Coalition aims to support Kentucky recycling sector

After several years of work, Kentucky is no longer the only state in its region without a state recycling organization. The new Kentucky Recycling Coalition wants to increase access, update a statewide sustainability plan and build up membership.

Derek Carpenter, sustainability and diversion specialist for the Louisville region at Rumpke Waste & Recycling, said not only is the recycling rate in Kentucky low, but “we’re just behind” in standing up an SRO.  

“Indiana has Circular Indiana, Ohio has (the Association of) Ohio Recyclers, Tennessee the Tennessee Recycling Coalition, right, the Carolinas have the Carolina Recycling Association,” Carpenter said. “Everybody has one except us.” 

The groundwork to change that started in the spring of 2023, when the Kentucky Division of Waste Management put together a recycling symposium in Pikeville. Carpenter said the state agency was trying to get interested parties together who might want to create an SRO.

Megan Clere Abrams, the solid waste coordinator for Campbell County Fiscal Court, said there are existing groups, such as the Solid Waste Coordinators of Kentucky, but they aren’t solely targeted at recycling. The state “wanted us to build up this SRO so that we can provide these resources and work a little bit more together.” 

A group of about 50 people showed interest and held monthly meetings. Eventually a smaller leadership group emerged, supported with technical guidance from the Southeast Recycling Development Council, and work started in earnest on bylaws, tax forms and getting 501c(3) status. 

“At the beginning it was pretty slow, but we really picked up some pace around this time last year,” Carpenter said. “Then we had our first official, all-together meeting early in February, and that’s where we elected the board members.” 

The inaugural board includes: Carpenter; Clere Abrams; Esther Moberly, sustainability manager at Coca-Cola Consolidated; Tresine Logsdon, energy and sustainability curriculum coordinator at Fayette County Public Schools; Laura Veldman, senior sourcing manager at wood and organics processor Smith Creek; Lisa Evans, an environmental scientist consultant with the Kentucky Division of Waste Management; Sheila Fields, Solid Waste and Recycling manager for the city of Covington; Laura Haury, an environmental engineer at Logan Aluminum; Gary Logsdon, assistant director at the Kentucky Division of Waste Management; and Sara Massey, executive director of the Kentucky Beverage Association.

One big focus for the group is improving access to recycling and infrastructure. Kentucky has two big MRFs and then several county faculties. 

“You have drop-off boxes, and that’s really it,” Carpenter said. “Some places are only taking cardboard. Some places are lucky if they take cardboard.” 

The Kentucky Recycling Coalition plans to do a membership drive and then set up a summit to act as a main fundraising source, he added. The coalition would love to see not only people who are in the recycling industry become members but also those in all levels of academia and government. 

From there, Clere Abrams said the coalition also plans to work with the Kentucky Division of Waste Management to update the statewide sustainability plan, which was last updated in 1992. The state received a federal Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant to do that work. 

“It predates me,” Clere Abrams said. “I like to remind everyone that it is older than me. So with the SWIFR grant and the creation of this SRO, we’re going to be updating that as well, so it would be a little bit more modern.” 

A version of this story appeared in Resource Recycling on Apr. 22.