Born: I was born Jan. 6, 1952, in Bayonne, N.J.
Education:
I earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J. I also began an MBA program at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa., but became too busy working to complete it.
Family: Susan Cornish—who is a sustainable packaging consultant—and I have been partners for seven years. Our family includes my adult daughter, Victoria, from my previous marriage and her son, Graham.
Q: When and how did your career lead you to focus on the paper recycling industry?
A: I have been an environmental business professional for 45 years now. For the first third of my career I was an air, water, hazardous waste, and groundwater specialist in the chemical industry. Through those positions, I became a self-taught environmental engineer. Then I switched over to the solid waste industry, which led me into the recycling business. After a few years dealing in all materials—many people don’t know I was an early driving force in plastics recycling—I specialized in paper recycling with a stint as a buyer and broker of recovered paper for a joint venture company of Waste Management and Stone Container Corp. That led me to become a paper recycling consultant, founding my own business—Moore & Associates—in 1995. At that time there were five companies in the paper recycling consulting business, but the others are almost all gone now. I figured the business was good for maybe 10 years, but here I am still doing it 25 years later.
Q: What was it about the industry that prompted you to build a career in it?
A: I was drawn to the complexity of the paper recycling industry.
Q: What have been your most rewarding professional achievements? Personal achievements?
A: One top professional achievement is being recognized as a leading paper recycling industry strategist. On the personal level, my travel log includes visits to all 50 states and 42 countries.
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: So many things. On the business side, I watch the U.S. and global economies closely and project likely future scenarios to ensure we understand some of the external forces that impact paper recycling. In terms of personal interests, I love to travel, especially if it involves boating and water sports.
Q: Tell us something about you that would surprise people.
A: I’m a skilled hands-on construction specialist, having completed 40 projects with budgets over $40,000, including a $400,000 renovation of a historic property at the beach in Savannah, Ga.
Q: If you could improve anything about yourself, what would it be?
A: I wish I wasn’t so impatient when things don’t happen quickly.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I’ve been an active scuba diver and underwater photographer for 50 years now. I also love music and—before the pandemic—went to many music events, from large concerts to small clubs. Susan and I will get out on the dance floor at just about any rock-and-roll venue.
Q: When and why did your company decide to join ReMA and the PSI Chapter?
A: Although Moore & Associates was invited to participate in ReMA and PSI events from time to time over the past 25 years, the company didn’t become a member until about five years ago. Our business is so intertwined with the industry, so it was a natural step for us to become members.
Q: Have you held any volunteer leadership positions within PSI?
A: I had a short stint as head of the chapter’s Government Affairs Committee and spent several years on its Specifications Committee.
Q: What benefits have you received from your PSI involvement?
A: It gives us more interaction with key clients in the sector.
Q: What are the major challenges facing your company and the overall paper recycling industry today?
A: In many respects, some of the difficult times the paper recycling industry has faced over the past three-plus years have helped get recycling on a more sound footing. On a lighter note, the biggest challenge I always face is recyclers asking me, “What will the price of OCC be next year?”