The boards of directors of two statewide recycling organizations have announced their support and endorsement of the proposed combination of the National Recycling Coalition Inc. (NRC) with Keep America Beautiful Inc. (KAB).
The Illinois Recycling Association (IRA) and the New Mexico Recycling Association (NMRA) have joined five other state groups that have announced their support, well as the College and University Recycling Council (CURC). The other state groups endorsing the merger are the Arizona Recycling Coalition, Georgia Recycling Coalition, Indiana Recycling Coalition, Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania and the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling.
“The NMRC board of directors believes that the merger is the most prudent approach to assist NRC in becoming a more proactive national voice for recycling,” says Sarah Pierpont, deputy director of the New Mexico Recycling Coalition Board of Directors.
“The IRA Board has taken a position to recommend to IRA members to vote to support the merger because it gives us the best chance to preserve NRC and maintain a strong national voice for recycling,” remarks Mike Mitchell, executive director of the Illinois Recycling Association.
The national referendum vote on the combination has been open to all NRC members beginning Aug. 10, 2009 and will remain open until Aug. 26, 2009. Voting will be conducted online, with a two-thirds majority of votes cast needed to approve the combination.
Other state organizations taking formal action on the merger include the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR) and Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin (AROW), voting to remain neutral, and the Kansas Organization of Recyclers (KOR), California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA), and Colorado Association for Recycling (CAFR), voting to oppose.
NRC affiliates in Connecticut, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah have yet to announce an official board position, according to a news release issued by KAB and NRC.