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July 26, 2019
All Things Recycling
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Part 115 Update - EGLE has re-identified members of Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory that will review and discuss the latest version of Part 115 changes once an August meeting date is established. MRC's Executive Director is a member of SWRA and has been working with the Policy Committee Chair and others to identify remaining issues in the package. The passage of Part 115 changes remains a key issue for the Coalition. If you are interested in learning more about the process or the latest version of the draft, contact Kerrin O'Brien....
All Things National Recycling Coalition - The Association of Plastics Recyclers recently bought Resource Recycling and will be hosting the Resource Recycling Conference in New Orleans on August 27th and 28th. The national conference provides an excellent opportunity for state and municipal recycling leaders to network,  learn, and share as we work together to grow recycling nationally. MRC staff will be there, and we hope to see you! The National Recycling Coalition will be hosting networking and learning opportunities at the conference. Learn more about the entire event!
Register separately for the NRC/SERC Welcome Reception here. It's a great place to mix and mingle with colleagues from across the country.
Interested in selling your services to a national audience? Consider sponsoring the Welcome Reception or another NRC function at the conference. Contact Kerrin O'Brien if interested in learning more.
Recycling is beginning to get national attention again. Be a part of the larger movement! Consider running as a candidate for the NRC Board of Directors and work with colleagues at the national level. More detail here...
Looking for recognition for your great recycling programs? There's still time to nominate good programs for an NRC award. Learn more...
EGLE launches campaign in Northern MI - EGLE will kick off the Know It Before You Throw It education campaign in Traverse City region, and will also announce major grants that combined with local funds will deliver more than $3.6 million to improve recycling infrastructure in the Grand Traverse and Emmet County regions. The press conference will feature Michigan's new Recycling Raccoon Squad and local dignitaries. Read more...
Recycler Secrets with Steph Kersten-Johnston - Recycler Secrets Podcast was able to sit down with Kersten-Johnson before she gave the keynote address at the 2019 Michigan Recycling Coalition Conference in May to talk about the Circular Economy, Recycling in the United States, and how to stay focused in a turbulent recycling world in light of global trends. Listen here...
How a manufacturer increased recycled options - Garbage and recycling container maker Busch Systems recently announced it has developed additional products made from 100% recycled plastic. An executive explained how the Canadian company continues to boosts recycled content using stable, high-quality supplies and overcoming hurdles. Read more...
6 ways social media can benefit your business - So how do you keep your waste reduction business thriving and spread the word? Simple. Use the magic that we call social media. Read more...
 Intimidated by social media? The MRC can help! - Social media is a great way to connect with and continually educate the public about your program. Join over 35 Michigan organizations as a Recycle, MI partner and have access to a ready-made social media plan! We'll make the content, you customize it for your program and post it! Read more...
Ban on a ban on bans? - Michigan has legislation on the table right now that would ban bans in plastic bag bans, a situation that started during the 2016 lame duck session before Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took office. Earlier this year, Rep. Wittenberg, a Democrat, introduced the movement to ban the ban on bag bans. Wittenberg introduced House Bill 4500 which would allow local municipalities to once again decide how they want to regulate plastic bags, or if they want to regulate them at all. The bill does not require any local communities to ban plastic bags, merely giving them the option to do so. The bill has received bipartisan support from co-sponsor Republican Rep. Gary Howell. Read more...
Upcoming regional meetings - The Regional Outreach Committee and Regional Directors met yesterday at the MRC office to make plans for meetings that will be coming up in the next few months.
- Watch this space as more regional meetings will be added to the schedule soon!
You do not need to be a member of the Michigan Recycling Coalition to attend regional meetings, so feel free to invite anyone you think would benefit from attending these meetings.
SWMSWC to host education event - In September, the Southwest Michigan Solid Waste Consortium will be hosting a meeting on Contamination & Education targeted toward county commissioners, township trustees, city councils, village councils, solid waste planning committees, material management planning groups, and materials management facilities. They plan to hear from a recycling hauler, a MRF plant supervisor, a recycling brokerage company, a consultant, and the Recycling Market Development Specialist with EGLE on what impacts the China National Sword Policy has had on the recycling industry and what we can all do moving forward. Come to learn how to do this in your community. Read more...
Trash-free Great Lakes program announced - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Region 5 Administrator Cathy Stepp recently visited Cleveland to announce an upcoming new Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant program specifically focused on funding trash-free water projects in the Great Lakes. Possible types of eligible projects include:
- Great Lakes beach and shoreline cleanup projects
- Great Lakes harbor and river cleanup projects
- Great Lakes trash and litter prevention and education projects
- Read more...
Eaton County RFP for Sunfield drop off facility - The Eaton County Department of Resource Recovery issued an RFP to operate a citizen recycling drop off facility in Sunfield, Michigan. The citizen drop off facility operates three days a week from April through December and two days per week January through March. Read more...
New EPA rules for waste pharmaceuticals - Discarded pharmaceuticals and their containers are waste streams subject to environmental or public health regulations, or both. Read about the new rules here...
National Zero Waste Act revived by legislators - A waste reduction and recycling support bill has been introduced in Congress, with lawmakers describing the legislation as a significant component of the Green New Deal. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., yesterday introduced the Zero Waste Act, which creates federal grants to support municipalities in recycling and waste reduction efforts. Omar said the bill is supported by a dozen organizations, including Minneapolis MRF operator Eureka Recycling, the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), the City of Minneapolis, the Texas Campaign for the Environment, the U.S. Composting Council, and Zero Waste Washington. Read more here and here...
Federal bill could bolster organics infrastructure - Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wisc., and Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., have reintroduced the Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act (H.R. 3744) in an effort to create a new 30% investment tax credit (ITC) for qualifying biogas and nutrient recovery projects. The 2017 version of the bill attracted 28 cosponsors, but never progressed. It's possible the political calculus could be different this time around, with new leadership in the House and ongoing talk from President Trump about the farming sector. Read more...
Food waste update: 2019 progress - As 2019 is more than halfway over, it is important to reflect on the waste industry's progress thus far - especially when it comes to food waste. This year has seen an influx of legislation, technology, and upcycling movements to tackle the food waste epidemic facing the world. The waste industry and consumers alike are motivated to continue this forward momentum to reduce food waste. Read more...
Women leading charge to recycle whole houses - Ruthie Mundell, marketing and outreach director at Community Forklift, is one of many women around the country leading the reuse and recycling charge. Instead of focusing on trendy plastic straw bans, they are recycling whole houses. Reuse centers, like Community Forklift, work with deconstruction crews to take apart buildings, reselling the materials at a fraction of the cost. Read more...
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Opportunities, Resources, Grants...
Ongoing Curbside Recycling Grants - The Recycling Partnership offers supplemental funding and support for advancing cart-based curbside recycling in communities across the United States through financial and technical assistance. Grants applications are accepted on an on-going basis. Learn more...
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.
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