Recycling organizations announce partnership

The Association of Vermont Recyclers and the Northeast Resource Recovery Association announce joint operations effective immediately, with the overwhelming support of both Governing Boards. NRRA will provide financial and administrative support for AVR programming in Vermont, and expand AVR’s public school recycling program offerings to NRRA communities throughout the Northeast.
“This partnership is the culmination of nearly a year of collaborative effort between both NRRA’s and AVR’s staff” says Staunton. “The benefits to both organizations and, more importantly, to the members and citizens we serve, are tremendous. This partnership is an important step towards a bright future for recycling in the Northeast.”
AVR’s acclaimed school education programs, award winning Youth Environmental Summit (YES), outstanding Trash on the Lawn Days, school theater assemblies, and solid and hazardous waste reduction technical assistance are highly valued programming that fulfill the Vermont Solid Waste Management Units’ educational compliance requirements, and create legions of life-long recyclers to help Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. NRRA regards these programs as essential to sustain quality environmental education and technical assistance for years to come.
As a direct result of this agreement between the two Boards, AVR Executive Director Norm Staunton will work directly with NRRA Director Michael Durfor. The first school fulfillment programs are being scheduled this month with AVR Environmental Health Programs Manager, Charen Fegard, continuing to schedule and present contracted in-school deliverables. In addition, Heather Greenwood, a new intern from Antioch NE is joining Kelly Pearson from NRRA, and Charen to assist with updating the current program offerings.
Both Boards, Executive Directors, and staffs are excited to be working together to support their joint mission goals. Please call NRRA at 1-800-223-0150 or AVR 1-802-224-1000 for more information or to schedule programming.
NRRA and AVR are adding a new School Recycling track to NRRA's Annual Recycling Conference on June 7, 2010 and AVR will coordinate with NRRA staff in planning the annual YES summit in May, designed as a three day immersion experience for high school age environmental activists. Both of these programs are vital components of these organizations’ mutual educational missions.
In 1981, four New Hampshire municipalities founded the Northeast Resource Recovery Association, then called the New Hampshire Resource Recovery Association, to provide a clearinghouse for current, up-to-date information and a source of technical and marketing assistance in the general areas of waste reduction and recycling.
Since then, membership in the NRRA has grown to include over 400 municipalities, individuals, and businesses in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, The NRRA is a member driven organization whose programs are designed and overseen by the members they serve.
The Association of Vermont Recyclers (AVR), founded in 1982, is best known for its educational theater programs and its in-class presentations on recycling and other various environmental topics. During its twenty-plus year existence, AVR has been a leader in shaping and defining Vermont's recycling efforts and goals.
AVR’s Education and School Technical Assistance Programs focus on recycling, composting, household hazardous waste, and watershed awareness. AVR's interactive programs encourage students to think critically and create alternative waste reduction strategies for their schools. AVR integrates the arts, multiple learning skills and the Vermont Standards into its programs. AVR also facilitates service-learning opportunities by empowering youth to create and implement school and community projects.AVR currently offers 10 theater shows and over a dozen active workshops, addressing environmental concepts and ethics of sustainability. AVR’s services and programs help Vermont Solid Waste Districts and towns satisfy the educational component of their solid waste plans.
###