Two leading recycling organizations, the National Recycling Coalition Inc. (NRC) and Recycling Organizations of North America Inc., (RONA) are close to merging into one new national recycling association.
The new organization would be called the NorthAmerican Recycling Coalition Inc., according to a news release from both organizations. The two associations said they have formed a small working group “to finalize the creation of this new NRC.” The group is being co-chaired by RONA Chairman Marjorie Griek and NRC President Mark Lichtenstein. It is working on developing a detailed plan of consolidation, including working out the details and timeframe to create the new organization.
The working group met July 13 to work on the plan, with no major developments, Griek says in an interview.
The new association “will bring the best of both groups into one cohesive unit. We see this historic action providing the framework for accelerating the advancement of recycling and sustainable materials management solutions throughout the continent,” the NRC and RONA said.
The groups are aiming to make a formal announcement of the merger at the Resource Recycling Conference in Austin, Texas, in August.
The NRC was a leading national recycling organization until it filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and ceased operations in 2009. At that time, RONA emerged as a new national recycling organization.