The NMCRC is a commission consisting of 11 boroughs and municipalities located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Each municipality is represented by one Commission member:
Christine Hart, Chairwoman North Wales Borough Borough phone: 215-699-4424 |
Jamie Worman, Member Lower Gwynedd Township Township phone: 215-723-1137 |
Sharon Fryling, Treasurer Hatfield Township Township phone: 215-855-0900 |
Beth Staab, Member Montgomery Township Township phone: 215-393-6900 |
Elizabeth Wahl Kunzier, Member Ambler Borough Borough phone: 215-646-1000 |
Mary Anne Girard, Secretary Hatfield Borough Borough phone: 215-855-0781 |
Holly Hosterman, Member Lower Salford Township Township phone: 215-256-8087 |
Richard Halbom, Member Souderton Borough Township phone: 215-723-4371 |
Vacant Franconia Township Borough phone: 215-723-4371 |
Katherine Farina, Vice Chairwoman Telford Borough Borough phone: 215-723-5000 |
Kofi Osei, Member Towamencin Township Township phone: 215-368-7602 |
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Mark Hosterman, Solicitor Wisler Pearlstine Phone: 610-825-8400 |
History
The Northern Montgomery County Recycling Commission was formed after the Northern Montgomery County Waste System Authority was dissolved by the county in 1995. Eight communities formed the Commission in August 1995 to coordinate their recycling activities. Each municipality amended their recycling ordinance to name the Commission as their agent for compliance with Act 101 and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection recycling regulations. In 2005 the Commission grew to 11 member communities, bringing the current total number of residents represented by the Commission to 856,553 and making it one of the largest recycling organizations in the state.
The recycling rate in Commission municipalities prior to the formation of the Commission was less than 15%. One of the Commission’s goals was to increase area recycling rates. The recycling rate increased to over 20% in the years before COVID pandemic, however, there is a drop in recycling rates in the post-pandemic years in many areas around the State, including Northern Montgomery.
As part of its efforts to increase recycling in its member municipalities, the Commission sponsors organizations and educational activities that increase the awareness of recycling.
In 2024, the Commission created an Intermunicipal Agreement for the purpose of establishing common standards regarding the collection, recycling and disposal of waste. Members were recommended by the Commission to repeal obsolete recycling standards and to create new recycling ordinances to satisfy the goals of the Intermunicipal Agreement. Currently, each member has signed this Agreement and adopted new ordinances in light of its standards.
The Commission receives grants from the state based on its recycling rates. Its steady progress increasing the amount of materials recycled in its member communities is reflected by the growth in recycling performance awards received from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
While there have been fluctuations and adjustments in the way the DEP administers the awards program, the general trend has been upwards. The Commission has worked to increase the amount of recycling that goes to market.