Membership Information

General

IRN offers membership to organizations that include colleges and universities, hospitals, nursing homes, public and private schools and school districts, as well as private firms. IRN members gain access to reliable end markets for over 75 recycled commodities, and can also gain significant economies in transportation by taking advantage of OneStop, milk run, less-than-truckload, and other customized shipping arrangements. IRN also manages a group purchasing program for recycling and related equipment, supplies, and promotional products.

Individuals who are most active users of IRN services are facility managers, heads of housekeeping, solid waste and recycling coordinators, plant and property managers, environmental or sustainability coordinators, and purchasing managers. These are the men and women with direct management and budget responsibility for recycling, surplus property, and waste disposition.

IRN also offers its services to organizations who choose not to become IRN members. These are typically smaller organizations that don’t ship a lot of recyclables, or organizations that choose to take advantage of only one or two IRN programs. Non-members don’t receive all of the price and service advantages that accrue to IRN’s membership, although prices and service to non-members are still among the best in the industry.

Members and non-members can request IRN services by submitting an on-line service request, or by contacting IRN's offices by telephone or fax.  Members can also contact IRN at any time to request current price information for any recyclable commodity we handle. IRN also posts price information, special group purchase opportunities, and other current developments of interest on its News page.

Using IRN Services

Members are under no obligation to use any IRN services. Members can use IRN to handle one or two, a few, or all of their recyclable materials. The same is true for IRN’s purchasing programs.

Non-members can also use IRN services as much or as little as they like. When we see a non-member build toward the volume at which membership will provide a financial advantage, we’ll let you know. Our goal is to make recycling as simple and as cost-effective as we can for everyone who takes advantage of our cooperative recycling model.

When using IRN’s marketing or transportation services, an organization is required to meet IRN’s material specifications, packaging and transportation protocols, and other arrangements. These requirements are clearly specified at the time service is arranged. Organizations will be asked to absorb any costs associated with their failure to meet these requirements. Conversely, any additional costs incurred because of IRN’s failure to meet its written commitments (regarding specifications, pricing, packaging, and/or shipping) will be absorbed by IRN.

Membership Fee

IRN’s annual membership fee is set on a variable scale, based on our near decade-long experience in working with organizations of many types and sizes:

Membership provides access to all IRN marketing and group purchasing programs at prices that are significantly discounted compared to non-member pricing. IRN also offers reduced membership rates for organizations in several state and regional associations, including the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges (CCIC), New England Regional Health Care Cooperative (NERHCC), the Maine Hospital Association, the Massachusetts Hospital Association, and the Greater Philadelphia Commercial Recycling Council (GPCRC).

Membership Term

Membership in the Network is on an annual basis.

Questions?

If you have questions, please feel free to contact the IRN office at 866-229-1962. Ask for Dana Draper or Mark Lennon. Alternatively, submit your questions by email and we’ll get back to you.

Online Membership Form

Organizations that want to join the IRN can print and fill out a membership form.