California recyclers launch nonprofit organization

The California refund value (CRV) recycling industry has launched a new trade association known as Protect CRV (PCRV). PCRV is a not-for-profit organization representing all facets of the recycling processing and supply chain with a focus on supporting neighborhood recycling centers in the state of California. CRV refers to the amount paid to consumers when they recycle beverage containers at certified recycling centers.

The new association’s goals are to assist its members in building and connecting the statewide recycling community, provide platforms for networking and offer opportunities for exchanging know-how and expertise. It will also be the primary advocate for its members and endeavor to create a vibrant recycling economy that supports CRV and the entire recycling life cycle. In addition, PCRV will provide educational opportunities, ensure members are aware of any changes to rules or regulations that might affect them and work with the regulators, California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) and the various cities and counties to ensure small recycling business needs are considered as new regulations and ordinances are contemplated. The association also partners with other entities who have a complimentary mission and works with them to increase recycling awareness.

“Recycling is changing,” Kenny Luong, president and CEO of Ming’s Recycling, Sacramento, California, and newly elected chairman of the PCRV board of directors, says. “Between the volatility in commodities prices, the proliferation of ordinances that affect us without our input and our lack of ability to influence the way we are regulated, small recyclers are slowly being driven out of business.”

“It just became clear that the best way to achieve stability and growth was to get involved,” Jack Waite, Fairfield, California-based Recycling Zone owner and PCRV vice chair, adds. “The formation of a new nonprofit trade association for the CRV recycling center and processing operators will give us a unified voice and promote the health and sustainability of the industry and we need that.”

According to CalRecycle, more than 1,700 CRV recyclers and processors are in the state of California. PCRV says many are small, family businesses that often face a difficult choice: close shop to attend a regulatory meeting or a city council meeting or stay open to service their neighborhoods while accepting that their fate will be discussed without representation.

It is not unusual for these meetings to result in local regulations that reduce or eliminate locations for recycling centers to operate, the organization says. As an example, in September of 2017 the Fresno City Council voted in a full ban on neighborhood recycling centers, effectively putting all 22 small recycling centers in Fresno out of business and diverting an estimated $15 million per year to curbside collection.

“Curbside recycling is not the same as redemption,” Susan Collins of the Container Recycling Institute, Culver City, California, says. “Redemption is where consumers get their money back.”

The ruling was subsequently challenged by the California Grocers Association, Sacramento, and the ban was overturned in May. In addition, hundreds of rural communities are without any opportunity to redeem their empty containers because the costs of hauling combined with lower volumes make it impossible to run a profitable business, PCRV says.

“Over 900 California recycling centers have closed since 2013, underscoring the need for advocacy,” David Lawrence, president and chief financial officer of rePlanet, Ontario, California, and a director at large for PCRV, says. “If we want to stop the bleeding, we need to band together and advocate for the changes that will support our industry and have a voice in crafting the regulations that govern us. Protect CRV will be a powerful force in the industry and we encourage the full recycling supply chain to join the association.”

The newly elected board of PCRV consists of  Luong, chairman; Waite, vice chairman; Jeff Donlevy, Ming’s Recycling, treasurer; David Lawrence, director at large; and Jenna Abbott, executive director and secretary.

For information, contact Jenna Abbott at Jenna@protectcrv.com.