How Recyclers Built Relationships with Lawmakers at the 2026 ReMA Fly-In

Boyd Jones had a long day ahead of him coming into the ReMA 2026 Fly-In. From about 9 AM to 4 PM, he would join his fellow recyclers from Pennsylvania as they navigated the hallways, congressional offices, and basement tunnels of the U.S. House of Representative and Senate office buildings.

Though a full day of meetings with representatives and legislative staffers may sound intimidating, Jones looked forward to it. He’d participated in ReMA’s 2025 Fly-In and often travels to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for his Chapter’s Day on the Hill to meet with representatives at the state level.

“If you care about the direction of the industry, then you need to be in the room,” he said. “There are policy decisions happening every day that impact recyclers, processors, manufacturers, and all our ReMA members. Getting in the room and developing relationships with your representatives and their staff is huge.”

ReMA’s 2026 Fly-In brought together more than 120 recyclers from across the country to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to meet with lawmakers and legislative staff.

For Laura Davis, Chief Strategy Officer at Midland Davis Corp., it was her first time participating in this type of advocacy effort on either the state or federal level.

“While registering for ReMA’s Winter Board Meetings, I thought volunteering for the Fly-In would be a good experience, so I signed up,” she said.

Since it was her first time advocating on behalf of the industry, she was happy to be paired with several ReMA members who were no strangers to Capitol Hill.

“My first meeting included Gary Champlin, Tamara Mayberry, and Neil Byce,” Davis said. “They all had a lot of experience engaging with lawmakers. Watching them helped me learn and get more comfortable with the process. Since we represented a variety of recycled materials from metals and paper to tires, we provided the staffer with a better understanding of our industry.”

By the end of the day, Davis felt comfortable meeting with representatives on her own and sharing her company’s story.

“I think I’ll do this again next year too,” she reflected. “This is an important area of advocacy for ReMA members to engage in. Going in person to tell your story resonates with elected officials. And I think it’s important that the people making these asks aren’t just from large recycling operations but also from small, family-owned businesses. These issues are really impacting us, and we can put a face to these problems.”

Not only did members represent the scope of the industry to legislators, but they also effectively communicated several asks to lawmakers. Among the topics discussed were maintaining market access, supporting the CORCA bill to help address cargo theft, encouraging representatives to join the recycling caucus, and extending PFAS liability protections for passive receivers.

“I think the cargo theft issue is one that can fly under the radar,” said David Bestwick, Director of Sales and Procurement at Dominion Nickel Alloys. “Walking representatives and their staff through our stories got their attention. In our meetings on the Hill, we all contributed to the conversation about this problem. One member would tell their specific story to the staffer, and then another member would build onto it by adding their own experience, and so on. It was very effective.”

Bestwick has had the opportunity to participate in many advocacy days, both on the federal and state levels. But it never feels routine.

“It’s exciting for me every time I get to do this,” he said. “Our talking points mattered, not just to us as individuals or to our companies, but also to the industry. When you’re given the opportunity to have a voice in this process, you need to take it.”

Ideally, the relationship that recyclers build with representatives and staff doesn’t end once the day on Capitol Hill is over. Bestwick and Jones strongly recommend that, when possible, recyclers offer a facility tour to their elected officials and legislative staff. They each left the 2026 Fly-In with tours already scheduled and in the books.

“It shows me that what we’re doing matters,” Bestwick said. “That traveling to D.C., putting in the time with these officials, making these connections—it all matters. Three hours after meeting with our representative, we had a tangible result and a date for a tour. I would encourage anyone on the fence to take the day and meet with the people we’ve elected to lead and then get them involved in our operations. It only pays off.”

Jones agreed. He and his company have developed a relationship with one of their local representatives in Harrisburg. Initially, the relationship started with a Hill Day and continued to grow.

 “With a tour you can really hit home on who you are, how you contribute to the state, and why your work matters,” he said.

When considering advice for members who are new to participating in a Fly-In, Davis recommends using the materials provided by ReMA.

“I was nervous, but ReMA staff did a great job of preparing us for the day,” she said. “They organized a training for what we could expect during the day and provided handouts for us on the Hill. So, if you got flustered, you could refer to the talking points.”

According to Bestwick, going to D.C., walking through the Capitol, and meeting with elected officials about issues concerning your business and industry is one of the most democratic acts that you can do in the U.S.

“As tired as you are after all those meetings, you also feel so energized that you got to talk to the people who are making decisions for the country and tell them about why we matter,” he said. “It’s an experience that everyone should get to do. You’ll meet people you don’t know, spend the day with them, and realize how much common ground you have.”

Jones recommends recyclers take a breath and remember that they’re experts in their daily operations.

“If you can explain what you do every day, then you’ll be successful at a Hill Day,” he said. “Take the information ReMA provides and see how you and your company can relate to the asks and then broadly how the asks relate to the industry. These officials are just people. They are looking to learn just as you’re looking to learn and to explain, so be ready for good conversation.”