## NRC and RONA merger moving forward
_By Dylan de Thomas, Resource Recycling_
Two recycling advocacy organizations -- one old, one new -- that sought to be the voice of recycling in North America will be merging into a single organization, which will call itself the NorthAmerican Recycling Coalition (NRC).
The formal merging of the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) and the Recycling Organizations of North America, Inc. (RONA) is finally [moving forward][1], a union that has been discussed by the two groups since at least April of 2011, and [moved toward in small increments][2]. "The recycling community is ready to see the two organizations become one voice," NRC President Mark Lichtenstein told _Resource Recycling_.
In a letter released last week from Lichtenstein and RONA Chair Marjorie Griek, the two organizations announced the "formal, major step toward the consolidation" of the two groups after both boards convened jointly and formed a working group which will assist the finalization of the merger.
In a signal of how serious the merger talks are, even the name of the working group -- The NorthAmerican Recycling Coalition Formation Working Group -- won't designate between the two organizations. The working group will be co-chaired by Griek and Lichtenstein and rounded out by group members Mick Barry, Jeff Cooper, Jim Hanna, Gary Liss, Fran McPoland and Michelle Nestor.
According to both Griek and Lichtenstein, there has been nothing but positive feedback about the announcement from the recycling community. "I've heard from so many [in the recycling community] over the past year that don't want to have to decide to be part of one or the other organization," said Griek. "People have been asking for there to be one organization and they really want to dig in and get [the merger] details finalized."
And there are a number of details yet to be ironed out. "There are things we need to look at carefully to make sure we're continuing to adhere to state laws and fulfill all of our contracts," said Griek. The groups expect that most of the details will be ironed out so it can make a formal announcement at the 2012 Resource Recycling Conference in Austin, Texas in August.
When asked why the merger hadn't been done sooner, Lichtenstein said that "The timing is right and, frankly, the NRC needed to take care of some things." As has been widely reported, the National Recycling Coalition has been working to move out of the shadow of financial insolvency and other organizational issues for the past several years.
Lichtenstein was effusive in his praise for RONA, "The national certification work that RONA is doing is extremely critical in helping recycling issues move forward for this and future generations.
"These are friends and colleagues -- for me it's about coming back together and being strong. Both groups are really excited about the potential this holds for recycling," said Lichtenstein. "About the combination of the strong assets and resources both groups have to help create a stronger infrastructure for recycling across North America."
Griek agreed: "The reputation and the history of the NRC are so important to the recycling community. It's been so impressive to see how hard the organization worked to turn themselves around and reinvent themselves [and RONA] is excited to be a part of that."
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[1]: http://www.recyclingorganizations.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=105:nrc-and-rona-move-toward-consolidation
[2]: http://resource-recycling.com/node/1995
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