Recycling Works Newsletter Spring 2024

RBAC's quarterly newsletter discusses current topics of interest to recycling businesses, including information on financing opportunities, commodity markets, and new technologies.

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Circular Economy Council Infrastructure Tours

o recognize the strength of North Carolina’s recycling industry, the NC Circular Economy Council organized a tour of three leading and innovative recycling facilities last fall for state and local decision makers. Tours of the facilities listed below provided an in-depth look at the operations behind one step of the recycling process, with an explanation and understanding of how it fits into the larger circular economy.

  • Nov. 1, 2023 Southeastern Container | Kings Mountain, NC
  • Nov. 2, 2023 Unifi | Yadkinville, NC
  • Nov. 15, 2023 Powerhouse Recycling | Salisbury, NC

NCDEQ Secretary Elizabeth Biser has convened the North Carolina Circular Economy Council to identify ways to expand and accelerate beneficial impacts of recycling in the state. Members of the Council include leading recycling companies, non-profit organizations, industry associations, and product manufacturers, many of which have a national or global reach.

Learn more about the council here: Circular Economy Council

CPRC Tour Kicked off at Atlantic Packaging!

The Carolinas Plastics Recycling Council (CPRC) stands as a collaborative effort between the SC Department of Commerce Recycling Market Development Program and NC Department of Environmental Quality's Recycling and Materials Management Section. This public/private joint initiative is dedicated to advancing plastic container recovery and recycling in North and South Carolina. With a focus on outreach, recycling program development, and fostering connections between generators and plastics recyclers, CPRC aims to enhance plastic recovery across the region.

In partnership with key stakeholders, including agencies and members of the plastics reclamation industry, CPRC is actively exploring strategies to amplify plastic recovery in the Carolinas. The ripple effect of increased plastic recovery extends beyond environmental benefits, offering the potential to create jobs, conserve energy for end-use markets, and attract capital investment from companies contributing to the recycling industry's growth in the Carolinas.

Highlighting this commitment, the Carolina Plastics Recycling Council launched the "Your Plastic Means Products" roadshow series at Atlantic Packaging in Charlotte, NC. The first of four in the series, the Charlotte event kicked off with more than 40 industry partner participants. These gatherings aim to reignite engagement within the recycled plastics supply chain across the Carolinas, fostering collaboration and identifying pathways to boost the utilization of clean, recycled plastic materials. As we embark on these initiatives, CPRC is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping a more sustainable and economically vibrant future for the region. The next stop is at Milliken in Spartanburg, SC on May 29, 2024. Use the following link to find out more, https://yourbottlemeansjobs.com/ypmp/.

Carolina Recycling Association Conference

The Carolina Recycling Association is hosting its 34th annual conference and trade show in Cherokee North Carolina from April 8th-11th. The event offers a diverse program including workshops, tours, and breakout sessions focusing on recycling and sustainability. Highlights include a golf classic, workshops on battery safety, diversity and inclusion, as well as breakout sessions covering topics such as circular economy storytelling, textile circularity, waste and recycling studies, and more. Use the following link to find out more and register, https://www.cra-recycle.org/2024conf/.

Envision Upgrade

Envision Plastics announced a multi-million dollar facility expansion last fall. Khosrow Hallaji, Project Engineer with Envision Plastics said the company “is increasing production capacity of the company’s EcoPrime brand of post-consumer fit-for-food contact high density polyethylene by 50 percent through this major expansion.” Read more here: https://resource-recycling.com/plastics/2023/11/28/reclaimer-finishes-food-grade-pcr-expansion/

Statewide 10-year Solid Waste and Materials Management Survey

NCDEQ continues work to update the state’s 10-year Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan. The feedback survey has concluded, and we're busy analyzing the wealth of input you've offered. Your valuable insights will shape the future of waste management in our community. Stay tuned for the forthcoming announcements, as we unveil the collective impact of your contributions. It’s not too late to provide feedback to NCDEQ. Contact Wendy Worley, Recycling and Materials Management Program Manager at wendy.worley@deq.nc.gov or 919-707-8136.

Together, we're paving the way for a more sustainable circular economy!

2024 Food Waste Reduction Grant Winners!

Thank you to all participants who submitted a proposal, your dedication and passion did not go unnoticed. The diversity and creativity in the submissions underscore our shared commitment to creating a more sustainable future. After careful consideration, we are excited to unveil the twelve recipients of this year's grant:

  • Asheville Poverty Initiative
  • Buncombe County
  • City of Belmont
  • Crown Town Compost
  • Dirtcraft Organics
  • F.A.R.M. Café
  • Food Connection
  • Mecklenburg County
  • NewSoil Vermiculture
  • ReCollective
  • Scrap Daddy Composting
  • Terra Bella

Congratulations to these deserving initiatives for their innovative approaches to reducing food waste. Their efforts showcase the incredible potential for positive change within our community.

For those whose projects were not selected this time, or if you did not apply, we encourage you to keep the momentum going. We will be launching the Food Waste Reduction Grant again next year, providing another opportunity to support and amplify your impactful ideas.