August 2016 Newsletter

Advancing Waste Reduction and Recycling in the Carolinas Since 1989

Would you like to work for CRA?

Seeking Applicants for Executive Director Position

With Diane's retirement in 2017 approaching, CRA is seeking qualified and experienced candidates to apply for the Executive Director role. This position is tasked with the successful leadership, management, financial solvency and planning, marketing, and operation of the Carolina Recycling Association (CRA) while ensuring compliance with Board of Directors (Board) directives and applicable state and federal requirements for 501(c)(3) non-profits.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have already submitted an application, but did not receive a confirmation email, please contact CRA at [email protected].

For more info on the position and to submit an application, visit CRA Jobs

Early Bird Registration Ends September 9!

Join us and your peers for the 3rd Annual Recycling Business Connections to be held on October 5, 2016 in Charlotte. The Carolina Recycling Association, NC Recycling Business Assistance Center, and SC Department of Commerce are working together to provide a unique networking opportunity for you to make connections new & old that will help grow your business. Sponsorship Opportunities are available!

Click Here to Register Now

Thanks to Our Sponsors:

Attention All Beach Lovers

CRA Beach-Side Networking Event - September 12 from 5-7 PM

The CRA is pleased to participate in the 4th Annual North Carolina Marine Debris Symposium (NCMDS) scheduled for September 11th-14th in Wrightsville Beach at the Blockade Runner Resort. CRA Executive Director Diane Davis will share an update and goals of the organization on Monday, Sept 12th at 9:45. There will also be a CRA Networking Session just before lunch. After the day's sessions wrap up, be sure to join us out back at the Blockade Runner's Beach Bar where we will continue our networking in a fun, casual setting with free beer, live music, and a beach clean-up. Beach clean-up participants will have a chance to win some cool prizes. The "beach party" is scheduled from 5:00-7:00PM. Come out and show your support and have some fun with your fellow recyclers and beach lovers.

You do not have to be registered for the NCMDS to attend the CRA Beach-side Networking.

Click here for the NCMDS full agenda and registration information

Call for Papers for CRA 27th Annual Conference

March 27 - 31, 2017 at Embassy Suites - Kingston Plantation

CRA welcomes presentation abstracts for the 2017 Conference, covering all recycling disciplines and topics from both the public and private sectors. Papers that highlight success stories as well as innovative programs, methods, and technologies to advance material recovery or waste reduction, are preferred. Submissions due by September 21.

Abstracts are encouraged in the following major topic areas, but not limited to: Education and Outreach, Collegiate & School Recycling, Multi-Family & Commercial Recycling, Public Area Recycling, Special Wastes & Electronics, Organics, Glass Recycling, Household Hazardous Waste, Construction & Demolition Recycling, and Waste Reduction

Click here to submit an abstract

Food Recovery Resource Exchange - Register Now!

September 16 from 10 - 3:00 PM at Coastal Carolina University

One of South Carolina's newest initiatives is to reduce food waste, the Number 1 item thrown away in landfills annually. The state's goal is to cut the 607,000 tons wasted in half by 2030. The SC Department of Commerce and SC DHEC are inviting organizations to the first Horry County Food Recovery Resource Exchange on Friday September 16. This meeting is designed to explore opportunities for commercial food waste prevention, donation and composting in the Coastal/Pee Dee area. Food waste makes up 21% of the waste in SC, not including other organics such as tree trimmings and yard debris which add an additional 13.5% to the waste stream. Organics recovery is a new but fast-growing market area with Horry County Solid Waste Authority's new compost facility. In contrast to all the wasted food, 1 in 6 South Carolinians are hungry or food insecure. We are providing organizations educational opportunities, technical resources, and practical applications to implement to change this dynamic.

For more info and registration, check out Food Recovery Resource Exchange

Oconee County Saves Glass Recycling

Program Relies on Clean, Pre-Sorted Collection at Recycling Centers

Oconee County has been doing their part to save glass recycling in the upstate. Oconee County citizens rinse out their glass containers and presort the glass at 11 recycling centers. The glass is then transported to the counties Material Recovery Center (MRF), and consolidated by color. The glass is stored in bunkers until the count has truckload quanities. It is then loaded onto transfer trucks, and transported to the glass recycler. Thanks to the dedication of citizens and associates, glass can be recycled without added cost to the Solid Waste department and county taxpayers. Recycling is dependent on the commodities markets, Oconee County has taken advantage of the marketability of clean, sorted materials by source separating the glass and reducing contamination.

For more information, check out SC Dept of Commerce's "Recycling in SC"

Otto Expands With New Distribution & Warehousing Facility in NC

Otto, currently in its 28th year of American-based manufacturing operations, has recently completed a facility expansion. Additional warehousing increased by 70,000 square feet to serve various distribution and command center needs. Otto's recent refinance efforts funneled 18 million dollars into the business to better serve overall customer needs and increase production rates by 20 percent

Located within direct vicinity of Otto's headquarters, the location is part of the company's overall vision to improve manufacturing operations. "The expansion allows us to revolutionize operations in all aspects of our business," says Otto CEO Robert Engle, "...it allows Otto to invest in its people and in our community."

Read the Full Press Release from Otto

Member Spotlight

The City of Greenville (SC) is All In!

The City of Greenville's new cart roll out program is going really well. They initially rolled out approximately 16,000 carts to all of our City of Greenville Solid Waste customers including the very first cart to one hundred-year-old Greenville resident James Lamkin!

Through assistance from grants through The Recycling Partnership and SC DHEC's RecycleMore, the City was able to not only purchase the carts for all city residents, but also launch an extensive educational campaign. The Greenville "All In" campaign was designed to educate residents on the changes including the extra capacity of the carts and the expansion of acceptable materials as well as address contamination. Through the new cart program, Greenville has also made the recycling collection safer for their collection crews through automated side-loader trucks.