Association News

NRC CREATES TASK FORCE TO TACKLE SUPPLY PROBLEM

The National Recycling Coalition, Alexandria, Va., recently established a Supply Task Force to address recycling industry concerns about tightening supplies of recovered material. The task force will consist of industry experts from within the NRC membership ranks and will be charged with addressing collection, processing and other issues influencing the supply of recycled materials that can be used for making new products. The task force will also examine a possible slowdown in the expansion of municipal recycling collection programs.

"Manufacturers all across the country are calling for more recycled feedstock – many mills are not operating at capacity because they can’t get enough material," says Marsha Rhea, NRC executive director. "The current tight supply sends a clear message to Americans: keep recycling."

In other news, the NRC board established a Source Reduction Forum, comprised of a diverse group of reduction experts, to promote comprehensive resource management that integrates source reduction and reuse with recycling efforts.

KIT FOR RECYCLING ASSISTANCE IS HERE

The Recycling Technology Assistance Partnership, Alexandria, Va., has released its ReTAP Tool Kit to provide information on how to design and implement recycling technology assistance service to organizations that help companies process or use recycled materials. The kit is tailored to organizations assisting small- and medium-sized manufacturers.

Among the tools in the kit are: checklists, guidelines, models, procedures and protocols, as well as design and implementation guides for each of six aspects of technology assistance, including strategic planning, developing resources, program development, service delivery, marketing and program evaluation.

To order the ReTAP Tool Kit or to request a Tool Kit Workshop in your area, contact Alison Watkins at (703) 683-9025. A one-year subscription to the ReTAP Tool Kit is $50, which includes the current version, plus all updates for the following year. Each subsequent yearly renewal is $20.

SIX ALUMINUM RECYCLING FIRMS JOIN ASSOCIATION

The Aluminum Association, Washington, recently approved six aluminum recycling companies for membership. Those companies are: Alchem Aluminum Inc., Coldwater, Mich.; Behr Metals, Rockford, Ill.; Bermco Aluminum, Birmingham, Ala.; Roth Brothers Smelting Corp.; East Syracuse, N.Y.; Spectro Alloys Corp./Alreco Metals Inc., Rosemount, Minn.; and U.S. Reduction Co., Munster, Ind. These new members were former members of the Aluminum Recycling Association which disbanded earlier this year.