[EDITOR'S FOCUS]

WE ARE ONLY GETTING BETTER

What kinds of companies participate in the C&D recycling industry? For those of us who study C&D for a living, we see a wide range of participants who affect the C&D market.

Construction contractors, demolition contractors, government at all levels, landfill and transfer station operators, waste haulers and building material companies, as well as the expected equipment vendors, consultants and the recyclers themselves, all are players in C&D.

This magazine is devoted to reporting what is really happening in this marketplace and to being a relevant information source for those who are serious about C&D. So we have expanded our coverage in recent months to provide information on all aspects of C&D, and we made sure this information was being delivered to the right people, the decision makers in the C&D industry, a claim no other magazine can seriously boast.

We are continuing that process and, starting with the next issue, we will unveil an improved and expanded version of this magazine, starting with the name of the publication itself. Look forward to seeing our improvements in November. As always, we look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions.

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The Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA) is making strides to flex its advocacy muscles on behalf of its members.

The CMRA will kick off a drive to build an advocacy fund during the association’s upcoming Annual Meeting, C&D World, Jan. 25-28, 2004, in New Orleans. The CMRA Education and Issues Fundraising Dinner, graciously sponsored by Continental Biomass Industries Inc., Newton, N.H., will be held Monday, Jan. 26, to raise funds to support advocacy efforts for C&D recyclers.

The goal is to have the funding for personnel who will go out to educate local, state and federal regulators on assisting in the proper recycling of C&D materials and to counter some of the misinformation on C&D recycling often supplied to these regulators by recycling’s opponents. The CMRA has not had the revenue before to promote such efforts, but feels that with the proper financial support, it can provide the assistance recyclers need. This fundraising event can be an important step in providing that support.

The CMRA Education and Issues Fundraising Dinner is open to CMRA Annual Meeting attendees and their guests. For more information as it becomes available, contact me at (630) 548-4510.