State recycling groups take a wait-and-see stance

July 15, 2010 -- A large number of state recycling associations are standing back, waiting for more details to be offered by national recycling organizations, including the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) and the Recycling Organizations of North America (RONA), before they consider becoming dues-paying members. This is the principal finding from a survey of 32 state groups by Resource Recycling.

The image of the national groups is all over the map among state leaders. While more than a dozen state groups are leaning toward rejoining the NRC, a half dozen hold some ill feelings, as a result of the coalition's widely noted management crisis. At the same time, nearly 10 state alliances are looking favorably at RONA (which already has several states as members), while two groups are unlikely to join this new alliance. A high number of state leaders cited budget issues as the principal reason they are unlikely to sign up with either national organization in 2010.

At the same time, Keep America Beautiful (KAB) is growing in its efforts to partner with state organizations on specific national recycling projects. However, it should be noted that, though a state group may become aligned with the litter prevention and recycling organization on certain recycling projects, it doesn't mean that state association has joined KAB or become a KAB affiliate. Further, because KAB is not charging state organizations at this time, 10 have linked up with the organization, and a handful of other state associations say they, too, are leaning toward partnering with KAB. Conversely, a half-dozen states say they have rejected KAB’s overtures, with the prevalent reason being the political views of many of KAB’s corporate partners regarding beverage container deposit systems