Recycling Works Newsletter Fall 2021

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

In the Fall 2021 Recycling Works issue:

Recycling Business Development Grant Reminder

The 2022 Recycling Business Development is open and accepting proposals. Standard projects will have a maximum award of $40,000 while priority projects can apply for $60,000. Priority areas for 2022 will include MRF equipment, non-bottle plastics, mixed paper, food waste, and manufacturing using recycled content. To find the Request for Proposal visit: https://deq.nc.gov/conservation/recycling-business-assistance/financing/grants

Submit finished proposals electronically to Mike Greene at mike.greene@ncdenr.gov.

MRF Glass Grant

Material Recovery Facilities that recycle residential, commingled material are eligible for $80,000 to fund glass cleaning equipment. Grantees will be required to match at least 20 percent of the grant award. Competitive proposals will demonstrate how glass equipment will improve the quantity and quality of residential glass cullet. Proposals are due by January 31, 2021. To find the Request for Proposal, visit: https://deq.nc.gov/conservation/recycling-business-assistance/financing/grants

Carolina Plastics Recycling Council Webinar 

The Carolina Plastics Recycling Coalition (CPRC) will host a half-day virtual conference on November 10, beginning at 9 a.m., to discuss updates in the plastic industry throughout the past two years. This will be the first CPRC meeting in two years! Below is the link to register for the event.

Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1987140086200336909

SERDC Annual Meeting

The Southeast Recycling Development Council Conference will be held virtually November 30 through December 1. Registration details will be forthcoming.

Brand Commitments on Recycled Content

Agricultural Plastics Innovation Challenge

Driscoll's Berries, in partnership with Think Beyond Plastic's Innovation Center and other entities, has organized an Ag Plastics Innovation Challenge for the advancement of agricultural plastics recycling or the replacement of agricultural plastics with other more sustainable technologies. The application deadline is November 30, 2021.  The innovations will be assessed according to their commercial viability and sustainability. The challenge has four tracks:

  • New materials: a completely new material, a new formulation or variant of existing materials, or existing materials used in a new way;
  • New design: a design modification of films that ensures longevity or recyclability;
  • New or improved collection and / or recycling methodologies must have documented environmental, economic and performance value and benefits. Of special interest are recycling innovations for field plastics with soil contact (bed mulch, weed mat, and fumigation film) due to their tendency to retain soil and moisture after removal; and
  • Waste-to-energy innovation: Only innovations with proven environmental benefit.

For more information, please visit YouNoodle.

 

The Recycling Business Assistance Center (RBAC) is a program of the N.C. Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service (DEACS) that provides technical, business and financial assistance to recycling companies.