Publication provides detailed, statistical look at the recycling industry
(Washington, DC) – The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) announced the release of its fifth annual ISRI Scrap Yearbook, providing the most up-to-date, comprehensive information and statistics about the U.S. and global scrap industry. In addition to the many economic and environmental benefits covered, new this year is expanded information on the global portion of the industry, including increased data on trends and markets.
“Given the rising world population and increased urbanization, the Earth’s limited natural resources, and the heightened awareness of the benefits of recycling and need for sustainable development, the globalized scrap market is an increasingly crucial component of the health of the world’s economy,” said ReMA Chief Economist Joe Pickard. “Over the past year the global economy and scrap industry have confronted a number of challenges including slowing growth in China, lower world commodity prices, a strong dollar, transportation bottlenecks, and high regulatory costs. As history has shown, the scrap market serves as a leading economic indicator and despite the persistent challenges facing our industry, scrap recyclers remain resilient.”
Statistical highlights from the Yearbook include:
- More than 130 million tons of scrap metal, paper, plastics, electronics textiles, glass, and rubber processed in the U.S. and more than 800 million tons consumed globally;
- The U.S. exported more than 37 million metric tons of scrap commodities valued at $17.5 billion to more than 150 countries;
- The value of U.S. exports increased by nearly $7 billion from 2005 to 2015;
- Recovered paper and ferrous scrap represent the bulk of U.S. scrap exports by volume, combining for more than 31 million metric tons;
- Major export destinations for U.S. scrap last year included China ($6 billion), Canada ($2 billion), South Korea ($1 billion), Turkey ($930 million), Mexico ($920 million), and India ($900 million);
- Since 2000, net exports of U.S. scrap have made a positive contribution to the balance of trade of more than $210 billion;
- Over 470,000 U.S. jobs directly and indirectly supported by the industry;
- Nearly $106 billion in U.S. economic activity generated; and
- Approximately $11.2 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue collected in the U.S.
In addition, the Yearbook breaks down data by commodity and provides historical information on production, recovery and consumption; scrap trade flows; and scrap prices indexes.
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The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) is the Voice of the Recycling Industry. ReMA represents approximately 1,300 companies in 21 chapters in the U.S. and 34 countries worldwide that process, broker and consume scrap commodities, including metals, paper, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics, and textiles. With headquarters in Washington, DC, ReMA provides education, advocacy, safety and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment, and sustainable development. Generating more than $105 billion annually in U.S. economic activity, the scrap recycling industry provides nearly half a million Americans with good jobs.