Certified Recycling Professional Core Class Schedule

The following series of courses make up the required core classes. Completion of all 40 hours is required prior to taking the Certified Recycling Professional Exam. The core classes are offered each year and can be taken in any order.

Questions? Please call the PROP office (717-441-6049 x 4) or email Marcy Robey
and we will be happy to assist in your personal journey to achieving the Certified Recycling Professional status. We look forward to working with you!


2025 Core Class Schedule

March 12 & 13, 2025

Location: TBD

Agenda | Downloadable Flyer | Register Online

 

Recycling 110: Recycling & the Law | 0.6 CEUs
This class will provide an overview of current Acts and legislative news. Other topics may include Legal tools and documents used in local government programs, administration, amending ordinances, various strategies to improve ordinance compliance and proposed regulatory changes.

 

115: Recycling Economics | 0.3 CEUs
Participants will be provided with specific information, tools, and strategies to help make their individual recycling programs more cost-effective. The instructor will use the manual titled Practical Recycling Economics: Making the Numbers Work for Your Program to further explain recycling economics. The instructor will organize the class into three sections beginning with topics such as: fully understanding costs, using fixed and variable costs to your advantage, which costs you can control and how, what does it cost to collect your recyclables, and full cost accounting principles. The next session will focus on finding and measuring savings to sell the benefits of your program and cost benefits of recycling. The final session will consist of recovering savings, smart contracting and tough negotiation, contract language to save money, market strategies and market analysis and contracts.

 

Recycling 150 - Recycling Public Policy | 0.3 CEUs
Speakers will discuss both the state and local public policy making process. The course will specifically address the dynamics of local government policy making and the implications of Pennsylvania’s unique system of local and county government. This class will provide insight into the forces that drive this decision making and will assist recycling professionals in


 May 21 & 22, 2025

Location: TBD

Agenda | Downloadable Flyer | Register Online

 

Recycling 101: Practice & Theory | 1.4 CEUs
This two-day class is the core course and the first step in earning the Recycling Professional Certification. Whether initiating a new recycling program, maintaining, and improving a current program, or starting a new position, a recycling professional can expect to be met with a variety of tasks and challenges.

This course will help both beginner and experienced coordinators develop and improve the knowledge and skills needed to implement and sustain a successful recycling program from the ground up for beginning or experienced coordinators, solid waste managers, or others in related fields. Upon completion of this course, participants will receive a Penn State certificate verifying the 1.6 CEUs earned toward Recycling Professional Certification.


 October 15 & 16, 2025

 Location: TBD

Agenda | Downloadable Flyer | Register Online


Recycling 105: Establishing & Enhancing a Program | 0.35 CEUs
Program Managers in both newly mandated communities and those with established programs will find this course valuable in helping to understand elements that build exceptional programs.  Instructors will help participants understand the importance of tailoring a program to individual needs. Participants will see the value of a unified and comprehensive education program and examine the details of collection and processing.

Recycling 430: Buying & Using Recycled | 0.35 CEUs
This course provides practical, hands-on information for recycling officials, purchasing officials, and using agencies on buying recycled products. This training program discusses the following topics: why buying recycled products is important, making a commitment to buy recycled, legislation and content standards, price, quality and availability of recycled products, specifications and testing and waste prevention.

Recycling 985: Zero Waste | 0.7 CEUs
Zero waste businesses are leading the way for Zero Waste and have diverted over 90% of their waste from landfill and incineration. Zero waste communities have adopted zero waste goals and plans to implement those goals. This course will demonstrate how zero waste can be a key part of community and business sustainability plans and help contribute to reducing greenhouse gases and global warming.