About Us

The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) represents the private sector of the waste and recycling services industry. Association members conduct business in all 50 states and include companies that manage solid, industrial/hazardous, medical, and construction/demolition debris waste. Members also include equipment manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and other professional service providers.

Founded in 1962 as the National Council of Refuse Disposal Trade Associations, the Association went through name changes and mergers before becoming the National Waste & Recycling Association in 2013.

Our Mission

To provide effective state and federal advocacy, education, research, and safety expertise to promote the waste and recycling industries, serve as their voice, and create an economically sustainable climate where members grow, prosper, and protect the environment.

What We Do

Advocacy
NWRA is committed to advocating at the local, state, and federal levels on rulemaking, regulations, and legislation. Priority issues include packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), battery EPR, bottle bills, and solid waste updates.

Safety
NWRA is committed to being one of the Top 10 safest industries within five years. We focus on education, training, and standards and serve as the Z245 Secretariat for ANSI. We also host the Focus on Safety series and provide training for fleets of 100 trucks and smaller.

Engagement
We are committed to an expanded endorsed partner program and revitalized communications strategy focused on telling our story, battery EPR, and recycling. We are also implementing a national PSA to drive awareness and conducting targeted research to support advocacy initiatives.