The venue also serves as a perfect stage for ReMA to demonstrate how recycling is much bigger than the bin and ReMA is the organization that represents the recycling industry. This August in Chicago, ISRI’s members came together to sponsor the Summit’s Exhibit Hall Luncheon for the fourth year running, transforming the space into our own private exhibit hall devoted to showing legislators all the facets of the recycling industry.
This year the more than 1,600 legislators and legislative staff attending the Summit were inundated with the ReMA message. Recycling was both front and center and in the mix of most conversations thanks to the ReMA “Bigger than the Bin” banner which subliminally guided attendees back to the ReMA booth and commodity displays in an area designed to highlight how the different facets of the industry operate to conserve our nation’s resources while driving job creation and economic growth. As Alabama State Representative Jack Williams put it, “I’m glad ReMA is here at the NCSL Summit to get your message to legislators or many of us wouldn’t know that you are a big industry with a lot of money involved rather than a bunch of ‘tree huggers’.”
There are few events that facilitate an opportunity for ReMA members to network at one venue with state legislators from around the nation. Unlike many of the other organizations in the Summit exhibit hall, ReMA does not come to sell a service or push a single model bill; instead, our members focus on making connections and revealing the $105 billion industry and nearly half a million jobs behind the little blue bin on the curb. And we are seeing results. For instance, Kansas Senator Tom Sloan commented to an ReMA member, “you guys do good work” with regards to metals theft and the ReMA ScrapTheftAlert.com.
ISRI members not only introduced the industry to legislators but also established numerous contacts that will come in handy during the legislative sessions. More than 100 solid contacts among legislators and staff were gathered and documented by ReMA members this year during their time at the Summit. As an example, Indiana State Representative Ed Clere, who won a Kindle for guessing only 5 shy of the 1428 cans that went into the aluminum briquette, stated how excited the ReMA count the can contest (and winning) had made him and inquired if ReMA would initiate a meeting for him with our Indiana members and a tour any of their facilities. And, as Utah State Representative Curtis Oda won the “Recycling – Bigger than the Bin” bench supplied by Champlin Tire Recycling, he also spent time with ReMA staff during the Summit to discuss specific legislation in Utah on the definition of solid waste.
And the ReMA branding efforts are taking hold. For instance, Kentucky legislators have begun to regularly associate ReMA with recycling and look forward each year to the various recycling contests that ReMA holds during the Summit. This year, Kentucky State Senator Dorsey Ridley won the recycled rubber planter contest by correctly guessing that 20,000 recycled tires are used to make one synthetic turf athletic field. Sen. Ridley told ReMA that he not only looks forward to using his recycled rubber planter, but is eager to begin working with Ohio Valley President Adam Dumes and Chapter Lobbyist Bob Babbage in the future. His luck and fortune followed on the heels of another Kentucky senator (Ernie Harris) who won ISRI’s recycled rubber bench contest at the 2015 Summit in Seattle.
For the more than 3,500 non-legislative attendees, ISRI’s prominence in the exhibit hall was an enviable sign of our commitment to advocacy on behalf of the recycling industry. According to Scott Riehl with the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, “ISRI is “doing this the right way with good signage to get your message out. I’ve seen many sponsors who just have a small sign and it’s a waste of money. Your large signs and impressive displays really tell your story.”
The NCSL Legislative Summit not only raises the industry’s profile among legislators but has succeeded in generating interest and action among ReMA members. Numerous first-time attendees from ReMA member companies joined the ranks this year as volunteers and found it to be an engaging experience. Brian Shine, ReMA Chair-Elect and President of Manitoba Corporation says, “I loved my first experience attending NCSL. I have heard the passion amongst involved members and staff for several years and now I know why! I was so impressed with our members’ dedication and commitment… [and] it was incredible to see the impact that ReMA is making through our participation.”
ISRI would like to thank all of our members who donated their time and resources to making this luncheon a success! In addition to the 27 full and exhibitor registered members who attended sessions and social functions and staffed ISRI’s booth and luncheon exhibits throughout the Summit, another 18 members traveled out for the luncheon itself to meet and break bread with the attendees and explain why recycling is truly bigger than the bin.
Here is what a few of the ReMA attendees had to say about their experiences at the NCSL Legislative Summit this year.
Dan Becker of Becker Iron & Metal relates how valuable connections made during the Summit can be: “Kris Hammond, Dan Prophater and I met Deb Lavender, a Missouri State Representative that is local to our area, who really got why we were there. I actually could see it click for her when we discussed how we, as ISRI, want to be partners with legislators and law enforcement to fight scrap theft. It was a great exchange of ideas and we are making future plans to connect… Unfortunately, I also got to personally experience the exact opposite with another [legislator] …Only by being there did we unearth him as a problem. Otherwise it may hit us later by surprise and be more difficult to address. Another unforeseen benefit by being at the NCSL.
Warner Key of Hobbs Iron & Metal says, “It is exciting to see the participation of ReMA volunteer members increase each year. The positive return our trade association receives from participating in this event cannot be ignored. We have gone from “Who is ISRI” to “We can’t wait to see what they are going to do next year.” Several State Senators and Representatives mentioned that they remembered us from previous years. On more than one occasion, I was told that the displays helped them have a better understanding of the recycling process. The economic study made available to them also illustrates the positive economic, environmental and social impact our profession has not only on their districts and states but the entire United States and world economy.”
Kyle Witter, ReMA Chicago Chapter President with Midwest Industrial Metals reports “the lunch was a great success!” He says he felt best served “working the can guessing and contest tables” indicating that ReMA member volunteers did a “great job making it interesting, eye catching and informative.”
But just because our message is resonating, recyclers can’t stop now. We need to continue to invite legislators to come and visit our yards and see the industry that will be impacted by state, local, and federal policies. Despite all our successes, New Hampshire State Representative David Danielson revealed that “People in general and state politicians in general do not appreciate the value that recyclers provide to the economy – financially & socially,” showing that we still have a lot of work to do and must continue to build upon the foundation laid in part through NCSL. If you’d like to be part of the conversation, contact Danielle Waterfield and help prepare for the 2017 NCSL Summit in Boston!
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