The 2015 CRA Conference Awards Gala and 25th Anniversary Celebration is shaping up nicely to be worthy of our Silver Anniversary celebration. We are requesting help from YOU in obtaining photos and other significant information that we can use during the Awards Gala program to honor and celebrate our past. We plan to have a running slide show depicting our history.

We need:

- Photos of all 25 Recycler of the Year recipients and the year they were honored

- Photos of exhibits, program sessions, dinners and parties.

- Any other memorabilia of past CRA events and conferences

Photos/Submissions cannot be returned. Please take any necessary actions to save prior to sending. Electronic versions are preferred.

Do you have great pictures to send in? Please email them along with any info you have about the photo to Brenda Ewadinger at [email protected]. You may also upload them directly to our 25th Anniversary Conference Flickr group.

Special Thanks to Our 2015 Sponsors!

Check out the CRA Sponsors

Upload to:

CRA Flickr Page

Email to:

Brenda Ewadinger

Donate Shoes, Win Shoes!
Participate in the CRA Shoe Recycling Service Project at the Conference

Got some gently worn running shoes? Or a pair of dress shoes you bought for that perfect outfit that just never really fit right? Clean out your closet and help out the environment, the economy and those in need by giving back to the community.

Bring in new or gently used shoes for donation.
Shoe sizes may range from newborn to all adult sizes, both men's and women's.
All shoes are accepted from sneakers and casual to dress shoes and boots.

Shoes will be donated to two local charities: Fostering Hope Inc and North Strand Housing Shelter. Shoes that can not be donated will be recycled by Nike.

Donate to win! ReKixx, a closed loop sustainable shoe maker in the Carolinas, has donated a
gift certificate for a pair of ReKixx - one pair of women's and one pair of men's ReKixx shoes! Participants will be entered into a drawing for the ReKixx gift certificate if they participate in the shoe recycling service project!

It's Not Too Late, Register Now!

Carolina Recycling Association's

25th Annual Conference and Trade Show

March 23 - March 26, 2015
Embassy Suites Kingston Plantation
Myrtle Beach, SC

Join us March 23 - 26, 2015 at The Embassy Suites - Kingston Plantation for CRA's 25th Annual Conference and Trade Show, "Making Waves in Recycling". We will discuss new recovery strategies, identify new materials, address new opportunities and explore new horizons.

Register Now!
Sponsor Info & Registration
Exhibitor Info & Registration
Attendee Info & Registration

www.cra-recycle.org/2015conf

Plastic Revolutions Launches New Mixed Rigid Plastics Processing Line
Additional Line Expected to Create 12 Jobs at the Reidsville, NC Facility

In February, Plastic Revolutions in Reidsville, NC began operation of a new state of the art processing line for mixed rigid plastic bales. The new line has the capacity to process up to 10,000 pounds of mixed rigid plastics per hour. They currently have 88 employees and plans to add 12 more with the addition of the new mixed rigid plastics processing line.

The idea for the mixed plastics processing line was sparked by the request of a European company that needed 20 - 30 million pounds per year of ground mix plastics for operations
in the United States. Plant Manager Dee Pyrtle led development of the new Vecoplan processing line, which includes a specialized shredder that can handle metals. According to Vice President and General Manager Ed Handy, "This processing line will allow us to take more lower grade mixed rigid bales than some of our competitors."

Handy stated that they are poised to begin buying large quantities of mixed rigid bales, adding, "It's good plastic if you can process it."

Read the full story in NC RBAC's Recycling Works

BACE Forms Strategic Investment Partnership
JAM Capital Partners Investment Supports Continued Growth & Expansion

BACE, a global manufacturer of balers and compactors for the recycling and waste-disposal industries, has entered a strategic investment partnership with JAM Capital Partners, a Georgia-based private investment firm.

"We are excited to partner with JAM Capital Partners to accelerate BACE's growth and the development of our revolutionary product line," said Frederick Waite, BACE co-founder and executive board member. "As we continue to expand our product offerings and capacity, including doubling manufacturing floor space with our move to a new 90,000-square foot headquarters, JAM Capital Partners will serve as a strategic asset and partner for the company."

Read the Full Article at BACE

Recycling Partnership Announces Opportunity for 2015 Funding

The Recycling Partnership, an initiative of Curbside Value Partnership (CVP), is pleased to announce their 2015 funding opportunity for counties, municipalities and solid waste authorities seeking to improve their residential curbside recycling infrastructure. Specifically, the grants will provide funding for cart procurement and education and outreach programs. CVP will also provide successful applicants with tailored recycling education campaign materials to support the cart rollout, along with technical assistance for community recycling operations.

Potential applicants may email any questions related to the Request for Proposals (RFP) to Karen Bandhauer, CVP Project Director by March 13, 2015 at 5:00 pm eastern. CVP will hold a conference call on March 18, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. eastern time to address submitted questions. Final proposals must be received by 5:00 pm eastern on April 15th, 2015. Additional details are available in the RFP - download the RFP.

For more information visit The Recycling Partnership

Keep America Beautiful Announces Available Grant Opportunities

KAB/Waste Management Grant

Waste Management is again joining forces with Keep America Beautiful to encourage local solutions that showcase your environmental stewardship and community improvement efforts through grants from Waste Management. $300,000 in grant funds of $5,000 and $10,000 amounts will be awarded!

Sample projects could include anything from recycling programs to creating a community green space, creating a youth environmental club or even a disaster restoration project. Grant awards will recognize KAB affiliates' and partners most innovative or comprehensive programs and partnerships to improve business areas, neighborhoods or public spaces and to increase recycling or recycling education in their communities. Applications are due by March 13, 2015

Find More Info on the KAB/WM Grant Program and Apply Here

Dr. Pepper Snapple Park Recycling Grant:

Keep America Beautiful has announced the 2015 Dr Pepper Snapple Park Recycling Grant program. Open to local and state government agencies as well as community-based organizations, this program awards recycling bins for use in park settings such as neighborhood and urban parks, athletic fields, nature trails and public beaches.

Applications are being accepted online now through March 20. Those interested in a grant will submit an online proposal requesting a specific number of bins from a menu of three styles offered. Applicants will be notified in late April whether a grant has been awarded.

Find More Information and Grant Applications at irecycleonthego

2015 Recycling Legislative Days

April 8, 2015

NC Recycling Day

This marks North Carolina's 3rd annual Recycling Day! CRA, in conjunction with the Southeast Recycling Development Council (SERDC) and the Recycling Association of North Carolina (RANC) will be hosting this year's Legislative Breakfast at the Legislative Complex, in Raleigh.

Recycling Day is the opportunity for our industry to make our elected officials aware of the important economic impact recycling has in North Carolina. Join other recycling company representatives as we have breakfast with legislators, followed by meetings in their offices.

The breakfast will be in the Legislative Cafeteria at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8th. SERDC will host a webinar about Recycling Day's schedule and how to best communicate your message. The webinar will be held on March 30th (save the date 2:00 p.m.). All Recycling Day registrants will receive a webinar invitation. For questions or comments please contact Will Sagar.

April 15, 2015

SC Recycling Day