Jobs and Industry
The recycling and reuse industry employs more than 500,000 Americans in a wide range of roles: truck drivers, sorters, equipment operators, engineers, salespeople, and managers. Compared to landfilling, recycling is more labor-intensive per ton of material handled — meaning it generates more jobs per unit of waste diverted.
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) reports that the scrap recycling industry alone generates $116 billion in economic activity and pays $13 billion in taxes annually.
Raw Material Supply Chain
Recycled materials are raw materials. Paper mills buy recovered fiber; aluminum smelters buy scrap aluminum; steel mini-mills (which produce most U.S. steel) run almost entirely on scrap steel. These industries depend on domestic recycling programs to supply their production.
Scrap metal is one of the largest U.S. export commodities by tonnage. When commodity markets are strong, domestic scrap can generate significant export revenue.
Municipal Cost Savings
Every ton diverted from landfill reduces landfill tipping fees and extends landfill life. Building new landfills is expensive and politically difficult. Recycling programs, even those that don't generate positive revenue for municipalities, often produce net savings when compared to the true cost of landfilling.
Communities with strong recycling programs frequently see lower overall solid waste management costs, especially as landfill costs rise.
Producer Cost Savings
For manufacturers, recycled feedstocks are often cheaper than virgin materials. An aluminum can manufacturer using 100% recycled aluminum saves on energy costs (recycling aluminum uses 95% less energy). A paper mill using recovered fiber avoids the cost of wood pulp and water treatment.
These savings get passed through supply chains — one reason recycling is an economic complement to domestic manufacturing.