Executive Director Report to CRRA Members

January 2015

First Recycling Facility Financing Seminar Planned for January 29, 2015 in Oakland

The first Recycling Facility Financing Seminar is scheduled for January 29 at the Elihu M. Harris State Office Building in Oakland.   A second Financing Seminar is being scheduled for February 26 at the City of Lakewood City Council Chambers in Southern California.   The Seminar planning has been a joint effort of CRRA, CalRecycle, the California Pollution Control Financing Authority (CPCFA), the financial advisory firm, Montague DeRose, and the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank).

The Financing Seminars will focus on public and private financing of recycling facilities through tax exempt bonds, grants and loans and other assistance with a special emphasis on organics and the organic recycling imperative created by the recent enactment of AB 1826. CalRecycle, CPCFA and I-Bank will each be making presentations along with a presentation by a private sector financing panel. Roundtable meetings will be held after the presentations.   

CRRA - SWANA Zero Waste Course and Certification Partnership Draft Memorandum of Understanding Approved by CRRA Board of Directors

On January 15, 2015 the CRRA Board of Director unanimously approved the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) pertaining to a Zero Waste course and certification partnership with SWANA. SWANA leadership meets in late January and will discuss the draft MOU.

The course and certification partnership would include 1) consolidation of curriculum materials and instruction, 2) joint marketing to members, and 3) contracted out administration. In the certification partnership both organizations would maintain their brand identities.

The joint course and certification offering will permit CRRA to re-engage over 770 individuals who either have received CRRA certification or are “in-process” to complete the certification program.   

2016 CRRA Annual Conference and Trade Show – Final Negotiations with the Doubletree Hotel in Sacramento

We continue to appreciate the City of Sacramento and County of Sacramento’s generous offer to host and financially participate in our 2016 Annual Conference and Trade Show through the Sacramento Regional Solid Waste Authority (SWA).

We are in final contract negotiations with the Doubletree Hotel in Sacramento. The Doubletree appears to be an excellent choice for our CRRA 2016 Annual Conference. It is more affordable for CRRA than the previous proposal received from the Sacramento Sheraton Grand and the Sacramento Convention Center. The Doubletree room rates are reasonable for our conference registrants. Our traditional August dates are available. There is ample room at the Doubletree for all of our events and there are multiple affordable restaurant opportunities within walking distance of the hotel.

In December we terminated negotiations with the Sheraton Grand and the Sacramento Convention Center due to high expected expense for CRRA and registrants, challenging venue logistics and less-than-desirable available days that could have resulted in a very compressed conference schedule.

2015 Sponsorship Program Approved by CRRA Board of Directors

On January 15, 2015 the Board approved the following guidelines for our sponsorship program for 2015:  

In 2015, CRRA sponsorship will also include more recognition and social media opportunities than in past years. A full chart describing membership, registration, exhibit space, recognition and social media opportunities will be posted on the website this month.   

The Board also instructed staff to explore some additional sponsorship opportunities pertaining to specific Annual Conference events including an International Zero Waste Roundtable, the conference opening reception and the awards ceremony.

2015 Annual Conference Committee Work Accelerates

The January 9 deadline for submitting proposals has passed and the Conference Program Committee is beginning to review proposals submitted by individuals and by those proposing complete sessions. The full CRRA Conference Executive Committee will meet via conference call on January 22. Committee volunteers for the multiple conference committees will be appointed shortly.