The ReMA Paper Stock Industries (PSI) Chapter once again had a busy—and fun—time at the Paper and Plastics Recycling Conference (PPRC), held Oct. 28-29 in Chicago, beginning with hosting a pre-PPRC reception for PSI members and potential new members. PSI held its reception on Tuesday, Oct. 27, in The Annex private dining room of Stetsons Modern Steak + Sushi in the Hyatt Regency Chicago, the PPRC host hotel. Along with desserts and an open bar, the reception featured a continuous slide show about the chapter’s scholarship program, highlighting this year’s 21 student winners and more than 45 donor companies. Attendees at the reception also had the opportunity to help PSI kick off its fundraising drive for the 2027 scholarship program, and they could enter a PSI raffle for a $500 Amazon gift card.

After its reception, PSI continued its high profile in Chicago on Wednesday, Oct. 28, when PSI Chapter President Kathy DeLano of Dixie Pulp & Paper Inc. bestowed the PSI Chapter Lifetime Achievement Award in memory of Phil Alpert on Myles Cohen, founder and managing director of Circular Ventures LLC and board member for VIPA USA. Among his career distinctions, Cohen previously led the recycling divisions of both Sonoco Products Co. and Pratt Industries and has held numerous leadership positions in ISRI (now ReMA) and the PSI Chapter, including serving as PSI President from 2016-2018. In 2019, the New Jersey Paper Recycling Association honored Cohen with its Lifetime Achievement Award, and he continues to be a sought-after keynote speaker, moderator and panelist at many industry events.

In his acceptance speech, Cohen thanked his family, friends and colleagues for their support, then he discussed six "hard truths" in today's recycling industry, closing with the following request: "Stop putting people on our stages who all agree with each other. Put people on who disagree, and let them argue about it in public because that's the way things get fixed. Shout from the rooftops about all the value we bring to the marketplace, but have the courage to face our hard truths. Keep what is working well, but fix what's broken and stop doing what doesn't work at all."

As at previous PPRC events, the PSI Chapter also sponsored a panel session this year. The panel, held Thursday, Oct. 29, focused on “Paper Packaging: Policy & Practice with ReMA’s Paper Stock Industries Chapter.” PSI President Kathy DeLano moderated the panel, which featured speakers Kristen Hildreth of ReMA and Rebecca Reichenbach of Rumpke Waste & Recycling. (Above photo, l to r: DeLano, Hildreth and Reichenbach.) Before beginning the panel, however, DeLano discussed the membership benefits of the PSI Chapter and its parent association, ReMA, focusing on the advocacy work the groups do on the legislative and regulatory fronts. One key advocacy benefit, she noted, is ReMA's annual Congressional Fly-In during which ReMA assists members in meeting face-to-face with their elected representatives and senators on Capitol Hill. DeLano also reviewed the more grassroots-type of advocacy work the PSI Chapter offers its members.

Afterward, DeLano held a drawing to select the winner of PSI's raffle for a $500 Amazon gift card. Austin Hicks of End Waste was the lucky winner! She next announced that PSI has officially launched its fundraising campaign for its 2027 scholarship program and invited attendees to donate to this worthy cause.

DeLano then introduced the panel speakers—Hildreth and Reichenbach—and turned the session over to them to discuss the latest findings from ReMA’s 2026 MRF survey and review how ReMA is advocating for the industry on policies that affect paper and packaging recycling.

Photos by Laura Davis of Midland Davis Corp.

ReMA Paper Stock Industries (PSI) Chapter

A National Chapter of the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA)

P.O. Box 482, Palm Beach, FL 33480

remapsichapter@gmail.com

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