Fequently Asked Questions

What types of organizations participate in the IRN?

The majority of the IRN’s members are colleges, universities, hospitals, private schools, and nursing homes. But any generator with an interest in improving its recycling efforts can take advantage of IRN’s services – private corporations, schools and school districts, government organizations, churches, community mental health centers, non-profit organizations, and others.

Do I have to be a member to use the IRN?

We recognize that membership may not be suitable for every organization – for example, organizations that ship recyclables only once or twice a year, or want to take advantage of only one or two IRN programs. Membership remains at the core of our structure, and members gain advantages in pricing and the level of “unpaid” service we offer. But we do provide service to non-members. More complete information is provided on our Membership page.

Does the IRN cater to a particular size of organization?

No. The IRN works for all organizations, large and small. Our largest members are universities with 30,000+ students. Our smallest members are 600-student prep schools and 50-bed hospitals. The IRN’s core focus is to have all participants benefit collectively from their buying power and market clout. Under this framework, even the smallest organizations that use the IRN command market relationships usually enjoyed only by organizations ten or twenty times their size.

Within an organization, who does the IRN work with?

We work with many different individuals. For example, the people responsible for the “standard” recyclables like paper, cardboard, bottles and cans are usually facilities or housekeeping managers. EH&S or safety managers generally have responsibility for disposing of items like fluorescent lamps and computer equipment, although disposition of computer equipment often falls under the IT/ IS department. Residential life, purchasing, or housekeeping can be responsible for surplus property. Some organizations have a dedicated environmental manager or recycling coordinator. In short, we work with many different individuals with many different titles, often with multiple individuals within a single organization. One of IRN’s benefits is to help bring these disparate programs under a single umbrella – providing one point of contact to recycle multiple commodities, eliminating duplicated effort, and providing consolidated tracking and reporting for all recycled materials.

What are IRN’s specific programs and services?

The IRN provides three core services:

• Marketing Recycled Commodities - The IRN markets recycled commodities to end markets at premium prices. Shipments can be loose, baled or compacted, and the IRN can arrange truckload, less-than-truckload, and milk-run transportation. We handle not only “traditional” recycled commodities such as office paper, cardboard, metals, and beverage containers, but a wide range of non-traditional materials including computers and electronic equipment, fluorescent lamps, batteries, and other universal wastes, construction and demolition debris, and surplus property and equipment. And we’ve recycled oddball materials like Astroturf, greenhouses, and battleship armor. Our basic commitment is that if a material needs to be recycled, we’ll find a way to do it.

• Logistics and Transportation – Whether it’s a few toters of paper, a half dozen pallets of used computers, a compactor full of cardboard, a tractor-trailer for surplus property, or rolloff containers for construction wastes, the IRN arranges prompt, reliable, and economical transportation. Recognizing that many organizations have issues related to low generation rates and limited storage, we offer flexible and cost-effective milk run and less-than-truckload options (including our “One Stop” program, where we pick up multiple commodities at the same time, on the same truck), in addition to full load, container, compactor, and rolloff services.

• Group Purchasing - The IRN uses the collective purchasing power of dozens of organizations to gain favorable pricing and service for solid waste and recycling equipment (waste containers, balers, compactors, etc.), in-house material handling supplies and equipment (wheeled hampers and toters, recycling bins, gaylord boxes, etc.), and promotional supplies (signage, pencils/pens/markers, mugs, T-Shirts, etc.). See our Group Purchasing page.

As a member, is my institution obligated to use any or all of the IRN's services?

IRN members can use some, none, or all of IRN’s services. The IRN was established for its members' convenience; there is no mandatory participation. Some of our members ask us to handle a half dozen or more different commodities; some recycle only one or two through the IRN, or use the IRN to provide backup strength in negotiations with other service providers. (And some organizations use the IRN without becoming members.) Nor do we ask our members to lock in to contracts for IRN services. If you can find a better deal than the IRN can offer, you should be free to take it.

I currently rely on several local service providers. How can the IRN mirror these types of services?

Local service is often the most comfortable. If costs or revenues are competitive, we don't recommend change. On the other hand, the IRN's services are tailored to your operation based on your specific needs and requests, and can frequently match or beat the price and services offered locally. The IRN can also fill gaps where local services are unavailable or expensive -- for example, recycling complex commodities like electronics, construction wastes, surplus property, or fluorescent lamps. And the IRN will be there for you if local markets dry up, change their specifications, or are absorbed by a regional or national player.