by Brianna Crandall — November 23, 2016 — In honor of America Recycles Day last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released significant findings on the economic benefits of the recycling industry with an update to the national Recycling Economic Information (REI) Report. This study analyzes the numbers of jobs, wages and tax revenues attributed to recycling.
According to EPA, recycling is a key element of sustainable materials management (SMM), a systemic approach to using and reusing materials more productively over their entire life cycles. SMM represents a global shift in the use of natural resources and environmental protection. America’s recycling and reuse activities accounted for 757,000 jobs, produced $36.6 billion in wages, and generated $6.7 billion in tax revenues in 2007, based on the most recent census data. This equates to 1.57 jobs for every 1,000 tons of materials recycled. For this update, the Agency used a revised waste input-output methodology that focuses on the life cycle of materials, and defining recycling.
The national recycling rate has more than quadrupled from 7 to 34 percent since 1976, and the slogan “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” has become a well-used phrase in American life. Recycling bins are now common in our homes, schools and work places; restaurants are composting their food waste; and businesses are working with communities to offer consumers reuse and recycling opportunities.
As individuals and organizations continue to reduce, reuse and recycle, resource conservation efforts are evolving to use materials in the most productive way, with an emphasis on using less and advancing a circular economy. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) predicts that global demand for materials will increase by more than 35 percent over the next 15 years, reaching 100 billion metric tons per year. One-half to three-quarters of annual raw material inputs to industrial economies are returned as waste to the environment within a year, points out EPA.
Americans can continue to lift the national economy by recognizing the value of materials and improving their recycling practices, says EPA. In honor of last week’s celebration, President Obama signed a proclamation to celebrate how far our nation has come and to urge all Americans to continue finding new ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. EPA launched the Materials Management Wizard (MWiz) to make it easier for individuals and organizations to find EPA sustainability tools and resources, and incorporate more recycling into their daily routines.
EPA’s Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Web site offers resources to help citizens, schools, parents and businesses get involved with resources for such actions as recycling used electronics, vehicle oil or common household items, or reducing waste.
For businesses, EPA suggests:
- Join EPA’s WasteWise program
- Track the organization or building’s waste and materials use with the Energy Star Portfolio Manager
The Materials Management Wizard (MWiz) and the Recycling Economic Information (REI) Report are available on the EPA Web site.
