 |
Upcoming Events
MARCH
March 9-11, 2020: EPA Region 4 States Meeting*- Columbia, SC
APRIL
May
*SERDC will be speaking/attending
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Webinars
March 5- 1:00 pm-2:00 pm
This webinar will explore lessons learned from two innovative post-hurricane deconstruction projects following Hurricanes Katrina and Irene. Both projects found opportunities to build a more resilient future by reducing disaster debris, creating
Hosted by EPA SMM division.
March 12- 12:00 pm ET
Join The Recycling Partnership for a deep dive into film and flexible packaging. The webinar will highlight the problem contaminants, how to communicate about them to residents, and discuss the best messaging options around “unbagging” your recyclables. Hosted by the Recycling Partnership..
March 19- 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 pm ET
The State of Oregon has conducted groundbreaking – and sometimes provocative – research into the environmental benefits and limitations of recycling. Hosted by Northeast Recycling Council.
|
|
|
|
SERDC News & Announcements
|
|
|
|
SERDC Newsletters now accessible on website
|
SERDC newsletters will now be archived on our website under the NEWS AND ACTIVITY top navigation tab. With increased security around emails, some of our friends can no longer click links found within this newsletter. If accessed through our website, you should not have this problem when reading more about news and activities referenced.
SERDC Members can also access the member directory and documents pages after logging into the site with the email and password you used to join.
The web address is www.serdc.org/newsletter
|
|
Going to the SERC Conference?
Join us Wednesday morning for an impressive line up
|
For over 30 years, the Southeast Recycling Conference & Trade Show (SERC), has been one of the premier recycling conferences. This year, SERDC is organizing the Wednesday morning sessions.
The first session will take a look at the domestic response that has shaped up since the National Sword took effect. Market shifts and investments will be covered.
Speakers are:
- Will Newsome, Sales Manager, Sonoco Recycling, LLC
- Stephanie Baker, Director of Market Development, KW Plastics
- Kari Talvola, President & CEO, Fibre Trade, Inc.
The second session provides an update on recycling programs where messaging was improved as well as on SERDC work surveying municipal messaging and efforts to bring consistency to messaging.
Speakers are:
- Jen Dabbs, Director of Outreach and Member Services, Southeast Recycling Development Council (SERDC)
- Sheila Sarovich, Public Sector Solutions Marketing, Waste Management
|
|
SERDC Grant offers funding for projects to increase access to residential recycling programs
|
|
SERDC is the recipient of $500,000 from the Coca-Cola Foundation to increase recycling infrastructure in the Southeastern US.
Communities can apply for grants through SERDC to implement curbside programs, improve collection vehicles and add processing equipment to capture more material.
Grants are evaluated upon submission and awards are made in ongoing cycles.
The deadline for the spring round is March 15.
|
|
|
Two $25k Donations Kickstart Glass Recycling Foundation Projects
|
Posted on February 6, 2020 from the Glass Recycling Foundation
The Glass Recycling Foundation (GRF) announced two major donations totaling $50,000 from the Owens-Illinois (O-I) Charities Foundation and Diageo North America. The contributions will advance GRF through pilot projects which are leveraging best practices to improve glass recycling.
“We are proud to partner with the Glass Recycling Foundation in advancing community efforts to increase glass recycling. The environment is a focus for the O-I Charities Foundation and this effort, in particular, will help raise the recycled content in future glass containers while also reducing waste and glass’ carbon footprint,” said Jim Adams, Board Member for the Owens-Illinois Charities Foundation.
"We are confident that these contributions will unlock more investment and partnership opportunities to start funding scalable projects for effective glass recycling. As a company committed to protect the environment and promote responsible packaging, at Diageo we are very excited to see progress being made in the Foundation’s agenda," said Ronald Holmes, Packaging Director at Diageo North America and GRF Executive Board member
“The Foundation is grateful to the O-I Charities Foundation and Diageo North America for their support and commitment to glass recycling in the U.S.,” said Lynn Bragg, GRF Board President. “The need for funding is significant; these initial contributions will set the stage for us to consider private-public funding opportunities, pilot projects and educational outreach needs regarding glass recycling.”
O-I is a business member of SERDC
|
|
Waste Management Agrees to Identify Gaps in Recycling Infrastructure as Step Toward Increasing Plastics Recycling
|
Posted on February 25, 2020 from WasteAdvantageMag.com
Following in-depth engagement by As You Sow and Trillium Asset Management, Waste Management, Inc. (WM) has committed to publishing a report that could help ease the recycling crisis that has developed in parts of the United States. The report will identify gaps in recycling infrastructure, and discuss how many of its processing facilities have been upgraded, which can boost material yield.
The company will provide a report to help identify basic gaps in plastic recycling infrastructure in the U.S. In addition, WM will provide overlay maps and data highlighting its marketing of three commonly recycled types of plastic — PET, HDPE, and polypropylene. This data will show material flows between regions by polymer, and categories of current end market uses for these materials. WM will identify actions it believes will help address the gaps identified in the report — both possible company actions and broader recommendations.
One of the factors in low recycling rates are inefficient or outdated Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF), where collected recyclables are separated for processing. Outdated facilities can result in lower capture rates of recyclables. The company has agreed to disclose information on the number of its MRFs that are equipped with the latest processing equipment, as well as those that are slated for near-term upgrades that can improve recycling outputs and yields, and those that have not been upgraded.
Waste Management is a Bronze Sponsor member of SERDC
|
|
ISRI Proposed Specifications for Inbound Residential Single Stream and Inbound Residential Dual Stream
|
Posted on February 25, 2020 from RecyclingToday.com
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) Board of Directors approved the addition of two new specifications to the ISRI Scrap Specifications Circular at its Winter Meeting on February 21, 2020:
Inbound Residential Single Stream Specification:
Inbound Residential Single Stream is the material derived from a recycling method whereby residents of a community place allowed materials in a specifically designated receptacle to be left at a drop off point outside their residence. The purpose of the specification is to give Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and municipalities a common vernacular to negotiate the items that comprise the material stream derived from a single stream curbside collection program. The specifications describe not only the items that should be part of the system, but prohibitives and other materials that could be considered contaminants.
Inbound Residential Dual Stream Specification:
Inbound Residential Dual Stream is the material derived from a recycling method whereby residents of a community place allowed materials in a specifically designated receptacle to be left at a drop off point outside their residence. The purpose of the specification is to give MRFs and municipalities a common vernacular to negotiate the items that comprise the material stream derived from a single stream curbside collection program. The specifications describe not only the items that should be part of the system, but prohibitives and other materials that could be considered contaminants.
To submit comments, recommendations, or questions please contact ISRI Chief Economist Joe Pickard. There will be an open comment period for 30 days following the vote by the Board.
ISRI is a trade association member of SERDC
|
|
|
|
Recycling Alliance of North Alabama Curbside Recycling Program Continues to Grow
|
Posted February 5, 2020 on WasteAdvantageMag.com
The Recycling Alliance of North Alabama (RANA) began Phase Four cart deliveries this week for residents who signed up for the program from October 6, 2019 through January 16, 2020.
“We are thrilled that so many residents continue to sign up for the program and we are seeing huge successes in the first six months. In phase four, approximately 3,000 residents signed up, which shows positive momentum for our program and the direction we are headed,” said Doc Holladay, Executive Director of SWDA.
With approximately 69,000 households now in the program, RANA is looking at ways to help residents who have called in seeking additional carts.
The Recycling Alliance of North Alabama (RANA) is an opt-in monthly curbside recycling service funded by the Solid Waste Disposal Authority of the City of Huntsville that was launched in August of 2019.
|
|
|
|
Now that Mardi Gras is over, what do you do with the beads?
|
If you're near New Orleans, you're in luck!
BEAD RECYCLING: The Jefferson Parish Department of Environmental Affairs, an affiliate of Keep America/Keep Louisiana Beautiful, is again partnering with the Arc of Greater New Orleans and the Jefferson Parish Library to collect Mardi Gras beads.
Residents may drop off unwanted beads during regular operating hours at East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie; and West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey.
Last year, Jefferson Parish residents donated more than 4.13 tons of beads. The bead recycling program allows ArcGNO to create jobs for young adults with intellectual disabilities by hiring them to collect, sort, package and resell these beads.
You have until March 4 to recycle those beads.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
