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Members Spotlight

The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania values every one of our members and the experiences they bring with them to our organization. We all do awesome work throughout the year and much of it goes unnoticed by a lot of people. Sometimes we feel we are doing a thankless job and may feel underappreciated, you are not!

Although we meet each other at PROP and other events throughout the year it’s rare if we actually have a chance to learn about each other, our experiences, and the awesome work we do on a daily basis.

The PROP Membership Committee has started spotlighting our members on a bi-monthly basis. Every two months we will spotlight 1 or 2 of PROP’s members on this webpage as well as our News Views and Opportunities newsletter.

Please use this form to apply to be the next Member who is Spotlighted: Member Spotlight Form.

August 2025 Spotlighted Member

Name: Albert Motel, CRP/TRUE Advisor for Zero Waste
Title: Manager of Waste & Recycling
Organization: Villanova University

Tell us about your PROP journey!

I joined PROP early in 2020, shortly after accepting my current role with Villanova University.  I saw PROP as a great opportunity to network with other recycling professionals across the Commonwealth, as well as a great resource for knowledge sharing.  My goal is to provide PROP and its members with a better perspective of sustainable materials management and opportunities in higher-ed institutions, since most of the recycling focus in Pennsylvania seems to be targeted towards municipal or county governance systems.  Higher-ed institutions can play a significant role in improving waste management and sustainability across Pennsylvania and beyond.  I personally feel this incredible resource is underutilized.  

What has PROP membership meant to you both personally and professionally?

PROP membership has afforded me many great professional connections that may not have happened otherwise.  Sharing challenges and successes with waste management professionals across all sectors is an invaluable way for recycling professionals to be more effective in their roles.  Often times, we may feel alone or overextended in our roles, due to the grand scope of what we must accomplish, so connecting with others doing the same type of work can help motivate us to push through difficult challenges.  PROP's Professional Recycling Certification program provides a wonderful foundation for any municipal, county, or institutional recycling coordinator's knowledge base as well.  I highly recommend this program for anyone working in recycling or sustainable materials management in Pennsylvania.

Describe a Fun Fact, Favorite Meal, and a Perfect Day outside of work would look like for you?

Fun Fact:  I love music and started a vinyl record collection before vinyl records started becoming cool again.  This hobby started when I was out on a residential trash route with an employee and saw a box of vintage records out at the curb as trash.  I just couldn't see them end up in a landfill so I rescued them.  Now I have nearly 1,000 records in my collection and love to listen while relaxing at home with family, or catching up on work.

One Meal:  This is a tough one.  I like variety when it comes to food, but if I had only one choice it would probably be pizza.  

Inspiration:  I draw inspiration from many people, but my children inspire me the most.  I want to make this world better than I found it, for them and for all future generations.

Perfect day:  Not seeing litter, less landfills/incinerators, less inequity, and humanity thriving.  I believe this is possible if we could truly embrace a circular economy to recirculate value instead of continuing to just take, make, and waste almost everything.