May 2016 Newsletter

Advancing Waste Reduction and Recycling in the Carolinas Since 1989

NC Recycling Legislative Day
June 2, 2016

CRA and the Southeast Recycling Development Council (SERDC) are partnering to help provide an opportunity to network and inform legislators about the recycling industry's steady contributions to North Carolina's economy as well as the resulting conservation of natural resources and energy. This marks North Carolina's 4th Annual Recycling Day!

Please join us and representatives from the recycling industry including members of the newly formed CRA Business and Industry Recycling Council June 2 for breakfast at the Capitol Building in Raleigh, NC from 7:00 to 9:00 with private meetings with your legislators to follow.

For planning purposes:

Special Thanks to NC Legislative Day Sponsors:

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Diane Davis

CRA 27th Annual Conference - Save the Date!

Come One, Come All - Conference Committee Volunteers Needed

Does the prospect of upcoming summer heat and humidity already have you wishing for spring's cool ocean breezesand an icy drink on the beach? Indulge yourself with thoughts of the warm sands at the Embassy Suites Kingston Plantation in Myrtle Beach, SC. Mark your calendars now for our 27th Annual Conference and Trade Show in Myrtle Beach from March 27 - 30, 2017.

Planning is already underway and there are many ways that you can get involved to make this conference even bigger and better than the last! The Conference Planning Committee is recruiting volunteers to help with the program and speakers, sponsors and exhibitors, entertainment, awards, auction, golf tournament, conference sustainability, and many other aspects that go into planning the largest recycling trade show in the Southeast.

For more information or to join the committee, please contact CRA Executive Director, Diane Davis or (704) 467-7774.

Glass Recycling Coalition (GRC) Launched

Beverage, Glass, and Recycling Industry Leaders Join Forces to Strengthen Glass Recycling

The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI), along with beverage leaders including Diageo and New Belgium Brewing, and the glass processing and recycling industry, have convened a dynamic group of organizations to make glass recycling work in the U.S. The nearly two dozen member organizations announced they are joining forces to create the U.S. Glass Recycling Coalition. The coalition's primary goal is to help build a foundation to make glass recycling a successful industry, and an efficient, high-quality and convenient service consumers want and expect.

For the first time ever, organizations, including consumer brands, glass manufacturers, waste haulers, recycling processors, and trade organizations involved within many of these industries, will work toward this common goal. Glass containers for food and beverages are 100% recyclable, but today the U.S. recycling system faces a perfect storm of economic forces that is making it harder to recycle glass. Glass recycling can pose unique challenges on the recycling infrastructure if not planned for and executed correctly. Together, the coalition will work to develop strategies to assist municipalities with glass recycling decisions, and establish a network of glass recycling resources and champions.

Read the Full Press Release at Glass Packaging Institute

SC DOT Receives Award for Recycled Materials

DOT Program Recycled 4 Million Square Yards of Asphalt in Past Year

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has received a construction award for using recycled materials. The award was presented during the South Carolina Transportation Commission meeting. The Asphalt Recycling and Reclaiming Association (ARRA) gave SCDOT Secretary Christy A. Hall its Richard E. Lowell President's Award, recognizing her for "outstanding contribution to the asphalt recycling and reclaiming industry, her dedication to the advancement of highway rehabilitation technology, and her boundless commitment to the Asphalt Recycling and Reclaiming Association."

ARRA gives this award periodically to those advancing the association's goals and to "promote the growth and technological advances of the industry." It has only been awarded two times in the past decade. The association says SCDOT does more asphalt reclamation than any other state in the United States or any province in Canada. The agency recycled 4 million square yards of asphalt in the past year, and 8 million square yards since 2006.

Read the Full Release at Equipment World

Unifi's Repreve is official recycling partner of The North Face Endurance Challenge Series

Over 250,000 Recycled Plastic Bottles Transformed Into 32,000 Repreve-based Race Tees

For the second straight year, Unifi's REPREVE recycled fiber brand has joined forces with The North Face Endurance Challenge Series as the official recycling partner of North America's premier trail-running series. This collaboration helps make the six-race series more sustainable. Over the last two years, Unifi has transformed more than 250,000 recycled plastic bottles into 32,000 REPREVE-based race tees for participating runners, each made from eight bottles. At each race, consumers will be educated about the REPREVE process and offered REPREVE-based products made from recycled plastics, including socks, hats, towels and much more.

"Our collaboration with The North Face allows us to continue developing new ways to make their products and events more sustainable," said Jay Hertwig, vice president of global brand sales, marketing and product development for Unifi, Inc. "The North Face Endurance Challenge Series is an opportunity to further educate people on the alarming fact that 70 percent of plastic bottles in the United States are not recycled, and highlight the quality apparel and consumer goods that can be created from recycled plastic bottles."

Read the Full Release from Unifi

CRA Member Spotlight

2016 Earth Day Activities

NC DEACS celebrated Earth Day at the Sheetz Distribution Center in Burlington, NC with their Recycle More NC campaign. They presented CEO Joe Sheetz and Sustainabilty Coordinator Matt Michrina with their 2016 Carolina Recycling Association Award for their amazing efforts to offer recycling to customers at the stores and at the gas pumps.

American Buildings, a Nucor Company, located in LaCrosse, Virginia celebrates Earth Day every year by giving back to their communities. They purchase trees from a local nursery and give them away on opening day of the Town's Farmer's Market. They combine this event with a St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Fundraiser. So, although the trees are free, they ask if persons are willing and able, to donate to St. Jude for the tree. This year they raised $358.76 for St. Jude and had 200 trees planted in their communities!