After two years of virtual annual meetings, SERDC was back in person (and virtually too after sorting out webcasting issues) in Atlanta Georgia for a day of discussion and meeting followed by a tour of Pratt Recycling's MRF in Conyers, GA.

Our opening session explored the nuances of recently introduced or adopted Extended Producer

Responsibility (EPR) programs as well as those under consideration across the country. Various views were shared from the producer, material recovery facility operator, recycling company, consumer, product producer and environmental sectors. All agreed the current financial model could be improved, but as to how to make the changes is not as easy to find common ground.

Chaz Miller presented on current market conditions and commented on the influences driving value

changes. Mr. Miller never fails to provide key insights into what is driving material demand. Bret

Biggers, Senior Economist for The Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries reported on the economic

trends facing the industry. Jim Nordmeyer and Kurt Schmitz shared the manufacturing perspective and future expectations for recovered material consumption.

The US EPA's Sustainable Materials Management 10 Year Vision was presented, along with updates on the funding for SWIFER and REO grants were presented by Barbara Alfano, of the US EPA Region 4 office.

The annual States’ Panel, a discussion among the leaders of the state recycling agencies in the region discussed current challenges and initiatives to improve recycling messaging, local program support and thoughts on market development. Nine of the Southeastern states were represented.

Our meeting was graciously hosted by Pratt Industries at the Atlanta West facility. Our appreciation is

extended Pratt for making the meeting not only possible, but comfortable. A special thanks to all the

speakers for making the programming engaging and insightful. In addition, three of our member companies: Machines, WM and ISRI also sponsored the Annual Meeting.

Every year almost 300 million scrap tires are generated in the United States. One of the most beneficial uses involves producing Ground Tire Rubber (GTR) from scrap tires and using the GTR to create Rubber-Modified Asphalt (RMA). RMA has been used in the U.S. since the 1960s, but extensive market adoption is yet to occur, although use of rubber modified asphalt has increased approximately 50% since 2017. Depending on the application, one lane mile can use up to 2,000 scrap tires.

In addition, This workshop will:

Read more about RMA at ustires.org/rma.

If you didn't catch the five webinars that were held this year, looking at the US EPA's National Recycling Strategy, then you're in luck. All the recordings are on our website and available for viewing at your convenience. Watch now.

When shopping on Amazon, go to smile.amazon.com/ch/20-2817990 AmazonSmile will donate a portion of your eligible purchase to SERDC. It doesn't cost you a thing.

Posted November 2, 2022 on recyclingtoday.com. Highbar LLC, a newly formed company focused on sustainable scrap metal recycling and steel production, has selected a greenfield site in northeast Arkansas to build the first of two rebar steel minimills. Highbar plans to invest about $500 million and create 200 direct and indirect jobs, with the direct jobs paying $140,000 per year on average plus benefits, and the indirect jobs paying $60,000 per year on average plus benefits.  Read More.

Posted November 2, 2022 on recyclingtoday.com. Fort Wayne, Indiana-based Steel Dynamics Inc. has announced the selection of Columbus, Mississippi, as the location for its previously announced greenfield recycled-content flat-rolled aluminum mill. The planned $1.9 billion aluminum flat rolled mill is designed to have an annual production capacity of 650,000 tons of finished products, serving the sustainable beverage packaging, automotive and common alloy industrial sectors. Read More.