Latest

A collection of our most recent news, research and upcoming events.

Amanda Moore Amanda Moore

RRS Welcomes Two New Shareholders

RRS welcomes two new employee-shareholders, Alex Baertschi and Frannie Miles, whose data-driven work strengthens the company's research and materials management expertise.

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Amanda Moore Amanda Moore

Roadmap to Zero: How the University of Minnesota Is Charting a Path to 90% Waste Diversion

RRS partnered with the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities to develop its first comprehensive Zero Waste Plan, providing a realistic roadmap to advance from 52% to 90% campus-wide waste diversion. Through systems-based assessment, stakeholder engagement, and phased implementation strategies, the plan turns one of higher education's most ambitious sustainability goals into an actionable, community-driven path forward.

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Amanda Moore Amanda Moore

It's Not All Boring Trash

Today's communities face challenges that extend far beyond waste disposal. From housing and climate goals to infrastructure and economic development, materials management has become a critical tool for building resilience. Explore how forward-thinking communities are moving beyond traditional solid waste planning and using integrated strategies, including construction and demolition material recovery, to create lasting environmental and economic benefits.

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Amanda Moore Amanda Moore

How Sara Nichols Turns Complex Challenges into Collaborative Solutions

What drives someone to tackle some of the recycling industry's toughest challenges? For Senior Consultant Sara Nichols, it's a combination of curiosity, collaboration, and a commitment to turning plans into action. Recently recognized as a Waste360 2026 40 Under 40 honoree, Sara shares insights from her career, lessons learned through coalition building, and how experiences both in and outside of work continue to shape her approach to solving complex materials management challenges.

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Amanda Moore Amanda Moore

FREE Webinar - The Impacts of Food Residue on Food Packaging Recovery

Explore how food residue impacts food packaging recycling in this upcoming webinar hosted by RRS and the Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI). Industry experts from across the value chain will discuss contamination, recovery systems, processing technologies, and whether evolving infrastructure is changing the narrative around recyclable food packaging.

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Amanda Moore Amanda Moore

RRS Co-Founder Jim Frey to Lead NERC's Foundations of Sustainable Materials and Recycling Course

Jim Frey is Co-Founder of Resource Recycling Systems and executive chair of its Board of Directors. Over more than three decades in the field, he has helped shape recycling programs, market development strategies, and systems-level thinking for municipalities, producers, and industry organizations across the country, spanning everything from curbside collection program design to commodity market analysis to producer responsibility policy.

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Amanda Moore Amanda Moore

When Policy Is Designed for Implementation

Effective waste and recycling policy is not just about setting goals. It is about designing requirements that communities can actually execute. From food waste diversion to mandatory commercial recycling, see how thoughtful policy design is driving real progress across the Southeast.

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Amanda Moore Amanda Moore

Turning Construction Waste into a Diversion Opportunity

Construction and demolition debris is one of the largest portions of the waste stream in growing communities, and much of it is recoverable. Learn how targeted C&D recycling policies are helping communities across the Southeast turn disposal pressure into a diversion opportunity.

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Amanda Moore Amanda Moore

The Biggest Opportunity for Waste Reduction is Organics

Organics represent one of the greatest opportunities for waste diversion, climate impact, and ESG performance. This article explores how communities can evaluate and implement organics programs, from food rescue to composting to anaerobic digestion, with the technical and market expertise needed to make them work.

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Amanda Moore Amanda Moore

Solid Waste Belongs in Your Sustainability Plan

Solid waste is often overlooked in sustainability planning, despite being a major opportunity for emissions reduction and measurable impact. This article highlights how RRS helps communities integrate solid waste expertise early in planning to develop practical, fundable strategies that improve diversion, align with climate goals, and drive long-term sustainability outcomes.

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Brian Sargeant Brian Sargeant

FREE Webinar - Beyond Recycling: EPR Meets Reuse

As Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging expands across the United States, attention is shifting beyond recycling to explore how reuse systems can be integrated into circular economy strategies. This webinar brings together U.S. and international perspectives to examine reuse in EPR policy, including opportunities, infrastructure needs, and challenges for scaling reusable packaging systems.

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