Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Recycling Professionals are some of the most dedicated and hard-working folks we know. We all do the best we can to conserve natural resources and promote more sustainable environmental practices. With so much important work to do, and so little time, it’s crucial that you have access to the resources and tools you need.

The Northern California Recycling Association (NCRA) is a professional organization dedicated to promoting waste reduction, reuse, recycling, salvaging, and composting. We have 200 members throughout the state representing a broad spectrum of the recycling community – nonprofit recyclers, reuse specialists, local and state government workers, consultants, haulers, environmentalists, artists, students and others interested in the many “Rs” (reduce, reuse, recycle, rot, rethink, redesign, etc.). We invite you to become a member and participate in our programs.

The recycling industry is facing a number of critical issues. Cash-strapped cities are looking for revenue sources (i.e., sales tax generating businesses) and placing increased pressure on local recycling-based businesses. Talk of “conversion technologies” is growing, and some of these methods of handling the waste stream are highly suspect, in our opinion. NCRA is growing and preparing to address the challenges of the day, and we want you to be a part of it.

Benefits of membership include:

• Networking Meetings and Tours –NCRA meets monthly on the third Thursday, often at a different location in the greater Bay Area. Meetings are a great opportunity to share information and network with others in the field. Many meetings are preceded by an informative tour of a recycling-related business.

• NCRA News - You may already be familiar with the NCRA News – our monthly newsletter, containing thought-provoking articles, upcoming events and lots of original content that will help you stay on the cutting edge. Regular features include legislative updates, markets analysis, Sharing-from-Afar, and opinion pieces from our membership.

• Advocacy & Campaigns – NCRA has been instrumental in providing a voice for recyclers in the state capitol, local hearings and even state and federal court. We’ll keep you informed of what is happening in Sacramento and make sure your representatives understand how the issues affect this industry. NCRA writes letters to industry and policymakers supporting our mission. Recent efforts include a campaign to phase-out the PVC bottle and a request to National Geographic to use more recycled paper. See our website for details.

• Conferences, Training and Special Events – NCRA members receive discounted registration to NCRA’s Recycling Update, which presents 25 experts who take 10 minutes each to bring you from out-of-touch to up-to-date in one day. NCRA also offers “Introduction to Recycling” – a three day training workshop (now held in San Francisco and Los Angeles) ideal for newcomers to the field and others looking to get up to speed fast. Check our events calendar in the newsletter and on-line for updates on tours, picnics, workshops and other special events.

• Updated Membership Directory - As a member you will receive a comprehensive contact list of all current NCRA members.

Chances are you are already benefiting from NCRA’s work. Make it official and join today. Click here for the membership application. At $50 per year for an individual membership (that’s just $0.14/day!), how can you afford not to join? We hope to see you soon!

Sincerely,

Arthur Boone, President, NCRA Board of Directors

PS - First-time members can now give NCRA a try with a six month trial membership for just $20!