Simply Green Recycling wins 2025 CRA award, gets $15,000 grant from NC DEQ

Simply Green Recycling was recognized at the Carolina Recycling Association’s (CRA) 35th annual conference and trade show for its community impact, both in its everyday operations and in its response to Hurricane Helene.

On March 26, professionals from across the recycling industry gathered in Wilmington to celebrate achievements and exchange knowledge. During the panel discussion, Isaac Crouch, owner of Simply Green, highlighted the company’s community outreach after the storm.

Simply Green collected more than 3,000 gallons of water and $6,000 in donations for supplies — including water, fuel, and fuel cans — then traveled to Asheville to assist with supply runs and recycling efforts.

“Simply Green is a pretty small fish in the big recycling pond, and I’m grateful that CRA values our perspective alongside much larger industry organizations,” Crouch said.

“This was my fourth year attending, and every year, I learn more about recycling and make new connections that help us expand our service offerings, work more effectively, and communicate better with our customers. The folks working in this industry truly care about the problems we’re all trying to solve with recycling, waste reduction, and sustainability. It was such an honor to be invited to participate and truly humbling to be recognized with the award.”

COMPOST FACILITY PROJECT

Simply Green received a $15,000 grant from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) to move forward with a compost project in collaboration with the Foothills Conservancy. The estimated cost of the project is $44,410 and is expected to be completed in January 2026.

The business has previously received grants from NC DEQ for bins and carts. For the past two years, NC DEQ has prioritized food waste reduction and implemented a specific grant pool for composting efforts.

Foothills Conservancy will allow Simply Green to use land at Oak Hill Park as the site of their new compost location. Currently, Simply Green transports materials to a composting industrial site in Denver, but now the focus is to create a local solution.

“For us, it keeps us from having to drive outside of the county and our service region to run the service. Anything we can do to minimize our travel and driving to help save expenses but also helps to reduce our overall emissions and carbon footprint,” Crouch said. “Keeping everything local is a goal of ours.”

Composting is the final step in the waste process, offering an alternative to recycling waste. Composting breaks down food scraps, plant debris, and other organic waste into mulch, which Foothills Conservancy will use for soil enhancement.

The future compost site is still in its early stages, but Crouch said the process will begin with grading the land at Oak Hill Park.

Simply Green is required to spend the grant within one year. The grant will help cover equipment costs needed to get the project started, such as a generator, thermometers to monitor compost temperature, and movable machinery, according to Crouch.