SMM Web Academy Community Recycling Programs: Whats Working, Whats Not
Strong community recycling programs can contribute to a healthy, united community. Join us to hear from experts in the field about community recycling programs and learn how you can make your program(s) thrive. Though these may be southeastern approaches, the lessons learned can be applied nationwide for creating successful community recycling programs.
Did you know?
- A Municipal Government Toolkit was created to provide the information and resources necessary for state and local governments to make successful recycling programs a reality in communities. The toolkit is a compilation of fact sheets, case studies, recycling reports, and links to online tools aimed at helping you improve your community recycling program.
- Some of the many benefits of community recycling programs are the prevention of greenhouse gases and supporting local economies by creating jobs and tax revenue. Recycling programs can also help to improve water and air quality and are building blocks for sustainable growing communities.
- Strong recycling programs have the ability to create jobs. While trash disposal simply transfers waste to its grave, recycling gives new life to salvageable materials, thus creating opportunities for new jobs. The more times a recyclable material is used before disposal, the greater the number of jobs that can be created.
Speaker Bios:
- Will Sagar, Policy Director with the Southeast Recycling Development Council (SERDC), will speak about leveraging private partners for increased collection in communities and the economics behind it. SERDC’s mission is to unite industry, government and non-government organizations to promote sustainable recycling in the Southeast. Efforts include a specific focus upon the economic impact of the recycling industry. Will graduated from the University of North Carolina with a double major on Economics and Mathematics. After selling the excavation business he built and operated for a decade, he was the Solid Waste Director for Transylvania County, NC for 16 years. While there he started the recycling program, built the first lined landfill in Western NC, implemented PAYT, and established permanent HHW and electronics collection. Later with Henderson County, he started electronics collection and created a county energy accounting system. Will serves as President of the Board of Directors the Carolina Recycling Association.
Economic Components of Recycling: Creating Manufacturing Jobs (PDF) (40 pp, 2.6MB)
- Blair Pollock, Solid Waste Planner with the Orange County (NC) Solid Waste Management Department, will speak about the successes of establishing community recycling program in Orange County, NC. Blair initiated public recycling programs for Orange County in 1987. He has served in the Solid Waste Management Department since that time focusing on increasing and improving recycling and waste reduction county-wide. He was a founding member of the Carolina Recycling Association in 1988 and writes the On the Ground column for their on-line publication The R-Word. He holds a recycling manager training certification from SWANA and a Masters Degree in City and Regional Planning from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Reducing Waste in Orange County NC: What works (and doesnt work) in community recycling programs (PDF) (55 pp, 3.9MB)