The Next Generation of Paper Recycling Leadership: Marcus Coleman Joins ReMA’s Young Executives Council
Marcus Coleman, Meet the Future of Paper Recycling
Paper recycling is entering its next generation, and so is the person representing it at ReMA.
Marcus Coleman is an analyst at Resource Recycling Systems (RRS), where his work spans fiber and plastics. But what does it take for someone this early in their career to end up representing an entire material stream at a national trade association?
In late April, ReMA appointed Marcus to its Young Executives Council, where he now also serves as liaison to the Paper Stock Industries (PSI) chapter. Below, Marcus shares how he found his way into recycling, what the council does, and why cultivating the next generation of industry leaders matters right now.
Read on to learn more about Marcus’s path,or connect with the Young Executives Council directly using the link below.
Marcus’s Path to RRS, Explained
Marcus attended the WM (Waste Management) recycling forum in Scottsdale, AZ, where one of his mentors Susan Robinson, who was the executive director of policy at the time introduced him to the business side of recycling, an angle he hadn’t considered before.
His first industry role was as a research assistant with The Recycling Partnership under Aaron Berman, a former RRS employee. That connection put RRS on his radar, and led to an interview with Brennan and Anna, where he started as an associate analyst.
What keeps him engaged day to day: the relationships built through fieldwork and the RRS retreat, and the problem-solving nature of the work itself.
“I never really understood the business side of recycling.
That’s what drew me in.”
Marcus Colman, RRS Analyst
The Young Executives Council, Explained
The Young Executives Council connects younger professionals across the industry through in-person meetings, virtual workshops, and networking, with a focus on developing leadership skills.
As liaison, Marcus represents the PSI (paper/fiber) chapter specifically on the council. PSI hosts a well-attended dinner each year at the ReMA convention, a key touchpoint for the fiber-focused corner of the industry.
Fiber and paper recycling is a growing, increasingly visible part of the industry, and a dedicated space for younger professionals keeps that momentum from stalling out as experienced leaders eventually step back. The perspective younger professionals bring includes digital fluency and communications instincts, for example modernizing county and facility websites and public messaging around recycling access.
“We live in a digital world now. Young people have really grown up in that world, that’s something we’re kind of the leaders in, and I think that’s a great opportunity for the industry to take advantage of.”
Marcus Colman, RRS Analyst
Facing Industry Challenges Head-On
The broader challenge: an industry that has worked a certain way for decades vs. the need to adapt to new laws and policy pressure, and making sure new ideas from incoming professionals get a real seat at the table. Marcus sees the hesitation to change as understandable, but believes the industry is at a turning point where what worked for the last 20 to 30 years won't necessarily carry it forward, and that this is exactly the moment for the next generation's ideas to be taken seriously.
“There are a lot of great minds entering this industry. I think the biggest challenge is making sure those ideas get heard.”
A paper-specific issue: the contamination narrative often outpaces the data. Real progress has been made in fiber recycling, and messaging and education, like encouraging people to rinse or clean materials, plays a big role in what actually gets recycled successfully. Marcus sees this as a shared responsibility, and it's part of why he wants to pay forward the mentorship he's received at RRS, stay open to new voices, and help clients adapt when policy shifts.
Looking Ahead
For someone who joined the industry without fully understanding its scale, being tapped for the Young Executives Council was a validating moment. When Marcus was approached about the role by Tamara Mayberry the PSI Chapter President, he was told his work had already been noticed, a reminder of the mentorship RRS has invested in him since he started. Looking ahead, he wants to see that momentum continue.
PSI's dinner at the ReMA convention has continued to grow with more young professionals attending each year, and he'd like to see that number reach ten to twenty within five years, with more RRS colleagues represented in the room. His advice to other young analysts curious about getting involved is simple: look up the Young Executives Council on ReMA's website, reach out, and don't wait for an invitation.
