I sat down with Jim on December 15^th to discuss some of the reasons why Jim entered this field and add some fun tidbits about his personality/life that he wanted to pass along.  Below are some snippets from our conversation.

1.  As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A lawyer.

2.  What made you decide to pursue a career in resource management/sustainability?

From a very early age, I have always been a compulsive recycler. I worked in a library in college and on my own time, would push a cart around collecting newspapers to recycle. It seemed very natural to turn my passion into a career.

What has been your favorite project at RRS?

Carton Council.  We have worked hard to bring carton recycling to many communities over the past year.  I look forward to expanding more of these strategies and efforts in 2012.

3.  What do you feel is the next issue(s) on the forefront in our field of work?

The development of producer responsibility systems in the U.S., whether it is voluntary or not.

4.  What do you do at home to maintain a “green” lifestyle?

Besides recycling, my family and I are avid composters. It takes some work to set up and care for a backyard composting system but the results are incredibly beneficial. Our system diverts all of our yard wastes and much of our food wastes.  The end product is incredible – my garden has never looked so good!

5.  What is the most critical resource management concern you have and what should we be doing about it?

A major concern for me is global resource use. We need stronger waste reduction and recycling policies, infrastructure and economic incentives.

6.  What tips would you give someone wanting to pursue a career in resource management/sustainability?

Be passionate for the environment and find a way to maintain that passion. This isn’t an easy field to work in, you need passion to sustain and to be successful in your work.

7.  Who is your favorite author and/or book?

The most thought provoking book I’ve ever read is “The End of Nature” by Bill McKibben.

8.  What is your favorite food?

Nachos especially the Christmas nachos I make for my family.

9.  Who has been an inspiration to you in your life?

My father

RRS will be represented this year by an impressive panel of speakers – Jim Frey, Marty Seaman, Kerry Sandford, Anna Collinson,  Beth Coddington, and Lisa Shauman, will all be involved in a speaking sessions throughout the two-day event. We will be covering a variety of topics, from single stream recycling, carton recycling access to a workshop on creative funding for your recycling program.  We will be speaking during the following days and times:

• Tuesday, May 10 from 1-4pm – Marty Seaman – Creative Funding Approaches Workshop
• Wednesday, May 11 from 10-10:50am – Lisa Schauman – University  of Michigan Food Waste Study
• Wednesday, May 11 from 3-3:50pm – Jim Frey – Building Carton Recycling Access Nationwide
• Thursday, May 12 from 11-11:50am – Anna Collinson, Kerry Sandford and Beth Coddington – Panel Discussion – Transitioning to Single Stream Recycling – How Do You Evaluate If It Is The Right Decision?

Please join Jim Frey during today’s lunch and annual MRC report.  Local radio station WJR’s Kirk Heinze will be interviewing Jim for their “Greening of the Great Lakes” program at 12:00pm.  He will be discussing the recycling outlook in Michigan as well as carton recycling opportunities.

RRS is proud to be the MRC’s Titanium Conference sponsor this year.  Additionally, the Carton Council is one of the conference’s Silver sponsors.  As long time members of the MRC, we feel it is essential to support the vital programs that the Coalition drives as they advance recycling and resource conservation in Michigan.

Carton Council and RRS will be exhibiting during the conference, so be sure to drop by and ask all your waste reduction and carton recycling questions. Please join the silent and live auction tonight where you can bid on either a Carton Council “date night” gift bag including ‘tetrapak’ wine or a RRS “coffee break” gift bag.

This conference is a great local event for us in Michigan and we are proud to be involved.  See you there!

The 2011 conference will run from March 29 to 31, and is expecting over 2,000 attendees this year. Carton Council representatives Jeff Fielkow and Victor Storelli will join RRS’s own Jim Frey (CEO) and Tina Colatruglio at this year’s event Carton Council is honored to be sponsoring the networking lunch on Wednesday, March 30.  During this networking lunch, all conference attendees have the chance to win a Carton Council gift bag filled with wines and juices in aseptic packaging.

RRS and the Carton Council would also like to invite you to visit us at Booth #500.  RRS Principal and CEO Jim Frey will be available throughout the conference for questions and conversation on increasing carton recycling efforts, achieving widespread sustainable operations and advancing your waste reduction programs.  We will be giving away Carton Council goodies all throughout the day – so if you aren’t a lucky winner at lunch, stop by the booth for the opportunity to win a 100% recyclable gift.

On Thursday, March 31 from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, Jeff Fielkow will be presenting on, “Now What? Processing & Marketing Recyclables.” Jeff, a Tetra Pak executive and industry expert, will be providing a glimpse into  all the ways that the packaging industry is developing sustainable and recyclable packaging.

The full list of speakers, topics, and networking events is available at the RRC conference website. We look forward to meeting everyone there!

In addition to the speaker spotlight, Marty and Jim will be available for questions and conversation regarding both RRS and the Carton Council at Booth #24 throughout the conference, beginning on March 6.  Interested in carton recycling, waste management solutions, recycling program development or sustainable operations?  They will cover it all!

SERC 2011 boasts nearly 100 exhibitors and over 650 attendees.  In addition to participating in the conference as an exhibitor, the Carton Council is also proud to be a Silver Sponsor.  Betsy Dorn will be speaking with Marty Seaman in the “Sustainability of Recycling and Source Reduction” track on Getting Serious about Cartons Recycling – The Carton Industry’s Product Stewardship Initiative.  Other conference highlights include both tennis and golf tournaments, a welcome reception, casino night and the Virtual Trade Show.  The Virtual Trade Show will highlight a 30-second recording of exhibitors/sponsors at their booth – please look for the upcoming Carton Council and RRS commercial spotlight which will air throughout the year on SERC’s webpage.

For more information, visit www.southeastrecycling.com, and make sure to follow RRS on Facebook for pictures, updates and conference insight!

The conference, taking place on February 16 and 17, was SWANA’s “Thinking Outside the Blue Box:  The Road to Zero Waste.”  The conference hosted six technical sessions covering a variety of topics helping communities start the journey to achieving zero waste.    

Part of our zero waste strategy includes adding cartons and aseptic packaging to recycling systems and programs.  During Jim’s visit in California, he met with several communities to help promote carton recycling and put strategizes into place for these communities and local processors to start accepting them as part of current recycling programs.  To learn more about carton recycling, please contact us. 

Visit our Event Calendar to see if we will be in your neighborhood next.

The Resource Recycling Conference will take place at the Marriott Rivercenter from October 25^th thru October 27^th.  The three day conference includes a tour of Greenstar Recycling , a fun night out in San Antonio, and break out education sessions.

RRS Principal’s Jim Frey and Marty Seaman will be in attendance at the Carton Council booth (booth 127). The Carton Council is made up of a group of carton manufacturing companies who seek to reduce the impact the carton and aseptic packaging industry has on the environment by expanding recycling programs across the county.  Stop by booth 127 to learn how you can expand carton and aseptic package recycling opportunities to your recycling facility and community.

On June 28^th, Jim Frey and Marty Seaman traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana to attend the Tri-State SWANA annual conference. Tri-State SWANA is an organization representing Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.  Attendees of the conference participated in breakout sessions, tours of a landfill and Covanta, a trip to Victory Field to see the Indianapolis Indians, and a reception at the Indy 500 Motor Speedway and Racing Museum.  Jim and Marty were available in the exhibit hall on behalf of RRS and the Carton Council and were able to answer questions on waste, recycling, sustainability, and aseptic packaging.

On July 27^th, Jim Frey and Katy Duggan-Haas made their ways to State College, Pennsylvania for the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania annual conference.  The conference, held at Penn State University, gave recycling professionals in the area a chance to network, attend educational sessions, and visit with colleagues.

On August 4^th, J.D. Lindeberg traveled to Boston, Massachusetts to speak on “Getting Started: Site Selection, Feedstock Assessments, and Fatal Flaw Analysis” at the Northeast Biomass Conference and Expo.   JD had a great time talking with other biomass professionals and project developers while in Boston.

RRS staff continued their tour of conferences with a trip to Boston on August 15^th for the annual SWANA Waste Con. Jim Frey, J.D. Lindeberg, and Anna Collinson all had the opportunity to speak during educational sessions as well as meet and greet other attendees at the RRS booth.

Phew, now for September which brings us the Clinton County Sustainable Business Fair on September 16^th.  Check back for more detail on this one day event and the busy month of October.

WasteCon ran from Sunday August, 15, 2010 to Tuesday August 17, 2010.  WasteCon is a mega conference for waste and recycling professionals.  This year the conference hosted a long list of technical and educational break-out sessions, exhibit hall and a networking event at Fenway Park. 

RRS was selected to speak on three different topics at this year’s event.  J.D. Lindeberg spoke on “Maximizing GHG Reductions within Municipal Programs” on Saturday the 14^th.  Jim Frey lead a discussion on “Enterprise Funds and Sustainable Solid Waste Management Systems” on Sunday the 15^th.  Lastly, Anna Collinson educated attendees on “Conversion Technologies, Recycling and Carbon Management” on Monday the 16^th.  The trio of consultants was also available in the exhibit hall discussing RRS waste and recycling services.  

Frey said “It was an honor to have been selected to speak at this year’s WASTECON.  It was an excellent opportunity to showcase RRS’s knowledge and experience in the field. We look forward to seeing everyone next year in Nashville, Tennessee.”

 We quickly realized that when CBS executives approach RRS about spotlighting our company for an upcoming episode, the show might not be so interesting to watch.  As in the case with Waste Management, senior management spent little to no time working with their front line employees keeping these executives a little out of touch with reality.  At RRS, our principals and senior management have “hat hair” from wearing hard hats at the material recovery facility (MRF), consistently showcase our steel toe boots as we inspect balers and conveyor belts, get slivers in our hands as we source wood waste for biomass facilities, and bring at least two pounds of dirt and mulch into the office after working at compost facilities.  We understand the challenges our in-the-field front line clients have as we work right alongside with them.  The majority of our staff has extensive operations oversight and management experience.  In that regard, we offer sensible, practical and completely effective programs, budgets and operation procedures that fit each of our client types. 

 So Larry, continue to follow the lead of Jim Frey, JD Lindeberg, Nicole Chardoul, Marty Seaman and David Stead, RRS’s upper management – roll up your sleeves, put on your boots and get your hands dirty.  As we know, this perspective is quite different than what is often spelled out on paper.