Online Resources

As part of the Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ) program, CalRecycle offers resources to both businesses and the local zone program administrators for stimulating markets for recyclables. The following links offer just a sample of the assistance available to companies through the program. Custom support is also available, according to the needs and interests of the participating businesses.

CalRecycle Business Assistance and Resources

  • Business Assistance Home Page. A list with links to the web pages of programs and services at CalRecycle toward helping businesses.
  • Buy Recycled Program. CalRecycle’s Buy Recycled Program promotes the State’s policy to “buy green.” The program assists procurement officers of the Department of General Services (DGS), all other State agencies, local governments, and private businesses in establishing practices for purchasing Recycled-Content Product Manufacturers (RCPM). Also, our Buy Recycled Resources feature other search tools to find Recycled Content Products.
  • Construction and Demolition (C&D) Recycling. News, publications, recycled-content building products, C&D links, and C&D staff at CalRecycle.
  • Data Central. A portal that provides quick access to a variety of CalRecycle and other data sources and tools relating to California’s solid waste stream, waste disposal and recycling facility infrastructure, materials flow, recycling, and much more.
  • Financial Assistance. Grants and loans available through CalRecycle.
  • Green Building. Sustainable design or building “green” is an opportunity to use our resources efficiently while creating healthier buildings. Includes green building basics, materials, project specifications, government actions (executive orders, special green building projects), links, and events.
  • Market Development Resources. Activities, publications, and databases aimed to help collect secondary materials in California and recycle them into high-quality, value-added products attractive to consumers.
  • Recycled-Content Product Manufacturers (RCPM). These manufacturers use recycled materials as feedstock to make new products. Those interested may include:
    • Consumers–look for “green” products made in California.
    • Procurement and Contracting Officers–find manufacturers that may be able to fulfill purchasing requirements.
    • Manufacturers–find potential business partners or additional feedstock sources.
    • Retailers–find potential wholesale agreements to stock your storefront.
  • RecycleStore. An online catalog of recycled-content products made in California’s Recycling Market Development Zones (RMDZ). Originally designed to serve rural manufacturers, this program is now available to all businesses in the RMDZs.
  • Waste Reduction and Recycling Posters and Stickers. CalRecycle provides electronic versions of colorful posters and stickers to help coordinate and promote your waste reduction efforts. These electronic posters and stickers are available to California businesses, public service organizations, educational institutions, and local governmental agencies at no charge.
  • Waste Reduction Clip Art. Graphics for promoting waste prevention in your business.

Other Business Programs and Resources

  • Business Environmental Resource Center. BERC is Sacramento County’s free, one-stop, nonregulatory office that can help you understand and comply with all types of environmental regulations.
  • California Association for Local Economic Development. CALED is a statewide professional economic development membership organization dedicated to advancing its members’ ability to achieve excellence in delivering economic development services to their communities and business clients.
  • California Manufacturing Technology Consulting. CMTC is affiliated with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and is part of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program. The MEP Program contains 60 centers across the U.S. to serve the manufacturing community.
  • California Resources and Training. CARAT created a resource of course offerings, training materials and websites offered by affiliated organizations for small businesses and technical assistance providers in California and throughout the U.S.
  • Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. A searchable, government-wide compendium of federal programs, projects, services, and activities which provide assistance or benefits to the American public.
  • Economic and Workforce Development. EWD at Shasta College is the home of the Northern California Center for Nonprofit Resources. It provides services to all nonprofit & philanthropic organizations by providing information, education, and consulting services. The Center is a one-stop resource for board members, staff, and volunteers of nonprofit organizations.
  • Employment Training Panel. The ETP provides funding to employers to assist in upgrading the skills of their workers through training that leads to good paying, long-term jobs. For additional information or to complete a program orientation see Getting Started.
  • HackerLab. Hacker Lab aims to educate folks and seed startups with community driven resources and allows members to use a community shop with fabrication and rapid prototyping tools in the Maker Space.
  • Industrial Assessment Centers. IACs provide energy, waste, and productivity assessments at no charge to small and mid-sized manufacturers. There are two IACs in California at San Francisco and San Diego State Universities.
  • Inventor’s Workshop. Provides inventors with services in the areas of guidance analysis, idea protection, idea registration, patent saver (reduced costs to patent inventions), and market research. Membership required.
  • The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (Manex). Manex provides a broad array of proven advisory and implementation solutions exclusively to manufacturers, distributors, and their supply chains. We deliver high-impact solutions in four key areas – strategy, people, process and performance – to help you quickly achieve cost efficiencies and increased profits
  • SCORE Organizations. Small business is the engine of our national economy through business formation, job creation and wealth building. Small businesses and their support are critical to vibrant communities in our society.
  • State and Local Info on the Net. A resource guide to government sponsored Internet sites.
  • SelectUSA. SelectUSA seeks to highlight the many advantages the United States offers as a location for business and investment. From a vast domestic market, to a transparent legal system, to the most innovative companies in the world, America is the place for business.
  • Small Business Administration. A wealth of information on starting and financing your business. Includes business opportunities, business education, a procurement and marketing access network, local offices and their services, and links to numerous helpful resources.
  • Small Business Development Centers. The California Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Program is the leader in providing small business owners and entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance needed to become successful in today’s challenging economic climate.
  • U.S. EPA. The federal Environmental Protection Agency’s web site has an enormous array of information helpful to recycling-based businesses. Start with pollution prevention and particularly note the Recycling Market Development link and the other resources available on this page.
  • US EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (CPG) Program. The CPB program is a key component of the government’s buy-recycled program. At this site, you’ll find information about the CPG and EPA’s Recovered Material Advisory Notices (RMAN). The RMANs are important references for companies that want to make recycled-content products for sale to government agencies. The RMANs recommend the recycled content levels for CPG items and offer one of the few reference standards available for these products.

RMDZ Favorites

These links have been recommended by zone administrators and RMDZ program staff. They have been valuable to people working in the program on an ongoing basis.

General Recycling Resources

  • Global Recycling Network. GRN is a free-access public site dedicated to recycling-related information. It offers all companies involved in the recycling industry a wide exposure through web publishing services, online sales and catalogs, and advertising.
  • Canada Reuses Network. The Reuses Network is a cooperative online exchange system supported by a variety of sponsors to foster a new approach to waste prevention.
  • GreenBiz. A resource center with links to all sorts of sites and other business assistance related tools. There are several directories and programs that are potential assets for businesses that deal with recycling.
  • Northeast Recycling Council. NERC publications, bulletins and minutes from previous meetings. NERC’s mission is to minimize the amount of materials requiring disposal by promoting the environmental and economic benefits of recycling and source reduction in the Northeast.
  • Environmental Organization Web Directory. Advertised as “Earth’s Biggest Environment Search Engine,” the directory provides information on a wealth of environmental subjects. Some of the many subjects include information on education, health, weather, and animals.
  • SMART (Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association). In its online Market Place for Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles, SMART offers members free space to advertise materials wanted or for sale. The site is dedicated to strengthening the economic opportunities of its members.
  • Recycler’s World. A free, globally accessible, electronic business-to-business (B2B) eCommerce marketplace. Recycler’s World was established as a worldwide trading site for information related to secondary or recyclable commodities, by-products, used and surplus items or materials. The Recycler’s Exchange is designed to assist companies and individuals who buy/sell/trade: secondary/recyclable commodities, waste-related materials, used and surplus equipment, other used materials and items, consumer goods and collectibles, and related goods and services.

Financial Resources

Resources by Material Type

Electronics

Plastic

Tires

  • Scrap Tire News. Information on uses for scrap tires–links and articles on tire recycling. Publications include Scrap Tire News, Scrap Tire & Rubber Users Directory, State Scrap Tire Management Programs, and Tire Recycling Is Fun.
  • Tire Recycling, Cleanup, and Enforcement Grants. CalRecycle’s tire grant programs are designed to encourage activities that promote reducing the number of waste tires going to landfills for disposal and eliminating the stockpiling of waste tires. Activities include tire pile cleanup and enforcement, market development, and demonstration projects.

Wood and Paper

  • Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry. Industry news, upcoming events, and a source of great, inexpensive and free educational materials.
  • American Forest & Paper Association. Includes recycling overview, resources for recycling coordinators, educational tools, AF&PA recycling programs, hot topics, community recycling survey, and the National Wood Recycling Directory. The site is a comprehensive clearinghouse for sharing current information about U.S. paper recycling.

Studies on the Economics of Recycling

  • Creating New Jobs through Increased Recycling, Processing and Remanufacturing. April 16, 2013 presentation reviewed prior state, regional and national studies to forecast future California jobs.
  • California Exports of Recyclable Materials (2012). Report provides detail regarding recyclables exported from California’s ports, the amount shipped, and their value in 2012. (Background for July 16, 2013 presentation).
  • AB 341’s 75 Percent Goal and Potential New Recycling Jobs in California by 2020. This report was prepared by staff of the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). It analyzes studies on the connection between recycling and job creation to project estimated job creation in California under AB 341, which set a goal of achieving a statewide 75 percent waste diversion rate by 2020. Achieving that goal will require the recycling, composting, or source-reduction of an additional 23.5 million tons of recyclables annually, which could add more than 100,000 new full-time and part-time jobs in manufacturing and collection/processing industries

Two studies were conducted for CalRecycle and results presented in January 2002. Although the studies had different goals, both came to similar conclusions. Diversion creates twice as many jobs, double the income, and twice the sales per ton of material than disposal does.

A CalRecycle-produced summary of these two studies can be downloaded or ordered from our online Publications Catalog.

For more information contact: Zone Assistance Regional Zone Contacts, LAMD@calrecycle.ca.gov.