WASHINGTON (Nov. 16, 2016) —The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) joined others across the U.S. to celebrate America Recycles Day, an annual, national initiative held Nov. 15 that is designed to promote recycling efforts.
“Each year America Recycles Day provides us with an important reminder not only of the need to recycle, but also the positive impact the recycling industry has on the environment, energy savings, and the economy,” ISRI President Robin Wiener said in a news release.
According to ISRI, the U.S. recycling industry last year converted 130 million metric tons of rubber, scrap metal, paper, plastic, glass, textiles and electronics into specification grade commodities for use in new products.
Roughly 70 percent of the recycled commodities processed last year throughout the country was consumed at home, but the U.S. also exported 37 million metric tons of scrap commodities — valued at $17.5 billion.
“Recycling conserves our limited natural resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by significantly saving the amount of energy needed to manufacture the products that we buy, build, and use every day,” ISRI stated. “The energy saved by recycling may then be used for other purposes, such as heating our homes and powering our automobiles.”In its release, ISRI also emphasized how the recycling industry contributes to the American job market by directly and indirectly supplying 470,000 jobs to workers earning $30.8 billion in wages and benefits. The recycling industry also accounted for $11.2 billion in taxes at the federal, state and local levels.
Headquartered in Washington D.C., ISRI is a worldwide organization that represents 1,300 companies throughout 35 countries that process, broker and consume scrap commodities.