ISRI celebrating Earth Day, recycling efforts

WASHINGTON (April 22, 2015) — The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), in recognition of the 45th Earth Day today, is noting the crucial role recycling plays in helping preserve the global environment.

ISRI said it is joining individuals and organizations around the world today “in celebration of the earth and what can be done to preserve it.”

Earth Day started in 1970 and takes place annually on April 22 worldwide.

“Each year Earth Day provides us with an important reminder not only of the need to do our part to protect the earth, but also the positive impact the recycling industry has on the environment and energy savings,” said Robin Wiener, president of ISRI. “Together with our members, ISRI serves as an environmental steward to not only promote recycling at all levels, but also to educate future generations on the importance of recycling, and encourage manufacturers to design products with recycling and earth conservation in mind.”

The Washington, D.C.-based institute pointed out that each year the scrap recycling industry recycles approximately 130 million metric tons of materials, “thereby transforming society's outdated and obsolete products and materials into useful raw materials needed to produce new products.”In doing so, ISRI said the scrap recycling industry “has made great savings in both energy and natural resources and thus has had an extremely positive impact on our environment.”

By purchasing products at the end of their life cycle and processing them back into raw materials used in the manufacture of new products, ISRI said scrap recycling reduces the need for virgin materials, such as iron ore, trees and other natural resources. Recycling reduces energy consumption and the emission of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change, while helping to maintain a steady supply of raw materials for the U.S. and global economies, it added.

ISRI is currently in Vancouver, Canada, for its annual convention and exposition — a place it described as one of the world's “greenest cities.” The Vancouver Convention Centre features a “living roof” that is six-acres and houses various plants, collects rain water, and annually recycles an average of 180,000 kilograms of materials.

ISRI represents more than 1,600 companies in 21 chapters nationwide that process, broker and industrially consume scrap commodities, including metals, paper, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics and textiles.