Citizens for Recycling First (CRF) was founded in 2009 as an organization to educate the public about coal ash and promote its reclamation and beneficial use as a safe and environmentally preferable alternative to disposal. Since then, our mission has expanded to provide information about, and encourage the recycling of, other commercial, industrial, and consumer materials and products.
As is the case with coal ash, consumer items such as cans and bottles, industrial materials like scrap metal, and even green technologies such as solar panels can and should be recycled at the end of their useful life. Doing so reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, conserves natural resources and raw materials, and reduces energy use.
CRF supports the reduction, reuse, and recycling of products and materials including but not limited to:
Consumer Items:
- Electronics
- Packaging
- Clothing
- Food
- Plant material
Commercial/Industrial Materials:
- Scrap metal
- Construction materials
- Coal ash
- Foundry sand
- Cement/lime kiln dust
- Wood/pulp/paper mill ash
Renewable Technology Devices:
- Photovoltaic panels
- EV and grid-connected batteries
- Windmill turbines/blades
