Region M Waste Management District

10/20/2026

We hope to see some people from Region M at the Missouri Recycling Association (MORA) Fall Forum!!

♻️ Big things are happening at MORA! ♻️

Today, our board came together for a productive meeting as we put the final touches on our Fall Forum and had an awesome planning session for the 2027 Circular Missouri Conference! 🎉

We’re excited about what’s ahead and can’t wait to bring our members and recycling partners together for opportunities to connect, share ideas, learn from one another, and continue moving Missouri toward a more circular future.

A big thank-you to our dedicated board members for their time, energy, and commitment to MORA. We’re building momentum, and we’re just getting started! 💚

Register for the Forum: www.mora.org/fallforum

10/02/2026

Wrapping up RCon 2026! ♻️

We’re back in Joplin after a great few days in St. Louis at SWANA’s RCon conference, and we’re so glad we had the opportunity to attend!

From touring St. Peters Recycle City to learning about public confidence in recycling, bulky waste and service costs, v**e waste collection, safety protocols, and innovative approaches to resource management, there was a lot to take in and bring back home.

We especially appreciated the opportunity to connect with professionals from across Missouri and beyond, share ideas, and hear what communities are doing to tackle some of the challenges facing the waste and recycling industry.

Conferences like RCon remind us how important it is to keep learning, keep connecting, and keep looking for local solutions that make a difference.

Thank you to SWANA and everyone who made RCon 2026 such a valuable experience! We’re already looking forward to putting some of what we learned to work here in Region M. 💚♻️

10/02/2026

We were grateful for the opportunity to attend this forum!

10/01/2026

It’s nice to see a couple other districts here at the RCon Conference!

09/30/2026

♻️ Day 1 at SWANA RCon 2026! ♻️

We kicked off the conference with a behind-the-scenes tour of St. Peters Recycle City in St. Peters, Missouri! 🚛

It was a great opportunity to see their recycling operation up close—from the incoming material and processing equipment to the sorting lines and the people who keep it all moving.

Seeing these facilities in action is a great reminder of just how much technology, teamwork and dedication goes into recovering valuable materials and keeping them out of the landfill.

We’re excited to learn, connect and bring ideas back home to Region M! 💚♻️

09/28/2026

♻️ Learning, connecting & looking toward the future of recycling!

Today, Region M attended the National Recycling Coalition’s Circularity Forum 2026 in St. Louis. We had the opportunity to hear from leaders across the recycling and circular economy space and learn more about the policies, partnerships and ideas shaping the future of materials management.

From extended producer responsibility and product stewardship to designing out waste, keeping materials in use and building stronger recycling systems, there was plenty of great conversation and inspiration to bring home.

We’re proud to stay connected, keep learning and bring new ideas back to Southwest Missouri! 🌎♻️

And as a perk, we attended a social this evening at the National Blues Museum, sponsored by the MidAmerica Clean Future Alliance!

09/25/2026

🩷🎶 9 TO 5… AND RECYCLING! ♻️

💘Happy Dolly Parton Day! 💕✨

💞Did you know Dolly Parton once took a ride on The Magic School Bus? 🚌

💓In the 1996 episode “Holiday Special,” Dolly voiced Katrina “Murph” Murphy, the cousin of Ms. Frizzle — and Murph ran a highly efficient recycling plant! ♻️

💗Even better? Her nickname, “Murph,” was a nod to MRF — a Material Recovery Facility, where recyclable materials are sorted and prepared for their next life.

💖So today, on Dolly Parton Day, we’re celebrating a little bit of 9 to 5, a little bit of country, and a whole lot of recycling!

💝Keep it out of the landfill, y’all! ♻️💚

09/19/2026

♻️ RECYCLING HAPPENS HERE.
Local decisions. Local leaders. Local impact.

Today, we’re proud to recognize Vernon County Presiding Commissioner Joe Wilson for his two years of service on the Region M Solid Waste Management District Board.

At yesterday’s Annual Management Council Meeting, we presented Joe with a commemorative knife as a small token of our appreciation for his time, service and commitment to Region M.

Joe has been an engaged and thoughtful board member, actively participating in the discussions and decisions that help shape solid waste and recycling efforts across our region. His perspective as a local leader helps ensure that decisions are made with our communities in mind.

That’s what Recycling Happens Here is all about.

Local decisions made by local leaders — right here where we live and work. 🌎♻️

Thank you, Joe, for your service to Region M and to the communities of Vernon County!

09/18/2026

Region M Annual Management Council Meeting | September 17, 2026

Yesterday, Region M Waste Management District held our Annual Management Council Meeting, bringing together local leaders and partners from across our five-county region.

We were pleased to have several county commissioners, city administrators, clerks and other local government staff, Region M grant recipients, community partners and visitors in attendance. We were also glad to welcome State Representative Cathy Jo Loy and State Representative candidate Joel Mace.

During the meeting, the Management Council appointed the Region M Board of Directors for the coming year and elected officers, with the same officers continuing to serve from last year.

We also heard updates on Region M programs and projects, along with a special presentation on McDonald County’s textile recycling venture.

And, of course, good food and good conversation! 😊

Thank you to everyone who took the time to attend and participate. Region M is fortunate to have so many people who care about making a difference in their communities and working together to find local solutions to waste management challenges.

We appreciate your partnership and look forward to another year of working together! ♻️

09/17/2026

♻️ REGION M ANNUAL MANAGEMENT COUNCIL MEETING — TOMORROW! ♻️

What happens when a local recycling center looks beyond traditional materials and finds a way to keep textiles out of the landfill? 👕👖🧥

Join us tomorrow, Thursday, September 17, for the Region M Waste Management District Annual Management Council Meeting!

📍 Old Chicago/LaQuinta Meeting Room
3320 S. Rangeline Road, Joplin
🕚 11:00 a.m.

One of our featured presentations will be from Jerad Stockton with the McDonald County Recycle Center, who will share how they expanded their recycling efforts to include textiles — including what you see in this photo!

This is a great opportunity to learn about what’s happening locally, hear about Region M projects and programs, and share ideas during our roundtable discussion.

The meeting is open to the public, and we’d love to see you there!

📋 See the agenda below for the full meeting details.