Monthly News & Updates in the Southeast
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Upcoming Events
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
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Upcoming Webinars
What does chemical recycling encompass? Why are we talking about it now? How might it affect community programs? The webinar will include: an explanatory backdrop on chemical recycling, an overview of The Partnership’s and CLP’s ventures in this space, and examples of both existing and emerging technologies.
August 28, 2019: TBD –
August 29, 2019:
2:30-3:30 pm ET –
This session will provide an in depth overview of PET packaging, uses, packaging components, and design features that may affect recyclability.
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SERDC News & Announcements
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SERDC Fall Workshop and Annual Meeting Announced!
SAVE THE DATE: October 16, 2019
Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia SC
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"Making recycling sustainable is a process we're nearly and dearly working on. We’ve been monkeying around with a few possibilities, but we’d be lion if we said we had solved it yet. We could talk about the elephants in the room but we hate to keep badgering people who just can’t bear it. It’s driving all of us batty.
"
Rusty Angel, Programming Committee Co-Chair.
Join us October 16 for an intensive one-day workshop and annual membership meeting at the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC.
Through the generous support of SC DHEC, we are tagging on to their annual event to offer training on cart tagging, an update on the America Recycles efforts, what the Southeast is doing to reduce contamination and standardize messaging and much more.
You can save some serious cash by registering before September 1 for $99. After September 1, the fee will be: $149 for SERDC members, $195 for non-members. Seating is limited so register today.
There are many hotels near the zoo, but the State Fair is in Columbia and hotels are filling up fast. The
Homewood Suites
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Staybridge Suites
,
Embassy Suites
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Holiday Inn Express
and
SpringHill Suites
are all within a 10 minute drive of the zoo with advertised rates under $200 a night. We'd suggest you get your rooms confirmed prior to registering for the event. If you need GSA rate lodging, please email jen.dabbs@serdc.org with nights needed. There is a GSA room at the Double Tree on Bush River Rd. that we can request for you.
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First round of Recycling Infrastructure Grants awarded
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The SERDC Grant Committee has chosen the first round of recipients for improvements in recycling infrastructure in the Southeast. These Southeastern communities will be adding much needed infrastructure to their recycling programs. Grant funds from SERDC through a grant from the Coca-Cola Foundation are still available.
Read more.
Congratulations to these communities:
- Canton and Clyde, NC
- Largo, FL
- Marion, SC
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NRC and SERDC Welcome Reception
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Planning to attend the Resource Recycling Conference?
Come and join us for drinks, eats and lots of fun networking with friends and colleagues! The reception is on Monday August 26, from 6-9 pm.
Gravier Street Social
(two blocks from the conference hotel)
523 Gravier Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Tickets are $60 and include 2 drink tickets and heavy appetizers.
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SERDC presents Cleaning up the Stream Workshops to Tennessee Recycling Professionals
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Through a partnership with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Tennessee Recycling Coalition, SERDC presented a workshop and forum to address recycling concerns in Tennessee.
TDEC shared information on hub and spoke recycling initiatives in an effort to obtain economies of scale. In addition, a common suite of materials messaging developed by SERDC was shared with the attendees in order to help regional and local agencies provide clear, consistent messaging on their websites.
Over 50 attendees were present during the two week road show held in Oak Ridge, Memphis and Burns Tennessee.
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Oak Ridge, TN workshop. Y-12 Photography by Photographer: Brett Pate
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Sonoco FRESH: hosts Sustainability and Food Waste Summit
Sept. 17-18, 2019, Hartsville, S.C.
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Food Waste and Sustainability are critical issues facing businesses, industries and consumers around the world. A big issue like this demands big thinking and different perspectives from a diverse group of people. The 2019 Sustainability and Food Waste Summit provides just that. Hear industry leaders speaking on topics ranging from climate change to packaging innovation.
Creating a more sustainable world is front and center in our minds.
With disruptive change required, innovation is key for consumers, brands and packaging companies.
Packaging can make a difference in food waste.
90% of food waste is simply thrown away too soon. The overall impact of this issue is so great that, in 2015, the EPA called for a 50% reduction in food waste by the year 2030.
Recent advancements in technology have led to innovative packaging which can prolong shelf life and divert up to 72,000 tons of food waste out of landfills in the US alone. This is equivalent to a reduction of 329,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
Sonoco Recycling is a Silver Sponsor Member of SERDC.
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#RecycleRightNC Launch: Lunch, Learn and Network-- There's still time to register
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NC DEACS and CRA are partnering August 13-15 for a series of workshops to launch the #RecycleRightNC campaign. The workshops will detail plans for a 10-week state-wide anti-contamination campaign AND show you how to participate in your community too!
#RecycleRightNC is the culmination of a year's worth of work with MRFs, local haulers, and local governments to create common objectives with unified messaging to reduce recycling contamination in NC.
Three identical workshops will be held in eastern, central, and western NC for your convenience. You only need to attend one workshop to get the information you need. There is currently a waiting list for the Greensboro workshop.
View the workshop agenda and full info online
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EAST
August 13, 2019
Greenville, NC
10am-2pm
CENTRAL
August 14, 2019
Greensboro, NC
10am-2pm
WEST
August 15, 2019
Asheville, NC
10am-2pm
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NC DEQ is a Government Member of SERDC
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Major user of recycled film says it will be buying more
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Posted July 23, 2019 on Resource-Recycling.com
Already North America’s largest consumer of recovered film, Trex plans to use considerably more in the future, according to the company’s CEO. Jim Cline, CEO of the Winchester, Va.-based composite lumber manufacturer, spoke with Resource Recycling about the company’s production growth plans and feedstock purchasing strategies.
He also explained the decision to shut down the company’s pellet business earlier this year, citing a lack of interest from buyers. “There’s no interest in paying anything extra for recycled content. Therefore, it was not cost efficient to continue the operation,” Cline said.
Trex’s products have 95% recycled content.
A publicly traded company, Trex recently announced it will spend roughly $200 million to boost its composite lumber production capacity in future years. At full expanded production, the company will recycle a total of 1.4 billion pounds of PE and wood fiber per year.
The first of the capacity expansions, in Nevada, will come on-line this year. “We see the opportunity to utilize that capacity pretty quickly,” Cline said.
Trex is a Business Member of SERDC.
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The Glass Packaging Institute Selects New President Scott DeFife to Head North America’s Premier Glass Container Industry Association
ARLINGTON, VA (July 29, 2019) – The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Scott DeFife, who will lead the association as its President beginning August 19th. The GPI Board of Trustees and its Executive Leadership team worked diligently to find the right fit for the organization and its members.
Scott will spearhead the association in a time of great opportunity, as the glass container industry continues to develop and sharpen its focus in the areas of marketing, advocacy, sustainability and other issues of importance to the glass container manufacturing industry.
Among Scott’s many accomplishments, he most recently served as Vice-President of Government Affairs for the Plastics Industry Association where he worked to advance the organization’s new sustainability advocacy work, including upgrading the U.S. domestic recycling infrastructure. Prior to that, Scott led federal and state government
affairs, as well as communications activity for the National Restaurant Association. He has also spent considerable time working for Congressional leaders, including advising House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on economic, energy, environment and financial policy issues, as well as with state and local government organizations.
GPI is a Business Member of SERDC.
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Nov. 7-8: Carolinas Plastics Recycling Council will hold its annual meeting in partnership with the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
The event will offer tours of nearby recycling facilities, networking opportunities and presentations from industry leaders on plastics identification, processing, end uses, market trends and chemical recycling.
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Congressional appropriations bill calls for 'national recycling strategy' passed
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Posted June 21, 2019 on WasteDive.com
The House of Representatives unanimously passed an amendment to H.R. 3055 — an appropriations bill for multiple departments and agencies — on Thursday, furthering calls for a national recycling strategy.
The amendment was intended to "accompany/emphasize the existing report language," according to Blake McCarren, press secretary for Rep. Haley Stevens, who co-sponsored the legislation with Rep. Kim Schrier. The amendment highlights representatives' interest in working with the EPA develop a recycling strategy that will "ensure long-term stability for local programs," according to the press release.
A report attached to the FY 2020 Interior-Environment Funding Bill includes language directing the U.S. EPA to "help ensure the long-term economic and environmental viability of local recycling programs by exercising national leadership and facilitating the harmonization of standards."
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