The 30th Annual Recycling Update Call for Speakers is now live!

The 30th Annual Recycling Update Call for Speakers is now live! The tentative date is March 25, 2026. Official date and SF venue to be confirmed soon!

How to Apply: Submit your proposal by COBD – Monday, December 1st, 2025.

Application portal: https://bit.ly/RU2026Speaker

For additional questions, feel free to contact our office.

The Northern California Recycling Association (NCRA) is seeking dynamic speakers for its annual Recycling Update (RU), our fast-paced, high-energy event that showcases what’s new and innovative in the world of waste reduction and Zero Waste. We welcome proposals from those who haven’t yet presented at RU, as well as from experienced speakers eager to share their cutting-edge ideas and insights.

With over 500 attendees, including local government recycling staff, policy makers, consultants, haulers, and processors from across Northern California, RU is an ideal platform to showcase your work in front of a highly engaged audience. This is your chance to highlight the latest programs, policies, and projects shaping the future of our industry.

Presentation Format:

Each speaker is allotted 10 minutes for their presentation, followed by a 2-minute Q&A session.

The event features a single-track format, ensuring that all attendees hear your presentation—no breakouts, no missed opportunities.

Timeliness is crucial. Speakers must be well-prepared and adhere to their time limits.

Key Focus Areas: We encourage proposals that reflect NCRA’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, incorporating these values in both the content and design of presentations. Additionally, the selection committee is especially interested in presentations that explore reuse, repair, state and local policies, edible food recovery programs/ enforcement, extender producer responsibility, and recycling markets.

2025 Board of Directors Election – Candidate Statements

Eight NCRA members – including five incumbents, have been nominated to serve on the 2026 – 2027 Board of Directors. There are seven two-year positions to fill.

The Meet the Candidates Night will be held November 20 at 5:30pm. Voting opens Monday, November 10 and ends Monday, December 1 at 11:59pm.

Early on November 10, custom voting links will be emailed to all current members. If you do not receive a SimplyVoting email that day, please confirm your membership is up-to-date using this simple 4-step system. If there is an issue, please contact the office.

Results will be presented to the board for ratification in early December, then to the candidates via email and later to the membership via the December newsletter.

NCRA BOARD OF DIRECTOR CANDIDATES, 2025

Click each picture to access the associated candidate statement. Many include a LinkedIn link at the bottom of the page.

Election 2025 – Nominate Yourself To Serve On The NCRA Board!

NCRA has been a Recycling and Zero Waste trailblazer since 1978! You can help develop the cutting edge by applying to serve on our 11-person Board of Directors! Six positions will be open this January. At this time, two current members are not running again.

We are seeking candidates that are familiar with NCRA and have actively participated in a committee and/or attended at least one board meeting in the last 12 months.

The nomination period is the month of September. In October, Candidate Statements will be posted on the website and in the newsletter. Ballots will be sent out to current members November 10. A Zoom Meet the Candidates Night will be held that week. Results will be announced in December – first to all candidates and then via the December newsletter.

To apply, please read the Elections page carefully and then fill out the Candidate Nomination Form found at the bottom of the page.

NCRA Annual Picnic & Coastal Clean-Up, Alameda, 9/20 – All Welcome!

The Membership, Engagement and Activities Committee is pleased to announce the 2025

Coastal Clean-Up &
Member Appreciation Picnic

Members, Free                 Non-members welcome, $5
No one turned away due to lack of funds.

Saturday, September 20, 2025, 11am – 3pm
East Bay Regional Park District’s
Encinal Beach, Alameda Point Shoreline
190 Central Ave, Alameda, CA 94501

Join us for a day of environmental stewardship,
networking, potluck and more!
Family, kids, friends and dogs welcome!

NCRA will provide: Beverages & Vegan / Vegetarian Food
Please bring a salad or dessert for 8.

This is a Zero Waste event:

BYOE – Bring Your Own Essentials:
utensils, plate, napkin, water bottle
Also, buckets, grabbers, small shovels and bags for the cleanup.

Clean-Up, 11am – 12:30pm           Picnic, 12:30 – 3pm
You do not have to attend both!

Public Transit: Will be tricky: Carpool

Register Today!

Calendar 2025

COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE, APRIL 2025

For more details including Zoom links, contact the office.
Zero Waste Advocacy (ZWAC)
:
    ZWAC Show: ON HOLD, Second Tuesday of most months, 5:30pm – 8:30pm. Join at 5pm for sharing, web page
    Legislation: Second Thursday, 6:30pm, Legislative Tracker
Membership, Engagement & Activities: (MEAC) Third Wednesday of each month, 4pm
Communications and Social Media: Fourth Tuesdays, 5pm
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI):
Alternating Tuesdays, 4pm, web page
Zero Food Waste Committee: Second Friday of the month, 1-2pm, web page
Zero Food Waste Schools Committee: Second Thursdays, 4:30pm,
web-page

Newsletter: Great way to learn about NCRA, meet other members and get your feet wet!! Meets via phone or Zoom – usually one-on-one. Open assignments include writers, researchers, photographers and photo editors. Also, short book reviews and interviews.  Suggestions welcome!

Meetings are free and held via Zoom unless the newsletter and social media announcements say otherwise. Please RSVP if you would like to attend and the office will send you the link.

Board Meetings:  The third Thursday of most months, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. All interested parties are welcome, but may have to limit comments to introductions or specific agenda items. Agenda items are due the first week of the month. Contact the office for details.

2025 SPECIAL EVENTS
Board Retreat:  January 26, Oakland
Introduction To Recycling:  Two days – Monday, February 3, in San Francisco and Tuesday, February 4, Online
Recycling Update: March 18, Oakland
Members Meeting: June 18, San Francisco
Beach Clean-up and Annual Picnic: September 20, Alameda