass Committee’s most recent report , which found that three-quarters of Northeast states use recycled glass as Alternative Daily Cover (ADC), instead of being used to manufacture new products. ADC is glass used as cover material placed on the surface of the active face of a municipal solid waste landfill.

“For years, GPI has been working to make policymakers and recycling stakeholders aware of this ongoing challenge, and we thank NERC for highlighting this issue,” DeFife stated . “GPI agrees with the report’s conclusion that more investment in glass recycling infrastructure would help decrease material contamination, and increase the volume of quality glass suitable to be recycled into new containers.”

“Local governments and states should re-consider providing any diversion or recycling credits to entities using glass as a landfill cover substitute, or for disposal of glass in any similar manner,” DeFife continued. “ADC should only be allowed after all other end market options for glass sorted by Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) are explored.”

Weighing in on the debate over EPR vs. bottle bills, DeFife stated , “There is ample proof that we need more bottle return programs, not fewer. It is in states and communities’ clear and vital interest to pass DRS (deposit return system) legislation, especially those legislatures that are also considering extended producer responsibility programs for packaging. Curbside pickup will remain a recycling staple but must remain supported by proven recycling programs that create higher volumes of cleaner streams of recyclable material.”

In addition to actively advocating for improved glass recycling infrastructure, GPI hosts the Clear Choice Awards (CCA) for glass packaging. The awards highlight “consumer product goods manufacturers who find noteworthy ways to use glass packaging to tell the story of their brand, create glass packaging designs that stand out from others, and help brands meet their sustainability goals,” according to GPI.

The involvement of the nation’s leading trade association in efforts to improve glass recycling is an essential step toward realizing such improvement. NERC looks forward to working further with GPI on our shared goals.of its solutions to the wider community.

For more information about the Glass Packaging Institute click here

Biden Administration Backing Changes to Mining Act

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 19:04:56 GMT

Recycling Today

The electronics recycler is urging state agencies and groups “to recognize that raw material subsidies are our biggest enemy,” and lists state environmental agencies and trade groups in his region such as the New Hampshire-based Northeast Resource Recovery Association (NRRA) and the Vermont-based Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) “to explain to recyclers that we have a huge interest in this.”

To read the full article click here.

Circular Polymers

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 17:42:15 GMT

We are pleased to welcome Circular Polymers as a new Supporting Advisory Member to The Northeast Recycling Council

Headquartered in Houston with its plant located in Lincoln CA, new NERC Advisory Member Circular Polymers by Ascend has redirected about 85 million pounds of waste from landfills since 2018 and plans to further expand its operations. The Nylon 6,6, Nylon 6, PET and Polypropylene derived by the company from post-consumer carpet become feedstock for chemical recycling, and also provide polymer for traditional industries.

In November 2022, Ascend Performance Materials purchased a majority stake in Circular Polymers. In June 2023, the company launched Cerene, which it describes as “a line of recycled polymers and materials made from the company’s proprietary carpet reclaiming technology.” The materials in the Cerene line provide sustainable feedstock for many applications, including molding and compounding.

“Customers around the globe are seeking consistent and reliable post-consumer recycled materials,” said Maria Field, business director of Circular Polymers by Ascend. “Cerene is mechanically recycled using a process that minimizes our carbon footprint and environmental impact.”

Ascend’s acquisition of Circular Polymers provides the parent company with a consistent supply of high-quality PCR materials for its ReDefyne sustainable polyamides. “We are focused on helping our customers reach their sustainability goals and Circular Polymers by Ascend provides materials that offer strong performance with a considerably smaller environmental footprint, compared to other technologies like pyrolysis,” said Phil McDivitt, president and CEO of Ascend. “Since we launched ReDefyne, the demand for our circular products has been significant across all segments of our business, including automotive, consumer, electronics and high-performance fibers and textiles.”

“Since 2018, we have focused on improving the sourcing and processing of post-consumer high-performance polymers,” said David Bender, founder and CEO of Circular Polymers. “Having Ascend on board will accelerate our growth and ensure these materials go back into new long-term, high-performance applications.”

It’s all hands on deck for solutions to the plastics waste pollution crisis. NERC welcomes Circular Polymers by Ascend as a new Advisory Member , and looks forward to partnering on approaches to an effective circular economy.

For more information about Circular Polymers click here

Glass Recycling on Long Island Hampered by Hodgepodge Approach, Limited Uses, Experts Say

Sat, 16 Sep 2023 19:27:14 GMT

Newsday

A July 12 report by the nonprofit Northeast Recycling Council said states from Maine to Pennsylvania, including New York, commonly pick up glass together with other material. The result, the report said, is that glass is used to cover landfills because it's too dirty to be useful in manufacturing.

To read the full article click here.

NERC's 2023 Fall Conference - A Resourceful Future for Sustainable Materials Management

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 19:42:11 GMT

The Northeast Recycling Council’s (NERC) 2023 Fall Conference—A Resourceful Future for Sustainable Materials Management—offers attendees a multitude of opportunities for engaging in critical discussions with colleagues and promote circular economy practices while hearing from noteworthy speakers, panelists, and exhibiters. The Conference topics include Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Recycling Market Development, Recycling Media Literacy, Recycling and Composting in Environmental Justice (EJ) Communities, and Policies to Support Organics Programs. The one-and-a-half-day Conference will be held in-person on November 1-2 at the Hotel Providence in Providence, Rhode Island.

Brett Smiley, Mayor of Providence will kick off the Conference with welcoming remarks and the keynote address, Incentives for Eco-design in Extended Producer Responsibility Programs, will be given by Reid Lifset, a Research Scholar and Resident Fellow in Industrial Ecology from Yale University. Following the opening remarks, four presenters will provide updates on existing packaging EPR laws in four states: Darla Arians, EPR Program Lead at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; Jessica Nadeau, Environmental Specialist at Maine Department of Environmental Protection; Karen Kayfetz, Branch Chief, Product Stewardship Branch, of CalRecycle; and Rachel Perlman, a Consultant at Resource Recycling Systems. The following session will discuss EPR for Hard to Recycle Materials, specifically focusing on used electronics, batteries, and household hazardous waste. Naomi Manahan, a Senior Operations Program Manager from Reverse Logistics Group, will cover Illinois & South Carolina's Electronic Stewardship Legislation, and staff from the District of Columbia’s Department of Energy and Environment will detail DC's Battery Producer Responsibility Law. Wrapping up the EPR discussion, Josh Kelly, Solid Waste Program Manager at Vermont's Agency of Natural Resources, will describe the Household Hazardous Waste EPR Program.

The second half of the day will feature three presenters on the New Approaches to Recycling Market Development session. Kate Walker, Executive Director of SUNY Center for Sustainable Materials Management, will speak about Partnerships for Zero Waste Projects in New York State. Sean Sylver, Recycle Planner at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, will speak about using a Diverse Stakeholder Recycling Market Development Workgroup for State Planning. Ross Bergman, GreenBlue Institute's Director of Recycled Material Standard, will present on Attributes of Recycled Content Certificates for New Revenue Streams and More Resilient Markets.

Concluding the first day will be a four-person panel on Media Literacy as It Pertains to Recycling. Gretchen Carey, Sustainability Manager of New England Region, Republic Services, and President of Mass Recycle, will lead a discussion on Creating and Sharing the Story. Dan Green, CEO of Helpsy, will speak about Increasing Awareness and Dispelling Myths About Textile Recycling. A Communication Strategies and Key Messaging discussion will be offered by Oregon Metro’s Program Manager, Jill Hrycyk. Finally, JoAnn Gemenden, Executive Director of New Jersey Clean Communities, will lead a conversation on using a Digital Platform for Increasing Recycling Rates.

Day Two will begin with a presentation on Scaling New Recycling & Composting Programs in Environmental Justice Communities by Chris Gaynor, Climate Justice Specialist with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management; and Amelia Rose, the Executive Director of Groundwork Rhode Island. The final topic, Policies and Regulations to Encourage Organics Programs, will be discussed by a panel of professionals. The Center for Ecotechnology’s Heather Billings will focus on Assessing Food Waste Policies. The topic of Pivoting Organics Diversion Messaging to a Rodent Control Measure will be covered by Michael Orr, Recycling Director of the City of Cambridge Massachusetts Department of Public Works. The third panelist, Shannon McDonald, Natural Resource Planner at Maryland Department of the Environment will cover Creating Sustainable and Equitable Programs.

The Conference Agenda provides greater details about the sessions and schedule.

At the Conference, NERC will also premiere the Emerging Professionals Program, designed to foster the growth and development of new talent in the field of sustainable materials management. The Program gives organizations the opportunity to sponsor their newest employees or interns to attend the conference at a reduced rate, network with colleagues, and hear from and make connections with industry experts and seasoned professionals.

We would like to thank the Conference sponsors. They include Recycle Coach, Networking Reception sponsor; The Association of Plastic Recyclers and Republic Services, Silver Sponsors; and Carton Council, the Environmental Research & Education Foundation, and PaintCare, Bronze Sponsors. Finally, our Supporting Sponsors are American Recycler, Recycling Today, Resource Recycling, and WasteAdvantage magazine.

Microplastics: The What, Where, Why And Impact

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 11:37:25 GMT

Today's guest blog is authored by Craig Coker is a Senior Editor at BioCycle CONNECT and a Principal at Coker Composting and Consulting near Roanoke VA. The original post can be read here.

Among the organics recycling challenges du jour is the potential presence of microplastics in compost and digestate. Two-part article series starts with an overview and ends with findings of current research. Part I

Food waste disposal bans have been implemented in four states (New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont) and diversion requirements are established in six others (California, Oregon, Washington, Connecticut, New Jersey and Maryland). There are also food waste landfill bans and/or diversion policies in a number of communities (San Antonio TX, Boulder CO, Hennepin County MN, Seattle WA and New York City). The oldest of these diversion requirements is in Vermont, which passed its Universal Recycling Law in 2012 and which covers both commercial and residential sources of food wastes.

Over the past 10 years, the organics recycling industry (which includes composting, anaerobic digestion, and diversion to animal feed) has come to recognize that plastics contamination from food packaging is a significant challenge to the implementation and growth of these diversion practices. Plastic packaging is ubiquitous in

the American food distribution system. Many different types of plastics are used in food packaging, as shown in Table 1.

Recovering packaged food wastes for reuse or recycling requires either mechanical depackagers or human labor for source separation, both of which are likely to achieve variable and imperfect separation efficiency (do Carmo Precci Lopes et al., 2019; Edwards et al., 2018). Depackaged and source separated food wastes may contain missorted plastic packaging with varying levels of contamination (Porterfield et al., 2023). Plastic contamination in organics recycling — especially in food waste feedstocks — has led to concerns about microplastics.

What Are Microplastics?

Microplastics (MPs) are small plastic fragments that are less than 5 millimeters (mm) in size — slightly larger than one-eighth inch. A subcategory of microplastics is nanoplastics, synthetic polymers with dimensions ranging from 1 nanometer (nm) to 1 micrometer (μm). For perspective, a compost bacterium is about 1,000 nanometers in size and the width of a single human hair is 20 to 200 μm. Examples of MPs are shown in Figure 1.

There is no consensus on the definition of nano and microplastic particles in relation to human health (Vose, 2022). MPs are directly released to the environment or secondarily derived from plastic disintegration in the environment (Lai, 2022). In a 2021 Spanish study, five polymers represented 94% of the plastic items found in the organic fraction of municipal solid waste: polyethylene, polystyrene, polyester, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and acrylic polymers in order of abundance. Polyethylene was more abundant in films, polystyrene in fragments, polypropylene in filaments, and fibers were dominated by polyester (Edo, 2022).

How Are Microplastics Formed?

MPs can be introduced to agricultural soils through products engineered to be small, such as plastic-coated controlled release fertilizers, treated seeds, and capsule suspension plant protection products. They can be introduced via plastic mulching, contaminated soil amendments, irrigation water, atmospheric deposition, roads and litter (Porterfield et al., 2023 and citations within).

MPs can also be formed during and as a result of food waste depackaging, a separation process. In its simplest form, separation is a binary process, splitting a feed material into two components. These components could be called the extract (or that which you are trying to recover) and the reject (that which you do not want). The objective of a binary materials separator is to split a feed material into two different components by exploiting some difference in the material’s properties.

Separation of materials requires identifying the appropriate characteristic by which separation can be done — or what material property will be exploited to achieve separation. This could be called the “code,” or signal, to tell a machine how to separate materials. The ability of a human or a machine to identify a property’s characteristic and to perform some function, actively or passively, on that material as a result of that information could be called “switching,” or separating the material according to that characteristic (Vesilind, 1984). For example, depackaging commingled food wastes uses density as a code and can use force as a switch to separate packaging, then uses compressive strength (hardness) as a code and pressure as a switch to push organics through an extrusion plate or separator screen.

Depackaging source separated food wastes is very labor-intensive if done by humans. As a result, a number of depackaging equipment systems have come to the U.S. organics recycling market (Coker, 2019; Coker, 2021). The methods used to separate foods from their packages include extrusion (similar to how pasta and ground meat are made), vertical hammermills (force applied against a vertical punch-plate screen), horizontal paddle separators (squeezing the packaging between paddle and containment shell), and centrifugal force separators. There are no data available on which depackaging methods produce MPs or in what quantities, but it is reasonable to assume that machines exerting more force on packaged foods risk higher production of MPs due to shattering of brittle plastics like some high-density polyethylene (HDPE ) and polypropylene.

Health Effects of Microplastics

The research on the health effects of microplastics has focused, to date, on direct exposure. MPs in composts and digestates used as soil amendments are a secondary pathway of exposure, which has not yet been studied to any extent.

Inhalation and ingestion are the two primary routes of exposure to MPs. Inhalation causes physical damage to the lungs and ingestion is thought to have potential impacts on the immune system, liver, energy metabolism and reproduction. There are no comprehensive studies of MPs in the diet, although MPs have been found in seafood/fish, salt, beer, honey, milk, rice, sugar and seaweed (Vose, 2022).

In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) commissioned a report to evaluate the evidence of risks to human health associated with exposure to nano and microplastic particles (NMP) in drinking water. A key observation is that MPs are ubiquitous in the environment and have been detected in environmental media with direct relevance for human exposure, including air, dust, water, food and beverages.

There is increasing awareness of the occurrence of MPs in air and their implications for human health. Studies of the inhalation of MPs should include consideration of their biokinetics, as their intake depends on their size, shape, density and surface chemistry, which influence their deposition in the alveolar regions of the lungs. Better characterization is needed of the properties of MPs in air, such as the fractions that contribute to airborne particulate matter and their absolute concentrations. The current lack of such data limits characterization and quantification of the impact of human inhalation of MPs.

Ingestion of MP has been reported in a variety of foods and beverages. An assessment of overall human exposure to MPs is complicated by the limited availability of data on the occurrence of MPs measuring <10 μm in water, food and beverages. Observations from particle and fiber toxicology indicate that particles <10 μm are probably taken up biologically. Most of the available studies on the occurrence of MPs in water, food and beverages reported particles measuring >10 μm, which are unlikely to be absorbed or taken up.

The WHO assessed the quality, reliability and relevance of data on both exposure and effects for their possible contribution to a risk assessment of MPs. The assessment scores indicated that the available data are of only very limited use. Several shortcomings were identified, the most important of which was the heterogeneity of the methods used. It is recommended that standard methods be developed and adopted to ensure that the research community can reduce uncertainties, strengthen overall scientific understanding and provide more robust data for assessing the risks of human exposure to NMPs (WHO, 2022).

Environmental Effects of Microplastics

MPs are categorized as emerging persistent pollutants that occur widely in various ecosystems. MP measurements reported in the literature are 10’s to 1,000’s of particles per dry kilogram of agricultural soils, similar to levels found in composts and digestates (Porterfield et al., 2023). Microplastics in soils have been found to increase soil aeration, water repellence and porosity but to decrease soil bulk density and aggregate sizes (e.g., de Souza Machado et al., 2018b, 2019; Kim et al., 2021; Qi et al., 2020).

MPs’ impacts on terrestrial plants (particularly crops) are poorly understood. Given the persistence and widespread distribution of MPs in the soil, they have potential impacts on terrestrial plants (Wang et al., 2022). Due to their small size and high adsorption capacity, MPs can adhere to the surfaces of seeds and roots, and thus inhibit seed germination, root elongation, and absorption of water and nutrients, and ultimately inhibit plant growth. MPs, especially nanoplastics, can be absorbed by roots, and be moved to stems, leaves, and fruits. The adherence and accumulation of MPs can induce oxidative stress, a complex chemical and physiological phenomenon that occurs in higher plants ( vascular ) and develops as a result of overproduction and accumulation of reactive oxygen species. They also can induce toxicity to plant cells and to genetic material in plants, leading to a series of changes in plant growth, mineral nutrition, photosynthesis, toxic accumulation, and metabolites in plants tissues. Overall, the phytotoxicity of MPs varies dependent on their polymer type, size, dose and shape, plant tolerance, and exposure conditions. The accumulation of MPs and subsequent damage in plants may further affect crop productivity, and food safety and quality, causing potential health risks (Wang et al., 2022).

Soil microorganisms can be affected by MPs. There are effects on species dominance, diversity and richness reported in the literature (e.g., Blöcker et al., 2020; Fei et al., 2020; Ren et al., 2020) and MPs have been found to cause oxidative stress and abnormal gene expression in earthworms (which can consume and transport MPs) (Cheng et al., 2020).

Even compostable plastics can be a source of MPs. Not all certified compostable packaging fully composts in all facilities due to variability in the technologies and processes used at each facility (USEPA, 2021). The European compostable plastics standard (EN 13432) defines a material as compostable, if 90% (by weight) of the material is fragmented (disintegrated) into particles <2 mm, i.e., below the limit at which particles “count,” after 12 weeks of standardized composting and fully mineralized by 90% within 6 months. The remaining 10% may be transformed into biomass or simply be fragmented into microplastic (Steiner, 2022).

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

Scrapp

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 17:48:08 GMT

We are pleased to welcome Scrapp as an advisory member of NERC

Scrapp is a waste technology and data platform on a mission to simplify waste management infrastructure by enabling brands, municipalities, packagers & consumers to speak one common language through accessible technology & data analytics. Scrapp has 3 main technological solutions:

The Scrapp Separation Station empowers organizations to recycle right, by scanning the barcode of a product or by searching from a personalized recycling wiki. The Separation Station turns any recycling bin into a smart bin, requiring zero retrofits. This allows businesses to engage employees around low-waste initiatives, while raising money for charities of their choice or educating on the topic of sustainability.
The mobile app for consumers provides real-time product and location-specific recycling guidance by scanning the GTIN/UPC barcode on products. The Scrapp mobile app automatically updates recycling guidance based on the user’s location to show you whether or not something is recyclable in their area. This app is free to download but has paid feature upgrades which are showcased in Scrapp’s municipality programs.
Recycling Management for Municipalities: With a simple dashboard and built-in gamification, communities are able to digitize their recycling programs and engage residents on the benefits of recycling while raising money for local charities. With this program, they can customize the app specific to their needs and generate data insights to understand aspects of their solid waste programs, such as contamination and engagement rates.

Scrapp offers a variety of services both free and paid to help people create engaging solid waste & recycling programs. They are on a mission to educate and empower a global community toward a circular future. Scrapp provides recycling & composting guidance for the entirety of the USA, Canada, and UK - covering 400 million people.

NERC welcomes Scrapp as a new Advisory Member. The company’s technology helps differentiate regulations according to region, thereby reducing the likelihood of contamination and incentivizing higher quality post-recycling materials.

For more information about Scrapp click here

Sunny ESF

sophie@nerc.org (Sophie Leone) — Sat, 19 Aug 2023 03:09:04 GMT

We are pleased to welcome T he Center for Sustainable Materials Management at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry as an advisory member of NERC

Located near the campus of Syracuse University in central New York state, NERC’s new Advisory Member is engaged in training the next generation of sustainability experts. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is home to approximately 2,000 graduate and undergraduate students who are focused on the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable future.

The New York State Center for Sustainable Materials Management (Center) was established at ESF in the spring of 2020 through a NYS Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) grant administered by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The Center places ESF, DEC, and their partners in a leadership role regarding materials (waste) reduction, reuse, and recycling in New York and the US. The mission of the Center is to inspire, lead, and connect a diverse group of people and organizations that will collectively challenge the concept of “waste,” through redefining and reimagining how we procure, produce, consume, manage, and market materials.

The Center’s success is rooted in ESF’s mission to educate future environmental leaders of all backgrounds, advance knowledge, and skills necessary to promote scholarship and stewardship of the natural to designed environments, and act both locally and globally to improve our world. According to ESF’s Office of Sustainability, “Transforming and maintaining a culture of operational sustainability on campus requires commitment from all members of the community.” Therefore, students and staff are offered numerous opportunities to contribute to sustainability. Student employees, for example, “serve as peer educators, tend to the campus garden, develop and implement engagement programs, compile and analyze data, perform research and assist with a variety of sustainability-related certification programs.” In addition, faculty and staff are encouraged to integrate sustainability into their teaching, research and actions.

Examples of sustainability focused policies at ESF include a Green Purchasing and Break Free From Plastic Policy, which led to the publication of a Green Purchasing Guide . A Sustainable Facilities Maintenance & Renovation Policy is supported by the provision of diversion logs and information on local construction and demolition recycling. As a state agency, ESF must maintain compliance with a number of sustainability focused SUNY and New York State policies.

NERC welcomes ESF to its small but growing roster of education institutions that are Advisory Members. It is an honor to have a hand in the development of our next generation of sustainability experts, and look forward to a mutually beneficial learning experience.

For more information about the Center for Sustainable Materials Management click here

NERC’s Glass Committee Releases Report on Postconsumer Glass Used as ADC

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 19:35:35 GMT

Waste Today

The Northeast Recycling Council’s (NERC) Glass Committee has released a report titled “Recycled Glass Used as Alternative Daily Cover in the Northeast US & Quebec.” The report identifies a shortage of beneficiation facilities in the region to clean and process glass, making it necessary for material recovery facilities (MRFs) to send their separated postconsumer glass to landfills for use as ADC.

To read the full article click here.

NERC’s Glass Committee Releases Report on Postconsumer Glass Used as ADC

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 19:33:31 GMT

Recycling Today

Data collection for this report began in February this year, with NERC’s Assistant Director & Event Organizer Mary Ann Remolador leading the outreach, interpretation and drafting efforts. “One of the things we became acutely aware of is that states across the board may or may not be monitoring the use of glass for ADC, and we were not aware of that before doing this,” Remolador says. “In many cases, states are not requiring the MRFs to report where they are sending the glass that comes out of their facility."

To read the full article click here.

New England State Imposes Food Scraps Disposal Ban

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 19:37:58 GMT

Resource Recycling

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) noted that affected entities are likely to include supermarkets; food manufacturers, processors and distributors; hotels and resorts; hospitals, colleges and universities; and prisons.

To read the full article click here.

Elevating Equity

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 19:31:11 GMT

Resource Recycling

Taking place in early April, The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) Spring 2023 Conference: Building a Diverse Workforce for Sustainable Materials Management featured a variety of speakers giving advice on how to build – and keep – a diverse workforce.

To read the full article click here.

News from California, Schnitzer Steel and more

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 19:42:02 GMT

Resource Recycling

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) hired Sophie Leone and Mariane Medeiros and closed its physical offices in Vermont, transitioning to a fully remote operation.

To read the full article click here.

Glass Packaging Institute Responds to Recycling Report

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 19:45:42 GMT

Glass Institute

A recent report published by the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) showed the majority of food and beverage container glass collected in single stream recycling programmes in the Northeast region of the U.S. and the province of Quebec are used for alternative daily cover (ADC) at landfills.

To read the full article click here.

Study suggests Glass Widely Used as ADC in Northeast

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 19:47:34 GMT

Glass Institute

A recent report from the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) explored the use of crushed glass bottle and jar scrap as alternative daily cover (ADC), which is a layer of material placed on top of landfills at the end of each day to help keep pests away from putrescible material, reduce odors and prevent garbage from blowing away.

To read the full article click here.

MassRecycle

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 17:54:39 GMT

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

Practically any visitor to NERC’s website will already be aware of the swirling controversies around the success of recycling, in particular plastics recycling. A 2022 report from Greenpeace, further elevated by mainstream media such as NPR, argued that “no plastic — not even soda bottles, one of the most prolific items thrown into recycling bins — meets the threshold to be called ‘recyclable’ according to standards set by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation New Plastics Economy Initiative .”

Among those pushing back against Greenpeace’s conclusions was new NERC Supporting Advisory Member MassRecycle , which describes itself as “a pragmatic, statewide non-profit coalition of individuals, municipalities, the waste industry, and other organizations dedicated to improving recycling, organics diversion, and sustainable materials management in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”

In a rebuttal to NPR’s article , authored by MassRecycle’s President Gretchen Carey, she states, “In Massachusetts, approximately 75-85% of the material in the bin is recycled and given a second life as new products.” “Recycling is real,” Carey continued. “MassRecycle offers facility tours to the public, including tours of Material Recovery Facilities where recycling is processed, so you can see this for yourself… we ask that all media talk to the recycling industry, or any organization like MassRecycle that intimately understands recycling, and ask how to make the system better.”

Since 2021, MassRecycle has hosted tours of local materials recovery facilities (MRF). This vital resource brings the public into the faculties that process their waste and recycling. There is no greater proof that recycling is real than seeing It with your own eyes. They also produce the MassRecycle Podcast , to share the inside stories of solid waste management with a wider audience.

MassRecycle works through connection, education, and advocacy to improve recycling in Massachusetts:

assembling a coalition of stakeholders- private, public, non-profit and non-government organizations –to provide pragmatic solutions to a wide range of issues on waste reduction and recycling.
producing tours, podcasts, social media content, speaking at schools and events, and releasing statements that combat misinformation.
via its Product Stewardship Council , advocating for legislation and policies that improve the sustainable materials management industry.

MassPSC focuses on supporting well-written EPR legislation and policies at the state level, and promoting EPR through education and collaboration. This year MassPSC will be hosting a session on EPR at WASTECON 2023 in collaboration with SWANA NE.

NERC welcomes MassRecycle to its growing team of Advisory Members. We look forward to working with the organization to improve recycling practices and legislation at the state and local levels.

For more information about MassRecycle click here

What Happens to the Glass Containers you Think you’re Recycling

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 19:52:03 GMT

WBUR Local Coverage

NERC report says that in Massachusetts, and most other states in the northeast, glass processed at recycling facilities is instead being used atop landfills to weigh down trash or as fill in construction projects.

To read the full article click here.

MRF Glass Used as Alternative Daily Cover

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 19:44:55 GMT

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) has released a report that reveals data about post-consumer recycled glass containers being used at landfills in the Northeast states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont) and Quebec. NERC’s Glass Committee compiled the Recycled Glass Used as Alternative Daily Cover in the Northeast US & Quebec Report to get a better understanding of the volume of recycled glass containers coming out of Material Recycling Facilities (MRFs) that never reach manufacturers for making new products, but are instead used as Alternative Daily Cover (ADC)—cover material placed on the surface of the active face of a municipal solid waste landfill at the end of each operating day.

“The Report provides great insight into MRF glass that is not reaching manufacturers for making new products and is instead being used at landfills—the lowest value end use with the least environmental benefits,” said Mary Ann Remolador, Assistant Director of NERC and Glass Committee staff lead.

One of the key findings is that 75% of the states/province reported that post-consumer glass collected for recycling is being used as ADC. These states include Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Quebec. The glass being used for ADC includes crushed recycled glass that is broken into pieces too small for manufacturers to use in their processing, non-bottle bill glass, and glass meeting the state’s specifications for ADC. The states not using glass for ADC are Delaware, Maryland, and Vermont.

One of the contributing factors for glass being used as ADC is the poor quality of glass coming from MRFs. It is oftentimes considered too dirty or contaminated for use in manufacturing. The contamination is due to the glass being mixed with other recyclables at the MRFs. In addition, many Northeast US MRFs aren’t equipped with the necessary systems for removing glass at the beginning of the sorting line. This contamination adds weight to the glass, which makes the cost of shipping long distances impractical.

The Northeast US also lacks enough beneficiation facilities that accept MRF glass to serve the entire region. Beneficiators clean and process glass, making it into a feedstock for manufacturers. Without these facilities, the region’s contaminated MRF glass has no viable market within a practical shipping range. As a result, many MRFs are sending their separated glass to landfills for ADC.

Another key finding from the report is that only 58% of the states/province have data about the tonnage of MRF glass used as ADC. These include Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Quebec.

Additionally, 76% do not recognize post-consumer glass used for ADC as recycling (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Quebec), and 83% require post-consumer glass to be recycled. Maryland and New Hampshire do not require it. Also, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Vermont (25%) are the only states/province that have post-consumer glass disposal bans.

The report also shows that transparency with the public about what happens with post-consumer glass could be improved in most states. While some states take a proactive approach to ensuring end uses for recycled material are publicly available, others do not readily share this information.

After a thorough analysis of the compiled information, NERC and its Glass Committee drew the following conclusions:

Until more investment is made in the glass recycling infrastructure, MRF glass will continue be used as ADC.
Without having consistent outgoing materials reporting requirements for MRFs, it’s impossible to generate data about the total tonnage of recycled glass diverted for use as ADC in the Northeast region.
More beneficiation facilities capable of cleaning MRF glass are needed throughout the region to make the glass economical for use as a manufacturing feedstock.

MRF Glass Used As Alternative Daily Cover

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 19:49:41 GMT

American Recycler

NERC has released a report that reveals data about post-consumer recycled glass containers being used at landfills in the Northeast states.

To read the full article click here.

NERC Embraces Reuse & Recycling for Office Closure

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 12:41:17 GMT

By Mary Ann Remolador, Assistant Director, NERC

After working virtually for more than three years, it became obvious to staff that NERC’s office in Brattleboro, Vermont was no longer necessary. Upon making that decision, we were then faced with figuring out a plan for tackling the 36-year accumulation of paperwork, supplies, equipment, and furniture. As you might expect, we explored all of the different available options for reuse and recycling in the area.

We started the clean out process with the arduous task of culling through the paper in nine very full filing cabinets. This required assessing each and every piece of paper to discern if needed to be saved, shredded, or recycled. This experience taught us all a valuable lesson about saving unnecessary items.

The amount of paper to be recycled filled the collection containers at the Hooker Dunham Building for several weeks. The thoroughness of this part of the clean out was both uplifting and painful. We could see the progress we were making and had sore muscles from the many trips of carrying the recycling bins upstairs to be emptied.

The next step was to find out who we could donate the remaining furniture, equipment, and supplies to. After some quick Google searches and some phone calls, we were able to develop a contact list of the local private and public schools, the library, the recycling office, as well as some neighboring offices who we thought may be interested. The local Chamber of Commerce also offered to distribute our information to non-profit organizations.

We decided to hold a one day Open House where everyone could browse, select, and take away the items they wanted. The Open House flyer was emailed out and follow up phone calls made to further entice attendance.

While driving to Brattleboro for the Open House, I found myself worrying if people would actually show up for it. That all changed a few minutes after opening our doors as visitors almost immediately started arriving. We were happy to greet the Brattleboro Library, the Windham Regional Commission, St. Michael’s Catholic School (elementary, middle, and high school), Green Street Elementary School, and the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community.

The office was buzzing with people as they filled their bags and carried away their chosen items. It felt like a party. Everyone was so appreciative of the donations since they were all working with leaner budgets. This part of the closure process was very rewarding knowing we helped local organizations and kept items out of the landfill.

As a result, the items taken for reuse included almost all of the office supplies, a large wooden bookcase, two small wooden bookcases, two small metal book cases, a hand truck, manual typewriter, projector, conference table, a metal supply cabinet and all of its contents, a compost bin, coffee table, two filing cabinets, a handful of surge protectors, and a small wooden side table. The remaining reusable furniture was delivered to the Brattleboro Goodwill store, and the leftover metal items and electronics were recycled at the Windham County Solid Waste District.

There are still some remaining tasks to be completing before we shut the office doors, but we are relieved to have arrived at this point!

NERC’s new mailing address is Post Office Box 551, Brattleboro, Vermont 05302.

Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe on Repair and Reuse

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 12:40:28 GMT

Last year in Akwesasne, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Solid Waste Program diverted 1176.4 lbs. of reused items from the trash during reuse/fix events. The most reused item was clothing. The most commonly repaired item was lamps. We recognize the SRMT community made this reuse event a reality. People in Tribal lands are familiar with the reuse concept.

The SRMT Recycling and Waste Reduction Handbook reminds people to only buy what they need. Shopping smart and greener by investing in durable & reusable products. How to take proper care of shoes and clothing and repair them to extend use. For us, it’s about the well-being of the land and community.

Yale Office of Sustainability

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 17:57:50 GMT

We are proud to welcome the Yale Office of Sustainability as a supporting advisory member of NERC

The vision of Yale Office of Sustainability is “of a Yale where sustainability is seamlessly integrated into the scholarship and operations of the university, contributing to its social, environmental, and financial excellence and positioning Yale as a local and global leader.” The Office focuses its sustainability priorities in three primary areas:

Climate Action: take urgent action to mitigate climate change and proactively adapt to its effects;
Stewardship: plan and preserve resilient and sustainable infrastructure and landscapes; and
Materials: ensure sustainable consumption and disposal patterns.

Unsurprisingly for an office in one of the nation’s elite universities, the Office of Sustainability offers a wealth of information and research on its website. Focusing on the third priority—materials—we find that Yale was the first American institution of higher education to explore a Pay As You Throw program ; has encouraged reuse of products via its annual Spring Salvage donation program for the past 18 years; and has included healthy furniture purchasing guidelines as part of its design standards, to eliminate the presence of flame retardants and other toxic chemicals in furniture. The Office’s website details how Yale advances its sustainability priorities through single stream recycling and numerous other initiatives. Among the nine ambitions of the University’s Sustainability Plan 2025 is the Procurement Department’s commitment to ensuring sustainable consumption and disposal patterns.

In a recent interview , Amber Garrard—who in January became director of the Office—described some of the challenges she encounters in her daily work.

“I spend a lot of my time thinking about big systems like energy, food, water, the built environment, and how they connect with issues of health, equity, and justice,” she said. “I consider where Yale can be an institutional leader with our policies and practices, how we can leverage our role as a major research institution through our purchasing power, and how we can test and set behavioral trends.”

During the recent Earth Week—April 16 – 22—Yale offered at least twenty events. “Yale community members can join a native plant walk led by Peabody naturalists; examine what a just energy transition looks like; sustainably unload old electronics at an e-waste collection; celebrate indigenous culture at a Powwow; hack down invasive vines in East Rock Park; explore the benefits of meditation; participate in bicycle safety training, and so much more,” the Office stated.

NERC is excited to have such a proven source of expertise on materials management join its Advisory Membership. Welcome, Yale Office of Sustainability.

For more information about the Yale Office of Sustainability click here

HW Green Company

sophie@nerc.org (Sophie Leone) — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 02:56:32 GMT

We are proud to welcome HW Green Company as a new supporting advisory member to NERC

HW Green Company is a Connecticut-based scrap metal recycling facility with over 40 years of experience in metal recycling. In addition to purchasing recycled metals from individuals the company also services businesses and industrial accounts.

HW Green’s facility “offers ample space for large scrap handling needs with 20 acres for processing ferrous material and 32,000 square feet of warehouses to process non-ferrous material,” the company states. The company purchases a wide range of recycled scrap metal from individuals and businesses.

In what the company describes on its website as “new beginnings”, HW Green purchased the facility in late 2021 and embarked on a complete site renovation. As a result of the acquisition, the company is now a certified SBE/WBE with the State of CT. According to CEO Krista Ostuno, HW Green has “worked diligently to be a community partner through action and education. Initiatives that expose today’s youth to recycling is essential in fostering a positive future for our industry.”

The company also sponsors local schools with books from the Scrap University Kids program, as well as providing its own Metal ID Kits. This allows students and teachers to learn more about recycling in conjunction with offering “recycle drives” to get the younger generation involved and enthusiastic about metal recycling.

Other sustainable initiatives undertaken by the company include investing in a state-of-the-art solar system to power its buildings, reinforcing its commitment to utilizing renewable resources. Of course, scrap recycling—the company’s main line of business--itself “offers real solutions for balancing economic growth and environmental stewardship through sustainable initiatives,” the company states.

HW Green is also a member of longtime NERC Advisory Member and trade association Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) .

“HW Green Company is thrilled to be a new member of NERC,” Ostuno said. “We are passionate about metal recycling and sharing the essential benefits of our industry with others. We are looking forward to collaborating with fellow NERC members who share the vision of seeking sustainable solutions through action and implementation. The future is truly bright for the recycling industry.”

NERC concurs with Ostuno’s optimistic outlook for the recycling industry and welcomes HW Green as a valued Advisory Member.

For more information about HW Green Company click here

NERC: Bale Values Showed Small Decline in Q1

Tue, 30 May 2023 15:11:20 GMT

Resource Recycling

Recyclables prices in the Northeast slipped slightly during the first quarter, according to a MRF survey.

To read the full article click here.

Downward Trend Decelerates in Material Values for Quarter Ending March 31

Thu, 25 May 2023 19:52:58 GMT

NERC’s MRF Values Survey Quarterly Report for the period January – March 2023 showed a slight downward trend in values, with a -2% change from the previous quarter for values without residuals1, and -2% change for values with residuals. This is the 16th 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.

Serlin Haley

Mon, 22 May 2023 18:06:13 GMT

We are proud to welcome Serlin Haley as a Sustaining Advisory Member of The Northeast Recycling Council

NERC’s newest Sustaining Advisory Member is Serlin Haley . Headquartered in Boston, Serlin Haley provides a full spectrum of lobbying services across all 50 states. With an impressive client list that includes several NERC Advisory Members, the firm guides its clients through the current political and regulatory landscape, including all registration and reporting requirements.

Recently, NERC had the opportunity to talk with the firm’s partner Andrea Serlin and Government Affairs Associate Alexandra McGerigle.

“We are a law firm representing businesses, associations and organizations before government ” Serlin said. “We do state lobbying for our clients, but we believe that there are issues of importance for municipalities and counties as well.”

Serlin Haley seeks not just to solve their clients’ isolated issues but further their goals with a holistic approach. The Firm’s members accomplish this by staying connected with policy makers and influencers, by participating in national conferences across the country, and by monitoring public policy and legislation in multiple states.

“Another thing we do for our clients is keeping an eye more broadly on trends; where industry and state policy are moving in terms of environmental impacts and planning,” McGerigle added, noting that NERC has been a resource for them on this front for many years.

Why partner with NERC? Over the past few years, Serlin Haley has become a regular participant in NERC’s conferences . The team had heard from many sources about the value of the agenda and networking at them. “We’ve been going to NERC conferences for several years,” McGerigle and Serlin remarked. “What’s so unique about NERC is that you bring together regulators, legislators, and quasi-government folks. You also bring together a lot of ideas in a setting where everyone can learn from one another.”

NERC is excited to welcome Serlin Haley as its newest Advisory Member. We look forward to incorporating its unique and professional perspectives to our ongoing discussions around sustainability issues.

Panelists: Bottle Bills, EPR can coexist

Wed, 03 May 2023 15:13:59 GMT

Resource Recycling

A NERC, NEWMOA webinar explores the potential effectiveness of a national bottle bill program.

To read the full article click here.

Northeast Recycling Council’s Commodities Market Development Journey.

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 15:16:13 GMT

Waste360

NERC leaders Megan Fontes, executive director and Mary Ann Remolador, assistant director, discuss the organization’s work in recycled commodities markets.

To read the full article click here.

Bright Feeds

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 18:10:11 GMT

We are proud to welcome Bright Feeds as a Sustaining Advisory Member of The Northeast Recycling Council

New England-based Bright Feeds , NERC’s newest Supporting Advisory Member, is a “startup solving the food waste crisis by diverting unwanted food from the waste stream and converting it into a high-quality, nutrient-rich animal feed replacement for soy and corn.” Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and state-of-the-art drying technology, Bright Feeds accepts all types of food waste from a variety of businesses across the food industry. The company then produces blends for use in a variety of poultry, swine, aquaculture, and cattle feeding operations.

The company’s mission, it states, “is pioneering a new pathway to combating climate change and meeting global food insecurity challenges through innovations in waste management.”

NERC has had a long-standing involvement in solving the critical issue of food waste, as a review of resources on its website confirms. According to a 2021 report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) , the climate impact of food waste is “equal to the annual CO2 emissions of 42 coal-fired power plants.” Bright Feeds’ website emphasizes three critical consequences of food waste:

Forty percent of the current food supply in the US is wasted, which equates to $161 billion in economic cost;
Ninety-five percent of unused food ends up in landfills or incinerators; and
Ten percent of greenhouse gases (GHG) comes from methane produced by food in landfills.

In November, 2022, Bright Feeds opened its first food waste processing plant in Berlin CT. The site is licensed to process 450 tons of food waste per day for the next 10 years. “At capacity, our food waste recycling solution is equivalent to removing 33,700 cars off the road every year,” the company states. Bright Feeds also has collection facilities in Massachusetts in order to service New England and parts of New York State.

This year, Bright Feeds was selected to join the third annual Harvard Climate Entrepreneurs Circle , an incubation program for high-potential ventures working to address climate change. According to the Harvard Innovation Labs , “Bright Feeds helps companies meet their sustainability goals and increase profit margins by turning food waste into high-quality nutritious animal feed.”

“Bright Feeds is excited to be a part of NERC and contribute to a shared mission to minimize waste, conserve natural resources, and advance a sustainable economy through collaboration and action. We look forward to working together with other members to solve the food waste crisis in our region” said Laxmi Wordham, Chief Growth Officer at Bright Feeds.

NERC welcomes Bright Feeds to its growing number of Advisory Members seeking to solve the problem of food waste.

For more information about Bright Feeds click here

The New EU Law That’s Looking to Stamp out Greenwashing

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 18:06:06 GMT

April 11, 2023

Today's guest blog is authored by Tom Howarth of GreenBiz Group. The original post can be read here .

Consumers today face a barrage of eco-friendly messaging from the corporate world as it hopes to cash in on increasing concern for the environment. At the same time, an absence of common rules for companies making voluntary green claims has left the door open to greenwashing , making it increasingly difficult to gauge the fact from fiction when it comes to sustainable business practice. This is not just a problem for the eco-conscious shopper, who must now sift through reams of "sustainable" products to find one with bona fide green credentials — it is a problem for businesses, too.

Companies making a genuine effort to reduce their environmental impacts, often at significant cost, are having to compete against others making the same claims but without putting in the work. This effectively negates the economic rewards for caring about the planet, particularly in industries with complex supply chains, where clearly communicating environmental impacts can be tricky.

Conversely, businesses caught practicing greenwashing, or even those who are perceived to be, can expect drops in customer satisfaction and serious financial repercussions.

At the extreme end, the case of German car manufacturer Volkswagen springs to mind, after it saw profits tumble 20 percent following revelations in 2015 that the company had installed software to cheat U.S. emissions tests . Whilst sympathy for a company purposefully trying to dupe regulators should be limited, the case highlights the toxicity of greenwashing for all parties involved; businesses, consumers and, of course, the planet.

The Green Claims Directive , proposed by the European Commission in late March, seeks to address this issue by establishing " common criteria against greenwashing and misleading environmental claims ." The hope is that by homogenizing the standards for claims made by businesses across the trading bloc, consumers will have "more clarity, stronger reassurance that when something is sold as green, it actually is green, and better quality information to choose environment-friendly products and services." Businesses will also benefit, "as those that make a genuine effort to improve the environmental sustainability of their products will be more easily recognized and rewarded by consumers … rather than face unfair competition."

The need for the legislation is clear. An assessment of environmental claims carried out by the Commission in 2020 across a broad range of industries found that 53.3 percent "provided vague, misleading or unfounded information" about products’ environmental characteristics, while 40 percent had no supporting evidence at all.

What’s more, there are currently 230 sustainability labels and 100 green energy labels in use in EU markets, each with different criteria and levels of transparency. Even if some labeling schemes provide genuine sustainability credentials, it's unlikely the average person on the street would have any idea which ones they are.

Virginijus Sinkevičius, European commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, put it well: "We want to help consumers become more confident about their choices and ensure that those companies that make genuine efforts to reduce their impacts on nature, resource use, climate emissions or pollution are rewarded."

How will the new rules work?

The objective of the new proposal is simple — prevent greenwashing by enforcing clear and harmonized rules and labels. Specifically, the measures will target explicit claims , examples of which might include: "T-shirt made of recycled plastic bottles," "CO2 compensated delivery," "packaging made of 30 percent recycled plastic" or "ocean friendly sunscreen."

Under the new rules, companies will need to have any such claims independently verified and proven with scientific evidence. Possible trade-offs will also need to be highlighted, to give a full and accurate picture of a product’s impacts.

Environmental labeling schemes, in the form of trust and quality marks that certify that a product or business meets the requirements set up by the scheme, are another target of the legislation. Such schemes can lack transparency and are not always credible; in response, the new proposal suggests banning the proliferation of new public labeling schemes unless they are developed at EU level, preventing individual Member States from developing their own. Private labeling schemes, on the other hand, can be approved at Member State level, but will need to demonstrate that they provide " added value " in terms of environmental ambition before going through the approval process. Labeling schemes from third countries (those that are not members of the EU, including the U.S.) will also need to be submitted for approval before products brandishing them are admitted into the EU market.

An assessment of environmental claims carried out by the European Commission in 2020 across a broad range of industries found that 53.3% 'provided vague, misleading or unfounded information' about products’ environmental characteristics ...

The penalties for non-compliance will not be cheap, either. Rogue traders caught making unfounded claims can expect fines of at least 4 percent of total annual revenue within any region in which they have been in breach of the rules — the same level as the penalties to be doled out under the EU’s recent law on deforestation-free products , set to be implemented next year.

Does the proposal go far enough?

Despite a warm reception from businesses and trade organizations, including the International Chamber of Commerce , the new proposal has drawn some criticism from environmental groups that claim months of lobbying by companies have left the rules " substantially watered down ."

In particular, the new laws will not cover phrases such as "carbon neutrality," a favorite term used by companies looking to give their image a green makeover, according to the watchdog and think tank Carbon Market Watch . Others have argued that because the bill does not outline a single methodology to substantiate green claims, businesses will simply " cherry-pick " the ones that suit them best.

"Sadly, without harmonized methodologies at the EU level, the new Directive will provide little clarity to consumers and business, and will only complicate the job of market surveillance authorities," said Margaux Le Gallou, program manager for environmental information and assessment at the Environmental Coalition on Standards .

How successful the Green Claims Directive will be at stamping out greenwashing in the European Union market remains to be seen. Indeed, the bill is still subject to the approval of the European Parliament and Council before it becomes law, which will take at least a few months. However, if you consider this proposal in its broader context — as part of a package of recent legislation being pushed by the EU — then it’s clear that the world’s third largest economy is becoming an increasingly hostile environment for unsustainable businesses. Where the EU is succeeding is in making rules that must be followed by any company, operating anywhere in the world that wishes to sell to the half a billion or so customers who reside within its borders.

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

Northeast Recycling Council’s Virtual Spring Conference: Focusing on a Diverse Workforce

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 15:25:14 GMT

Waste Advantage

NERC's Spring 2023 Conference is profiled.

To read the full article click here.

Webinar: Building Diversity Means Culture Shifts

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 15:18:56 GMT

Resource Recycling

NERC's Spring Conference focused on diversity in the workplace.

To read the full article click here.

Diverse Waste and Recycling Workplaces Should Include Younger Workers: NERC.

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 15:28:17 GMT

Waste Dive

Waste Dive covers Day 1 of NERC's recent conference on DEI issues.

To read the full article click here.

NERC to Host Workforce-Focused Conference

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 15:30:14 GMT

Waste Today

NERC's upcoming conference, April 3-4, is titled “Building a Diverse Workforce.”

To read the full article click here.

Safety Management Systems

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 18:16:11 GMT

We are pleased to welcome Safety Management Systems as a new Supporting Advisory Member to The Northeast Recycling Council

Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, Safety Management Systems is a certified women-owned business enterprise whose SMS360 software tool, launched in 2016, is used by companies around the world to increase revenue and efficiency by streamlining safety and compliance efforts.

Among the industries to embrace the software solutions of SMS360 are waste management, transportation, construction, municipalities, warehousing, and construction. Benefits reported by customers include reduced operational costs; decreased OSHA/DOT fines and violations; reduced medical and insurance costs; and improved incident prevention through automated communications and external reporting.

In contracting with its customers, SMS360 employs a vertical strategy in which Level 1 is occupied by its anchor client. In the case of waste management, the anchor client is New Jersey-based Interstate Waste Services. As the anchor client, Interstate Waste Services helps SMS360 develop a comprehensive solution for the waste management industry. On its website, Interstate Waste Services highlights the importance of its work with SMS360, stating, “Maintaining compliance with the ever-changing regulatory requirements and safety best practices is a responsibility we proudly accept.”

Level 2 of SMS360’s vertical strategy consists of mid-sized entities, and small clients occupy Level 3.

"There is no competition in Safety, and we are proud to have clients who share their knowledge and push the envelope, and SMS360, to protect their workers," says Christien Ducker, Chief Executive Officer & Founder. "Therefore, the partnership with NERC is one more step to meet the increasing need both in the Environmental and the Regulatory Compliance sectors…and we are excited to be on the journey with them."

NERC has long known that waste management is among the most dangerous jobs in the United States. We welcome the opportunity to partner with Safety Management Systems in providing effective solutions to improving safety for waste management employees.

For more information about Safety Management Systems click here

Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe

sophie@nerc.org (Sophie Leone) — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 02:44:46 GMT

We are pleased to welcome Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe as a new Supporting Advisory Member to The Northeast Recycling Council

The Tribal Council of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) is headquartered in Akwesasne, NY. According to the United States Census Bureau, the Indian reservation has a total area of 21.0 square miles; 41.5 acres in Franklin County NY were added to the tribal holdings in 2021.

Among the divisions of SRMT is the Environment Division , the responsibilities of which include agriculture, air quality, and waste management. According to the tribal website, the “solid waste management program is dedicated to managing solid wastes in a manner that honors the earth, people, plants, animals, and waters while contributing to the economic and social progress of the community.” Customers take their recyclables to the Tribe’s recycling depot, at the transfer station, for free.

Last year, Recycling Coordinator David Casales reported, “We got the people involved into reducing waste by reusing used items. We gave free used items in a flea market type of event called Stop & Swap table event. This event makes it fun and exciting for community members.”

“We conducted a Hazardous Waste Material Flow trash sampling project where hazardous waste was found,” Casales continued. “We also found textiles in the trash samples, and we will find a way to divert these materials from the landfill.”

Why partner with NERC? “I am excited to find more dynamic ways to continue reducing, reusing, and recycling,” Casales said. “I will also like to learn of more market options to recycle in New York. We would like to start the collection of recycled textiles.”

For more information about Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe click here

Cheryl Coleman of ISRI to Deliver Keynote Address at Northeast Recycling Council Spring Conference.

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 15:33:23 GMT

Waste Advantage

NERC's virtual Spring Conference will be held April 2-3, 2023.

To read the full article click here.

Blended Average Prices Continued to Fall in Q4

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 15:35:58 GMT

Resource Recycling

NERC updates its quarterly Recycling Markets report.

To read the full article click here.

Northeast Recycling Council Spring Conference: Meet the Speakers

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 16:42:14 GMT

Waste Advantage

NERC's Spring Conference will convene individuals across the material management value chain to discuss approaches to diversifying staff.

To read the full article click here.

Consistent Downward Trend in Material Values for Quarter Ending December 31

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 18:36:52 GMT

NERC’s MRF Values Survey Quarterly Report for the period October – December 2022 again showed a sharp downward trend in values, with a -28% change from the previous quarter for values without residuals1, and -31% change for values with residuals. This is the 15th 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. View the Report here.

1 Residuals refers to the incoming material that cannot be marketed and goes to disposal. The value without residuals reflects the value of a ton of marketed material without the expense of handling residuals, while the value with residuals reflects the value of each ton processed with the costs of managing residuals taken into account.

NERC revises Glass Minimum Postconsumer Recycled Content Model Legislation

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 16:44:18 GMT

Recycling Today

The model legislation is intended to be used as a starting point for creating legislation that would require the use of postconsumer cullet.

To read the full article click here.

NERC Releases Revised Model Glass Minimum Post-Consumer Recycled Content Legislation

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 16:46:18 GMT

Waste 360

To read the full article click here.

NERC Releases Revised Model Glass Minimum Post-Consumer Recycled Content Legislation

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 16:48:54 GMT

Waste Advantage

To read the full article click here.

Advanced Drainage Systems

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 19:21:30 GMT

We are pleased to welcome Advanced Drainage Systems as a new Supporting Advisory Member to The Northeast Recycling Council

Amongst the doom and gloom in much of today’s media concerning plastics recycling, there stands a success story in new NERC Advisory Member Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS) . Headquartered in Ohio, ADS’s 3,500 field employees manufacture storm water and onsite septic wastewater solutions; more than 10 billion feet of ADS pipe are in service around the world. The company’s water management solutions are designed to last for decades.

In October, the Plastic Pipe Institute’s (PPI) Drainage Division awarded ADS its Project of the Year Award. The ADS warehouse project in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, uses five large underground stormwater storage systems that required 17 miles of Dual Wall N-12 corrugated pipe.

“The project shows how the use of HDPE pipe can protect the environment, lower greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the number of truck loads as a result of nesting the lightweight pipe,” PPI President David Fink said . “There is also the fact that HDPE pipe can be made using a high amount of post-consumer recycled HDPE material, taking single use HDPE bottles, for example, and turning them into pipe that will last for generations.”

The company’s accomplishments in the recycling space are considerable. The most recent annual ranking from Plastic News designates ADS as the largest plastic recycler in North America. “More than half of the plastic ADS purchased in 2021 was recycled, made possible by our pioneering plastic-blending program, company-owned and operated recycling facilities and unmatched engineering expertise,” the company stated. “In 2020, we also consumed 28% of all high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles in the entire country. HDPE is used to make plastic bottles for products such as laundry detergent, milk and shampoo.”

According to Kristen Rinehart , Vice President and General Manager of Recycling, ADS recycled about 600 million pounds of plastic in FY2022; drew nearly 61% of pipe product revenue from remanufactured products; and acquired Jet Polymer Recycling to quickly increase its recycling capacity. “Historically, the company has focused so intently on the materials science of recycled materials that today we’re producing the highest-quality recycled plastic pellets ever,” Rinehart stated. “It’s having a positive impact on both our production capacity and the quality of pipe we produce for our customers managing stormwater for our communities.”

Recycling, the company states, is one part of its sustainability commitments. It is a signatory to the US EPA’s America Recycles Pledge, to do their part in helping achieve the ambitious goal of increasing the national recycling rate to 50% by 2030. It has joined The Recycling Partnership’s Polypropylene Recycling Coalition , to advance their commitment to protecting water and keeping millions of pounds of plastic out of landfills each year.

Earlier this year, ADS signed a commitment to pursue Science Based Targets (SBTs) to reduce the Company’s greenhouse gas emissions. “ADS’ commitment to reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions reflects the Company’s broader goal to continue making progress on environmental stewardship initiatives,” President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Barbour stated. “We are proud to join the more than 2,000 businesses that are working with the Science Based Targets initiative to reduce emissions in line with climate science.”

NERC welcomes new Advisory Member Advanced Drainage Systems and looks forward to contributing to the company’s ongoing success through a collaborative partnership.

For more information about Advanced Drainage Systems click here

NERC Releases Revised Model Glass Minimum Post-Consumer Recycled Content Legislation

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 18:42:21 GMT

A revised Glass Minimum Post-Consumer Recycled Content Model Legislation has been published by the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC). A subcommittee of the original stakeholders’ group revised the original version of the Model Legislation.

“The revisions to the Model Legislation provide greater flexibility for policymakers looking at available markets and glass manufacturing activity, and will allow glass recycling to move forward based on what works best in a given region or specific state,” said Chris Nelson, Director of Sustainable Materials Management Planning & Implementation with the CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), NERC Board Member, and Co-facilitator of the Model Legislation Stakeholder Process.

The primary revision to the Model Legislation includes a concept of a credit towards the post-consumer recycled content requirement for products manufactured and/or sold by glass bottle and fiberglass manufacturers in a given year. The credit is based on the amount of post-consumer recycled glass consumed by other end uses that have demonstrated a climate benefit equal to or greater than that of recycling glass in a furnace—pozzolan, foamed glass aggregate, and other saleable products.

The Model Legislation is intended to be used by legislators as a starting point for creating legislation that would require the use of post-consumer cullet—glass that has been processed to remove contaminants and is furnace ready—in certain products manufactured and/or sold in their state. According to Megan Fontes, NERC’s Executive Director, “The Model Legislation is one tool for building post-consumer glass markets. It is intended to be used with other legislative and non-legislative tools as part of a comprehensive strategy.”

The main goals of the Model Legislation are to incentivize markets for recycled glass, improve the economics of recovering glass, and reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing. The Model Legislation promotes the expanded use of post-consumer cullet in manufacturing new products, motivates development of markets for post-consumer cullet, and reduces the amount of glass that would be treated as waste.

Nexus Circular Agrees to $150M Equity Raise

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 16:53:00 GMT

Waste Advantage

NERC invites public comments last year on its model legislation for minimum recycled post-consumer plastic requirements.

To read the full article click here.

Experts Tout the Benefits of Recycled Glass Pozzolans.

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 16:55:57 GMT

Resource Recycling

NERC hosts a webinar covering the recycling of MRF glass into pozzolans, which are a partial replacement for cement used in concrete.

To read the full article click here.

What’s up with the global plastics treaty?

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 19:01:17 GMT

December 13, 2022

Today's guest blog is authored by Jon Smieja of the GreenBiz Group. The original post can be read here .

According to Pew and SystemIQ, plastic flows into the ocean are expected to triple by 2040 . Immediate action, though, could stem the tide by more than 80 percent.

That’s why when nearly 200 countries agreed to work toward a treaty to end the plastic pollution crisis in March, the circularity community cheered. That cheering, of course, was tempered by the fact that there is a long way to go and likely a lot of compromises to be made. Fortunately for all of us waiting, the International Negotiating Committee (INC) meetings have started. Earlier this week, I caught up with Erin Simon of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Dave Ford of the Ocean Plastics Leadership Network (OPLN), both of whom were in Uruguay for INC-1, to learn more about the process.

First off, let me start by saying how amazing it is that we are at this point. The unanimous decision in Nairobi to start the treaty process was monumental. Even more amazing is that they chose the aggressive starting point of focusing on the whole lifecycle of plastics rather than just waste management. With multiple proposals on the table back then, the parties could have just as easily started with a less ambitious proposal. When I asked about this, Simon said, "we’re feeling hopeful because we have a better chance at success since the negotiation process is already inclusive of many of the elements WWF sees as necessary." As we know from recent political trends, it is important to start on strong ground and let the negotiations bring you back toward reality rather than conceding too much out of the gate.

There are two major reasons member states didn’t settle for less, according to Simon. "Countries already have broad alignment on the severity of the issue and the risk of both inaction and delayed response," Simon said. "That's amazing." Secondly, and very importantly, members of the business community came out in favor of the more aggressive approach and have been visible proponents of something meaningful from the start.

Where are we now?

Today, INC-1 is in the rearview mirror and reports are starting to come out about what happened there and what it means for future negotiations. A few things are clear from my conversations with Simon and Ford:

To some extent, these negotiations have precedent, like the Montreal Protocol and the Paris Agreement , that they can use to guide discussions toward the best outcomes.

These first couple of INC meetings will focus largely on nation states’ starting points and the process and procedures that will be used to narrow in on a specific agreement. As Ford put it, "you can feel stuck in the mud at times at this big picture stage of the process" as the early negotiations are more or less laying the groundwork and sequencing for future meetings, "but all of this hard work at the beginning is slowly getting the ball rolling downhill for the hard work to come at future INCs."

Many stakeholders are interested in the process. A multi-stakeholder forum held the day before INC-1 drew more than 1,000 individuals. Engaging external stakeholders in the negotiations will continue to be important throughout the process, but is likely to get more difficult as details are hammered out between the international delegates.

To be clear, this will not be an easy process. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a group of 10 people to agree on something as simple as dinner, much less an international delegation of more than 150 nation states to agree on a treaty that could forever change our interaction with plastics.

There will be winners, losers, power struggles, geopolitical arguments and likely some very frustrated civil society organizations and activists. With that in mind, let’s check in on some major sticking points early in the process.

The continuum of starting points

To say there is a lot of work to do would be an understatement. According to Simon and Ford, each nation state and major stakeholder in this conversation is starting from a unique spot on a continuum. On one end are those stakeholders pushing for National Action Plans (NAPs) where each country is, on its own, responsible to meet the criteria of the treaty. NAPs are the organizing method for meeting the Paris Agreement requirements and are seen by many activists as ineffective in dealing with large, global problems. On the other end are those stakeholders focused on global measures, including a cohort of more than 40 countries known as the High Ambition Coalition . In other words, they favor a coordinated effort across the world that could affect global supply chains and policies. Of course, with over 160 nation states in the discussion, you can imagine dots all over the middle of the continuum as well.

When I asked Simon about the difference between NAPs and global measures, she simply said, "You can imagine how much more coordinated these global supply chains will be if their targets for improvement are focused on the same outcomes." I take that to mean that global measures are likely to drive the massive changes we need more efficiently than country-specific NAPs. Global measures can also help the largest companies focus their efforts across countries and regions for the best outcomes. That being said, countries come to these negotiations knowing full well what is possible politically in their nation and will have a set starting position, from where they will negotiate accordingly.

Engaging stakeholders

In any international treaty process, there are likely to be stakeholders that will be underrepresented in the final negotiations who will also be the ones that will bear the brunt of any failures of the treaty to meet its goals.

There were positive signs for engaging communities at INC-1. First, as mentioned earlier, there was a full day of external engagement before the gathering started. Second, many groups were represented in the meetings throughout the week including fenceline communities, an Indigenous coalition, youth representatives and a group representing the informal waste sector.

This is all incredibly important, but will likely be difficult to maintain. As the INC meetings move from early phase discussions to nuts and bolts negotiations, nation state representatives are likely to narrow their focus on political jockeying, causing opportunities to hear from external stakeholders to decrease. As a result, it is important for these groups to have a loud voice in the discussions now and make their demands for the final treaty clear.

What’s next?

The entirety of the negotiating process is slated to play out over the next two years with five INC meetings on the calendar. The last scheduled meeting will take place in December 2024 with the hope that a full treaty will be ratified shortly after. The next INC, however, is slated for spring and, according to Ford, will likely still include a lot of codifying the macro rules of negotiation before the nation states can start to engage in the minutia of final treaty language.

I’ll keep you updated here with the passing of each INC, but if you’d like to learn more about the first edition directly from folks who were there, you can sign up to join Ocean Plastics Leadership Network’s open dialogue meeting from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST Monday by registering here .

Here are more resources on the global plastics treaty for your enjoyment:

First session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-1) Quick Guide (World Wildlife Fund, 11/2022)

Towards a treaty to end plastic pollution: Global rules to solve a global problem (World Wildlife Fund, 11/2022)

Earth Negotiations Bulletin Recap of INC-1 (International Institute for Sustainable Development, 12/2022)

Business Coalition for a plastics treaty

UNEP homepage of the INC process

Erin Simon on the main stage at Circularity 22.

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

7 Reuse Trailblazers you Need to Know in 2022

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 17:22:32 GMT

October 18, 2022

Today's guest blog is authored by Suz Okie of GreenBiz Group. The original post can be read here .

When it comes to reusables, I’m a fanatic, an enthusiast, a fan — insert any number of zealous descriptors and you wouldn’t be far off.

That’s in part because my journey to circular economy analyst began with a reusables obsession — following a graduate school commitment to stop buying single-use packaging (a goal I, admittedly, often fell short on), finding innovative reusable solutions became a personal addiction.

Reusables offered a tangible step towards the waste-free world I hankered for. In the food service industry alone, leveraging reuse could avoid 841 billion disposable packages annually , equating to 7.5 million tons of trash diverted. In fact, when comparing serviceware options, reusables beat out single-use — whether plastic, aluminum, compostable, you name it — on almost every environmental metric, not just waste reduction.

That’s why when I was invited to judge the 2022 Reusies — an award ceremony celebrating the heroes of the reuse movement — I was ecstatic. Presented by Upstream and Closed Loop Partners — supporters and experts on all things reusable — the Reusies celebrate the people, communities and organizations bringing reuse solutions to the world at large.

Hundreds of submissions flooded in and were narrowed down to three finalists for each of the Reusies’ seven awards. Evaluating their innovation, impact and scale, eight judges — myself included — selected winners that I’m delighted to share with you today.

Without further ado, the winners of 2022 Reusies:

The most innovative reuse companies of 2022

The Most Innovative Reuse Company — Consumer Packaged Goods

The winner: Algramo
The solution: Leveraging refill stations and home delivery trucks, Algramo enables consumers to replenish their own RFID-enabled smart containers with home products (think shampoo or laundry detergent) one refill at a time.
What excites me — leading with social: Algramo was founded with a social mission to fight the poverty tax . By offering bulk products at affordable prices, this solution is not only green, it’s accessible. With partnerships forged across global brands such as Unilever, Nestle, Walmart and Colgate, Algramo also has a path to scale up operations for an international audience. "[We have the potential to replace] 20 percent of the single use packaging in your average superstore…and we’re dedicated to bringing that opportunity to reality," Brian Bauer, circular economy and alliances lead at Algramo, said in his acceptance speech.
The runners-up: GOATOTE and Returnity

The Most Innovative Reuse Company — Enabling Technologies

The winner: The Rounds
The solution: Using a subscription model, The Rounds offers weekly deliveries of household "essentials" (everything from almonds to paper towels) in reusable containers, all while tracking your inventory and learning what you need and when.
What excites me — going local: Operating in four cities on the east coast, The Rounds supports small businesses by sourcing local ingredients for its distributed model. "It’s really awesome we get to support the local economy while we build a circular closed loop economy in every city," said Alexander Torrey, co-founder and CEO of The Rounds. Leveraging electric bicycles for deliveries is the emission-reducing icing on the cake.
The runners-up: Fill it Forward and Topanga.io

The Most Innovative Reuse Company — Fashion and Apparel

The winner: Thrilling
The solution: Supporting marginalized voices, Thrilling is offering a new spin on fashion resale by building a digital secondhand platform with inventory sourced from your favorite mom-and-pop vintage stores.
What excites me — representing the underrepresented: By providing new revenue streams and an opportunity to digitize their offerings, Thrilling is helping small, local, female- and BIPOC-owned businesses compete in the e-commerce space. As Shilla Kim-Parker, CEO of Thrilling, noted, "Our store partners work day in and day out and salvage the best vintage and secondhand." It’s awesome to see these folks on the ground get a leg up.
The runners-up: Fabscrap and Poshmark

The Most Innovative Reuse Company — Food and Beverage

The winner: r.Cup
The solution: Bringing reuse to the stadium scene, r.Cup provides reusable cups at large scale events, music venues and arenas.
What excites me — scaling with style: Beyond establishing large partnerships with event companies and music industry bigwigs, r.Cup is working to bring reuse to multiple U.S. cities — most noticeably in Seattle where its helping to establish a city-wide reuse system and investing in washing infrastructure. "Thanks to the cities who are embracing reuse, [we’re developing] a powerful scalable municipal model," said Michael Martin, founder and CEO at r.Cup.
The runners-up: Dispatch Goods and Just Salad

Reuse Community of the Year

The winner: Human-I-T
The solution: Fighting the digital divide, Human-I-T restores and distributes refurbished electronics in addition to dishing out internet access, training and tech support for underserved communities.
What excites me — prioritizing access and e-waste: Having diverted a quarter million electronic devices and 11 million pounds of e-waste, Human-I-T is simultaneously taking on the fastest growing waste stream on the planet and equitable access to technology. "We transform electronic waste into opportunities for people to unlock their fullest potential. We believe access to technology is a right not a privilege," said Gabe Middleton, co-founder and CEO of Human-I-T.
The runner ups: ReThink Disposable and The Ecology Center

Corporate Initiative of the Year

The winner: Kroger / Loop Partnership
The solution: Household products can be purchased in reusable containers at 25 Kroger/Fred Meyer locations throughout the Pacific Northwest . Leveraging Loop’s reusable packaging service, products are bought like any other product in the store aisle and returned by consumers to Loop-branded displays and collection bins for refill.
What excites me — advancing America: By leveraging the largest grocery chain in America, this partnership has huge potential to scale — reusables may soon be available to the masses. "It’s been really wonderful bringing [Loop] to life and directly to the customers in our store," said Lisa Zwack, head of sustainability at Kroger.
The runner ups: Coca-Cola ’s Reusable Packaging Pledge and PepsiCo / SodaStream

Activists of the Year

The winner: Alejandra Warren
The work: Co-founder of the nonprofit Plastic Free Future , Alejandra is working to include marginalized communities in reuse conversations.
What excites me — embodying inclusivity: A champion of inclusion and equitable access, Warren said it best herself in her acceptance speech: "I want to dedicate this award to all BIPOC community leaders and organizers — no one knows your community as much as you do, no one can create systemic changes that benefit your community as much as you can. Embrace your power."
The runner ups: Jacqueline Omania , teacher at Berkeley Unified School District; and Yayoi Koizumi , volunteer leader at Zero Waste Ithaca

I hope you join me in a round of applause for "the pioneers, the trailblazers, the innovators and game-changing heroes who," as Upstream puts it, "are developing a better way than throw-away."

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

The Intrinsic Link Between Sustainability and ESGs

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 17:53:34 GMT

November 2, 2021

Today's guest blog was written by ISRI’s VP of Sustainability, Cheryl T. Coleman. The original post can be read here .

For years, sustainability was synonymous with environment, but the concept of sustainability has evolved to encompass so much more. There was, and remains, a huge emphasis on preserving natural resources, environmental compliance, and safety. Today, though, sustainability is also about having a business culture that:

Protects the environment;
Ensures a diverse staff that receive wages that allow them to thrive, and;
Operates with governing principles starting at the CEO level that include business ethics; cybersecurity; health and safety of employees and surrounding communities; and enterprise risk management including continuous monitoring of all threats and opportunities.

We often see these principles summed up through environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, which are a set of standards for a company’s operations that many investors use to screen potential investments. The three components of ESGs are complementary and represent a company’s responsibility to its employees, investors, and the broader society. Investors are increasingly applying these non-financial factors as part of their analysis process to identify material risks and growth opportunities. Environmental assesses the risk of a company, its suppliers, and partners from climate events, and its impact on the physical environment. Social assesses a company’s relative social impact and associated risk from societal actions, including from its direct and indirect employees, customers, and the communities in which it operates. Governance assesses the timing and quality of decision-making, governance structure, and the distribution of rights and responsibilities across different stakeholder groups.

Regulations are one of the main elements driving companies to make sure their ESG criteria meet today’s standards.. Earlier this year, President Biden issued an Executive Order on climate change . Additionally, regulations and policies related to climate change and emissions reductions are being proposed and/or implemented at the federal, state, and local government levels.

Recycling is currently on aggressive regulatory agendas of many local, state, and federal policy makers, as well as stakeholders. Investors, customers, and consumers are also concerned about emissions as well as other issues including recycling; safety; and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The data related to these factors, including whether companies are making this information publicly available, is being analyzed by interested stakeholders. Instead of waiting on the federal government to mandate that this information be available publicly, many stakeholders are now asking for it. Many indicators suggest federal requirements for making data on these factors public are coming, and it’s likely that stakeholder demands will continue to increase. These demands will affect our industry and it is important that we demonstrate that the recycling industry is essential to manufacturing, a circular and robust economy, as well as thriving communities.

For more information on sustainability and ESGs, view the Sustainability: Benefits for Your Company and the Industry webinar, which is currently available to watch on demand for ISRI members.

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

What we can learn from space trash

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 17:49:36 GMT

October 19, 2021

Today's guest blog is authored by Lauren Phipps of GreenBiz. The original posting can be found here .

About once every year, the International Space Station has to alter its course, ever so slightly, to avoid a potentially mission-critical collision with a piece of space trash. These unwanted flying objects — more formally known as orbital debris — are human-made items that no longer serve any useful purpose, both intentionally and unintentionally left to orbit in perpetuity.

Derelict spacecrafts and satellites, payload carriers, motor effluents, bolts and fragments of paint chips: Orbital debris runs the gamut from more substantial litter — about 23,000 pieces larger than 10 cm — to smaller debris — about 500,000 items between 1 and 10 cm in diameter — to the infinitesimally tiny — over 100 million particles larger than 1 mm. So next time you look up at the night sky and consider your place in the universe, consider that 8,000 metric tons of junk are swirling around above you.

It’s a tale as old as time. As the space race evolves and explodes with the rise of "mega-constellations" and a surfeit of satellites are being deployed, the lower Earth orbit is being quickly cluttered with space trash. The tragedy of the commons here on Earth is playing out with a predictable similarity in Earth’s orbit. (Did " WALL-E " teach us nothing?!)

Unlike our waste management woes on Earth, debris begets more debris in space. As the density of space junk increases, so too does the number of debris-creating collisions, in a cascade effect known as the Kessler syndrome. And while spacecrafts are designed to sustain the impact of micro-debris, the stakes are higher with larger pieces of defunct equipment. The space junk created by just two events — an accidental collision between operational American communications satellite Iridium-33 and retired Russian spacecraft Cosmos-2251 in 2009, and the intentional destruction of the Fengyun-1C weather satellite by China in 2007 — represents one-third of all catalogued orbital debris, according to NASA .

To avoid a similar fate in space as we face on earth, a slew of solutions have been proposed including nets, lasers, harpoons, sails and slingshots. Just this year, the Japanese satellite services company Astroscale launched the world’s first commercial mission for debris management, a demonstration mission intended to prove out the core technologies needed for debris docking and removal.

Another familiar tale of tackling human-created pollution with more, sometimes counterproductive, technological solutions. While the world’s leading space agencies have formed the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee to address this growing issue, participating countries only have voluntary protocols in place and no global treaty regulates waste in space.

I became curious about space trash not because it’s the biggest environmental impact to worry about when it comes to space exploration, but because of the psychology behind it. It’s easier to grasp why someone could see a vast swath of land or an expansive, open ocean as a dumping ground without a sense of scale. It’s unending! My impact is but a drop in the ocean! The same perception appears to be true in the Earth’s orbit, although our sense of scale has never been greater.

Policy development and market-based solutions may be necessary to mitigate a potential materials management crisis before it becomes an even bigger challenge. But we’ve seen this movie before. "The most important action currently is to prevent the unnecessary creation of additional orbital debris," according to NASA. So why not use our planetary perspective to avoid an interplanetary problem?

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

Go Green and Gain Green with NexTrex - Film Recycling

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 17:21:37 GMT

March 16, 2021

This guest blog is provided by Dave Heglas, senior director of supply chain excellence for Trex Company.

Got plastic waste? Trex Company would love to put it to good use. Trex manufactures eco-friendly, wood-alternative decking using a proprietary mix of reclaimed polyethylene plastic film and scrap hardwood, and we are looking to help retailers, grocery stores and distribution centers responsibly dispose of their plastic waste through our award-winning recycling initiative known as NexTrex® .

Through the NexTrex program, Trex makes it easy for retailers and distributors to repurpose the plastic waste they accumulate as part of their daily operations. Once enough material is collected, it is sent to nearby distribution centers where it is sorted, condensed and shipped to manufacturing facilities in Virginia and Nevada, to be used in the making of Trex’s world-famous decking and railing products. Adding to the appeal of the program, Trex compensates partners for the plastic waste they contribute.

NexTrex is a prime example of an initiative where everybody wins. Our retail and distribution partners win by providing their customers with an environmentally responsible way to dispose of plastic waste. Trex wins by collecting a key ingredient to make our products. And, ultimately, we all win by keeping tons of single-use and packaging plastic from ending up in landfills.

One of the largest recyclers of plastic in North America, Trex reclaims and repurposes more than 400 million pounds of polyethylene plastic film annually through its NexTrex commercial partnerships and community programs. Among its largest sources are grocery stores and other retailers who partner with Trex to responsibly dispose of plastic shopping bags and polyethylene film used to wrap products and pallets.

In distribution, plastic film plays a huge role in maintaining the quality of goods and ease of transport. Distribution centers have the ability and opportunity to consolidate this material for recycling. In addition to protecting the environment, this also saves on disposal fees and demonstrates social responsibility.

Currently, the NexTrex recycling program engages more than 30,000 stores nationwide and recently reached a monumental milestone – one billion pounds of recyclable material collected through participating retailers. And, we are continually looking to expand participation so that more partners can responsibly dispose of their plastic waste.

To help retailers and distribution centers determine whether the NexTrex program is a fit, here are some tips:

1. Start by calculating the amount of plastic film being generated at the facility/warehouse.

How many pallets are being unwrapped each day?

-Trex estimates approximately half a pound of film is used per pallet.

If the facility manages case counts, what are the annual case sales?

-Trex estimates that 10,000 lbs. of stretch film is generated for every one million cases (using 50 cases per pallet).

Consider any additional volume that could be backhauled from store locations and driver routes.

-This can significantly increase collection and waste diversion, while also potentially reducing disposal fees

2. Collect plastic film for a trial period and weigh it on a scale to project recycling totals.

3. Once an estimate has been determined, contact recycle@trex.com to speak with a Trex field representative and learn more about the NexTrex program.

-Trex offers baler programs, transportation options and promotional materials to help distribution partners optimize their involvement.

By giving recycled plastic film a second life as high-performance, low-maintenance composite decking , Trex provides a viable solution for distributors, retailers and others to the waste management and lifecycle issues related to discarded plastic film. The entire Trex decking portfolio is made from more than 95 percent recycled content, nearly half of which comes from plastic film packaging ranging from product overwrap and package liners to shrink wrap and stretch film used to palletize boxes and equipment.

We are proud to offer a destination and alternate use for our country’s growing supply of plastic waste. Through our NexTrex program, we hope to lead by example and inspire others to become part of the solution.

For more information about the NexTrex program and how to get involved, click here to watch an introductory video and visit Trex.com/Recycling .

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

June 2021

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 17:21:29 GMT

New & Renewing Members

New Supporting Members

Renewing Sustaining Member

Council of StateGovernment/Eastern Regional Conference

Renewing Supporting Member

Rockland County SolidWaste Management Authority, New York

State Updates

MassDEP 2020 Municipal Recycling & Solid Waste Survey Data Now Online

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has posted the first round of 2020 Municipal Recycling and Solid Waste Survey data online at https://www.mass.gov/lists/recycling-solid-waste-data-for-massachusetts-cities-towns . This information is reported by municipalities on a yearly basis and includes annual trash and recycling tonnages, solid waste program and service descriptions, waste reduction elements and types of recyclables, difficult to manage and hazardous materials collected, and more. Note: When you open the spreadsheet file, there is a sheet titled “Read Me” that provides descriptions of each data field in the spreadsheet. The spreadsheet includes data from municipalities that submitted their reports by February 15, 2021. Municipalities are required to submit their 2019 and 2020 data through the online platform Re-TRAC Connect™ in order to be eligible for Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) grants.

MassDEP’s Sustainable Materials Recovery Program Grant Awards Announced

On May 6, 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $1.3 million in Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) grants to 34 municipalities and regional districts to increase the diversion, reuse, composting and recycling of materials in the solid waste stream. This is the second round of awards through the SMRP, which was created under the Green Communities Act and is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). An alphabetical list of the city, town, regional group or non-profit that has been awarded, as well as additional grant information can be found on our SMRP program webpage .

Recycle Smart MA reaches 28,000 Followers

MassDEP continues to work to get the word out about what items should and should not be placed in recycling bins through our Recycle Smart MA (RSMA) program. You can read our most recent newsletter, “It’s in the bag…” here , or view our archive. And, if you would like to help get the word out about how to reduce contamination and improve the quality of our recyclables, you can sign up as a Recycle Smart MA partner here . Follow RSMA on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram and please feel free to share our content!

MassDEP-hosted Home Composting Webinar Available on YouTube

In honor of Earth Day, MassDEP’s composting guru Ann McGovern hosted a home composting webinar for general audiences. The webinar, titled “Home Composting for Zero Waste (Everything You Wanted to Know about Composting but Were Afraid to Ask),” was well attended and Ann answered dozens of audience questions related to home composting. The webinar was recorded and can be found on MassDEP’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/Sd3dE3ZHSVo . The video has a few technical glitches in the beginning (till about the 6 minute mark) but stick with it because it becomes more pleasant to watch and it is very informative. It ends with an original compost song.

MassDEP Implements Minimum Performance Standard for Construction & Demolition (C&D) Handling Facilities

MassDEP is continuing to work with our C&D Handling Facilities – processors and transfer stations – to implement our Minimum Performance Standard (MPS) for waste ban compliance by these facilities. Implementation of the MPS will ensure a level playing field that will result in consistent separation of C&D materials across the industry. For more information, please visit this Mass DEP web page as well as a frequently asked questions document .

RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts Compost Training

The RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts program provided a training workshop for compost site operators in April. The presentation, training materials, and a recording of the workshop are available online here . Scroll down to Compost Site Operator Workshops to view these materials, as well as materials from past workshops.

Upcoming Webinar: Green Your Bottom Line in Food & Beverage Businesses

RecycingWorks in MA , in collaboration with the UMass Amherst Center for Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Companies (CEERE), will be hosting a free webinar on the topic of preventing, rescuing, and diverting food waste on June 18 (1pm-2pm). In this hour-long webinar, RecyclingWorks will share program information and resources with food manufacturers and distributors, and make connections to facilitate further food donation activity between food recovery organizations.

Companies that manufacture or process food and beverages are increasingly important to the New England economy. While products and facility size vary, they all use and pay for energy, water, chemicals (cleaning products or others) and waste management. Reducing these costs can help to sustain and expand a business, while ensuring that products are safe for consumption.

Green Your Bottom Line is an initiative to support food and beverage businesses in making improvements to their facilities and processes, which will benefit both their businesses and the environment.

For more information, please visit Green Your Bottom Line.

DEC & SUNY ESF Partner to Improve Recycling Quality Statewide

The New York State Center for Sustainable Materials Management (NYS Center for SMM), based at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), launched a first-of-its-kind statewide recycling website to address residential recycling confusion and contamination across the State. Visitors to RecycleRightNY.org will learn about the value of everyday materials and why it is important to recycle correctly.

The Recycle Right NY campaign was originally launched by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) after a series of recycling stakeholder meetings in 2018 to jump start discussion aimed at addressing challenges facing New York's recycling system. Campaign management was transitioned to the Syracuse University Center for Sustainable Community Solutions (SU-CSCS), a core partner with the NYS Center for SMM. The SU-CSCS team worked with more than 100 New York state recycling professionals to further build out this important resource.

The Recycle Right NY site features new resources such as a search tool to help visitors easily find their local recycling guidelines, as well as a " Recyclopedia " - an encyclopedia for recycling - that will provide waste reduction, reuse, and recycling tips for more than 300 common household items. Together, these resources will help residents to learn more about what is and is not recyclable, and how best to reduce, reuse, and recycle in their communities.

"So many people ask me: Can any item with the recycling symbol on it be recycled? Recycling can be confusing and often leads residents to "wish-cycle," or optimistically place items in their recycling bin even if it is not an acceptable recyclable item. Meanwhile, municipalities face complex challenges to properly collect, sort, and market clean recyclable materials. I am thrilled that the Recycle Right NY effort will reduce contamination of recycling streams across the State by offering direct support to community leaders on how their residents can improve their recycling habits," said Gary Carrel, NYS Association for Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling (NYSAR3) Board President and Erie County Solid Waste Recycling Specialist.

"Our goal is to make recycling easy to understand and simple to do. We hope to shift the perception of used materials as 'waste to be discarded' to 'resources to be recovered '", said Melissa Young, Assistant Director for Syracuse University's Center for Sustainable Community Solutions, "Beyond recycling, we hope to inspire and empower New Yorkers to reduce and reuse items when possible, which will greatly aid us in our journey to becoming the lowest waste producing state in the country."

In addition to the new recycling website, the Recycle Right NY campaign has launched its own social media pages and e-newsletter, and will develop new educational resources such as short videos, a resource locator map, and much more.

Natural Gas: Bridge or Anchor?

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 16:57:46 GMT

June 16, 2020

This week's NERC guest blog is courtesy of As You Sow , a leading shareowner advocacy organization and a proponent of sustainable investing. The original post can be found here .

By Lila Holzman and Daniel Stewart

“We have been talking about, for the last few years, gas as the bridge… There is an inevitability about bridges, which is that sooner or later you get to the end of the bridge."⁠ — Adnan Amin , International Renewable Energy Agency.

The window of opportunity to prevent catastrophic climate change is narrowing . The world is already experiencing harmful impacts surpassing earlier projections, and such harms will only increase as “business as usual” emissions continue. The scale of decarbonization must ramp up quickly to prevent the climate crisis from destroying value across the global economy and putting investor portfolios, and life as we know it, at extreme risk.

Recognizing the critical role the energy sector plays in mitigating climate risks, investors have productively engaged with utilities for years, moving them to better address the risks associated with their operations. First, shareholders filed resolutions raising concerns about the risk of stranded coal plant assets. Such concerns proved more than justified. We are now witnessing a wave of early coal plant retirements — a trend with no sign of slowing or reversing .

Shareholders next sought broad analysis of low-carbon scenarios and began to push utilities to set ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets. Xcel Energy, a company As You Sow has engaged for years, became the first U.S. utility to set a net-zero by 2050 emissions target in the fall of 2018. Since then, several utilities have joined the “net-zero” bandwagon, showing remarkable progress . Utilities that previously said they would never consider absolute or net-zero targets, have come around — driven by investor pressure, market forces, and technological advancement, among other factors.

Yet, despite strong targets, when assessing whether utility plans seem fit for the task of actually achieving such targets, investors are uncovering an alarming disconnect: most utilities are continuing to invest heavily in natural gas. Undeniably, natural gas has played an important role in moving energy systems off coal-fired generation. However, natural gas is a fossil fuel that generates considerable climate impacts in its own right, through methane leakage across the supply chain and through direct combustion emissions.

According to Rocky Mountain Institute, billions of dollars of investment in natural gas infrastructure is ramping up across the U.S. This investment drive, which includes power plants and pipelines with multi-decadal lifespans, is prompting strong concern. How can utilities reach net zero goals and avoid stranded assets , while building out long-lived, fossil fuel-based natural gas infrastructure?

As You Sow and Energy Innovation released a report in March to inform investors about the evolving risks associated with natural gas within the power sector: Natural Gas: A Bridge to Climate Breakdown . The report sheds light on how the proliferation of natural gas infrastructure threatens shareholder value — from investor portfolio risk, to company-level physical risk, regulatory and technological transition risk (including stranded assets), and reputational risk. To achieve climate stabilization, and protect investor portfolios from global climate risk, the bridge of natural gas and its associated emissions must have a clear end.

Powerful forces are mounting in favor of clean alternatives over continued natural gas build. Increased levels of awareness, activism , and grassroots mobilization are bringing climate change to the forefront of public attention and increasing pressure on policymakers and companies to address greenhouse gas emissions. In terms of economics, clean energy alternatives are increasingly cost-competitive with gas. In almost all jurisdictions, utility scale wind and solar, without subsidies, now offer the cheapest source of new electricity. Local and state legislative commitments to ambitious clean energy goals are also on the rise, as is legislation specifically focused on curbing the use of natural gas. The electrification of buildings and vehicles further present opportunities to grow new electricity demand that can be met by clean resources.

In the face of these drivers and concerns, investors have a unique role to play in the clean energy transition. Investors are well positioned to encourage power utilities to reduce the investment risks associated with an overreliance on natural gas and have begun engaging on these issues with some of the largest natural gas-reliant utilities in the U.S.

Shareholders must continue to work with such utilities to push for greater transparency and ambition on ending the trend of continued natural gas reliance and to avoid a repeat of the early retirements being experienced by coal plants.

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

Recycling Is About You and Me

Tue, 05 May 2020 16:53:01 GMT

May 5, 2020

Today's guest blog is authored by NERC board member Chaz Miller. The original post can be accessed here .

Fifty years ago, the first Earth Day focused America’s attention on our polluted air and water and our rat-filled open burning dumps. Earth Day touched a nerve. At a time of increasing prosperity, Americans wondered why we didn’t live in a cleaner, healthier environment.

Earth Day lead to pioneering environmental legislation. The Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act were all signed into law within four years. They are fundamental to the cleaner environment we enjoy today.

As for those dumps, Congress turned its attention to trash with the enactment of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) in 1976. In spite of its title, that law was primarily about municipal trash and hazardous waste. Open burning dumps would be a thing of the past. Landfills and hazardous waste would be regulated. RCRA gave EPA some resource conservation duties, but recycling itself was barely mentioned in the new law.

All four laws shared one characteristic. They focused on large scale sources of pollution, not on individuals. Yet while Earth Day clearly created the political support for those laws, recycling was one of its biggest beneficiaries. We intuitively knew we could do little about dirty air and water, but we could do something about garbage and recycling.

Garbage collection itself began almost a century before Earth Day as a way to clean up our cities from the filth and health dangers caused when garbage was thrown out of windows. Putting trash in a can was a relatively easy social norm to create. People immediately saw its advantages.

By the first Earth Day, we looked on garbage pickup as normal. But our interest in recycling was triggered. In the following years thousands of recycling centers, often volunteer organized and run, sprung into being. Most died as volunteers lost their enthusiasm or markets went down, yet the hardy survived. They were joined by this new thing called curbside recycling. n 1968, two cities, San Francisco and Madison, Wisconsin, collected newspapers at the curbside. By 1980, more than 250 curbside programs existed. Most just collected newspaper, but a growing number were also collecting cans and bottles.

Earth Day and its aftermath emphasized how garbage and recycling are unique among environmental issues. You and I make garbage. Then we have a choice. We can put all of it in our trash can or we can put our recyclables in our recycling bin and put the rest in the trash can. It’s up to us. This is both the strength and weakness of recycling.

While garbage is easy, recycling is hard. It requires more than just putting everything in a can and taking it to the curb. Now we have to know which material to put in which bin. The products and materials we use today are far more complicated than they were in 1970. We need to fully develop a social norm for recycling. Unlike some countries, such as Switzerland or Germany or Japan, our culture just isn’t there yet.

Unfortunately, the human side of recycling is ignored when state and local recycling laws are being written. Too many lawmakers naively assume that because recycling is good and people want to do it, that we will immediately recycle correctly. They set lofty goals that most people are just not interested in meeting. A little humility about the limits of their power would go a long way among America’s legislators. If they legislate it does not mean that we will do it.

We do have some ways of creating that recycling social norm. Deposit laws are highly effective at getting people to recycle beverage containers. When people pay a deposit on beverage containers they are likely to return them to get their money back. Recycling those containers is then easy. The pandemic we are experiencing is proving the ability of deposits to supply reliable quantities of quality raw materials. Because most of the deposit states have lifted deposit return enforcement, PET and glass and aluminum end users that relied on those containers are scrambling to find raw materials.

Pay-as-you-throw programs also create the incentive to recycle. They charge a lower overall cost for solid waste services to people who create less waste and more recyclables. They work. Again money is involved.

Other attempts to increase recycling depend on better education and enforcement of existing laws, both of which are important. Education offers no monetary advantages, but enforcement fines can sting.

We are now being told that producers created these products, so they, not consumers, should be responsible for fixing it. Yet every extended producer responsibility in the world still depends on individuals putting their recyclables in the right bin. Unlike deposits and pay-as-you-throw, individuals have no economic incentive, even though they are unknowingly paying for recycling when they make their purchases.

We are also being told that mechanical systems are on the way that will automatically sort through our trash and pull out the recyclables. We’ve been hearing that, and waiting for those machines, since I started at EPA in 1976. They’re still not here.

Recycling remains one of America’s most popular environmental activities. It’s 50 years after the first Earth Day. We can do better, but that won’t happen just because it is the right thing to do. That will happen when we start crafting policies and programs that take human nature into account and don’t dismiss it out of hand."

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

Waste and Recycling: 2019 in Review

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 18:12:26 GMT

January 7, 2020

2019 has been a fascinating year for recycling and waste. Markets continue to stink, plastics are condemned as evil and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) re-embraces recycling. Listed below, in no particular order, are some of the more interesting stories in 2019.

MRFs Go Crazy with Advanced Technology

Recently, I spoke at a recycling conference in Toronto. One of the panels consisted of four companies that manufacture materials recovery facility (MRF) processing equipment. Usually these panels feature over-the-top sales claims and thinly disguised sharp elbows aimed at the competition. This one was the opposite. When the panelists were discussing their latest breakthroughs in sorting technology, especially in robotics and artificial intelligence , they were so polite to each other I thought I was attending a love-in. The reality is that their order books are full, and they all know their technologies are compatible. Their breakthroughs will increase the quality of recyclables for markets while making MRFs safer for workers. Who could possibly complain about that?

EPA Embraces Recycling

In 2017, the EPA budget proposed by the Trump administration zeroed out federal expenditures on solid waste and recycling. Its authors argued that both are state functions not deserving of federal dollars. Congress, instead, chose to maintain funding for those EPA programs at their existing levels. Flash forward two years to America Recycles Day. The EPA-sponsored Innovation Fair featured an array of new technologies and packages. EPA’s Administrator Andrew Wheeler proclaimed the agency’s decision to establish national recycling goals . I guess the federal government has a role in recycling after all.

A Mill Grows in Wapakoneta, Ohio

On October 1, Pratt Industries opened its new recycled containerboard mill in John Glenn’s hometown. This new mill will use 162,000 tons of mixed paper and 68,000 tons of old corrugated boxes as its raw material . The plan is to double the amount used in 10 years. While this mill is not enough to bring life back to depressed recycled paper markets, it is an important first step. Within two years, at least four more new mills will open. I don’t expect recycled paper prices to get close to the dizzy heights of a decade ago. But I do expect that by the end of 2021, the depressed prices we continue to experience will be a thing of the past.

Drone Delivery of Packages Takes a Flight Forward

In September, drones began delivering packages in Christiansburg, Va. Wing, the company whose drones will deliver packages of 3 pounds or less, was the first to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration as an “air carrier.” The certification allows Wing’s drones to carry packages beyond their operator’s sight. If the drones prove cost effective and do not spark opposition based on noise, privacy or other concerns, drone delivery may become common in rural and exurban areas where they will be more cost effective than truck delivery. The drones also will start carrying heavier loads. Clearly, the packaging used for drone transportation will have to be sturdy enough to withstand any wind buffeting and the impact of being lowered to the ground. Which raises the question, what materials will they be made of?

San Francisco Quietly Abandons its Zero Waste Goal

For years, San Francisco has been claiming it diverts 80 percent of its waste from disposal. The city continued to make these claims even as the amount of waste it sent to landfills steadily increased every year since 2012. It now landfills 427,000 tons of trash. With the 2020 zero waste deadline looming, San Francisco quietly abandoned its 16-year-old goal. Now it wants to cut the amount of garbage going to disposal in half by 2030 and to cut per capita waste generation by 15 percent at the same time. As it turns out, San Francisco recycles barely more than half of its trash. This is quite an achievement for a large, densely populated, multi-lingual city with a high percentage of its population living in multifamily housing. But it’s not 80 percent. San Francisco proved that aspirational goals and aspirational accounting can mask reality for only so long.

Plastics as the Root of All Evil

The country, or at least some environmental groups, appears to have gone on an anti-plastic rampage. Driven by horrific pictures of a turtle with a straw in its nostril and water surfaces covered by plastic packaging, a rising tide of fervor is threatening to lead to sweeping restrictions on single-use products. While some of them are made from paper, glass or metals, it’s the plastic ones that are the focus of protest. As I noted in a summer blog, I have a soft spot in my heart for some single-use plastic products . Instead of railing against all plastic products, we need to accept the fact that many bring substantial environmental benefits, including lower greenhouse gas emissions, from cradle to grave, than their heavier, more recyclable competitors. This creates a dilemma. Which is more important? Lowering greenhouse gas emissions or increasing recycling? Until we figure out how to have our cake and compost it, too, we will have to decide. My choice is to use our brains, not our emotions. Lowering greenhouse gas emissions should be our priority.

Chaz Miller is a longtime veteran of the waste and recycling industry. He can be reached at chazmiller9@gmail.com.

Using Reclaimed Materials in Your Home & Yard

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 18:06:43 GMT

December 10, 2019

This guest blog was written by Sarah Lozanova , and originally published on Earth911 .

When most of us think of landfills, we think of rotting disposable diapers, apple cores, and old clothing. In fact, the U.S. generated 548 million tons of construction and demolition waste in 2015, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This waste stream comprises more than double the amount of municipal solid waste generated annually.

A lot of wood, concrete, bricks, glass, asphalt, and plastic are going to landfills instead of being recycled or reused. This creates a massive opportunity for improvement. Repurposing materials is a great way to reduce the ecological impact of a project. Demolition waste can be artfully repurposed in home remodeling, construction, and landscaping projects, adding beauty and charm. Reclaiming waste also helps you save money, as many people go into debt when constructing and remodeling homes.

Plan Ahead

Reclaiming materials typically takes more time than just buying new items. And it requires more planning.

It is challenging to take a cookie-cutter approach to salvaged materials. When constructing or remodeling your home, you may need to customize it to the available materials. One method is to analyze what materials are available and then plan your project design accordingly. The opposite approach is to design your project and then collect the needed reclaimed materials. When taking the latter approach, it is helpful to rely on salvaged materials that are more commonly available.

Regardless, planning ahead and having plenty of storage space is helpful.

Find Good Sources of Salvaged Materials

One of the easiest ways to find free materials and to prevent them from going to landfills is to visit demolition sites. This can be a great source of windows, doors, woodwork, fixtures, and even appliances. Construction sites can be excellent sources of surplus or slightly damaged materials and supplies. Construction dumpsters are often packed with useful materials.

It is essential to speak with the foreman to get permission before taking any materials. If you are seeking something specific, ask the contractors working on-site if they have found that window or door you want. They might be willing to set materials aside for you. But again, ask for permission first.

Antique malls, architectural salvage stores, and home improvement donation centers are good sources of anything from windows and doors to hardware, tile, and plumbing fixtures.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore is another valuable source of new and used building materials, and the proceeds benefit a good cause. There are also a variety of websites that can be useful, including Reusewood , Craigslist , Freecycle , and Facebook Marketplace. Some people even purchase properties with reclaiming the materials in mind. For example, old barns are filled with gorgeous weathered lumber that can be deconstructed and repurposed.

Utilize Repurposed Materials

Beautify your home with reclaimed and repurposed wood beams and ceramic tiles. Use cleaned-up bricks recovered from construction debris to create patios, pizza ovens, and pathways, and other attractive features for your new home. Repurpose shipping containers to make storage sheds. Or stack them to make multi-tiered structures, like a guest room. Use crushed concrete as aggregate for walkways and driveways. Sinks, vanities, bathtubs, cabinets, shower stalls, light fixtures, and even toilets can be repurposed.

Find Supplies with Recycled Materials

There are also some construction materials available on the market made from recycled materials.

Plastic bottles are recycled to make composite lumber or bricks, and recycled glass is made into tile and countertops . Old newspapers or blue jeans are made into insulation products , and cork bottle stoppers can make flooring and panels. Purchasing these materials might not be as economical but it does conserve resources.

Using salvaged materials in construction and renovation projects adds character and is a great way to reduce waste. And having an eye for reuse helps conserve precious resources and protect the environment.

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

A Brief History of Recycling

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 17:43:57 GMT

November 19, 2019

This guest blog is courtesy of American Disposal Services .

For those of you who think recycling is something that just came about within the last few decades, think again!

Ancient Recycling

The first recorded use of recycled paper was in 9th century Japan . Ancient Japanese people began recycling paper almost as soon as they learned how to produce it and recycling became part of paper production and consumption. Japanese culture generally treats recycled paper as being more precious than new and the recycled paper was often used in paintings and poetry. In the 12 century, a case was recorded of an emperor’s wife: after the emperor died, she recycled all the poems and letters she received from him and wrote a sutra on the recycled paper to wish peace upon his soul.

US Recycling Start

Finally, in 1690, recycling reaches the New World. The Rittenhouse Mill in Philadelphia opens and begins recycling linen and cotton rags. The paper produced from these materials was sold to printers for use in Bibles and newspapers.

World War II

World War II sees massive, universal collection campaigns for tin, rubber, steel, paper and more. More than 400,000 volunteer in the effort and tens of thousands of tons of material are recycled in order to save money for the war efforts. This was a national campaign. Posters and newsreels detailing the materials needed (and why) are abounding. All Americans were on board, and most were excited to help aid the troops by conserving and recycling.

1960s

The first curbside collections of yard waste, metals, and paper start popping up around the county. Separate waste streams collected at the curb become common place.

1970s

Greater emphasis on green movements through government backed initiatives generates public awareness of conservation efforts.
Concept of the flower child emerges. Earth Day is celebrated for the first time on April 22, 1970.
The ‘chasing arrows’ recycling symbol is created by a Southern California architecture student who was trying to win a contest. He has been quoted to say that he never could have imagined the logo he designed would be so widely recognized.
The first curbside-recycling bin “The Tree Saver” is used in Missouri for the collection of paper in 1974.
In 1976, Massachusetts secures the first ever EPA recycling grants. With the grant money, they implement weekly multi-material curbside collection programs in two cities and use the first ever residential recycling truck. It costs $20,000.
By the end of the decade approximately 220 curbside collection programs are under way in the US, about which 60 are multi-material collection.

1980s

In 1987, The Mobro 4000 (nicknamed “The Garbage Barge”) spends months on the ocean, searching for a location to dispose of its garbage cargo. This saga was widely covered in the media and has been credited with awakening Americans in regard to solid waste and the importance of recycling.
In that same year, New Jersey enacts the nation’s first universal mandatory recycling law, which requires all residents to separate recyclables from their trash.
By 1985 America is at 10% nationwide recycling participation.

1990s

The first ever-statewide ban on landfilling recyclable materials goes into effect, in Wisconsin in 1993. The ban initially prohibits yard wastes in landfills. Later, in 1995, other items (such as tires, aluminum containers, corrugated paper, foam polystyrene, plastic containers and newspapers) are banned as well.
By 1995 America is at 20% nationwide recycling participation; double what it had been 10 years ago in 1985 and only 3 years later, in 1998, it tops 30%.

2000-Today

In the early 2000s, organic waste collection at the curb begins on the West Coast (San Francisco).
Currently, goal setting for ambitious West Coast cities reaches up to 80% recycling participation in some areas.
In 2011, lawmakers in California adopt a goal to get the state’s recycling rate to 75% by 2020.
In 2012, McDonalds finally replace their Styrofoam cups with paper ones.
In 2011, the state of California had set the goal for 75% by 2020. Only one year later, in 2012, San Francisco announces it has achieved an 80% diversion rate for it’s waste….This puts San Francisco 8 years ahead of schedule on that goal, and with 5% MORE waste diverted!

Although this is a condensed list, you can see how far the recycling process has come and it is only becoming MORE accessible and widespread as time goes on! Imagine where we could be in 10 years if we all just Think Before We Throw!

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

Recycling Industry Continues to be a Powerful Force in U.S. Economy

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 16:35:57 GMT

October 8, 2019

This guest blog is courtesy of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) .

Recycling continues to power the American economy based on a new study conducted by John Dunham and Associates and released by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI). In addition to its positive environmental benefits, the recycling industry is responsible for more than 531,500 jobs and an overall economic impact of nearly $110 billion.

“The recycling industry continues to power America’s manufacturing base, creating jobs, generating tax revenue, and proving valuable feedstock for new products,” said Joe Pickard, chief economist for ISRI. “In the U.S., we continue to process more material into valuable commodities, seventy percent of which is used right here by American manufacturers. With the innovation and new technologies coming online, this trend is expected to continue upward.”

The study found that in 2019, 164,154 jobs are being directly supported by the recycling and brokerage operations of the scrap industry in the U.S. In addition, 367,356 jobs are indirectly supported by the industry through suppliers and the indirect impact of the industry’s expenditures. The indirect jobs include thousands of people in other sectors such as servers in restaurants, construction workers, teachers, and other professionals.

“Most importantly, this study reinforces the strength and resiliency of the scrap recycling industry,” said Pickard. “Recycling has always been based on supply and demand. Yet, at no other time have there been such fluctuations in global market conditions and demand for the high-quality scrap produced by the U.S. The fact that the industry is responding to these outside forces, and remaining an economic force is a testament to its ability to adapt and a strong workforce.”

The $110 billion economic impact puts the recycling industry on par with the radio and television broadcasting, building services, and warehousing and storage industries. It includes the roughly $4.94 billion in state and local tax revenues generated along with another $7.96 billion federal taxes.

A full breakdown of the study , including the economic impact by state, congressional district, state legislative district, and selected cities is available for further research. Information includes overall impact, wages, and economic benefits of exports. The economic impact of each commodity is also available.

NERC welcomes guest blog submissions. To inquire about submitting articles contact Megan Schulz-Fontes .

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

Soil Health Can Help Combat Climate Change

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 16:22:49 GMT

June 11, 2019

One knows that the issue of soil health has vaulted into the mainstream when an industrial agriculture giant like Cargill collaborates with the Soil Health Institute in an $850,000 effort to help farmers gauge the economic benefits of regenerative farming. For many farmers, adopting practices that promote soil health can require significant changes to traditional practices. Reducing tillage, reducing or eliminating chemical fertilizers, and planting cover crops all can present challenges to the agricultural status quo.

Why the urgency driving a call for a significant change in the way our food is produced? According to a recent article in The Guardian , “the world could run out of topsoil in about 60 years…Without topsoil, the earth’s ability to filter water, absorb carbon, and feed people plunges. Not only that, but the food we do grow will probably be lower in vital nutrients.”

Also, according to a report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), “land degradation caused by human activities is undermining the well-being of two fifths of humanity, driving species extinctions and intensifying climate change.”

“The global community of experts has delivered a frank and urgent warning, with clear options to address dire environmental damage,” said Sir Robert Watson, Chair of IPBES. “Land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change are three different faces of the same central challenge: the increasingly dangerous impact of our choices on the health of our natural environment. We cannot afford to tackle any one of these three threats in isolation – they each deserve the highest policy priority and must be addressed together.”

In contrast to industrial agriculture, what benefits does regenerative farming offer? In 2014, the Rodale Institute stated , “With the use of cover crops, compost, crop rotation and reduced tillage, we can actually sequester more carbon than is currently emitted, tipping the needle past 100% to reverse climate change.” In addition to being a tool for combatting climate change, improved soil health through specific practices can provide on-farm benefits, as a recent report from the New York Soil Health Initiative describes:

Expanding the use of fall and winter cover crops increases the uptake of carbon dioxide, which in turn significantly increases soil organic matter.
Crop rotation “breaks pest cycles, adds nutrients or organic matter, maximizes soil biodiversity, and provides other benefits,” the report states.
Reducing tillage “slows the pace of organic matter decomposition so that nutrient release happens gradually, matching crop nutrient needs.”
Compost and other soil amendments “improve soil structure, water and nutrient retention, water infiltration rate and drainage, and can promote beneficial soil organisms.”

Entitled New York Soil Health Roadmap, the Initiative’s report concludes with the following goals and priorities:

Develop a stakeholder network, a key role of which will be to communicate with policymakers the critical importance of soil health issues;

Overcome barriers to the adoption of effective soil health practices;
Integrate soil health programming with climate change policy initiatives; and
Integrate water and nutrient management with soil health programming.

NERC has contributed to the dialogue on soil health, by consistently advocating for expanded training and education around compost . Its efforts range from composting in the home and school to food recovery and the use of compost in infrastructure projects. All of NERC’s extensive work on compost and organics can be found on its website.

By Robert Kropp, NERC staff

Households Fight Climate Change

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 16:17:13 GMT

March 26, 2019

This guest blog is courtesy of Greenmatch .

Lowering the Domestic Energy Consumption

Recent data from the UK government has shown that global thinking and local action go hand in hand in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The UK is leading the way in slowing down climate change with the help of domestic households - a strategy that is equally applicable in the US.

In the UK, the current amount of electricity generated per person is the lowest since 1984, which has been a key factor in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This decrease has largely been thanks to the use of renewable energy, such as solar panels and domestic heat pumps .

Domestic households in the US up to 21.1% of the total energy consumption and account for 11% of the total GHG emissions. Although this percentage may seem low, we can see from the UK’s progress in reducing GHG emissions that domestic households can tremendously help slow down climate change.

Climate Goals for Reducing GHG Emissions by 2030

The UK’s Committee on Climate Change has set specific goals for 2030, where their main aim is to reduce GHG emissions in the UK by 57%. When comparing to 1990 levels, the UK’s GHG emissions have been reduced by 43% already.

It is reasonable to expect domestic households to help achieve these climate goals, as they are the second largest energy consumer in the UK. The infographic below presents an overview of the UK’s progress towards their climate goals.

How Homeowners Can Help Slow Down Climate Change

A key factor to help reduce GHG emissions is to be more aware of our consumption behavior and how this affects the environment. For example, a woolen piece of clothing may have contributed to the same amount of carbon emissions as an entire month of electricity for your home.

Reducing your meat consumption, could have a huge global impact on GHG emissions. Studies indicate that by switching to a vegan diet, you could reduce your dietary carbon footprint by up to 73% . Although this might be too big of a change for many, simply eliminating lamb and beef from your diet could already make a tremendous contribution, since these production processes cause the highest amount of emissions.

Energy efficient appliances can be a great solution for reducing your energy usage. Home insulation or low-carbon heating, for example, will help to reduce your carbon footprint and will thereby lower your energy bills, too.

Another important factor – at least, when you are a frequent flyer – is to travel by train or to simply travel less often by plane. In Europe, a train journey can release around 90% less CO2 than when travelling by plane.

Additionally, in case you travel by car quite frequently, try to drive shorter distances, and consider transferring to an electric vehicle instead. Even though electric vehicles are fueled by gas or coal, their high efficiency will still help to reduce your carbon footprint in the long run.

Last but definitely not least, the most environmentally-friendly, renewable energy source is solar energy . Solar panels don’t produce any GHG emissions and thereby do not only have huge benefits for the environment, but they also lower your electricity bills!

The six most common ways in which households can help reduce GHG emissions are highlighted in the infographic below.

Why a Market-Based Tire Recycling System Shouldn’t Be Scrapped

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 16:01:06 GMT

March 12, 2019

This guest blog is courtesy of Paul Arellano.

Tire recycling is a mixed industry. There are government regulations that determine how to legally dispose of used tires, yet the system is still largely market-based. There are some who favor greater government control of the tire recycling industry. While it’s true that government regulation is a necessity, a market-based system shouldn’t be scrapped entirely.

Pros and Cons of a Market-Based System

Although a market-based system has its benefits, there is no doubt this industry would look very different without government involvement. Many businesses and individuals would probably choose not to recycle, but rather dispose of their tires in a landfill if there were no penalties for doing so. There might be less of a demand for rubber in the civil engineering industry if the government did not award tire recycling grants .

The current system has seen great success, however, and greater government regulation may not be necessary.

A 90% Success Rate

In any recycling effort, a 90% success rate is cause for celebration. The recycling programs in the state of Maine and the City of San Francisco serve as two shining examples. Maine’s 90% success rate for beverage reclamation is lauded as an industry benchmark. In San Francisco, the city’s 80% diversion rate frequently garners praise.

The recycling rate for the scrap tire industry is particularly impressive when one considers that anything metal typically enjoys a more mature recycling market than that of non-metallic recyclables.

It’s worth noting that U.S. laws have largely taken a hands-off approach to requiring vehicle or home appliance manufacturers to finance the recycling costs of their products. This is because the recycling markets within these industries continue to thrive without product stewardship laws, just as the recycling markets for scrap tires do.

Pros and Cons of a Government-Controlled System

Government regulation increases the demand for tire recycling services and tire-derived products. It incentivizes proper disposal of tires and protects the environment. A system entirely controlled by the government, however, would ultimately be detrimental.

Well-intentioned lawmakers often meddle with a well-functioning system in an effort to make it work even more efficiently. The effect can be deleterious, to say the least. Take, for example, Connecticut Senate Bill 869 , which would explore the benefits of establishing licenses or permits for tire haulers, along with developing a new stewardship program. This program would force tire producers to increase prices to cover the end-of-life costs associated with the disposal of their products.

In its support of SB 869, the Connecticut Recyclers Coalition (CRC) points out that it has supported other producer responsibility efforts in the areas of e-waste, paint, and mattresses, and each of those programs have resulted in significant savings for taxpayers and municipalities.

While it is difficult to argue with the successes the CRC identifies regarding paint, electronic waste, and mattresses, scrap tires shouldn’t necessarily be brought under the same umbrella.

The TIA Weighs In

In its written testimony to the Connecticut Senate Environment Committee, the Tire Industry Association (TIA) writes: “Based on the knowledge we have from within the industry, the shared responsibility approach to scrap tire management has been very successful in the United States.”

Continuing this line of discussion, the TIA elaborates:

“The free-market based shared responsibility approach has established a successful, stable scrap tire management infrastructure, regulated by state laws governing tire hauling, storage, processing and end-use markets to ensure the system is properly maintained and operated.”

A Self-Governing and Self-Sustaining Industry

The tire recycling industry has taken great care to clean up its act and its image. Technology has assisted this effort tremendously.

This is not to say, of course, that the scrap tire industry hasn’t been helped by state and local laws regulating tire hauling, storage and processing. It has. The difference is that these regulatory efforts have worked in concert with the industry. Additional legislation like Connecticut SB 869, by contrast, would disrupt the industry by adding unnecessary layers of bureaucracy, increasing costs without adding appreciable benefits, and creating barriers to a system already known for innovation and efficiency.

Paul Arellano is the Sales & Marketing Manager at Lakin Tire , a tire recycling company that was founded in 1918—its motto—giving new life to old tires through creative thinking, innovative recycling processes and optimized scrap-tire management.

NERC welcomes Guest Blog submissions. To inquire about submitting articles contact Lynn Rubinstein . Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

The Lives of Recyclables

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 16:55:21 GMT

February 26, 2019

This guest blog is courtesy of RoadRunner Recycling . The post was written by Shelby Bell at RoadRunner Recycling.

Have you ever wondered what happens to your materials after they have been tossed in the recycling bin? After collection, each material is set on its own path to become a new product. Some materials can cycle through the process indefinitely, while others can only be recycled a few times before they lose their quality. Continue reading to learn about the recyclables’ journey from the recycling bin back to the shelf.

Cardboard

Did you know, 1 ton of recycled cardboard saves 46 gallons of oil and over 9 cubic yards of landfill space? Cardboard fibers are strong and can break down many times before they lose their quality. Once cardboard travels from your recycling bin to a recycling facility, the process begins. First, a machine shreds the cardboard down to tiny pieces. During the second step, the pieces mix with water and chemicals to create a pulp which further helps break down the fibers. Then, the pulp blends with raw materials like wood chips to help it solidify. The pulp filters through a machine to remove contamination such as glue, tape, or dyes. Finally, the drying process is the last step before the production of new items. Cardboard is usually recycled to create new cardboard, paperboard, or paper bags.

Aluminum

Remember to recycle your aluminum cans; they are one of the most recyclable materials! Aluminum never loses its quality and only requires 5% of the energy used to make the original material. To begin the recycling process, machines clean, sort, and melt the cans. The melting process removes any traces of paint, coatings, and ink that is on the aluminum. After, the melted aluminum pours into massive molds called ingots. A machine rolls out the ingots to make sheets, which is the last step before the creation of new product. Recycled aluminum can become bicycles, airplane parts, new cans, and more. Aluminum soda cans can go through this whole process and be back on a store shelf in only 60 days!

Paper

From computer paper to newspapers, a variety of paper products are recyclable. The recycling process begins by sorting the paper by grade and type, such as: newspaper, computer paper, and magazines. Next, a machine shreds the paper into small pieces and washes it to remove adhesives and contaminates. No need to worry about the stray sticky note or staple! Next, the paper combines with water and chemicals to separate the fibers and create a pulp. The pulp passes through a machine to remove excess water and is then heated to create rolls of dry, thin paper. The rolls are now ready to create new products like telephone books, newspapers, toilet paper and napkins. Not only does this save trees, the process of recycling old paper into new paper saves energy too! The EPA estimates recycled paper products requires only 60% of the energy used to create products from raw materials.

Glass

The EPA states, “Producing glass from virgin materials requires 30 percent more energy than producing it from crushed, used glass.” Unlike some materials, glass never loses its quality throughout the recycling process. To begin, machines sort the glass by color so it helps the product retain its strength. Once sorted by color, the next step involves crushing the glass into small pieces referred to as cullet. The cullet moves through a screening process to remove any contamination and impurities. The last step merges the cullet with heated silica sand, limestone, and soda ash to form the finished product. Recycled glass can create new glass containers, or even counter tops, flooring, sewer pipes, and more! Glass recycling has a very quick turnaround – they can go from the recycling bin to a store shelf in as little as 30 days!

Plastic

If you have ever wondered what the number inside the recycling symbol on your plastic containers mean, it is to help identify the type of plastic. The recycling process begins by sorting the plastics by their recycling symbol (or resin number). Sorting is important because different plastics create different products. After sorting, a machine shreds and washes the plastic to remove impurities like labels or food residue. The next stop is the furnace, where the plastic melts down and is finally ready to create new plastic goods. Recycled plastics can create beverage containers, detergent bottles, playground equipment, and even clothing! This process only requires two-thirds of the energy needed to manufacture plastic from raw materials.

Understanding the recycling process helps clarify why it is important to recycle smarter. Recycling correctly will retain the quality of the materials, increase their life-cycles, and save a significant amount of energy. All of this starts by sorting your recyclables and taking the necessary steps to keeping them valuable. If you have any questions about the recycling process, contact us !

Sources: www.utahrecycles.org , The EPA

This original blog can be viewed online .

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

How Much of our Waste is Actually Recyclable

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 16:40:53 GMT

February 12, 2019

Environmental Research & Education Foundation.

Since 1995, the amount of commodity recyclables in the waste stream has fallen 10 points from 53% to 43%.

A recent EREF analysis examined the waste management policies set by state/local agencies, such as recycling and diversion goals. EREF found that states across the U.S. have recycling goals ranging from 10% – 50%.

If every item that was capable of being recycled actually was recycled, could these goals be achieved? This concept, applicable to diversion in general, is known as the theoretical maximum recovery.

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

“Recomposition”: Composting Meets the Death Industry

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 18:06:20 GMT

February 5, 2019

Here in NERC’s hometown of Brattleboro, Vermont, the local waste hauler collects household food scraps once a week, and delivers them for rendering into compost at our solid waste management district . It’s a trend that’s catching on in many places, and for many reasons ; not the least of which are the benefits to soil health that compost brings.

Meanwhile, on farms and ranches, composting on a much larger scale occurs as a station in the cycle of life. When done properly, the composting of animal mortalities is an effective way of dealing with animal carcasses while providing beneficial soil amendments.

For a number of reasons, little thought has traditionally been given to the composting of human remains. But in the State of Washington, that may soon change. State Senator Jamie Pederson has introduced a bill that would “expand the options for disposing of human remains,” NBC reported in December . The Staff Summary of the bill describes recomposition, or the composting of human remains, as a “process … similar to those used for animals. This process is safe and effective for human disposition. It is natural, gentle, and sustainable, reducing carbon emissions. It uses one-eighth of the energy of cremation.”

Leading the call for the legalization of recomposition is Katrina Spade, who invented a system for composting human remains. The recomposition “process involves placing unembalmed human remains wrapped in a shroud in a 5-foot-by-10-foot cylindrical vessel with a bed of organic material such as wood chips, alfalfa and straw,” NBC reports. “Air is then periodically pulled into the vessel, providing oxygen to accelerate microbial activity. Within approximately one month, the remains are reduced to a cubic yard of compost.”

“It was like a lightbulb went off and I started to envision a system that uses the same principles as mortality composting,” Spade says, “that would be meaningful and appropriate for human beings.”

In 2017, Spade founded Recompose , a Benefit Corporation whose goal is to bring the recomposition process to the public. “This natural process gently converts human remains into soil, so that we can nourish new life after we die,” the company states. “Our modular system uses nature's principles to return our bodies to the earth, sequestering carbon and improving soil health. In fact, we've calculated carbon savings over a metric ton per person.”

“Recompose takes guidance from nature,” the company continued. “At the heart of our model is a system that will gently return us to the earth after we die.”

The legislative staff summary further states, “For a world that has been remade by technology, making many things better, cheaper and environmentally friendly, it is pretty astonishing that in 2019 we are left with two legal ways to dispose of human remains; both of which that have been around for thousands of years.”

The two legal ways referred to are traditional burial and cremation, both of which present environmental problems. Casket burial involves the use of formaldehyde and other toxic chemicals which leach into the soil, and cremation introduces greenhouse gases and other chemicals into the atmosphere.

In recent years, concerns over the environmental impacts of traditional methods have led to alternatives such as green burial , “a way of allowing bodies to decompose naturally—without chemical preservatives or disinfectants (aka embalming fluid). Bodies are recycled naturally into the soil.” Unlike recomposition, green burials are legal in all fifty states.

“We really only have two easily accessible options in the U.S. — cremation and burial,” Spade said. “And the question is: Why do we only have two options, and what would it look like if we had a dozen?”

By Robert Kropp

The Opportunities of Solar Panel Recycling

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 16:35:51 GMT

January 29, 2019

This guest blog is courtesy of GreenMatch .

What Happens to PV Panels When Their Life Cycle Ends

The energy industry has been experiencing a radical change and the gradual shift towards renewable energy sourcing is more than evident. Nevertheless, not all that looks sustainable stays that way upon the end of its life cycle. At least that is the most common worry regarding photovoltaic (PV) solar panels . They are a sustainable source of energy, dependant only on solar radiation, and capable of delivering electricity to our homes. However, what happens to solar panels when they fail to perform efficiently? Explore their journey through the recycling process in the infographic below:

The Lifetime of Solar Panels

How long do solar panels last? A question that most people have in mind when considering solar panels. According to studies, the life expectancy of solar panels is about 30 years before decommissioning.

During the life of photovoltaic panels, a 20 per cent decrease in power capacity might occur. Between the first 10 to 12 years, the maximum decrease in efficiency is 10 per cent, and 20 per cent when reaching 25 years. These figures are guaranteed by the majority of manufacturers.

Still, experience shows that, in reality, the efficiency drops by merely 6 to 8 per cent after 25 years. The lifespan of solar panels may thus be much longer than officially stated. The lifespan of high quality PV panels may even reach 30 to 40 years, and be still functional afterwards, though with decreasing efficacy.

Disposal of Solar Panels

From a regulatory aspect, PV panel waste still falls under the general waste classification. A sole exception exists at EU-level, where PV panels are defined as e-waste in the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive . The PV panel waste management is thus regulated by this directive, additionally to other legal frameworks.

The solar cells manufacturers are bound by law to fulfil specific legal requirements and recycling standards in order to make sure that solar panels do not become a burden to the environment. That is when technologies to recycle solar panels started emerging.

Photovoltaic producers collaborated with governmental institutions and have come up with a few ways to tackle solar waste.

Solar Panel Waste

In fact, if recycling processes were not put in place, there would be 60 million tons of PV panels waste lying in landfills by the year 2050; since all PV cells contain certain amount of toxic substances, that would truly become a not-so-sustainable way of sourcing energy.

In the following interactive map, you can check out which countries produce the most solar panel waste: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1g4J5np6uhrHh-PmC-K4fB7QmJvU&femb=1&ll=19.76800158249233%2C15.953076499999966&z=2

The common belief of solar panels not being recyclable is, therefore, a myth. It is, however, a process that needs time to be widely implemented and requires further research to reach its full potential of adequately recycling all solar panel components. For that reason, it is necessary that designing and recycling units collaborate closely so that the ability to recycle is ensured by mindful eco-designs.

Solar Panel Recycling Processes

There are two main types of solar panels, requiring different recycling approaches. Both types—silicon based and thin-film based—can be recycled using distinct industrial processes. Currently, silicon based panels are more common, though that does not mean that there would not be great value in the materials of thin-film based cells.

Research studies conducted on the topic of recycling solar panels have resulted in numerous technologies. Some of them even reach an astonishing 96% recycling efficiency, but the aim is to raise the bar higher in the future.

Silicon Based Solar Panel Recycling

The recycling process of silicon-based PV panels starts with disassembling the actual product to separate aluminium and glass parts. Almost all (95%) of the glass can be reused, while all external metal parts are used for re-molding cell frames. The remainder materials are treated at 500°C in a thermal processing unit in order to ease up the binding between the cell elements. Due to the extreme heat, the encapsulating plastic evaporates, leaving the silicon cells ready to be further processed. The supporting technology ensures that not even this plastic is wasted, therefore it is reused as a heat source for further thermal processing.

After the thermal treatment, the green hardware is physically separated. 80% of these can readily be reused, while the remainder is further refined. Silicon particles—called wafers—are etched away using acid. Broken wafers are melted to be used again for manufacturing new silicon modules , resulting in 85% recycling rate of the silicon material.

Thin-Film Based Solar Panel Recycling

In comparison, thin-film based panels are processed more drastically. The first step is to put them in a shredder. Afterwards, a hammermill ensures that all particles are no larger than 4-5mm, which is the size where the lamination keeping the inside materials together breaks, and hence can be removed. Contrary to silicon-based PV panels, the remaining substance consists of both solid and liquid material. To separate these, a rotating screw is utilised, which basically keeps the solid parts rotating inside a tube, while the liquid drips into a container.

Liquids go through a precipitation and dewatering process to ensure purity. The resulting substance goes through metal processing to completely separate the different semiconductor materials. The latter step depends on the actual technology used when producing the panels; however, on average 95% of the semiconductor material is reused.

Solid matters are contaminated with so-called interlayer materials, which are lighter in mass and can be removed through a vibrating surface. Finally, the material goes through rinsing. What is left behind is pure glass, saving 90% of the glass elements for easy re- manufacturing .

The Future Benefits of Solar Waste Management

Now that we know that solar panels can be recycled, the question is what other benefits it brings to the economy—if any. Obviously, a proper solar panel recycling infrastructure will need to be established to manage the large volumes of PV modules that will be disposed in near future. Once that is in place, we’ll be witnessing several positive factors and new opportunities within the economy.

Not only will PV recycling create more green job opportunities but also approximately £11 billion in recoverable value by 2050. This influx will make it possible to produce 2 billion new panels without the need to invest in raw materials. This means that there will be the capacity of producing around 630 GW of energy just from reusing previously used materials.

Thanks to constant solar energy price drops, more and more households and businesses choose to invest in solar power systems . As a result, even more economic opportunities in the solar cell recycling sector will emerge.

The original blog can be viewed online .

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

It’s Time to Get Toxic Chemicals Out Of Dry Cleaning

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 16:11:52 GMT

January 22, 2019

Today’s Guest Blog is by Steve Whittaker and Ashley Pedersen with the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County, Washington . The article was originally posted in Environmental Health News on December 13, 2018 .

Perchloroethylene, a probable human carcinogen, remains the most frequently-used solvent for dry cleaning. It's time to help the industry change—and our county is doing just that.

When perchloroethylene (PERC) was introduced to the dry cleaning industry in the 1930s, it must have seemed like a miracle solvent.

It cleans clothes well and – most importantly – it is nonflammable. This is in contrast to the previous solvents, like Stoddard solvent, gasoline, turpentine, and even benzene. Because the use of these flammable solvents resulted in catastrophic fires and explosions, government regulations forced dry cleaners to move out of highly populated areas. With the advent of PERC, dry cleaners could move back to population centers, where the customers were.

The dry cleaning industry provided a unique opportunity for a whole generation of immigrants. A 2011 survey indicated that in King County, Washington, for instance, more than 80% of dry cleaning business owners emigrated from South Korea. For many of these immigrants, dry cleaning was the ideal business. They readily grasped the complexity of the dry cleaning process and were able to build successful businesses through hard work.

Unfortunately, very few are aware of the health risks associated with a lifetime of using a hazardous chlorinated solvent.

Old machines, hazardous exposures

The earliest dry cleaning technology used "transfer machines," where fabrics washed in PERC were manually transferred to dryers while still wet. The exposures to PERC were massive, and several epidemiological studies suggest excess risk for cancer and adverse effects on the nervous system, kidneys, liver, immune system and the hematologic (blood) system.

Although transfer machines are now banned in the United States and replaced with enclosed "dry-to-dry" machines, we still see PERC exposures. In King County, most PERC machines are more than 20 years old, which is past their operational lifespan of 15 years. These old machines are leaking. We have measured hundreds of parts per million of PERC in the ambient air of dry cleaners.

Workers are also exposed to PERC when they remove fabrics from the machine, handle their hazardous waste, and deal with accidental spills.

Here in King County, the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program has provided technical assistance to the dry cleaning community for more than 20 years.

When we considered the legacy of PERC's effects on health and the environment, we realized that we needed to get PERC out of dry cleaning.

There are almost 200 sites in King County contaminated with PERC. In addition, some of our local communities draw their drinking water from shallow aquifers, which contain detectable levels of PERC. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently evaluating PERC for possible restriction, so we recognized an opportunity to help dry cleaners switch to safer alternatives – and avoid "regrettable substitutes" – ahead of potential federal regulations.

Making the switch

Several jurisdictions have already taken steps to remove PERC dry cleaning machines from circulation. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) passed a regulation in 2007 phasing-out PERC dry cleaning by 2023. The Cities of Philadelphia and Minneapolis have also passed phase-outs.

Other jurisdictions have given tech and financial support to help dry cleaners switch to safer alternatives, including Massachusetts (via the Toxics Use Reduction Institute), New York State, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and the City of Minneapolis.

We engaged our dry cleaning community to find out what it would take to help them switch. We worked with leaders in the Korean-American community to host meetings of the local dry cleaning association, facilitated focus groups, and conducted numerous interviews with dry cleaners – all in Korean. We learned that cost was the single greatest barrier to replacing old PERC machines with safer technology.

In 2018, we began offering $20,000 equipment reimbursement grants to help dry cleaners replace their PERC machines with professional wet cleaning, which relies on water and detergent, rather than an organic solvent.

The latest generation of professional wet cleaning is an integrated system, comprised of a programmable washer, a moisture-sensing dryer, and specialized detergents and conditioners that allow any "dry clean only" fabric to be washed in water.

So far, we have provided grants to seven dry cleaners — and all seven are no longer inhaling PERC. Some workers are reporting significant improvements in their health. Shop owners are also saving money because they no longer generate hazardous waste and their utility bills are much lower.

Our goal is to make King County PERC-free by 2025 by offering 10 grants of $20,000 per year.

Providing grants to small businesses is a positive step in helping eliminate dangerous chemical exposures that impact the health and environment in our communities.

Ashley Pedersen and Steve Whittaker are with the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County, Washington , where they manage the county's financial incentive program to transition PERC dry cleaners to safer alternatives.

LHWMP is a regional collaboration between Public Health - Seattle & King County, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Seattle Public Utilities, and suburban cities in King County.

Environmental Health News publication of Environmental Health Sciences, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to driving science into public discussion and policy on environmental health issues, including climate change. The article is reprinted by permission.

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

Slowing Down Fast Fashion with Sustainability

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 19:03:58 GMT

December 31, 2018

For this guest blog post, written by Meghan Stirpe, we will be sharing some research from PACT organic clothing. Using information from their research and advocacy team, we assembled an advice piece to discuss the importance of sustainable fashion and environmental awareness within the global clothing industry.

In the past, fashion brands would release 4-6 collections that usually correlated with the seasons. Today, many brands participate in fast fa shion , a term that can be used to describe most of the clothing sold at common retailers in local malls. Fast fashion means retailers are creating and mass-producing styles quickly and in large quantities to keep customers shopping for new styles frequently, and not just when the seasons change. This mass production also means that clothing is more affordable, encouraging the consumerism that has caused clothing and textiles to become the second largest pollutant in the world behind oil and gas .

Recently in a NERC Blog , Product Stewardship Institute’s CEO Scott Cassel discussed textile pollution. Cassel shared that 83% of used textiles – including clothing, shoes, belts, and accessories – are disposed in the garbage, despite the ability for many of these items to be recycled and reused.

What happens to clothes after they are tossed in the garbage? The U.S. alone sends 13 trillion tons of clothes to landfills where they sit for 200 years, according to Ayesha Barenb lat, founder of Remake. Over time, the clothes can leak chemicals and dyes into the ground, which has a profound negative impact on our earth.

As a consumer, you may be wondering what you can do to help reduce this enormous amount of waste from hurting the environment. Conveniently, you have the ability to effect change well in advance before disposing a piece of clothing. In fact, by understanding how clothes are manufactured responsibly, you can make smarter and greener purchases; you can also learn about options for recycling your clothes, and keep your shopping habits sensible and environmentally-friendly.

Sustainably Manufactured Clothing

Man-made materials are thought to be the first culprit when people think of clothing that disregards environmentally-friendly practices. It requires an enormous amount of energy to produce man-made (synthetic) fabrics like polyester, which generates toxic emissions and relies on the use of crude oil and other non-renewable energy resources. However, “natural” fabrics can leave a footprint on the environment as well. Although cotton is a versatile fiber used to manufacture clothing, it also has considerable environmental implications when farmed conventionally.

Cotton is grown globally, with China, India, and the United States being the leading producers. Conventionally-grown cotton uses pesticides and other chemicals to help it grow; accounting for roughly one quarter of all the pesticides used in the U.S.

To combat the frequent use of pesticides, a number of textile manufacturing companies have started sourcing organic cotton to produce their clothing. According to the Textile Exchange 2016 Organic Cotton Market report, harvesting organic cotton in the 2014-2015 season saved 218 billion liters of water and 315,030 kilograms of hazardous pesticides compared to conventional cotton.

Textile manufacturers are taking note ! More companies than ever before are making the investment and focusing on environmental and customer health through the adoption of transparent policies on material sourcing and manufacturing. Today, companies are producing clothing that is Fair Trade and Fair Labor Certified, up to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), and adheres to the Responsible Wool Standard. Each certification and environmental standard that textile manufactures invest in and support helps farmers and companies apply best practices when it comes to farming techniques, technology, animal treatment, and textile manufacturing.

How to Shop Smarter

Shopping smarter starts with purchasing fewer items of higher quality. Investing in slow fashion helps money go farther because the clothing is designed to last longer. A great way to implement this practice is to consider building a capsule wardrobe , which transforms a few high-quality staple pieces into dozens of unique and sustainable outfit combinations.

Another way to shop smarter is to shop with companies who are, in fact, certified by some of the previously mentioned organizations. For example, PACT is an organic clothing company that has a mission to “create the comfiest clothes in the world without destroying the earth, or harming people.” With a goal like this, PACT joined forces with Fair Trade factories to source organic cotton and other sustainable fibers for their clothing products.

Among other companies that invest in sustainable practices, Patagonia shares their sustainability promises that also promote recycling and reuse. The Worn Wear store section of their site sells used Patagonia gear that has been refurbished for resale. Patagonia asks customers to share their #WornWear stories, while encouraging them to repair their own gear with Patagonia’s Repair & Care resource section -- a practice that truly makes clothing last longer.

Lastly, label shop. When shopping, look for labels that highlight their sustainability efforts, materials and sources: labels with certifications such as the Organic Exchange (OE), the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), or Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). If you’re shopping online, the company’s established corporate and environmental policies within their “about” page is a great place to learn more about their manufacturing and recycling standards.

How to Recycle Your Clothing Responsibly

There will come a time in the clothing lifecycle where it will no longer be of use to you. When it’s time to part with your clothing, here are a few ways you can recycle or reuse it responsibly.

Sell
Upcycle
Donate

Check with your local second-hand shops and consignment stores for opportunities to resell unwanted clothing. The Council for Textile Recycling has a searchable database of textile donation/recycling locations around the US. A web search will yield lots of ways that used clothing can be repurposed or upcycled into “new” items. Remember, even worn or stained clothing, as long as it is washed and dried, can be recycled through charitable organizations including Planet Aid , Goodwill , and Salvation Army .

Meghan Stirpe is an environmental advocacy researcher within the fashion and textile industry. Her efforts are focused on raising awareness about the impact of fast fashion on the environment and textile industry. Working with environmentally-conscious community leaders, she helps encourages individuals to make sustainable purchases, recycle used items, and volunteer. In her free time, Meghan enjoys camping, hiking, and exploring the great outdoors.

NERC welcomes Guest Blog submissions. To inquire about submitting articles contact Athena Lee Bradley, Projects Manager at athena(at)nerc.org. Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc. This is not a paid or sponsored collaboration.

World Bank Warns of Massive Increase in Global Waste

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 20:41:40 GMT

December 18, 2018

As with most upper-middle- and high-income countries, the United States enjoys nearly universal waste collection. And while those of us in the recycling industries rightly fret about lagging recycling rates, at least one-third of waste in the US and other high-income countries is recovered through recycling or composting.

Now compare that to the situation faced by citizens of low-income countries. There, over 90% of waste is openly dumped or burned. “Landslides of waste dumps have buried homes and people under piles of waste,” the World Bank states. “And it is the poorest who often live near waste dumps and power their city’s recycling system through waste picking, leaving them susceptible to serious health repercussions.”

The World Bank’s latest report on global waste, entitled What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050 , is available as a free download on the international financial institution’s website. It’s the third such report from the bank, dating back to 1999; thus, the reporters’ expertise can be discerned throughout the report’s 400 pages. It is an important read for all who seek to raise the success levels of sustainable materials management.

Considering the gravity of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) most recent report on limiting global temperature increases , it is important to note the World Bank’s conclusion on the effect of waste on climate change. “An estimated 1.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide–equivalent (CO2-equivalent) greenhouse gas emissions were generated from solid waste management in 2016,” the report states. “This is about five percent of global emissions. Without improvements in the sector, solid waste–related emissions are anticipated to increase to 2.6 billion tons of CO2-equivalent by 2050.”

Fortunately, sustainable materials management—of which recycling is a critically important part—has the effect of “conserving resources, reducing waste, slowing climate change and minimizing the environmental impacts of the materials we use,” according to a 2016 EPA assessment . The World Bank report suggests that sustainable management practices—which, in addition to recycling and composting, include waste-to-energy incineration and sanitary landfills—are being codified and regulated in an increasing number of regions of the world.

“In more advanced cases of waste governance,” the report finds, “national governments may develop a five- to ten-year national strategy that details the current waste situation in the country and sets targets for the sector about recycling, financial sustainability, citizen awareness, promotion of a green economy, reduction of greenhouse gases, and rehabilitation of contaminated sites.”

While low-income countries continue to struggle to find resources to support more sustainable approaches (a struggle that the World Bank itself often addresses through its financial assistance programs), even basic improvements in waste management systems can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent or more. And, the report declares, “there is a growing trend toward improving recycling and disposing of waste in controlled or sanitary landfills” in low-income countries.

Seventeen case studies in the report detail successful materials management products throughout the globe, from zero-waste efforts in San Francisco to organics management in Burkina Faso. While never retreating from a legitimate sense of urgency, the report includes enough successes to inspire most stakeholders.

The World Bank includes the following recommendations to readers of its report:

Providing financing to countries most in need, especially the fastest growing countries, to develop state-of-the-art waste management systems.
Supporting major waste producing countries to reduce consumption of plastics and marine litter through comprehensive waste reduction and recycling programs.
Reducing food waste through consumer education, organics management, and coordinated food waste management programs.

“It is often the poorest in society who are adversely impacted by inadequate waste management,” World Bank Vice President Laura Tuck said. “Our resources need to be used and then reused continuously so that they don’t end up in landfills.”

By Robert Kropp

Future of MRFs: New contract terms, more tech, ongoing stress

Tue, 11 Dec 2018 20:37:57 GMT

December 11, 2018

Cole Rosengren of Waste Dive Magazine attended NERC's Fall 2018 Conference In Rocky Hill CT. Here is his account of the many subjects covered in depth. The original article can be found here .

It's well-documented by now how challenging operations have been at U.S. MRFs recently, especially in the wake of China's scrap import restrictions. Last week, at the Northeast Recycling Council's fall conference in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, multiple presentations even went so far as to include images of MRFs getting struck by lightning bolts or being targeted by aircraft bombs. Amid this siege mentality, however, there were still signs of hope for how the industry can move forward.

Under Pressure

Few, if any, areas of the country have been immune to tight commodity markets. The largest publicly-traded players in U.S. recycling have discussed it ad nauseam during earnings calls , interviews and conference appearances since last summer. They touched on many of the usual points during an opening panel, with a few variations on running messages.

Susan Robinson, Waste Management's director of federal public affairs, made her signature presentation on the potential emissions benefits of recycling certain materials, noting the current scenario of an inelastic supply chain puts MRFs under "extreme stress." She described as unrealistic the concept some have of MRFs being a "black box" that can handle whatever comes their way. “We’re asking them to basically work magic with something that’s a very complex stream coming in the door."
Frank Chimera, senior manager of municipal services for Republic Services, delivered his company's own message about why cost expectations need to be adjusted. “We believe strongly that you can’t have sustainability without economic viability," said Chimera. The fact that Republic has invested $1.5 million in new technology at its Seattle MRF was held up as a sign that similar upgrades could be possible elsewhere when contract terms are favorable.
Bob Cappadona, vice president of recycling for Casella Waste Systems, described the scrutiny on bale quality as unlike anything he's seen in a 30-plus year career. Cappadona said "we’ve done it all" when it comes to improving quality, motivated in part by the specter of highly expensive container rejection fees. However, he questioned how feasible proposed uniform audit standards would be at large facilities such as the company's Boston MRF, which produces around 1,000 bales per day.

Evolutions and Changes

As all of these recycling cost pressures play out, there have already been numerous changes in the way that industry and local government interact. This has manifested itself in a variety of examples around the country and will continue to do so for months — if not years — to come. Presentations from multiple consultants in the field covered a few key trends currently underway and made the case for no longer thinking about recycling as a purely profit-driven enterprise:

Michael Timpane, vice president of process optimization and recovery at RRS, said he was aware of roughly 100 contract conflicts around the U.S. These include multiple instances of force majeure being invoked and ongoing disputes over who should bear various costs. He recommended rethinking single-stream as a "convenience service" and decoupling it from a traditional commodity value mindset.
Mitch Kessler of Kessler Consulting agreed that contract structures need to move away from local governments or companies counting on commodity revenue. “It was never meant to be budgeted; it was never meant to be a revenue generator," he said. Kessler also said that blaming long-running trends — such as the evolving ton, changing oil prices and, above all, Chinese trade policy — lacked perspective. "This has been going for a while. We chose to ignore it to some extent."
The need to invest significantly in new MRF tech was also a running theme, with multiple speakers saying the industry could do more. Nat Egosi, president of RRT Design & Construction, said counting on revenue alone to cover capital costs wouldn't be sufficient. “Huge investments need to be made, and I mean huge investments," he said. According to Egosi, ideal technology for the "MRF of Tomorrow" will include new OCC screens, auger screens, anti-wrapping screens and more optical sorters.

2019 and Beyond

Now that the industry is more than a year into this new post-China reality, there is a sense of tentative stability and occasionally even cautious optimism about what comes next. Many local governments will continue to struggle with rising costs, but speakers at the NERC event saw reason for hope in the Northeast. They also touched on a few potential changes that have yet to materialize, but are either being discussed or could come up in the years ahead:

Multiple speakers urged against suspending or canceling recycling programs. Gregory Anderson, chief of staff at New York's Department of Sanitation, said participation rates suffered for years after the city temporarily cut certain items. “The solution today isn't to to take drastic steps to cut entire products out of our recycling program because of current day situations, unless we’re prepared to never have those products back in our program in the future."
Despite a few examples around the country, no one expects to see dual-stream make a big comeback. Convenience and capital costs were listed as key reasons. “You’re going to get a better quality stream out of dual stream, there’s no doubt about it, but the cost to collect is exorbitant," said Chimera, adding that in many areas “those trucks are gone."
Eileen Berenyi of Governmental Advisory Associates predicted the industry might see more public-private partnerships, increasing automation and possibly even new mixed waste concepts. Projects by Fiberight in Maine and RePower in Alabama were cited as recent examples. “I really think in the future we’re going to see more attempt to capture the energy component of the waste," she said.
Chaz Miller, formerly of NWRA, said he was heartened by the amount of news about recent paper mill investments but expects markets to remain tight for at least the next 24-36 months . “There’s clearly light at the end of the tunnel, but you don’t build these facilities overnight."

NERC welcomes Guest Blog submissions. To inquire about submitting articles contact Megan Schulz-Fontes . Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

The Plastic Waste Crisis Is An Opportunity For The U.S. To Get Serious About Recycling At Home

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 20:23:59 GMT

December 4, 2018

Today’s Guest Blog is by Kate O'Neill. It was originally posted in The Conversation on August 17, 2018.

Today’s unprecedented level of public concern is an opportunity to innovate

A global plastic waste crisis is building, with major implications for health and the environment. Under its so-called “National Sword” policy, China has sha rply reduced imports of foreign scrap mate rials . As a result, piles of plastic waste are building up in ports and recycling facilities across the United States.

In response, support is growing nationally and worldwide for banning or restricting single-use consumer plastics, such as straws and grocery bags. These efforts are also spurred by chilling findings about how micro-plastics travel through oceans and waterways and up the food chain.

I have studied global trade in hazardous wastes for many years and am currently completing a book on the global politics of waste. In my view, today’s unprecedented level of public concern is an opportunity to innovate. There is growing interest in improving plastic recycling in the United States. This means getting consumers to clean and sort recyclables, investing in better technologies for sorting and reusing waste plastics, and creating incentives for producers to buy and use recycled plastic.

Critiques of recycling are not new, and critiques of recycling plastic are many, but I still believe it makes sense to expand, not abandon, the system. This will require large-scale investment and, in the long term, implementing upstream policies, including product bans.

Plastic litter on California beaches has decreased since the state banned single-use plastic bags in 2016.

Easy to use, hard to destroy

Plastics make products lighter, cheaper, easier to assemble and more disposable. They also generate waste, both at the start of their life cycles – the petrochemicals industry is a major source of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions – and after disposal.

The biggest domestic use by far for plastic resin is packaging (34 percent in 2017), followed by consumer and institutional goods (20 percent) and construction (17 percent). Many products’ useful lives can be measured in minutes. Others, especially engineered and industrial plastics, have a longer life – up to 35 years for building and construction products.

After disposal, plastic products take anywhere from five to 600 years to break down. Many degrade into micro-plastic fragments that effectively last forever. Rather like J.R.R. Tolkien’s One Ring, plastics can be permanently destroyed only through incineration at extremely high temperatures.

Why the United States recycles so little plastic

Less than 10 percent of discarded plastics entered the recycling stream in the United States in 2015, compared with 39.1 percent in the European Union and 22 percent in China. Another 15 percent of U.S. plastic waste is burned in waste-to-energy facilities. The remaining 75 percent goes to landfills. These figures do not include any dumping or illegal disposal.

Even the most easily recyclable plastics have a lengthy journey from the recycling bin to their final destinations. Many barriers have become painfully apparent since China, which until recently accepted half of all U.S. plastic scrap, implemented its crackdown on March 1, 2018.

First, there are many different types of plastics. Of the seven resin identification codes stamped on the bottom of plastic containers, only 1’s and 2’s are easily recyclable. Public education campaigns have lagged, particularly with respect to cleaning and preparing plastics for recycling. Getting consumers to commit to more stringent systems is critical. But scolding can backfire, as experience with food waste shows.

Another factor is U.S. reliance on single-stream recycling systems, in which all recyclables are placed in the same receptacle. This approach is easier for consumers but produces a mixed stream of materials that is difficult and expensive to sort and clean at recycling facilities.

The United States currently has 633 materials recycling facilities, which can clean, sort and bale a total of 100,000 tons of recyclables per day. Today they are under growing pressure as scrap piles up. Even before China’s restrictions went into effect, materials recycling facilities operators threw out around half of what they received because of contamination. Most are not equipped to meet China’s stringent new contamination standards, and their processing rates have slowed – but garbage production rates have not.

Finally, since China was the U.S. plastic scrap market’s main buyer, its ban has eliminated a key revenue stream for municipal governments. As a result, some waste collection agencies are suspending curbside pickup, while others are raising prices. All 50 states have been affected to some extent.

No silver bullets

Numerous public and private entities are working to find a more viable solution for plastics recycling. They include plastics producers and recyclers, corporations such as Coca-Cola, colleges and universities, foundations, international organizations, advocacy groups and state governments.

Upgrading materials recycling facilities and expanding domestic markets for plastic scrap is an obvious priority but will require large-scale investments. Increasing waste-to-energy incineration is another option. Sweden relies on this approach to maintain its zero waste model.

But incineration is deeply controversial in the United States, where it has declined since 2001, partly due to strong opposition from host communities. Zero-waste and anti-incineration advocates have heavily criticized initiatives such as the Hefty EnergyBag Program, a recent pilot initiative in Omaha, Nebraska to divert plastics to energy production. But small companies like Salt Lake City-based Renewlogy are working to develop newer, cleaner ways to convert plastics to energy.

Efforts to cut plastic use in the United States and other wealthy countries are focusing on single-use products. Initiatives such as plastic straw and bag bans build awareness, but may not significantly reduce the problem of plastic trash by themselves. For example, plastic straws account for only 0.03 percent of the plastic that is likely to enter the oceans in any given year.

Industry is starting to push back, with corporations like McDonald’s resisting straw bans. Some U.S. states have passed measures forbidding plastic bag restrictions.

To stem ocean plastic pollution, better waste management on land is critical, including steps to combat illegal dumping and manage hard-to-recycle plastics. Examples include preventing BPA leaching from discarded products, dechlorinating polyvinyl chloride products, on-site recycling of 3D printer waste, and making virgin-quality plastic out of used polypropylene.

The European Union is developing a circular economy platform that contains a multi-part strategy to increase plastics recycling and control waste. It includes making all plastic packaging recyclable by 2030 and reducing leakage of plastic products into the environment. The United States is unlikely to adopt such sweeping policies at the national level. But for cities and states, especially those where support for environmental protection is strong, it could be a more attainable vision.

Video: California Plastic Bag Ban Impact Felt On Beaches

~~~~

Kate O’Neill is Associate Professor, Global Environmental Politics, University of California, Berkeley. The Conversation US arose out of deep-seated concerns for the fading quality of our public discourse – and recognition of the vital role that academic experts can play in the public arena. Independent and not-for-profit, it is part of a global network of newsrooms first launched in Australia in 2011. Republished under a creative commons license from The Conversation.com.

Why aren’t we mining landfills for valuable materials like metals and soil?

Tue, 23 Oct 2018 18:53:46 GMT

October 23, 2018

Many old dumps contain useful materials. Whether they’re worth extracting depends on how we value other benefits such as preventing pollution and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The car tires were abundant and easy to spot. As were newspapers, made from trees with tough cell walls. Then there were tons of soil aged and packed with decomposed garbage from the 1980s, when Madonna belted out “We are living in a material world, and I am a material girl” and Star Wars brought us a future that didn’t seem to include trash cans anywhere.

At the closed Perdido Landfill in Escambia County, Florida, they’re digging into the past to eliminate old garbage that could contaminate groundwater and clear space for future trash. In the process, they’re also mining for any treasure that could help offset the cost of doing so. During its first phase, which ran from 2009 to 2011, the dig uncovered a copious amount of soil that was then used to cover up new trash, a practice required by federal and state regulations.

The project, which will start phase 2 in 2019 or 2020, is a classic case of landfill mining — an intriguing idea to address multiple growing problems worldwide: increasing population, depleting natural resources and climate change.

“I’m a big proponent of mining landfills,” says Mark Roberts, vice president of engineering consulting firm HDR and project manager for the landfill mining work at Perdido. “Garbage real estate is really valuable.”

The biggest challenge to make landfill mining work is economics, experts say. The cost of excavating trash, sorting out valuable materials such as metals and then reburying the rest tends to exceed the revenues from selling recovered materials.

“Resource recovery alone can’t justify these projects financially,” says Joakim Krook, associate professor in the Department of Management and Engineering at Linköping University in Sweden. “They need to have alternative benefits.”

However, if alternative benefits such as the value of preventing pollution, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, reducing the need to mine new materials, and making room at an old dumpsite for modern, more environmentally friendly waste disposal are factored in, landfill mining in some cases becomes an attractive option.

Making Room

Landfill mining can be traced back to a 1953 project in Israel to find fertilizers for orchards by scooping up soil from decomposed trash.

Few other projects were reported until the 1990s when, in an effort to prevent groundwater contamination and other pollution, new regulation in the U.S. required landfill owners to use plastic liners and soil to sandwich the garbage like a layer cake.

The national effort to modernize garbage dumps shut down many old landfills and required 30-year monitoring of closed dumps for groundwater contamination and methane gas production. It also forced communities to look for new space for landfills.

Other goals include eliminating a potential source of pollution, reclaiming valuable materials and acquiring waste to burn to generate steam and electricity. Digging up closed landfills to make room for new ones has been one of the goals behind some of the landfill mining projects that have sprung up since the 1990s. Other goals include eliminating a potential source of pollution, reclaiming valuable materials and acquiring waste to burn to generate steam and electricity, says Jeremy O’Brien, director of applied research at the Solid Waste Association of North America, an industry trade group.

The U.S. has seen sporadic projects scattered across the country with a variety of primary goals. For example, the main goal of a 1989 project in Connecticut was to move waste from an unlined cell to a lined one, and a 2000 effort in Iowa aimed mainly to protect groundwater and recover space.

Costs and Benefits

The costs and benefits of landfill mining can vary so widely that projects that aren’t deemed cost effective in one place could be considered worthwhile elsewhere.

The city of Denton, Texas, for instance, scrapped a project to excavate a 30-acre (12-hectare) site last year after determining that it wasn’t going to generate nearly as much revenues from selling recyclable materials, such as metals and plastics and creating new landfill space as had been anticipated back in 2015.

In southern Maine, on the other hand, a four-year reclamation work that began in 2011 created an estimated US$7.42 million worth of recovered metals, according to Travis Wagner, professor of environmental science and policy at the University of Southern Maine and co-author of a study of the project that was published in the journal Waste Management. A private scrap-metal company contracted with Ecomaine, the nonprofit owner of the landfill, to mine metals from the site.

The project dug up 34,352 metric tons (37,867 tons) of metals at an estimated cost of US$158 per metric ton. In addition to the value of the metals, Wagner pegged the economic value of the newly created landfill space at US$267,000.

The landfill wasn’t your typical garbage pile, however. It was a space reserved for the ash created by a nearby incinerator that vaporized trash from the regular landfill onsite, such as auto parts and mattress springs, to produce electricity. The process creates the ash with a concentrated amount of metals. The ash also contains metals that are uniformly distributed in the pile. The metals included steel, silver, copper and aluminum.

“At a regular landfill, the metals aren’t uniform, and to get to the metal, you have to get rid of a lot of nasty crap and rocks. It’s expensive to process that waste,” Wagner says. “If you want to mine something, you want to know exactly what the metals are and their concentration.”

Soil and Space

The Escambia County project dug up mostly soil made from decomposed organic materials mixed with dirt used to cover the garbage. Roberts says the soil is valuable because it could be used to cover trash in the adjacent, active part of the landfill. Reusing the soil reduces the need to buy and truck in soil from elsewhere. The ability to rebury unwanted trash in the newer section of the landfill also helped to lower the project’s cost.

“A lot of the economics of it is due to transportation — you don’t have to haul mined garbage across the county,” Roberts says. Even so, the soil was only the second-most valuable item recovered. First was the room for more garbage. “The value is not necessarily in the recovered materials. It’s the air space you will gain — that’s worth a fortune,” he says.

The first phase of the project cost US$2.7 million in mining and processing the long-buried waste, and another US$3 million to build new landfill space of 2.8 million cubic yards (2.1 million cubic meters), Roberts says. That new space will bring in US$60 million in fees charged to haulers. Overall, the return on the investment is at least fivefold, he says.

Similarly, a 2015 project in Washington State didn’t generate a lot of money from recovered metals, mostly unidentifiable rusty pieces, but it cleared out space for a new stormwater detention pond and created a new landfill space, or cell, in the pond’s former location.

“It was not a spectacular success in terms of recovering resources. However, we did successfully relocate the waste into a modern cell to mitigate risk to the environment,” says Pat McLaughlin, director of solid waste division for King County, which operates the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill. “We were able to upgrade our stormwater detention system and increase landfill capacity in the new cell.”

The project took place in part of Cedar Hills that began burying trash in the 1970s, next to an area built to modern standards. The project provided good lessons for the county to experiment with excavating and relocating old garbage, an undertaking that could be under consideration in the future, McLaughlin says.

Shifting the Balance

Currently landfill mining projects are few and far between. However, some see that due to change.

A good number of academic and government-funded research projects in Europe, including in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden and Germany, are working to shift the cost-benefit balance of mining materials from landfills by bringing down the sorting costs and factoring in the value of the environmental benefits that can be gained. Projects range from improving the technology for sorting and recovering materials to calculating environmental benefits, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions , from using previously mined materials, says Krook.

“Right now, I would generally say that there’s a lot of landfill capacity out there. When supply starts to dwindle then you will see more interest in this.” – Jeremy O’Brien

Available landfill space plays a role, too. Trash generation is rising globally and projected to increase by 70 percent and reach 3.4 billion metric tons (3.7 billion tons) per year by 2050, according to the World Bank. The upward global trend is echoed in the United States, which has seen the amount garbage from cities and counties grow from 217.3 million tons (197.1 million metric tons) in 1995 to 262.4 million tons (238.0 million metric tons) in 2015, the most recent data available, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency .

“Right now, I would generally say that there’s a lot of landfill capacity out there. When supply starts to dwindle then you will see more interest in this,” O’Brien says.

While landfill mining can create values beyond pure profits, for now the waste management industry is paying more attention to solving sustainability problems through promoting recycling and other efforts that divert trash from landfills.

“It always seems silly that we put in all this energy to produce these materials and goods, and then we dispose perfectly good materials,” Wagner says. “Meanwhile, we are mining and producing more virgin materials.”

O’Brien echoes the sentiment. “Once we stop new materials from reaching landfills, then we can focus on reclaiming old ones,” he says.

Ucilia Wang is a California-based environment and technology journalist. Ensia is an independent, nonprofit magazine presenting new perspectives on environmental challenges and solutions to a global audience. Their mission is to share stories and ignite conversations that motivate and empower people to create a more sustainable future. The article is reposted here under the terms of Creative Commons’ Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported license .

Materials Management and Rural America, Part 2

Tue, 02 Oct 2018 17:10:47 GMT

October 2, 2018

Last week’s article, Materials Management and Rural America, Part 1 , presented a broad overview of some of the issues facing rural and small towns in America. As found in a Wall Street Journal analysis of rural America, based upon a number of key measures of socioeconomic, the decline in our rural and small communities is accelerating.

An ongoing series posted on CityLab , however, points out that economic growth and opportunity is “not only uneven and unequal between urban and rural places; it is also uneven within them.” Thus, some rural and small communities are flourishing, just as some urban areas are growing and thriving, while other communities, rural and urban, are on the decline.

Working in a range of small and rural communities over the past decade, I’d tend to concur with CityLab’s conclusion.

Materials Management presents Opportunity

In a September 2018 Resource Recycling article, Looking Farther Afield , Natasha Duarte (Director of the Composting Association of Vermont ) and I discuss food scrap diversion efforts in small towns and rural jurisdictions in Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont.

As presented in the article, effective strategic planning, dedication on the part of local stakeholders, and a focus on resident education and involvement has helped make food scrap diversion successful in a number of rural and small town communities. Similarly, just as in urban areas, small and rural communities can benefit greatly from effective implementation of source reduction, reuse, and recycling.

Beyond the potential economic benefits, materials management can help to build communities, bring citizens together, promote public participation, and help to spur a sense of community pride.

Vermont, a state comprised primarily of rural and small town communities, has become a national leader in materials management. To conserve space in its only landfill and reduce its carbon footprint, the Vermont Legislature adopted Act 148, the Vermont Universal Recycling Law, in 2012. Through a phased in time-line, the law bans disposal of the following major types of waste materials: “blue bin" recyclables, leaf and yard debris, clean wood, and food scraps.

Additionally, all towns were required by 2015 to adopt pay-as-you-throw waste collection systems. The ban on food scraps began in 2014 with the largest generators (greater than 104 tons per year), if the generator is located within 20 miles of a processing facility. The threshold has been lowered each subsequent year. By 2020, all food scrap generators, including residents, will be required to divert food scraps from disposal.

As noted in last week’s article, I live and work in Brattleboro, Vermont (population 12,000). The town is a mecca for those of us in materials management. Curbside recycling was started in the town long before I arrived. In 2013, with the urging of Triple T Trucking, the town’s contracted waste and recycling hauler, Brattleboro initiated a pilot curbside food scraps collection program.

The pilot went town-wide in 2014 with free curbside food scrap collection offered to all 5,300 households (including multi-family properties with up to four units). With the adoption of pay-as-you-throw trash disposal in July 2015, collection of food scraps more than doubled to 9.5 tons per week.

In 2016, the town became one of the few communities, small or large, to adopt every-other-week trash collection. Now Brattleboro is diverting 64 percent of its waste stream through recycling and organics diversion. Moreover, the Town of Brattleboro saves about $35,000 a year in reduced tip fees (landfill-tipping charges locally are $105 per ton).

Keeping organics local has also benefited the community. The Windham Solid Waste Management District compost facility (located in Brattleboro) processes 605 tons per year of food waste (and soiled paper) from the Brattleboro curbside collection, along with 627 tons per year of commercial and institutional food waste. The facility is a cash-positive operation. Residents can purchase compost at a relatively low cost; schools and other entities around the region have benefited from the District’s generous donation of compost.

Around Vermont, small and rural communities have certainly been aided in their waste diversion efforts by the formation of “ waste management districts .” Utilizing fees paid by their member communities, as well as grants and fee-for-service programs, the districts help communities to reduce and divert waste, and provide information about trash, recycling, composting, and hazardous waste, including hauling services, drop-off centers, and more. The districts also provide technical assistance and training for businesses, schools, events, and residents in accordance with Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law.

For example, with support from a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Services grant, the Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District helped establish two community food scrap composting sites. They are located at Quarry Hill, a low-income housing complex with 36 units in Barre and Franklin Street Home Owners Association, a condominium complex with 10 units in Montpelier.

In Massachusetts, another waste management district has become a leader in materials management in that state. The Franklin County Solid Waste Management District consists of 21 member towns in the less-populated western part of the state. The towns’ populations range from 378 to 8,455.

Twenty-five public schools in Franklin County, including seven high schools, have comprehensive recycling and cafeteria and kitchen food scrap composting programs. Additionally, eight other schools in the county collect food waste for animal feed at local farms. Only two schools in the county remain without food scrap diversion programs.

All twenty District transfer stations accept recyclables, eight of these accept food scraps and soiled paper from residents at no cost. Several also have swap sheds. Three "Super Sites" are permitted (and open year-round) to accept automotive products such as used motor oil, oil filters, transmission fluid, and anti-freeze; mercury-containing devices such as fluorescent lamps, button batteries, fever thermometers and thermostats; oil-based paints, thinners, lacquers, and other paint-related items; rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries; and fluorescent lamp ballasts. The district also lends its special event signage and recycling and compost bins to over 40 special events each year.

These are just a few examples of how small and rural communities can offer comprehensive materials management programs. Many of these efforts, including reuse and food scrap diversion, can draw upon the strengths inherent in these communities. For example, diversion of food scraps for animal feed in agricultural areas. More on this topic in Part 3.

By Athena Lee Bradley

Tue, 04 Sep 2018 18:48:32 GMT

Banning Straws and Bags Won’t Solve our Plastic Problem

September 4, 2018

Today’s article was written by Mathy Stanislaus. It was originally posted on the World Resources Institute’s Blog on August 16, 2018 .

It seems to be the summer of plastic bans. Starbucks , Hyatt , the city of Seattle and others have all committed to phase out plastic straws. Stafford Township in New Jersey passed a plastic bag ban just last month, joining dozens of other American cities and states imposing taxes or bans on single-use plastics.

But is this a good thing?

Not if that’s all we do.

The Case for Banning Plastic

Use of single-use plastics (think wrappers, straws and bags) has skyrocketed over the last few decades. But as I explained recently, our ability to recycle these plastics at scale remains poor. Globally, 8 million metric tons of plastic trash leak into our natural spaces each year, harming wildlife, mucking up the ocean and jeopardizing people’s livelihoods.

So it’s understandable why bans are becoming popular. The beaches of New Jersey, for example, bring in billions of tourism dollars each year, creating jobs and funding local municipal needs. These sprawling, sandy spaces and the busy boardwalks that line them are an important part of local life. There are clear personal and economic incentives to keep these beaches clean, which make plastic bans politically palatable despite the inconvenience.

Monmouth County, New Jersey, which earned nearly $2.5 billion in tourism revenue in 2016, adopted what Clean Ocean Action called the most comprehensive plastic ban in the United States. The law was passed in May 2018, just before the start of beach season, and prohibits local businesses from distributing plastic bags, straws and Styrofoam containers. Local coverage of the ban indicates that it was well-received by residents and business owners. Monmouth Beach Mayor Sue Howard explained that, “If you live on the Shore, and you walk on the beach, and you see plastic straws and Styrofoam containers, you know what the damage is.”

Where Plastic Bans Fall Short

It’s encouraging that local governments are focusing on passing laws to fight plastic litter. Unfortunately, while these laws may reduce the most visible form of plastic pollution, it could be at the expense of other environmental impacts. That’s because, somewhat ironically, disposable plastic bags require fewer resources (land, water, CO2 emissions, etc.) to produce than paper, cotton or reusable plastic bags—by a wide margin.

For example, Denmark’s Ministry of Environment and Food found that you would need to reuse a paper bag at least 43 times for its per-use environmental impacts to be equal to or less than that of a typical disposable plastic bag used one time. An organic cotton bag must be reused 20,000 times to produce less of an environmental impact than a single-use plastic bag. That would be like using a cotton bag every day for nearly 55 years. (Note that these figures aggregate the bags’ impact on water use, CO2 emissions, land use and more, but they do not include their impact on plastic pollution.)

Banning plastic straws is also increasingly popular. Starbucks recently announced that it would phase out use of plastic straws by the year 2020. Straws don’t provide as much utility as bags, so for many this is an easy adjustment.

But these bans leave the impression that they solve the plastics pollution problem without much discussion of systematic solutions. As a society, we should think holistically about the products we use and their impacts. We can’t just ban bad products—we must invest in alternatives.

How Consumers, Governments and Businesses Can Beat Plastic Pollution

That same Danish study suggests that the most eco-friendly bag option for consumers is polyester, reused at least 35 times. This keeps plastic pollution out of our natural spaces and reduces the per-use environmental impacts of the bag to the lowest-possible levels. However, it will take a lot more than reusable bags to solve the plastics pollution problem. Right now, only about 9 percent of plastics are recycled globally.

As of January 1, China refused to import most recyclable materials from the United States and other developed countries, claiming the materials exceeded acceptable contamination levels. This has backed up the flow of disposed paper and plastic, causing serious problems for local waste management companies. However, there may be an ironic upside to China’s decision. For too long, the easy option of shipping excess recyclables to China has resulted in underinvestment in in optimizing plastics, maximizing their recovery and reducing waste.

Governments at the state and federal levels need to team up with private industry to address more systemic issues . We need to invest in redesigning plastics so that they can be readily broken down into their molecular units and remanufactured into new plastics of the same quality, the essence of a closed loop system. We need better recycling technology that can address the major obstacle of recycling plastics: about 25 percent of plastics collected are contaminated and therefore unusable . We need to reinvest government budgets in the infrastructure and associated policies needed for these systemic solutions. Once these technologies are deployed at a large scale, we can start recapturing the economic value of plastics, incentivizing their recovery and recycling, while minimizing plastic pollution and overconsumption of natural resources.

We need a wider array of smart public policies, a recycling infrastructure that’s right-sized for the problem, better recycling technology and new business models. Banning single-use plastic bags and straws without significant further action is putting a finger on a spigot at a time when we need to suppress the tidal wave.

Mathy Stanislaus serves as a Circular Economy Fellow at the World Resource Institute (WRI). His role is advance WRI’s consideration of circular economy in its programs and WRI’s role in assisting its partners to develop strategies to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. Prior to his current role, Mr. Stanislaus served in the Obama Administration as Assistant Administrator for US EPA's Office of Land and Emergency Management.

The mission of the World Resources Institute is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations. The article is reposted by permission.

A Solution To The Blue Wrap Waste Problem

Sat, 18 Aug 2018 18:35:26 GMT

August 21, 2018

Today’s article is by Jonathan Flanders, Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Circular Blu,. It was originally posted on the Circular Blu Blog on December 19, 2017 .

Key Takeaways:

Once blue wrap has been used in hospitals for sterilization, it is usually landfilled despite being a clean and useful fabric
Blue wrap is a plastic fabric that is exactly the same as the material used for reusable shopping bags
Billions of reusable shopping bags made from extracted resources are shipped across the world and imported to the U.S.
We could be creating jobs, decreasing our waste, and fighting climate change by making bags domestically out of this blue wrap waste product instead of importing.
The Recycling industry is being strained by extraction of cheap natural gas in the U.S. and China no longer accepting recyclables, this is increasing the need for repurposing.

In the United States we dispose of 200 million lbs of plastic #5 that is perfectly clean and reusable, while simultaneously importing around 100 million lbs of the same exact material , mostly from East Asia.

Essentially, 100 millions lbs of plastic is being thrown away for no reason , despite Earth being in the middle of the greatest environmental crisis known to man (climate change.)

In a capitalistic society governed by climate deniers, the onus falls upon both the consumer and the free market to solve this disconnect.

The stubbornly ironic part is that part of the problem is caused by people making what has been accepted as “sustainable choices”. Bear with me, I’ll explain…

If you’re at this blog I am assuming you know what blue wrap is, and have had an ongoing struggle (or journey) deciding how best deal with this “low-hanging fruit”.

But there are lots of reasons why blue wrap ends up in the trash… or maybe even the RMW stream, increasing waste disposal costs and environmental strain (often due to incineration of RMW).

Maybe there isn’t room at your hospital to store blue wrap and you don’t have access to a baler…
Maybe your hospital has a contract with a certain waste hauler who won’t recycle blue wrap due to its volume to weight and difficulty to recycle…
Maybe you’re having trouble getting your OR staff to properly segregate blue wrap…

Well some of these problems are only going to get worse as the price of natural gas continues to plummet due to the increase in fracking and other methods of petro-extraction in the US.

In fact, the amount of oil produced in the US has almost doubled in recent years.

Some may consider this a good thing but the truth of the matter is that low oil prices interfere with what recyclers are paid for plastics , making it harder for recyclers to recycle and causing a reduction in plastic recycling overall.

It gets worse…

China has recently decided to stop accepting our recyclable wastes . The U.S. Has been exporting roughly one third of it’s recycling, with about half going to china. However, that will end starting on Jan. 1st of 2018. This has created chaos in the recycling industry and recyclers are scrambling to address the issue, while plastics are just going into the trash.

However, there is a solution because there is a process that is even better for the world than merely recycling. This process is called repurposing, also known as upcycling. When Upcycled, blue wrap is not turned into recycled plastic resin, and doesn’t have to compete with the unobtainable price points derailing recyclers.

Blue wrap is essentially a nonwoven polypropylene plastic fabric, and around 80% of it can be collected so that it is perfectly clean and able to be repurposed or upcycled .

Ok, so blue wrap can be upcycled, but what could we possibly upcycle hundreds of millions of pounds of nonwoven polypropylene (NWPP) into?

The answer is reusable shopping bags and tote bags! This seems a little far-fetched right?

The answer is… maybe not.

Here are the results of a U.S. International Trade Commission search query regarding the amount of reusable tote bags imported into the US since 1999.

You can see in the search results that the United States imported over 600 million reusable tote bags in 2015. Despite the slightly misleading title in the search results, reusable shopping totes are categorized under Harmonized Tariff Code (HTC) 4202923031 .

Here is a little bit of the environmental impact of the reusable shopping bag craze… A couple metrics on the environmental cost of these reusable tote bags for just the year 2015:

396 million kWh of electricity used in the manufacturing of those totes.
296 million lbs of CO2e- created and released into atmosphere

–Check out this infographic on why your choice of reusable bag matters–

Then there is the staggering statistic that over 6.25 Billion reusable tote bags have been imported since 1999. Divide that by the population of the U.S. (326,814,051 at time of writing), and that means there are almost 20 reusable tote bags for every man, woman, and child in the U.S. assuming they are still around and being re-used.

I think this makes it pretty apparent that reusable shopping bags are just acting as a more resource-intensive disposable bag, completely eroding the intention behind the movement…

Here is a brief overview of the supply of blue wrap and the demand for Nonwoven PP shopping bags:

Yes that’s right… If we managed to only upcycle half of the amount of blue wrap thrown away each year we could make a huge difference.

If instead, we chose to take the material for those tote bags out of our waste by upcycling blue wrap instead of importing NWPP, in 2015 we would have:

Prevented 150 million lbs of blue wrap from being disposed of (typically landfilled).
Saved 396 million kWh of electricity used in the manufacturing of those totes.
Prevented 296 million lbs of CO2e from entering atmosphere.

Circular Blu is dedicated to creating circular economic products that are socially and environmentally responsible. It just makes sense to use PCR blue wrap to create tote bags. It is for this reason that we call them The World’s Most Sustainable Tote Bag. Are you willing to take sustainability seriously and cut through the greenwashing?

I certainly am.

Jonathan Flanders is Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Circular Blu, as well as Owner and Founder of Greenfellow Enterprises. He has a B.S. degree in Environmental Science and Chemistry from Plymouth State University. Circular Blu seeks to create, promote, and sustain the circular economy. Circular Blu works with the healthcare and business sectors to divert materials from landfill and redefine the value of waste by creating sustainable circular economy products. The article is reprinted by permission.

Food Lost on the Farm: Empirical Data and Good Ideas

Tue, 03 Jul 2018 17:18:33 GMT

July 3, 2018

Today’s Guest Blog is by Christine Grillo. It was originally posted on the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future Blog on May 25, 2018.

Let’s imagine we’re at a vegetable farm in rural Vermont. The weather has been so perfect this year for growing carrots, spinach and squash that our farmer can’t harvest everything she’s grown. She won’t want to risk the expense of harvesting and transporting the veggies that retailers won’t buy because they look a little funny; she won’t be able to sell them if the markets are saturated; and she may not be able to find affordable farm labor to help her pick the crops and get them to their destinations. Some of those veggies bursting with nutrients and fiber will go uneaten, becoming part of what we call “on-farm food loss.”

Now let’s visit the home of a family suffering from food insecurity. Perhaps an elderly couple isn’t getting quite enough to eat. Or maybe an older teen is skipping meals so his younger sister can have more. In Vermont there are about 80,000 people in these circumstances, and the state provides more than 19 million institutional meals every year. These meals are made from food grown outside of the state and purchased with Vermont dollars, flown or trucked in from thousands of miles away.

Getting those nutrient-dense veggies onto the plates of the food insecure—as well as onto the cafeteria trays at public schools, nursing homes, hospitals and detention facilities—seems like it would be a win-win. The surplus crops grown in Vermont could replace some of the food grown outside the state and shipped in. In Vermont, top crops include not only carrots, spinach and squash but also potatoes, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. What if some of that food lost on the farm could be recovered and re-directed onto people’s plates? What if farmers could be compensated for that food, instead of turning it into (expensive) compost?

Vermont is not the only state with this conundrum. Re-thinking on-farm food loss in Vermont could provide valuable clues for other states with similar situations.

In the quest for the win-win, Salvation Farms in Morrisville has produced the first empirical data on farm-level food loss in New England . Using a survey to collect data, it quantifies on-farm losses and investigates reasons for the losses. One finding shows that in Vermont 16 percent of vegetables and 15 percent of berries were considered lost but salvageable in 2015.

Theresa Snow , executive director of Salvation Farms, conducted the study with input from 58 farmers representing all counties in Vermont. “Farmers are busy!” said Snow. “But they’re happy to provide perspective if it shows there could be an ultimate benefit to their business by providing input.”

In a research paper published this week in The Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development, “ Salvageable Food Losses from Vermont Farms ,” lead author Roni Neff , PhD, and program director at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, suggests that this quantification can help identify strategies and motivate action. “There is a remarkable gap in data on waste and loss of food on farms in the US,” she said. “This study provides the first such data for Vermont and shares a relatively easy to use 4-question tool Salvation Farms created for estimating waste and loss from farms.”

Neff notes that this study’s findings may be especially applicable to other areas with many small- to midscale farms, although the tremendous variety of crops, environments, farm types and markets in Vermont may make generalization challenging.

In addition to gathering data, several stakeholders in Vermont—Salvation Farms, Vermont Farm to Plate, the Vermont Agency for Agriculture and others—are working toward creating a Vermont Surplus Crop Management Plan. The goal of the plan is to get the excess food to humans who will eat it.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), on-farm food loss comprises about 16 percent of all the wasted food in the United States, although this estimate is based on minimal data. And according to the team’s paper, which used data from the Salvation Farms report, the biggest reasons for on-farm food loss are aesthetics (for example, the berries are blemished and retailers think people won’t buy them), demand fluctuations and market saturation (more berries than people can eat!), and labor availability and costs (can’t find farmworkers or can’t afford them). The paper acknowledges that there will always be some on-farm food loss. But it can be reduced, which, as the paper suggests, is the first priority.

Both Snow and Neff note that compensation for farmers is essential to reducing on-farm losses. If food is to be donated to food banks or similar programs, the farmer may be expected to harvest, package and transport it, which is expensive. Federal tax deductions for donated food are a small incentive for donating surplus crops, especially if the expenses associated with donating are not matched by tax savings. Snow believes farmers would be more incentivized by payments from the state or an opening up of new markets. Gleaning and food rescue programs, in which volunteers come onto the farm and do their own harvesting and transporting, offer farmers a way to have their excess crops eaten without incurring a lot of extra expense; unfortunately, the amounts gathered are often small in comparison to the loss. Experienced farmworkers can be even more effective at preventing on-farm food loss.

In farming, there will always be some degree of loss and waste (or some degree of deficit). But, as Neff suggests, if more entities across the US do as Salvation Farms has done—gathering empirical data—more food-system and supply-chain interventions become possible.

Christine Grillo is a Contributing Writer at Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF). She joined CLF in 2011 and writes about food system thinking—the intersection of food systems and public health. The work of the Center for a Livable Future is driven by the concept that public health, diet, food production and the environment are deeply interrelated and that understanding these relationships is crucial in pursuing a livable future. The article is reposted under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.

For more information on Salvation Farms, see NERC’s Blog Fresh Produce Recovery Models and the Building Resiliency in Food Recovery webinar presentation by Theresa Snow and webinar recording.

Food, Culture, and Loss

Tue, 19 Jun 2018 18:14:36 GMT

June 19, 2018

"If I'm an advocate for anything, it's to move.

As far as you can, as much as you can.

Across the ocean, or simply across the river.

Walk in someone else's shoes or at least eat their food."

- Anthony Bourdain

The world suffered a great loss with the death of Anthony Bourdain earlier this month. Through his television shows, interviews, books, and public speaking engagements, Bourdain provided us with a taste of a wider world. Most importantly, while he introduced us to impressive diversities of cuisines, cultures, and people, he also demonstrated that through cooking and sharing meals, all of the world’s people have much in common.

Bourdain was an enthusiastic advocate of traveling and exploring the world through the local cuisine of the places we visit. I had the privilege of hearing Bourdain speak a couple of years ago, and he articulated this simple yet profound message throughout his talk.

He observed that when many Americans travel, they eat at their hotels or even the fast food joints that have become ubiquitous around the world. He, on the other hand, encouraged everyone to explore the places we visit through tasting their local food, and by “eating what the locals eat” to fully immerse ourselves in our travel experiences.

Through the simple act of sharing a meal, we become more accepting of others and their cultures. Watching Bourdain explore countries around the world, including in the Middle East and Africa, we realize he brought us a better understanding of these countries, a greater acceptance of our differences, and celebration of our similarities. He was a fabulous storyteller who could bring us a country’s history and culture to life through its food.

He spoke out against prejudice and became a voice for marginalized populations. He advocated for better working conditions for restaurant employees, the need to truly address drug addiction and fund workable solutions for recovery, and was a vocal supporter of the “me too” movement.

Above all he was honest and unwavering in his support of all cultures and diversity.

Bourdain spoke of food waste as “an issue that goes fundamentally against my instincts as a longtime working cook and chef, where we were taught from the very beginning that one just does not and cannot and must not waste food." In 2017, he produced WASTED! The Story of Food Waste.

The film’s website states that WASTED! “aims to change the way people buy, cook, recycle, and eat food.” Having viewed the film in a room filled with college students, I believe it successfully reaches its goals. Food waste is discussed through interviews with chefs, including Bourdain, Dan Barber, Massimo Bottura, and Danny Bowien.

WASTED! explores the issues most of us in materials management are familiar with—the impacts of food waste and its contribution to climate change. Most importantly, the film demonstrates concrete actions we can all take to reduce food waste and make a difference. The film presents companies such as Toast Ale , an English company which brews beer from unsold loaves of bread from bakeries, and unused crusts from sandwich makers. All profits made by Toast Ale go to Feedback, an environmental charity campaigning to end food waste.

The film explores how throughout Japan, food scraps are collected and used for livestock feed—farmers are heard bragging about how their particular blend of food scraps makes for the best tasting meat. The collection of food waste for anaerobic digestion occurs throughout South Korea, reducing disposal needs and helping to meet the country’s energy needs.

WASTED! points to the responsibility we all have to reduce and divert wasted food. As Bourdain states , "It begins in a sense with, how do we value the things we eat? It begins with just starting to pay attention to how much food you're buying, how much you are actually using, what you are doing with it."

There are many great people who have left their mark on the world, Anthony Bourdain is indeed one of them.

By Athena Lee Bradley

Who Killed Recycling?

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 18:08:17 GMT

June 12, 2018

Who Killed Recycling?

Today’s Guest Blog is by Chaz Miller. It was originally published in Waste360 on June 01, 2018 .

The harm to recycling has been inflicted by recycling’s friends, not its enemies.

Recycling is in the dumps. The Chinese government’s decision to ban mixed plastic and mixed paper recyclables imports sent recycling markets into a tailspin. Media outlets are running stories of recyclables going to disposal instead of end markets. Worse yet, this turbulence is likely to continue for another year or longer. Recycling will survive this storm as it has survived others, but will we learn from it or will we continue to repeat our mistakes?

When I started to write this column, my idea was to focus on who “killed” recycling. Yet the reality is that very few people actually tried to kill recycling. Instead, the harm has been inflicted by its friends, not its enemies.

Nonetheless, let’s start with recycling’s “enemies.” Both private and public sector disposal facility owners supposedly see recycling as unnecessary competition that diverts material from their facilities. In addition, the “anti-recyclers” have always opposed mandatory recycling programs for philosophical reasons.

Both suspects have solid alibis. Virtually all of the local governments and companies that own disposal facilities are fully integrated with garbage collection and recycling operations. They know that recycling programs can be profitable when markets are good. More importantly, their commercial and residential waste collection customers demand a recycling program. Companies don’t stay in business long if they ignore their customers. Local governments, too, have to offer a recycling program when their residents demand it. However, the cyclical nature of commodity markets means bad markets make recycling unprofitable. Like garbage collection and disposal, recycling is a service that must be paid for regardless of whether markets are good or bad. As for the anti-recyclers, they can kick up a storm, but they have little political power.

So, who are the friends who inadvertently helped create this mess? They are the state legislators, environmental officials and recycling advocates who supported unrealistic recycling goals without taking into account the need for end markets, the risk of commodity price fluctuations and the reality of what it takes to change human behavior.

Too many state legislators voted for laws mandating aggressive diversion or recycling goals without first finding out if those goals were achievable. If they were going to set a 50 percent or higher recycling goal, why didn’t they analyze what could be recycled, at what rate, from which generators before passing the law? Instead, they kicked that bucket to their state recycling officials and to local governments and businesses.

Recycling advocates, whether in state government or advocacy groups, either ignored or downplayed the obstacles to achieving recycling goals. All too often, a sort of magical thinking prevailed that said if a law is passed, markets would appear and people would automatically recycle. We were so determined to increase recycling, we thought that all that was needed was a state law or local ordinance and success would follow.

Advocates need to be ruthlessly realistic about the difficulties of changing human behavior so that we don’t just recycle, we recycle right. Recycling advocates need to back up their efforts with real data based on existing and potential markets and the realities of human behavior. The time for rosy scenarios is over.

Waste and recycling companies and public officials failed to ensure their customers, and residents knew that recycling is not free. Sometimes the cost of recycling was hidden in waste management bills or fees instead of being spelled out. Whether this was done by the collectors or by local governments doesn’t matter. The damage was done.

China also helped cause this mess. Buyers create the specification that counts. If they willingly pay for bales of paper that are full of plastics and other contaminants, they are encouraging sellers to ship dirty bales. For years, Chinese mills were knowingly buying bales that did not meet industry specifications and using cheap labor to clean them up. They created a race to the bottom.

Finally, the American public, you and I, share responsibility. We demand that our wastes be recycled. We tell pollsters we want to buy recyclable products and have a green environment. Yet we can’t seem to be bothered to recycle right. We fail to place the right materials in our home recycling bins. We throw trash in recycling bins in businesses, airports and public spaces because we are in a hurry. Human nature is complicated. We all need to become more open about our fallibilities as recyclers and design programs with realistic goals and collection options that entice recycling right.

Is recycling dying? No. But to successfully sustain recycling programs and to spring back from the current market mess, we need to become realistic about the problems facing recycling. We need to start setting goals based on real-world analysis, not subjective wishfulness. We need to create a business atmosphere that encourages the development of viable manufacturing facilities that can be substantial recycling markets. Recycling can succeed if we acknowledge its costs, set realistic goals and design our programs to accommodate human behavior. Why not start now?

Chaz Miller is a longtime veteran of the waste and recycling industry. He is also an Ex Officio member of NERC’s Board of Directors.

Zoos, Aquariums, and Eco-Friendly Waste Management Programs

Tue, 22 May 2018 17:14:16 GMT

May 22, 2018

Today’s Guest Blog is by the Marketing Team of NERC Supporting Member Solus Group. It was originally posted on the Solus Blog on May 14, 2018 .

Zoos and aquariums face tremendous opportunities (and expectations) for creating eco-friendly waste management programs. The public expects these institutions to offer comprehensive recycling and compost programs to demonstrate their commitment to the Earth. Thankfully, America's zoos and aquariums are up to the challenge. Let's take a look at some innovative institutions to see what they're doing and how they're doing it.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium: Leaders in Composting

With Jack Hanna on the board of directors, you'd expect the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to have a top-notch collection of animals. However, the Ohio zoo takes its commitment to the Earth a step farther. It has an innovative composting program that sends 864 tons of material to a local commercial composter. That's 1,728,000 pounds of food scraps, animal manure, and bedding!

Zoos have the unique opportunity to be such prolific composters due to the large amount of animal manure produced. For instance, at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, the animals produce about two tons per day . By partnering with a nearby facility, the zoo is able to solve a waste management problem while creating nutrient-rich soil and local jobs in the process.

By collecting food scraps in their kitchens, the zoo adds even more useful organic material to their haul of compost. Zoo maintenance workers can also divert soiled animal bedding from the landfill and send it to the composting facility. Maintenance managers should just remember to provide assistive lifting devices when asking workers to handle awkward, heavy loads.

Philadelphia Zoo: 2017 Green Award Winners

The Philadelphia Zoo has been around for more than 150 years, but it’s still coming up with innovative solutions to worldwide problems. Its current focus is on sustainability, and it’s created an ambitious set of goals to continually drive down energy expenditures and water use.

Two of the zoo's major sustainability goals involve water conservation, and it’s created innovative approaches to achieve them. For instance, to reduce water consumption, it’s installed waterless urinals, and it collects rainwater to flush toilets. These are great examples of changes that save water without negatively impacting the zoo experience.

Over a five-year period from 2009 to 2014, the zoo decreased water use by 64 percent. It’s also removed large swaths of pavement and replaced it with rain gardens and infiltration basins to capture rainwater. This reduces local flooding and gives the zoo extra water to use for landscaping and other applications that use non-potable water. In 2017, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums honored the Philadelphia Zoo's sustainability program with their prestigious Green Award .

Recycling at Zoos and Aquariums

Recycling programs in zoos have never been more robust. Almost all zoos collect plastic, glass, and aluminum, but it's also becoming commonplace for them to accept cell phones and more obscure items. The Topeka Zoo even accepts old holiday lights, which are dismantled and recycled for parts.

This focus on recycling is about more than just keeping junk out of landfills; it also reduces the need for mining and deforestation. More specifically, cell phones require a mineral called coltan that comes from Congo. By harvesting and reusing coltan from old cell phones, there is less need to mine it from the habitat of the lowland gorilla, which helps conserve the species.

As stewards of wild animals, zoos are creating a multitude of programs to help the earth. Whether it's through the alchemy of composting, simple solutions to reduce water use, or reusing parts from old items, zoos are meeting and overcoming their unique waste management challenges.

Solus Group offers a wide variety of quality material handling products with solutions focusing on warehouse storage, shelving, battery handling, industrial safety, dock accessories, drum handling, packaging, industrial and office furniture, and janitorial maintenance. The company provides product solutions that promote facility safety, efficiency, and productivity. The Solus Group is a NERC Advisory Member. The article is reposted by permission.

Article References:

" About the Zoo ." Philadelphia Zoo, 2018. Web. 2 Apr. 2018.
" The Green Award ." AZA. Association of Zoos and Aquariums, n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2018.
"Holiday Lights Recycling." TopekaZoo. Topeka Zoo, n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2018.
Lovgren, Stefan. "Can Cell-Phone Recycling Help African Gorillas?" NationalGeographic. National Geographic Society, 20 Jan. 2006. Web. 2 Apr. 2018.
"Philadelphia Zoo Sustainability Report Fiscal Year 2014. PhiladelphiaZoo. Philadelphia Zoo, 2015. Web. 2 Apr. 2018.
" Poo at the Zoo - Composting ." ColumbusZoo. Columbus Zoo, n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2018.
"Sustainability at the Zoo." PhiladelphiaZoo. Philadelphia Zoo, 2016. Web. 2 Apr. 2018.

500 Million Each Day

Tue, 20 Feb 2018 18:35:50 GMT

February 20, 2018

The only time I use a straw is on summer days, when I’m sitting outside and enjoying a cool beverage in my lidded tumbler. It’s a metal straw and necessary for protecting my beverage from being spilled by Angus the dog’s dangerous wagging tail. I understand that children, the elderly, and ill people may have to use straws to aid in sipping liquids. For the rest of us, however, it’s way past time we consider “Just saying NO” to the unnecessary disposable plastic straw!

It is speculated that drinking straws were developed to serve as a sieve, filtering out solids from the liquids being consumed. Straws are also marketed for sanitary reasons, to reduce the risk of spreading germs from improperly washed glassware. However, like much of our waste, they have since become more of a cultural phenomenon.

According to Wikipedia , the Sumerians used straws for drinking beer, possibly to avoid the distasteful solid byproducts of fermentation that ended up at the bottom of the container. These and other early straws were made of metal. For centuries, Argentines have used metal straws for drinking mate tea. Rye grass straws were popular in the 1800s, despite their tendency to turn into mush in liquid and leaving a “grassy” taste. Again, according to Wikipedia , one Marvin C. Stone set about to address this shortcoming; in 1888, he patented the modern drinking straw, manufactured from paper.

Today, most drinking straws are made from polypropylene plastic. According to EcoCycle’s Be Straw Free Campaign , 500 million plastic straws (equal to nearly 3 million pounds!) are used and disposed in our country each day. This amounts to an average of 1.6 straws per capita per day. Due to their size (they are incompatible with recycling processing equipment) and lack of market demand for polypropylene from straws, they are not recyclable and often end up as litter. Plastic straws are one of the most common litter item found during beach clean-ups .

Straws are ubiquitous, but it seems that most people don’t even consider the impact of the “little” plastic tube. Order almost any cold to-go beverage and it will come with a straw. Sit down in a restaurant, and your water will almost always come with a straw already in the glass. Fortunately, there is growing awareness of the impact of straws and other disposable plastics on our waterways and oceans. We’ve all seen videos of plastic straws and similar items found in sea turtles and other marine animals.

A straws-on-request movement is slowly gaining ground in some parts of the country, most notably in California . The cities of Davis and San Luis Obispo have adopted ordinances requiring that restaurants, bars and cafes have patrons request single-use plastic straws for their drinks, instead of receiving them automatically. Plastic straws in self-service bins are still allowed in these “consumer’s choice” ordinances. Other California communities, including Encinitas, a San Diego County beach town, and Berkeley are also considering similar “ straw-reduction ” ordinances. Seattle recently announced that as of July, 2018, it will become the largest metropolitan city to ban the single-use plastic straw (compostable or recyclable options are okay). Ahead of the ban, restaurants and other businesses around the City are participating in the Strawless In Seattle campaign.

Of course, not everyone wants to see more ordinances. But if each of us takes it upon themselves to just say “no straw please” when we order cold liquids, this would help to reduce the number of discarded straws. Urging restaurants and other food service providers to adopt a “straws-on-request” policy is another easy tactic. This simple act can make a big difference without limiting those who still want a straw, and its sets a model for customers and other food service providers. Furthermore, those of us in the materials management field know that straws are a common contaminant in recycling and food waste diversion programs; thus, straw reduction policies can be marketed as a green policy undertaking.

Friday, February 24 is National Skip the Straw Day . Consider taking that first step to reduce your straw use. If you are already on the “skip the straw” path, please share this blog and the announcement about National Straw Day. For those who work with food service providers, add the “straws-on-request” policy to your outreach campaigns.

If you still want a straw, there are plenty of reusable alternatives on the market. Just like carrying your own refillable mug or tumbler, reusable straws present a practical compromise. Check out 5 eco-friendly alternatives to plastic straws for a great article about reusable alternatives, including bamboo, metal, glass, and silicone straws. There are also a growing number of paper and compostable straw food service ware providers.

By Athena Lee Bradley

China’s Ban on Recyclables: Beyond the Obvious…

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 18:24:09 GMT

January 23, 2018

Today’s Guest Blog is courtesy of International Solid Waste Association President Antonis Mavropoulos. The article originally appeared in the ISWA Blog on January 16 2018.

China’s ban on recyclables is one of the most disruptive movements for the recycling industry and it is shifting the global landscape for resource recovery activities.

For ISWA’s members and friends the disruption from China’s ban is not a surprise. We opened this discussion in 2014 with our groundbreaking report “ Global Recycling Markets: Plastic Waste A story for one player – China ” (authored by Costas Velis in the framework of the “Globalization & Waste Management” project). But still, the new reality provides the opportunity to think deeper on recycling & Circular Economy and to face the new landscape from a broader perspective.

In his latest blog post, ISWA President Antonis Mavropoulos addresses the bigger picture and looks beyond the obvious to understand the global impacts of the ban.

1. China was the convenient answer to an inconvenient question

For the recycling industry, the question was, and still is, how to find end-users for a continuously increasing stream of recyclable materials. The difficulty is that, as we have learnt, the more the recyclables we collect the less their purity and the worse their quality. China, as the global hub for recyclable materials, provided an easy answer for some time. For at least two decades, it was receiving recyclables, especially plastics, with high impurities. Most of the recyclables that were shipped to China were not suitable for other regional and local end-users, in USA, EU and Australia due to their low-quality. However, this was a win-win situation. The western world was able build high recycling rates, ignoring the quality problems involved, and China received cheap, low-end materials that were further processed or used as a cheap fuel, with vast environmental impacts in both cases. China’s ban brings us back to reality.

As we have been accustomed to a continuous, and sometimes unjustified, rally for higher recycling rates, it’s time to recognize that more recycling can be a misleading scope if it’s a stand-alone one. The right target is to achieve more high quality recyclables. This does not always mean higher recycling rates, although in many cases this is definitely part of the job. In some cases, it means that we should work hard to “purify” further the existing recycling activities to make them more viable and to provide them more local and regional end-users. In other cases, it means that we must select carefully which materials are recycled and how. In all cases, it obliges us to rethink the feasibility of the recycling activities exactly as they are: as market-based activities.

2. China’s ban highlights the vulnerability of the recycling markets

Recyclables are part of the global supply chains. Thus, their prices are related to the prices of the commodities that they substitute. In 2008, we realized how close this relationship was when immediately after the collapse of Lehman Brothers’ Co, that signaled the beginning of the world’s worst economic crisis since the oil crisis in 70s, the prices of recycled paper and plastics collapsed too. Between 2008 and 2012, especially in USA and Australia, and less in EU, we watched thousands of recycling programmes shut-down or radically eliminate their coverage and intensity, because of the global economic crisis. China’s Green Fence operation in 2012-2013 was another signal, although with much lower impact, that demonstrated the high sensitivity of the global recycling markets to the Chinese dominance. Now, the recent radical China’s ban highlights that we have lost at least 10 years (2008-2018) to rethink and reshape the role and performance of the recycling markets, and to conclude that our recycling systems would never become sustainable if they remain so dependent on China’s, or anyone else’s, policies and attitudes.

But have we really lost ten years? My answer is yes, because ten years are more than enough to create policy incentives to boost local recycling markets. Because, as we have thoroughly and in depth discussed and documented in ISWA’s Task Force on Resource Management, we need much less than ten years to shift from massive recycling to selective single-clean stream source separation. Because we faced, day by day, the increasing complexity and cost of the “business as usual” recycling activities and we underestimated that this will drive the systems to higher vulnerability too. Because we did not say clearly that there will be no closed loops without high quality recyclables, and that the high recycling rates do not always mean better environmental results. Because we did not explain that recyclables are raw materials for industries that should be capable to receive them, and that is not always happening automatically and without proper policies, incentives and costs for the industrial sectors too.

3. China’s ban will create global environmental impacts

China, officially, explains that the recent ban is a part of its broader environmen tal and heal th protection policy . It is also a measure that will stimulate domestic recycling activities. The Chinese government puts a lot of efforts in place to reduce pollution and improve the environmental quality of the country. Any improvement, or deterioration, in the Chinese environmental conditions creates a global impact. But even if all those good intentions will be realized, the benefits for China will probably create environmental problems in other parts of the world.

As western citizens, we can’t complain about the fact that now we must ourselves deal with the pollution that was exported, together with the recyclables, in China for many years. We must find a way to deal with this pollution load and with the related recyclables. It will take us a transit period of 2-4 years, but there is no doubt that sooner or later, there will be a way to deal with the problem with minimum environmental impacts. Maybe we will recycle less but better, maybe some plastics will be dumped or burnt, but finally our waste management and recycling systems will adapt to the new reality.

The problem is which exactly will be the adaptation plan that the recycling industry will choose. In fact, if the adaptation plan involves continuing massive exports, although in a smaller scale, of “dirty recyclables” in different countries, trying to find the lowest environmental standards, cheap labor and lack of enforcement & control, then there will be substantial environmental impacts to other parts of the world, most probably nearby China in SE Asia and Africa too. Of course, no country can substitute China’s almost endless capacity to absorb the world’s plastic scrap, but there are already discussions to use neighboring countries and the same logistic networks to sustain the current business model as much as possible. This is already “sold” to some governments as developing a national competitive advantage or as an opportunity to develop low-tech recycling industries and cheap, but of-course very dirty, energy outlets.

We do not know if and what will be the alternative recyclables’ markets to China, but we do know that for the next period more low-quality plastics will be looking for outlets. We can only hope that they will not become part of the marine-litter and that they will find either proper recovery solutions or at least environmental safe final sinks.

4. China’s ban signals the need to think Circular Economy beyond recycling

If we want to be bold and ambitious, we have to grab the opportunity of the China ban to promote another adaptation plan. A plan that will prioritize waste prevention and reuse as the most urgent priorities of any system. A plan that will recognize the current technical and economic limitations of recycling. A plan that will boost eco and modular design, utilizing the unbelievable technological advances of the fourth industrial revolution. A plan that will demand not only the consumers to develop “greener behaviors”, but also, and mainly, the industries to develop new business models and manufacturing patterns. A plan that will stimulate Circular Economy as a realistic opportunity for specific materials and industrial sectors, rather than as an obligation of the waste sector.

China’s ban is a great opportunity to rethink Circular Economy and to prioritize the development of local closed loops, as a basic condition for the long-term viability of our systems. You will never see anyone involved in organic fraction source separation programs to be worried about China’s ban. Recycling the organic fraction into organic-rich soil improvers is a sustainable local closed loop that contributes directly to Circular Economy. Still, in EU there is no mandatory target for organics’ recycling – it’s time to fix this problem.

China’s ban is a great opportunity to move away from the fallacy that everything can be and should be recycled. It’s an opportunity to face materials’ recycling as just one intermediate, imperfect and sometimes costly solution that does not always contribute to Circular Economy. There are scientific works that prove that the more we push people to recycle, the more we cultivate the wrong idea that recycling (and not waste prevention, reuse, eco-design and the necessary industrial shift of the Circular Economy) is the solution.

5. China’s ban for plastic scrap will result in more virgin plastic consumption

For the USA only, China’s ban has the potential to affect US$ 6.5 billion of annual exports and 150,000 related jobs . SWANA, ISWA’s biggest National Member in USA & Canada, has already filed its comments to WTO and offered technical assistance to the Chinese Government. But what seems an existential risk for curbside recycling programs in USA, for some may be a minor loss for a high gain. To understand the whole picture, we must quit the waste management and recycling view.\

The big money will go to the plastic industry. Morgan Stanley predicts that the China ban could shift about 2% of global polyethylene plastics supply from recycled to new plastic material ! For plastic producers those are great news, the ban will boost demand for new plastics by enough to nearly absorb all the new polyethylene output coming online next year in the USA!

The effects can already be seen in China’s increased appetite for virgin polyethylene, with imports up 19% this year as scrap polyethylene imports dropped 11%! It seems that the US plastic industry is well prepared for the upcoming explosion of plastic exports to China. That’s because, according the Bloomberg, the US has become the cheapest place in the world to make plastic, thanks to a fracking boom that’s created a glut of natural gas, the main feedstock for manufacturing. Taking advantage of low gas prices, chemical producers have invested an unprecedented $185 billion to build new capacity . Just four new U.S. plastics plants will soon begin annual production of 3.6 million tons of polyethylene by year.

China’s ban for plastic scrap imports is a generous gift to the US plastic industry, that will help the US to rebalance the $250 billion trade deficit with China, a goal that has been on the top of President Donald Trump’s agenda.

China’s ban is a problem for recyclers and the waste industry, but a golden opportunity for the plastic industry. Circular Economy can wait while some hundreds of billion dollars will be invested to traditional “linear” systems that will promote the “throw-away” and “fast consumption” model…

The International Solid Waste Association strives to promote and develop sustainable and professional waste management worldwide. This article was reprinted by permission.

NERC welcomes Guest Blog submissions. Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

Fake Organics

Wed, 17 Jan 2018 18:16:47 GMT

January 17, 2018

Fake news is all the rage these days, but personally, I’ve been waiting years for fake products to become more a focus of conversation. The fake products to which I refer are the ones that manufacturers and sales representatives market as “compostable” but in reality contain noncompostable plastic polymers.

In her 2016 blog article Death of Composting, Ayr Muir, founder and CEO of Clover Food Lab, a restaurant group in Boston, admonished composter Save that Stuff for no longer accepting compostable products. A longtime hauler of food scraps and compostable foodservice items, Save that Stuff had revised its policy to exclude compostable serviceware, to-go boxes, compostable cups, waxed or regular cardboard, and other paper products. In her blog, Muir wrote that her restaurants have been using all compostable products since 2010.

Other haulers adopted similar policies as several compost facilities in the Boston area announced they would only accept food scraps and would no longer accept compostable products. Institutions including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as well as businesses around the Boston area, were impacted.

Accepting just food scraps can make the composting process easier, as compostable products break down more slowly than food scraps. More importantly, however, post-consumer food scrap collection, especially when combined with paper and compostable foodservice items, is frequently more contaminated with non-biodegradable materials. Sometimes this occurs because “compostable” products are not fully compostable. It also occurs when food service workers, or customers busing their own plates, place plastics and other contaminants into post-consumer materials destined for a compost operation.

There are challenges to effectively diverting postconsumer food scraps and compostable products. But contamination can be successfully addressed through education. The experience of many compost operations has proven that working with haulers and customers can result in a clean stream of food scraps and certified compostable products.

However, there is no excuse for selling fake compostable products. And there’s a lot of harm done when those fake products are diverted to the organics stream. Compost operators are unknowingly processing items which do not fully degrade, which leads directly to the situation that restaurant owner Muir decried: many operations now refuse to accept compostable products because of the threat of contamination.

Meanwhile, consumers are told that these misleading products are compostable.

In 2002, standards for compostable products were established. These standards—ASTM D6400 and ASTM D6868 –establish specifications and tests that scientifically prove a material will biodegrade within a specific time frame, while leaving no persistent synthetic residues.

To guarantee that designated products are truly compostable, the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) adopted a certification program. Member companies whose finished products are certified as meeting ASTM D6400 and/or ASTM D6868 can use the Compostable Logo to provide assurance of compostability or biodegradability.

The program ensures credibility and recognition for products that meet the ASTM D6400 and/or D6868 standards, so consumers, composters and regulators know that products will biodegrade as expected. The logo is designed to be placed on the actual product as well on as packaging materials and sales literature.

Despite these and other regulatory efforts, a confusing array of so-called “compostable” bags and other products, complete with “greenwashing” labels – degradable, decomposable, biodegradable, etc.—continue to be marketed. Some products employ such misleading terms as “eco” or “bio.” The use of the color green for bags is yet another tactic used to market fake products.

Thankfully, two states and at least one municipality have taken on a leadership role in addressing the issue. In 2012, California mandated that products with the label “compostable” meet ASTM standards. Then, in 2013, the law extended the restriction to all plastic products, including containers, bags, straws, lids, and utensils; in fact, any consumer product and any kind of packaging claiming to be compostable have to meet ASTM standards.

Under California’s law, products labeled “compostable” or “marine degradable” must meet the applicable standard, specifically:

ASTM D6400 for Compostable Plastics;
ASTM D7081 for Non-Floating Biodegradable Plastics in the Marine Environment;
ASTM D6868 for Biodegradable Plastics Used as Coatings on Paper and Other Compostable Substrates.

In 2017, Maryland adopted House Bill 1349, which requires products sold in the state and labeled as compostable to meet specific biodegradability standards. Starting in October 2018, plastic products labeled as compostable cannot be sold in the State unless they meet ASTM standards and the labeling guides in the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Green Guides .

A 2011 Seattle ordinance bans single-use and biodegradable carryout bags. The ordinance was subsequently revised to address contamination from plastic bags in compost. The revised ordinance requires certain compostable bags to be labeled and tinted green. The purpose of the legislation was to reduce contamination of the City’s compost (food and yard waste) stream caused by customer misidentification and misunderstanding of which bags are compostable and which are not.

The legislation prohibits use of green or brown-tinted, non-compostable plastic bags for products such as vegetables, or for use as carryout bags. The ordinance also adds a definition of “compostable” to the code and requires that compostable bags be labeled as compostable.

Certified compostable products have a vital role in helping us to divert food scraps and compostable foodservice items from the waste stream. But until more is done to stop these fake compostable products, confusion and misunderstanding among institutions, commercial food scrap generators, haulers and composters are likely to continue. Without a more concerted effort to stop greenwashing, the organics industry will continue to face hurdles in capturing food scraps and organics from the waste stream.

By Athena Lee Bradley (with editorial input from Robert Kropp)

Let’s Take on Industry Polluter #2

Tue, 02 Jan 2018 17:59:18 GMT

January 2, 2018

Donate & Recycle, Used Clothes, Footwear, and Other Textiles

Today’s guest blog is by Scott Cassel, CEO of the Product Stewardship Institute. It was originally posted on the PSI Blog on December 8, 2017.

The next time you toss a shirt into the trash because it’s time for a fresh one, consider this: the manufacture of clothes, shoes, belts, and accessories – otherwise known as textiles – is the second largest polluting industry in the world after oil and gas. That’s right. Pesticides used to grow cotton, toxics in dyes, and energy-intensive manufacturing create a whopping impact on the environment and public health.

What happens to these products after we no longer want them is just as shocking. Eighty-three percent of used textiles are disposed in the garbage, even though the majority of these items can be donated for reuse and recycling. Even items that are worn and torn can be reused as rags and insulation.

While chemists and technology innovators work to reduce upstream manufacturing impacts, we all can make a huge difference in reducing the number of downstream textiles that become garbage instead of feedstock for new products. We challenge you to donate or recycle all used textiles for reuse and recycling.

The problem, however, is only getting worse, as the consumption of “fast fashion” is projected to jump 63 percent by 2030. In New York State alone , residents dispose of 1.4 billion pounds of clothing and textiles each year, worth over $130 million. Reusing and recycling these products would create up to 1,000 new jobs.

Textiles Summit at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)

To address the growing problem of textile waste – upstream AND downstream – the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI), New York Product Stewardship Council (NYPSC), New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3), and New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) hosted the 2017 New York Textiles Summit at FIT in New York City on October 31st. The event brought together more than 200 textile designers, brand owners, used clothing collectors, recyclers, and government officials to discuss how to bring used textiles back into the circular economy.

The Summit was divided into four parts to represent each phase of consumption from upstream to downstream. Here are a few things we learned:

Session 1: Sustainable Manufacturing and Design
Since waste is created at all stages of the textile manufacturing process, even starting with pattern making, it is critical to bring designers and recyclers together to explore ways to reduce waste at the source and increase the value of post-consumer textiles. Moderator Tricia Carey from Lenzing Fibers emphasized that, although smaller companies might not have large marketing budgets, they are making sizeable strides in sustainable manufacturing on par with larger companies.

Session 2: Collection
Industry leader Eric Stubin from 2ReWear focused on immediate opportunities to collect textiles using existing public and private infrastructure. Panelists discussed how retail stores can be a convenient option for consumers to drop off used textiles. For example, Eileen Fisher Renew recycles 170,000 units of clothing in the U.S. each year, receives over $2 million worth of donated clothing, and creates $10 million in resale value. Patagonia’s Worn Wear program accepts all used Patagonia clothing and offers consumers $20-$100 per item. “More retailers will be forced to collect for reuse because of the cost of virgin materials,” said one panelist.

New York City’s textiles reuse and recycling program needs immediate scalable solutions to manage 200,000 tons of textile waste each year from City residents. One local partner, Goodwill Industries, whose social mission is fueled by revenue from donated clothing, collected nearly 43,000 tons of used textiles from New York and New Jersey alone in 2016. Even with these initiatives, citizens don’t always know what to donate or where to go to do so, which is why PSI, NYPSC, NYSAR3, and NYSP2I facilitated unified Standards for Coalition Participation , a consensus forged among non-profit and for-profit collectors for membership in the Re-Clothe NY Textiles Coalition. To educate consumers, one participant suggested that all clothing labels include a unified message: “wear-donate-recycle.”

Session 3: Markets
In this panel, major New York collectors discussed domestic and global markets for post-consumer textile material. Cyntex’s Scott Cynamon, panel moderator, emphasized that the value of secondhand textiles is much higher than other commodities, and clothing markets tend to stay relatively constant while other markets fluctuate. In order to take advantage of these markets, however, we need a shared vision among a diverse stakeholder base, including manufacturers and retailers, to increase the amount of textile material collected. Overcoming consumer perception of “second hand” as inferior is a critical first step. There are 3.8 billion pounds of used textiles that enter the North American market each year, and only 1-2 percent of these clothes are high-end brands for resale. Although existing markets exist for 95 percent of used textiles, most is disposed. “Our biggest competitor is the landfill,” said one processor. Another challenge is that secondary textile materials compete globally with low-cost new products produced in China and India.

Session 4: The Circular Economy and Innovative Recycling Technologies
Moderator Tasha Lewis of Cornell University promoted accessible technologies that can transform post-consumer textile waste into a raw material substitute. Stacy Flynn discussed her vision that became a reality when she founded Evrnu , which uses cutting-edge technology to turn post-consumer fibers into new clothing made of regenerative materials. Another company, I:CO, provides collection and reuse solutions that enable over forty leading brands in sixty countries to participate in the circular economy. I:CO’s Jennifer Gilbert called these “bright lights of progress amidst the daunting impact of textiles disposal.” Circular businesses like these are critical to reducing the textile industry’s environmental impacts, and the group challenged the fashion industry to enter the global circular economy by supporting take-back and the remanufacture of recycled fibers.

The Summit concluded with a facilitated discussion among participants to develop a shared vision for moving forward. Overall, participants agreed that moving away from “fast fashion” by increasing education among consumers about the benefits of a repair, reuse, and recycle mindset is an essential next step.

Scott Cassel is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI). PSI works to develop and promote legislation and voluntary initiatives whereby manufacturers are responsible for recycling or safely disposing of their products once consumers are done with them.

PSI will continue the dialogue in 2018 to identify tangible steps to increase reuse and recycling. Those interested in participating should contact PSI’s Scott Cassel at (617) 236-4822.

Simple Seasonal Offerings

Tue, 28 Nov 2017 17:50:58 GMT

November 28, 2017

“'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free…”

" Simple Gifts " is a Shaker song composed by Elder Joseph Brackett in 1848. Nearly two centuries later, keeping in mind that simple things can enhance the holidays experience remains sage advice. Incorporating the “3R’s”—reduce, reuse and recycle—into the holiday season allows us to focus on “the simple.”

Holiday Cards

Sending locally made cards helps promote local artists. Or, consider purchasing cards made of recycled content. If you are inclined to save received greeting cards, they make great gift tags. Cut out shapes, write a message on the blank side, make a hole in the tag, and attach with ribbon (used, of course!) or yarn.

Wrapping Paper

Dish towels, scarfs, and similar items make practical and reusable gift wrapping. Of course, saving wrapping paper and gift bags for reuse is also thrifty and environmentally-minded. To keep this year’s received wrapping paper in good shape, iron on low as needed (on the wrong side of the paper), fold, and store flattened. There are loads of tips on reusing wrapping paper, and other “green gift” ideas, on the Gift Decorating website.

Holiday Decorating

Buying locally grown trees helps to support the local economy. Consider environmentally-friendly decorating, such as sprinkling the tree with some baking powder to make a “snowy” appearance. Be sure to find out about Christmas tree mulching opportunities. For those with large yards or acreage, consider reusing the tree to provide cover for birds, rabbits, and other critters during inclement weather. The tree can also be covered with strands of popcorn and cranberries for wildlife, or used as a holder for a pine cone feeder for birds.

Hosting a holiday decorating party with family and friends is a wonderful way to share the season. Making homemade holiday decorations out of paper and other natural or found objects can be entertaining. Edible ornaments from cookies, and popcorn or cranberry “strings”, are fun and delicious ways to decorate.

Simple Gifts

Got talent? Consider the following:

Create a photo collage of memorable photos for the gift recipient.
Make a recipe booklet of your favorite recipes, family cooking traditions, holiday theme meals, etc.
Compile a list of memories for the gift recipient and display them in an artistic manner.
Videotape or record an interview with parents, siblings, or other relatives about childhood memories, how they met, family history and events, etc., and present it to family members.
Make flavored oils or alcohol, homemade granola, or spice mixes for gifts.
Bake homemade treats and pack them in a recycled tin or basket.
Make a calendar with photos of family members, family events, and/or local scenery; blank calendar templates can be purchased online.

Not so crafty?

Consider purchasing local-made items, crafts, or other gifts to support the local economy and artists. Music lessons, gift certificates to local events, school and sporting needs, etc., are welcome creative gifts. Reusable baskets or containers of local cheeses and other locally purchased items are another thoughtful idea. Consider “themed” gift basket, such as a “breakfast basket” (locally made bread, jam, etc.) or “special evening” basket (wine, cheese, and crackers).

Gifts of “experiences” are different and exciting. A fun idea for kids is a subscription to a “monthly surprise family activity.” This gift can be made practical to fit any family budget, provides for family together time, and fosters new explorations as a family. Gift certificates to a spa, sports game, concert hall, or movie make great “experience” gifts as well. The gift of “time,” such as “gift certificate” for mowing the lawn, cooking a meal, walking the dog, or other helpful chores is always appreciated as well.

A compost bin or kitchen collection bin make great holiday gifts, and composting is a wonderful New Year’s resolution!

Gifts with a reuse theme

Clean out the closets and fill an old trunk or suitcase with fun clothing, hats, shoes, and gaudy jewelry for children to play dress-up.
A trip to a local reuse center or thrift store offers a wealth of gift options, including attractive vintage clothing, jewelry boxes, vases, lunch boxes, games, and more. Used clothing, jewelry, and other items can be repurposed into a variety of “new” gifts.
Buy a used book and inside the cover write a dedication explaining why you chose the book for the gift recipient.
Make envelopes out of magazine pages and combine these with blank stationary paper purchased from an office supply or craft store to make homemade stationary sets for gifts. A reusable pen can be included for an additional touch.
Host a “swap party” gift exchange for an entertaining reuse activity. Add extra fun by playing the gift-switching game White Elephant.
“Regifting” (with tact) is also an appropriate reuse option.

The holidays remind us of the needs of those less fortunate than us. Consider involving the family in donating usable clothing, toys, household items, and other items to local charities. Building reuse centers will accept usable building materials, tools, and hardware; many will also accept appliances.

Holiday meals and parties

Advanced preparation for leftovers will not only reduce waste, but also allow holiday meal guests to enjoy leftovers. Plan now by saving yogurt and butter containers for leftover storage; also, encourage holiday guests to bring their own containers for taking home leftovers.

Be ready with extra containers for freezing leftovers. And, be creative by exploring new dishes with holiday leftovers. The Internet is filled with creative cooking ideas for leftovers!

By Athena Lee Bradley

Plastic World

Tue, 07 Nov 2017 17:43:13 GMT

November 7, 2017

Plastics are ubiquitous; this fact cannot be denied. Many plastics are needed to support our happy modern day lifestyles. But where do we draw the line on our ever-growing production of plastics; and even more importantly, the ever-increasing environmental impacts of plastic materials?

According to the nonprofit Plastic Oceans, the world produces almost 300 million tons of plastic each year. Adding to the environmental burden, fully one-half of the plastics produced are for single use.

For years, the growing Chinese economy provided a reliable market for recycled plastics and other materials. However, in large part because of changes in domestic recycling practices, U.S. exports to China (and other countries) of “recyclable material” increasingly contained dirty and poorly sorted materials, or even materials contaminated with hazardous substances such as lead or mercury. In 2013, China went on the offensive to clean up these imports with its “ Operation Green Fence .”

This past July, China notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of its intention to ban 24 types of solid waste imports, most notably plastics, paper, and textiles. Considering that $5.6 billion in scrap commodities were exported from the United States to China in 2016, one can imagine how the impact on the recycling industry could seem unsurmountable. Just last year, almost a quarter of our country’s largest exporters (by volume) were recyclers of paper, plastic, or metal.

Municipalities and processors are now scrambling to find markets for collected plastics. Many are finding that they will receive no revenue; indeed, they may even have to pay to get rid of materials. Communities are scaling their collection back to accepting only #1 PET or #2 HDPE bottles and containers. Markets for plastic bags and other film plastic, as well as rigid plastics like plastic lids, bins, or crates, and mixed plastics (a category that includes plastic cups and a range of food containers) are particularly constrained.

North America has processing capacity for clean, sorted streams of PET and HDPE bottles, and even polypropylene resins. For films and non-bottle rigids, China’s ban presents more of an issue. End markets for these materials have depended on exports as there isn’t enough domestic processing capacity. The limitation of North American processing capacity is, however, only one facet of the plastic issue.

Exporting our plastics to China allowed us to put a false happy face…a “plastic facade”, if you will, on our overuse of this valuable resource. While our industry voices its opposition to China’s ban, we are all nonetheless culpable for the current situation. We are all responsible for polluted communities in China and other countries that have imported the packaging and remnants of our consumer culture.

I recently viewed “Plastic China,” a movingly poignant film that puts a real face on the people processing so much of our plastic scrap. When the film was made in 2016, China was the world’s biggest plastic waste importer, receiving ten million tons of recycled material per year. Much of this material was processed at small, “plastic waste household-recycling workshops.”

The impact on the local environment, as well as the health of workers and their families that live with them, is staggering. Yes, some of these materials were recycled into new clothing, toys, or other items to satiate consumer habits around the world. Much of this plastic, however, cannot be reprocessed and lives on, polluting the environment and communities surrounding these recycling shops.

Should China be doing more to protect its environment? Yes, of course. Should China be doing more to raise its people out of the cycle of poverty? Yes. However, we as a nation need to also examine the role we have in exporting waste around the world.

As an ever changing, global nation, each of us has a role to play in keeping all of the world’s environments healthy. Our role in exporting unsorted, dirty materials to China and other nations has now come back to haunt us. The fact that we ignored the realities of how our materials were being processed by adults and children in environmentally devastating circumstances is what should truly be haunting us.

The global flow of recycled scrap plastic, which ends up in mountains of burning piles and contaminated waterways, is an image we don’t want to face.

The more than 8 million tons of plastic that ends up in our oceans every year is another image that troubles some, but hasn’t made a dent in our global production and use of plastics.

We are all responsible for a world which consumes more than one million bags every minute, and the 101 billion plastic beverage bottles sold in just one year in the U.S.

We are all responsible for embracing single-stream recycling without a vetted plan to ensure clean loads of recyclable materials that can be used in the manufacture of new products. We accept government agencies trying to save money by eliminating recycling positions, and thus failing to provide the consumer education needed to clean up the materials destined for processing.

Plastic is a valuable resource, one that needs to be used responsibly and with greater consciousness.

By Athena Lee Bradley

Protecting the World’s Largest Geyser Ecosystem with Recycled Tires

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 16:37:25 GMT

October 17, 2017

Among the uses for recycled tires is pavement. Today’s NERC Blog article by Lauren Davis, Public Relations Coordinator at Michelin, talks about a recent project using recycled tires at Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone National Park has completed the second phase of its initiative to install more eco-friendly walkways in the world’s largest concentration of geysers and thermal features. With help from the Michelin Corporate Foundation, Yellowstone National Park has so far paved 11,100 square feet of pathway with the recycled material, replacing crumbling asphalt paths.

The new walkways are made from an innovative eco-friendly paving material that is manufactured in part from recycled tires. This new material will help reduce run-off and erosion in the eco-sensitive Yellowstone Geyser Basin, which features the iconic Old Faithful geyser and attracts millions of visitors a year.

The recycled tire pavement is called KBI Flexi ® -Pave. This product provides a porous, durable and flexible surface that allows the water from rain and snow to percolate through the walkway the way it would have done before the walkways were installed. This in turn creates more natural water patterns that eventually replenish the geyser basin. Unlike asphalt, this paving material does not create significant storm-water runoff or leach pollutants into the soil. It also does not break apart, which prevents material from ending up in geysers and hot springs.

Some 2,400 tires were donated for the project, with this second phase using 1,536 end-of-life tires to help create thousands of square feet of paths. Most of these tires were originally donated several years ago by Michelin for use on Yellowstone’s more than 800 fleet vehicles and commercial equipment. A total of $1.5 million in donations and in-kind have been used thus far for the project. Around 1,500 volunteer hours have been logged on the pathway project.

Flexi-Pave not only provides an environmentally friendly solution for the Old Faithful area, it prevents thousands of old tires from ending up in a landfill or being burned for fuel. The project was made possible through a partnership between Yellowstone National Park, park concessioners, the Yellowstone Park Foundation, KBI Industries and the Michelin Corporate Foundation.

“The Yellowstone Walkways Project aligns with Michelin’s commitment to being a global leader in sustainable mobility,” said Leesa Owens, director of community relations for Michelin North America. “Our employees have been involved with this project from the start, working directly to help create environmentally friendly walkways out of Michelin tires that had already provided Yellowstone with years of cost-effective and fuel-efficient operations.”

Flexi-Pave is made of rubber granules and stone held together by a polymer binding agent that is inert when cured. Its open-pore design enables fast evacuation of up to 4,000 cubic inches of water per hour. Beyond Yellowstone, this innovative product has a broad range of applications. The thousands of rubber granules making up its surface make it non-slip and it is an ADA-compliant surface accessible to wheelchairs and walkers. The integrity of the materials are not affected by freeze-thaw conditions which is why it works well in cold and snowy parts of the Northeastern and Midwestern United States.

“Yellowstone is the world's first national park with nearly 150 years of balancing the protection of natural wonders and sharing them with visitors,” said Lynn Chan, a landscape architect for the National Park Service and lead on sustainability at Yellowstone National Park. “It is important to us to rehabilitate the park’s walkways with materials that can help protect this sensitive environment yet still allow visitors to see and appreciate it.”

“This project represents the model for collaboration between public and private organizations. We hope that this eco-friendly park walkway will inspire other similar projects that help preserve natural systems,” said Jeff Augustin, vice president of external partnerships at Yellowstone Park Foundation.

By Lauren Davis, Public Relations Coordinator at Michelin

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. The company has earned a long-standing reputation for building innovative premium tires. In addition to tires, the company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America employs about 22,700 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants.

September 27 — “Silent Spring” Published (1962)

Tue, 03 Oct 2017 16:30:02 GMT

October 3, 2017

Today’s Guest Blog is by Larry A. Nielsen, Professor of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University. It was originally posted in “Today in Conservation”, September 27, 2017 . (Editor’s note: While I don’t often post on hazardous materials, they are nonetheless components of waste management. This article was of particular interest to me, however, because reading Silent Spring during my first year in college influenced me to switch my major to environmental studies. The book was nearly two decades old when I first read it, but it still holds meaning for today.)

On September 27, 1962, a highly-anticipated book hit the shelves. Reactions to it were immediate and strong. The author’s best friend called it “the poison book.” A spokesperson for the agricultural chemical industry called it “…gross distortions of the actual facts, completely unsupported by scientific, experimental evidence….” Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas called it “…the most important chronicle of this century for the human race.” Today we call the book—Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring—the origin of the modern environmental movement.

Rachel Carson was an unlikely writer for a book that caused such commotion. Carson, born in 1907 in rural Pennsylvania, was a shy, reclusive woman, never interested in the spotlight. Taught by her mother to observe nature and find her own lessons from those observations, she grew to love both science and literature. Forgoing the usual educational path for young women at the time—go to college, become a teacher or nurse, get married—she studied biology. Not just biology, but marine biology. Once she found her way to the Atlantic coast, she was never again far from the shore.

She became the first scientist ever hired by the U.S. Biological Survey, precursor to today’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. But she never gave up on being a writer. Her fellow scientists marveled at her ability to combine scientific ideas and beautiful prose to tell the story of marine ecosystems. She eventually wrote three books about the sea, which met with both critical and commercial success. The New York Times recognized that “Once or twice in a generation does the world get a physical scientist with literary genius….”

Her third book, The Edge of the Sea, is the one that hooked me. As a teenaged “nature nerd” growing up in Chicago, I was fascinated by her stories of the seashore and by the book’s drawings of strange and beautiful creatures. When I wrote Nature’s Allies—Eight Conservationists Who Changed Our World, I knew from the beginning that Rachel Carson would be one of the environmental leaders I profiled. She hooked me, just as she hooked an entire generation with Silent Spring.

She didn’t want to write Silent Spring. She wanted to keep writing about the beauty and wonder of nature. But friends kept telling her about the deaths of wildlife after airplanes sprayed their fields and forests with insecticides. Unable to find anyone else who would take up the challenge, Carson dug in. She spent years gathering information about pesticides and their impacts, doing the painstaking research to connect the dots. Her conclusion: the wanton spraying of pesticides was poisoning the earth.

She told the story in Silent Spring. First published as a series of articles in The New Yorker, it became an instant best-seller in book form. Although agricultural interests worked hard to discredit Carson, their efforts were drowned by the overwhelming positive response to the book and the caution that it urged. The Modern Environmental Movement had been born.

Rachel Carson didn’t live long enough to witness her impact. She died 18 months after the book’s publication, consumed by breast cancer. Just as she always had, she sought understanding through nature, this final time through the monarch butterfly. “…For the Monarch, that cycle is measured in a known span of months. For ourselves, the measure is something else, the span of which we cannot know. But the thought is the same: when that intangible cycle has run its course it is a natural and not unhappy thing that a life comes to its end.”

Larry Nielsen is Professor of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University. In his free time he writes articles on his Blog site - Today in Conservation - What happened on every day in the history of conservation .

How the World Can Cut Food Loss and Waste in Half

Tue, 26 Sep 2017 16:19:45 GMT

September 26, 2017

Today’s Guest Blog is by Brian Lipinski. It was originally posted on the World Resources Institute blog on Septem ber 20, 2017 .

By now, you’ve probably heard about the world’s problem with food los s and waste . An estimated 1.3 billion metric tons of food go to waste each year, affecting our economy, our well-being and our environment. What you’ve probably heard less about is the progress being made in reducing food loss and waste, and what needs to happen in the future to address this problem.

That’s where the new SDG Target 12.3 on Food Loss and Waste: 2017 Progress Report , released by the Champions 12.3 coalition, comes in. It tracks the movement toward meeting SDG Target 12.3 and lays out a roadmap for what both companies and governments need to do to achieve that goal. Developed by a team of experts from WRI and the Waste and Resources Action Programme ( WRAP ), it’s the first comprehensive, time-bound roadmap we’re aware of that specifically addresses one of the 169 SDG Targets.

What is SDG Target 12.3?

Target 12.3 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals calls on the world to “halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses” by 2030.

Our report tracks three steps:

Target: Targets set ambition, and ambition motivates action. That’s why we see target-setting as an important first step toward achieving big reductions in food loss and waste.
Measure : What gets measured gets managed. Once governments and companies know how much food is being lost or wasted and where it’s happening, they can formulate strategies for how to address it and monitor progress over time.
Act: Ultimately, action is what matters. The necessary strides will vary around the world and by sector, but everyone has a part to play.

Our roadmap shows the timeline for cutting food loss and waste in stages, with the first milestone, for a 5 percent reduction, in 2018. So how are governments and companies doing in each of these areas?

Target

Several large countries and regions have set targets in line with SDG Target 12.3. But those countries only represent 28 percent of the world’s population, and the 2018 milestone calls for countries representing 40 percent of the world’s population to have set targets. Other highly-populated countries, such as China and India, will need to set targets if the 2018 milestone is to be met.

Companies are more advanced on target-setting than governments, earning them a “green” assessment for this category. The new major corporate target set this year came from the Global Agri-business Alliance , which announced a Food and Agricultural Product Loss Resolution this week. With the adoption of this resolution, 60 percent of the world’s largest food companies now have a food loss and waste reduction target, meeting the 2018 milestone a year early.

Measure

When it comes to measurement, governments aren’t measuring up. The countries that measure and report on food loss and waste within their borders only represent about 7 percent of the world’s population. Regional blocs such as the EU, African Union and APEC have large roles to play in motivating their members to measure. Measurements should be conducted in conformance with the Food Loss and Waste Accounting and Reporting Standard (FLW Standard).

Companies are doing better than governments on measurement, but not by much. Only a handful of the world’s largest food companies are currently measuring and publicly reporting on their food loss and waste. And as with governments, they should use the FLW Standard as they conduct those measurements and report their results.

Act

When it comes to action, there’s plenty by governments, especially in the EU, the U.S. and Japan. Globally, a number of public-private partnerships and consumer campaigns also address food loss and waste. But these efforts are far from comprehensive, and fall short of the 2018 milestone of 5 percent loss reduction. In the coming year, scaling up the financing of food loss and waste reduction efforts will be especially important.

Companies are again somewhat ahead of the curve when it comes to action: Campbell Soup Company, Kellogg Company, Nestlé, Sodexo, Tesco, Unilever and Walmart all have active food loss and waste reduction programs. On top of that, many are working with their upstream suppliers on food loss and waste reduction efforts. Many more companies will need to follow their lead to stay on track for 2030.

Overall Progress

Overall, the 2018 milestone is a 5 percent reduction in global food loss and waste. Although lots of great work is happening in the Target and Act categories, without good measurement we can’t know how much of that reduction (if any) is being achieved. As more countries start to conduct national food loss and waste inventories, a global picture should begin to emerge.

2030 feels like a long time from now. But if we really want to cut food loss and waste in half in just 13 years, all governments, companies, farmers and individuals must begin to address the issue head on.

This roadmap should help us all do just that―and will keep us honest about our progress along the way.

Brian Lipinski is an Associate in the WRI Food Program, working on both the World Resources Report: Creating a Sustainable Food Future and the Food Loss and Waste Protocol. The World Resources Institute (WRI) organizes their work around six critical goals that the organization believes the world must achieve this decade in order to secure a sustainable future: Climate ; Energy ; Food ; Forests ; Water ; and, Sustainable Cities.

Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

Recycling...Challenges and Successes

Tue, 15 Sep 2015 16:08:18 GMT

September 15, 2015

Today’s Guest Blog is by Susan Robinson, Director of Public Affairs for Waste Management.

Lately there has been a lot of discussion about the “stagnant” recycling rate. Yet, since 2000, per person waste generation in the U.S. is down by 8%, bottles and cans weigh 30% less, and we generate 20% less paper packaging. We are successfully achieving the goals of the waste hierarchy by reducing waste, and we are recycling more volume than we have in the past, even though our recycling weight has not increased.

As long as we measure success by the percentage recycled, and as long as we only focus on end-of-life recycling, we will miss the true meaning behind sustainability materials management. Further, we are striving to achieve recycling goals that will only become more elusive as our waste stream becomes lighter. What should our waste management goals be, and how should we measure success?

Challenges of Recycling – higher processing costs and lower commodity values.

Recycling logistics and economics have become complicated by ongoing changes to the waste stream, with more plastic and less paper. These changes result in increased recycling processing costs and decreased value per ton of recyclables. Further, commodity prices are down, due to slower growth in China and lower oil prices. This trend toward higher cost and lower commodity revenue is not a recipe for economically sustainable recycling success.

Life Cycle Thinking – the challenge ahead

When recycling conserves natural resources and reduces GHG emissions, everyone benefits. But those global benefits aren’t always apparent in the economic cycles of the recycling market. To really hit the ball out of the park, we need to encourage local communities to make recycling a larger part of their value system. Consumers must value the environmental stewardship they create by recycling all of the commodities the market will embrace.

In short, policies should encourage “recycling with integrity” which means “no diversion merely for the sake of diversion.” The best way to do this is by establishing community policies that embrace Life Cycle Thinking, whereby we evaluate materials at a broader level to determine their optimal disposition.

Instead of setting goals that rely on the percentage recycled, programs should be developed based on energy and GHG emissions reduced, as well as the highest and best use of a product or package through its entire life cycle. For example, we should appreciate the GHG emissions saved by recycling every aluminum can. We should also appreciate that some kinds of plastic cannot currently be recycled, but through light-weighting still significantly reduce energy use and GHG emissions -- putting them in the recycling bin only adds processing emissions for material that ultimately will be landfilled.

Finally, let’s celebrate our successes along the way rather than setting unrealistic goals that set us up for failure.

Like many of the most important things in life, the highest levels of success will take time and hard work. Setting realistic goals, with milestones along the way, will help maintain motivation and community commitment for the long haul.

Waste Management is working to reconcile these issues. We recognize the importance of getting the economic models right, improving the quality of recyclables collected and “recycling with integrity.” Importantly, we are committed to the principles of the Waste Hierarchy in concert with the concepts of Life Cycle Thinking – and measuring success accordingly.

And the solution is……

This brings us back to the question of the right goal, and how to measure it. It is time to change our paradigm from setting unrealistic recycling goals that are increasingly difficult to achieve as our waste stream moves towards light-weighted and energy efficient materials design. Rather, it’s time to shift our solid waste management goals to a “per capita disposal goal” (proposed in Massachusetts this year) that will capture the value of waste reduction, the highest priority on the waste hierarchy. A measurement of per capita disposal in concert with a move towards a life cycle thinking approach will establish the right signals for truly sustainable materials management practices.

Ms. Robinson is the Director of Public Affairs for Waste Mana gement . She has worked in the environmental industry for 30 years in roles that span the public sector, non-profit, consultancy, and over twenty years in the private sector. Her experience includes global commodity marketing, research and analysis of industry trends, and twenty years managing municipal solid waste and recycling contracts. She currently works with Waste Management’s recycling, innovative technology and fleet teams, supporting the company’s transformation from disposal to a materials management and renewable energy company. She is responsible for the company’s public policy efforts to support this transition.

What Does ‘Green Electronics’ Mean?

Tue, 01 Sep 2015 15:49:36 GMT

September 1, 2015

Today’s blog is brought to you by the team at Elec tronics Recyclers Inter nati onal. It was originally posted on their blog on August 13, 2015.

The explosion in the tech world over the past two decades or so has resulted in the majority of Americans now owning smartphones, among other devices, with newer and fancier electronics seemingly appearing on the market every few months. Unsurprisingly, as a result, the number of unwanted electric items is growing at a rapid rate.

With this huge amount of devices being produced and discarded, a new environmental issue has appeared. “E-waste,” or old electronics that are either broken or unwanted, are beginning to fill up landfills at an alarming rate. These electric devices often contain hazardous materials that can endanger the environment and local communities, even getting into the air.

While many recyclers, such as ERI, have developed systems to responsibly process e-waste, there has also been growing pressure on tech manufacturers to build “greener electronics.” But what does that really mean?

Using sustainable materials and manufacturing

The idea of “green electronics” in part refers to the materials used in the production of computers, cell phones, televisions and dozens of other electric devices. For example, the plastic we see on all of those cable cords is often burned off in order to reach the valuable copper within, releasing dangerous chemicals into the air during the process. This can lead to the development of acid rain and further environmental damage.

While it may be cheaper to use more toxic materials when building devices, electronics manufacturers are being urged to invest in eco-friendlier materials.

Energy use and carbon emissions

Another important component of creating greener electronics is lowering the amount of energy used and carbon emissions released during the entire production process, from the gathering of materials to the shipping vessels used to transport them to stores. Think about how far that iPhone had to travel to get your hands – and what went into making it. The majority of electronics are manufactured overseas, where carbon emission and labor laws are vastly different than in the United States.

How government is assisting in the fight for green electronics?

Luckily, due to the increased realization for a need of sustainable devices, the Green Electronics Council (GEC) was formed in 2005. The group offers different certification – Gold, Silver and Bronze - levels for companies that offer green devices. GEC utilizes a specially developed assessment tool to rate electronics called the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT). The system evaluates items on more than 50 different criteria to measure an item’s sustainability and overall efficiency. Greenpeace offers a similar ranking system which also focuses on the energy used during device production, called the Guide to Gree ner Electronics .

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also implemented programs and introduced new regulations in terms of sustainability throughout the technology market and within the government itself. Through interactive experiences with businesses, the EPA is promoting what’s called product stewardship – a product-centered approach to environmental protection. The EPA is encouraging manufacturers, retailers and e-waste processing companies to work together in order to create a worldwide green electronics initiative. By giving businesses and manufacturers the information and incentives to become sustainable, the initiative has grown. The EPA’s website features examples of how certain companies are changing their ways into order to meet this goal.

What can consumers do?

A world filled with green electronics is a team effort. Not only do companies need to develop and provide more sustainable devices, but consumers need to purchase them as well. Look for energy efficient devices and appliances by checking the EPEAT rating for sustainability. When getting rid of old devices, ensure they are being processed by a responsible recycling facility (every town has different resources).

By working together, consumers, manufacturers and the federal government can properly promote the development and use of greener electronics with the overall goal of a cleaner and safer planet for us all.

Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the nation’s leading recycler of electronic waste and the world's largest cybersecurity-focused hardware destruction company, is e-Stewards and R2 certified to de-manufacture and recycle every type of electronic waste in an environmentally friendly manner. ERI processes more than 275 million pounds of electronic waste annually at eight locations, serving every zip code in the United States. For more information about e-waste recycling and ERI, call 1-800-ERI-DIRECT or visit www.electronicre cyclers.com .

NERC welcomes Guest Blog submissions. To inquire about submitting articles contact Megan Schulz-Fontes , Projects Manager. Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

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