October 2017 Newsletter

Advancing Waste Reduction and Recycling in the Carolinas Since 1989

Special Thanks to Our 2017 Sponsors!

Check out the CRA Sponsors

Boo!

We've got a spoooooky story for you. It was a dark and stormy night...when suddenly you woke from a nightmare in which you dreamed you never attended Recycling Business Connections and missed out on making great contacts in the recycling industry!! Aaaaaahhh!! Don't let this horror story happen to you. Make sure you get your treat - register for RBC now and take advantage of one night & one room filled with recycling professionals to connect with and create business opportunities, complete with snacks and beverages. The attendee rate for members is just $65, which is not at all frightening. See you there, and have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Calling All Collegiate Recyclers!

Fall/Winter Collegiate Recyclers Coalition Meeting - December 1, 2017

We are trying something a little different-a fall/winter combo meeting in early December (maybe this will lift the snow curse off of the CRC winter meeting!) . The meeting will be held at Greenville Technical College on December 1, 2017 from 10 am - until... (tour end). This will be the first time the CRC has had an event with and at Greenville Tech! We are excited to learn more about what GTC is doing on their campus, and are glad to welcome Greenville Tech into the CRC! RSVP to Amy Preble at [email protected] by November 7.

Greenville Tech Northwest Campus:

8109 White Horse Rd

Greenville, SC 29617

Click here for more info on the CRC & the Fall/Winter Meeting

NEW! Household Hazardous Waste Workshop

Optimizing HHW Collection: Workshop and Tour - December 14

Join us for a special workshop and tour presented by CRA's HHW Council and NC DEACS, entitled "Optimizing HHW Collection". This free workshop provides in-depth technical assistance focused on how to implement best practices for a permanent HHW collection program, including budgeting, permitting, logistics, and more. The content will be applicable to both Carolinas as we learn from several great speakers including members of the HHW Council, DEACS, and Mecklenburg County. The workshop will include a tour of the Mecklenburg County Compost Central and Recycling Center's exemplary household hazardous waste collection program, along with a discussion of potential funds available to help your program.

Click here for more info & registration

Lunch, Learn, & Network

Pitt County C&D MRF - Breaking Down C&D Recycling

Join us for a Lunch, Learn, & Network on Breaking Down C&D Recycling on November 17 sponsored by Pitt County Solid Waste in Greenville, NC. NC currently has the 10th highest rate of economic growth in the nation, and that means construction and demolition debris will constitute a growing percentage of the state's waste composition. We're going to take an in-depth look at how this waste is being diverted effectively in Pitt County, NC. You might have heard that Pitt County has one of the few public C&D sorting facilities in the Carolinas and they'd like to share how they got it, how it works, and how much waste they're diverting from landfills. NC DEACS will also share a state-level perspective on C&D, including policy and program updates. The event will wrap up with an in-depth tour of the C&D MRF.

**Eligible for NC SWANA & SWANA CEUs**

Click here for more info & registration

Recycling Business Connections Spotlight:

Pratt Recycling, Inc.

Carolina Recycling Association has had the pleasure of partnering with Pratt Recycling, Inc. for

many years as a sponsor member, exhibitor, and again as a Gold Sponsor for the CRA 4th Annual Recycling Business Connections. Pratt has been committed to supporting recycling efforts in the Carolinas and beyond. We would like to take a moment to highlight their contributions.

Pratt Industries has shown dramatic growth in just two decades to become the 5th Largest Corrugated Packaging Company in the USA and the world's largest, privately-held 100% recycled paper and packaging company. Pratt Industries is vertically integrated, meaning that they make corrugated boxes with the fiber that they collect and process. Pratt Recycling, Inc., a subsidiary of Pratt Industries, works with businesses and communities across the U.S. to help divert over 2 million tons of materials from landfill every year, collecting and processing recyclables from schools, businesses and residences. Pratt Recycling, Inc. has 16 Material Recovery Facilities (MRF's), including 3 MRF's in the Carolinas that employ over 100 team members.

Shawn State, Pratt Recycling's Senior Vice President, stated "Pratt is proud to be a sponsor of the Carolina Recycling Association and we enjoy being a part of the sustainability efforts in the Carolinas". If you would like to connect with Pratt Recycling and many other recycling businesses all in one place, be sure to register for Recycling Business Connections now for your chance to network with the best in recycling!

Click here for more information about Pratt Industries

Right Time Right Now: Meet Industry Experts, Preparing for Change

It's no secret that the past few months have created a level of uncertainty about the stability of the recycling industry like no other time period. The SERDC Fall Forum is going to address this head on and how we can work together to keep recycling an integral part of our economy and the material supply chain to manufacturing in the Southeast. Session topics include: Material-Specific Market Complexities and Trends, Brand Owner Perspectives and Impacts, and Applying Resources to Opportunities Panel. Did we mention there's also a Sustainability Tour and Reception at New Belgium Brewing?

For more info & registration, visit SERDC.org

Strategic Materials Acquired by Investment Firm

Recycled Glass Processor has Network of 47 Facilities across N. America

Strategic Materials, Inc. (SMI), the nation's largest glass recovery operation with 47 facilities across North America announced it was acquired by Littlejohn & Co. SMI is a large buyer of recovered post-consumer and post-industrial glass, including container, automotive and window glass. It cleans up streams of recovered glass, sorting them and processing them for use in end markets that include glass bottles, fiberglass insulation, flat glass and highway safety beads that are used to make road striping reflective.

In announcing the sale, Connecticut-based investment firm Littlejohn & Co. pointed to the growing appetite for recycled content among manufacturers. "As recycled product demand and sustainable manufacturing practices have become a priority for numerous markets worldwide, we believe Strategic Materials is at the forefront to meet those product needs and services on a much larger scale," wrote Brian Michaud, a principal at Littlejohn.

View the full story at Resource Recycling

Join the Celebration: America Recycles Day 2017!

Get Excited & #BeRecycled on November 15

Did you know that one of the biggest barriers to recycling is knowing what items can (and cannot) be recycled, as well as how to recycle those items correctly? On America Recycles Day (Nov. 15), you can help our country overcome this hurdle by hosting recycling-themed events that inform your neighbors, friends and colleagues about what should be recycled in your community. So how can you help?

Plan to host an America Recycles Day event - Find out how here or find an event near you here!
Take the #BeRecycled Pledge - Invite your community to take the pledge, which is a promise to actively choose living a recycled lifestyle by committing to "Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Buy Recycled." in all aspects of daily life.
Engage via social media - Spread the word of how you live a recycled lifestyle in your day-to-day routine on your social channels and be sure to tag America Recycles Day on Facebook and Twitter!

For more info on America Recycles Day & events near you, visit KAB