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Michigan Recycling Coalition's Weekly Newsletter
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March 20, 2020

All Things Recycling 

MRC requests COVID guidance from State - The MRC is observing a variation in response by service providers throughout the state as they react to the news and cautions of the day. Direct guidance through the State would reduce confusion, ensure that workers are protected, and essential public services continue to be provided. OSHA has developed guidelines for the protection of "Solid Waste and Wastewater Management Workers and Employers.

Furthermore, if the need should arise in these extraordinary times, to limit economic activity to essential services, the MRC requested that the State of Michigan affirm solid waste, recycling, and organics services as essential to maintaining public health and the supply chain. The Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries is appealing the same to the White House. 

If you have any doubts or concerns about program changes and recycling or organics management facility closures, contact the EGLE recycling specialist that represents your area. 
MRC 38th Annual Conference Postponed - Well, here we are. In compliance with the Governor's guidelines regarding large gatherings, and keeping the health and safety of our members paramount, the MRC Conference will have to be postponed. But we are working with our incredible Conference Committee to create a plan that will not only meet your expectations of the content the MRC provides, but give additional, new opportunities to your organization during this Twilight Zone episode. We will likely be postponing the conference until Monday and Tuesday, October 5 and 6. Our developing plan is that we will virtually host some choice sessions May 6 and 7 and work to reschedule tours and possibly training for a date in early September. Stay tuned and thank your for your patience as we navigate these uncharted waters. 

Essential services - Services and functions "essential" are those that have been determined to be absolutely necessary, even during a pandemic. However, many in the organic and inorganic recycling industry are asking for this distinction to assure that the supply chains for manufacturing are not disrupted and organic materials continue to be managed to avoid problems. 

MRC member Paul England, from Pratt, a major cardboard box manufacturer that supplies companies like Amazon says, "As a manufacturer of cardboard boxes that are in particularly high demand as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pratt depends on the essential services of Michigan's recyclers and the recycled paper supply chain as we continue to manufacture and deliver needed products and packaging. 

Tori Beckett, with Great Lakes Tissue, a Michigan toilet paper manufacturer, puts it this way, "Recycling programs are extremely important for our facility. We user 100% recycled raw material to the tune of over 2,100 tons per month, with over half of that being directly from post-consumer recycling operations across the US and Canada. With all of the toilet paper shortages across the country, our operations are still at maximum capacity production and need all of the raw material we can get our hands on. We only keep a couple week's supply on hand and if the collections stop we do fear we will not be able to keep a sustainable operation running." 

Doug Rahaim, with Glass Recyclers notes, "We provide a critical raw material feedstock to the glass container industry that manufactures food and beverage containers on a daily basis. Without the material that we manufacture, which is called cullet, the glass furnaces cannot operate. This would force a shut down and very likely cause terminal failure in the glass furnaces in the plants that we supply. 

Landscape for the Lakes - Michigan Organics Council members met virtually on Monday to learn about Washington's Soils for Salmon program from its originator, David McDonald. The program was designed to provide information about the value of compost in improving soil quality, retaining nutrient and moisture, as well as in application to reduce soil erosion. The MOC is working to develop a Michigan specific campaign to raise awareness of these and other benefits for potential users. 

We're here for you! - As events around the world continue to unfold, we want to remind you that the Recycle, MI Campaign is still going strong. Our Recycle, MI Supporter newsletter goes out monthly to all subscribers, and we try to answer some of the public's most burning questions around recycling. Please feel free to promote this free resource to your organization and colleagues, customers, and members! This is also a good time to consider becoming a Recycle, MI Partner as you'll receive a quarterly social media plan with weekly posts about sustainable materials management topics important to your community. Easy peasy to up your social media game. Check it out...

Impact of COVID-19 on waste & recycling - The COVID-19 pandemic has shocked the global economy and brought sweeping changes to the United States in recent weeks. Yet the waste and recycling industry's essential public health role means it must continue business as usual. Each day brings new details about service disruptions, safety factors, and other evolving effects. Some of the largest recycling publications have written about the impacts of this pandemic on waste and recycling. Read more here, here, and here...

EPA Region 5 Grants - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Region 5 Sustainable Materials Management program is announcing the availability of funds for program support. Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) is a systemic approach to using and reusing materials more productively over their entire lifecycles. Applicants must address at least one of the following SMM priorities: 
  • Recycled Plastics and/or Paper Markets in Region 5
  • Strategies for Preventing Food Loss and Waste and/or Diverting Wasted Food from Landfills in Region 5
These projects benefit states in region 5: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Learn more...

Companies share challenges of "closed-loop" mfg - A pair of Grand Rapids company representatives recently shared creative solutions they are implementing for waste amid the global recycling market crisis. Jonathan Padnos, president and CEO of Holland-based recycling and scrap management company Padnos, and Brian Mill, regional sales manager at Cascade Engineering, spoke at the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum's March 9 lunch, "Closed Loops and Sustainable Materials Management." Both speakers discussed the importance of sustainable materials management in an evolving and challenging recycling and packaging environment, noting how they are attempting to find solutions and markets for post-consumer content. Read more...

Managing COVID-19 waste amid global pandemic - The CDC recommends that waste workers follow infection control measures by utilizing proper personal protection equipment (PPE), such as gloves and eye protection. CDC recommends that those working in close proximity to COVID-19 patients take it a step further and use airborne precautions. CDC and OSHA also recommend standard operation controls and PPE for waste workers. Read more...

Feds announce funding for plastic recycling R&D - The U.S. Department of Energy will provide up to $25 million for the development of efficiently recycled polymers and improved recycling processes. The DEO announced the grants as part of its recently launched Plastics Innovation Challenge. Read more...

Maintaining your edge - Effective maintenance programs often elude owners of new shredding lines and heavy equipment. Installation of these projects is difficult and by the time the line is running and producing, oil changes and factory-prescribed maintenance may not be top of mind. Resource Recycling lays out steps to address potential stumbling blocks, showing why maintenance programs should be reframed as investments that have clean payback. Read more...

Medical waste cos. prep for elevated volume - Medical waste companies have questions about a potential uptick in volumes as well as elevated risk to workers. Several companies told Waste Dive on Monday that the situation was changing almost on an hourly basis. And even as they follow regulatory updates and guidance, they remain unsure about how waste volumes and operations will ultimately be shaped by the days, weeks, and potentially months to come. For the industry, following hour-by-hour changes will be crucial, even as long-term implications loom large. Read more...

Opportunities, Resources, Grants...


EGLE Market Development Grant - The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy will provide matching grants to supplement efforts to grow recycling markets and increase the use of recycled material. learn more...

EGLE Recycling & Organics Infrastructure Grant - A total of $3 million is available through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's Recycling and Organics Infrastructure Grant program for the development of recycling infrastructure or food waste management programs. Schools and universities, local units of government, nonprofits, tribal governments, health departments, and solid waste/recycling authorities can apply. Organics management infrastructure grant applications are for projects primarily focused on food waste (not yard waste) and must result in a finished or partial compost product. Learn more...


GLRI trash free waters RFA - The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) is requesting applications for grants and/or cooperative agreements to support the GLRI Action Plan focus to protect and restore communities of native aquatic and terrestrial species important to the Great Lakes by reducing the impacts of human activities such as trash, litter, and debris in the Great Lakes. Learn more...

City of Ann Arbor is hiring - The City of Ann Arbor is seeking a sustainability and innovations community energy manager to lead the city in research, development, implementation, and management of energy programs. This role will engage the entire community and work towards the City's goal of reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more here...

Want more recycling news? - If you're not currently receiving this newsletter on a weekly basis it's because you're not a member of the MRC. Join to receive this newsletter weekly and receive many other benefits of membership. Also, send us your news, jobs postings, and fresh content!

 
Recycle, MI signs, shirts, recycling bins, compost bins, and more! Check out our Recycle, MI website and Swag Shop to gear up for all of your summer recycling program needs!


Looking for a contact? MRC Member Directory! - Members have access through our member website to the "Member Directory" and "Member Organization Directory" listed under "Quick Links" in the right side of the screen. Join us to get access to these directories and other great benefits. 
See the Conference Program
Thank you to our generous 2020 Conference Sponsors!
It's not too late to Sponsor.


Grand Sponsor
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy


Diamond Sponsors
Pratt Industries
Clean Tech | Plastipak | TABB


Platinum Sponsors
Emterra Envionmental | ReVital Polymers
Kroger
Meijer
MSU Surplus & Recycling
Republic Services
P&G


Gold Sponsors
Comprenew
Dart Container Corporation
Fabri-Kal
Fremont Regional Digester
Hammond Farms | My Green Michigan
IRIS Waste Diversion Specialists
Polly Products
RRS
Schupan Recycling
SOCRRA
Speed-Tech Equipment
The Coca-Cola Company


Silver Sponsors
Battery Solutions
Capital Area Recycling & Trash
Cascade Cart Solutions
Denali WeCare
Duro-Last Roofing
Emmet County
Glass Recyclers Inc.
GLR 
Haworth
Natur-Tec
PADNOS
Recycle Ann Arbor
Sebright Products
Valley City Electronic Recycling
Washtenaw County

Recycle, MI Sponsors
City of Bay City
Metro Recycling Solutions
Mid MI Waste Authority
Recycle Livingston

Bronze Sponsors
Alloy Exchange
BBC Distributing
Dr. Shrink
East Jordan Plastics
MI Environmental Council
OmniSource
Petoskey Plastics
Waste Management
MRC Events

MRC 38th Annual Conference - May 5-7, 2020
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Encouraging action where we live, work, and play.
2019-2020
Board of Directors


Lori Welch, Chair
City of Lansing
Roger Cargill, V Chair
Schupan Recycling
Rick Lombardo, Treas.
Natur-Tec
Julie Cribley, Sec.
Recycle Livingston
Rebecca Andrews
Washtenaw Community College
Brad Austin
Marquette County SWMA
Nick Carlson
Goodwill of Greater Grand Rapids
Patrick Cullen
Wayne County
Steve Kent
Pratt Industries
Stephen Klemann
Republic Services
Dawn New
Battery Solutions
Jeff Krcmarik
EGLE
Tracy Purrenhage
Battery Solutions
Dave Smith
MSU Surplus & Recycling
Bill Whitley
Spurt Industries

Staff
Kerrin O'Brien 

Executive Director
Kelly Schalter
Program Manager
Katherine Fournier
Project Coordinator
Terri Raterink
Administrator

(517) 974-3672

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Michigan Recycling Coalition

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