The U.S. recycling industry includes a wide range of firms offering a tremendous variety of products and services. Because of its diversity, standard information on employment, annual sales, wages, value-added, investment trends and other economic measures are generally not available. And yet, financiers, economic developers, entrepreneurs, government policy makers and recycling market development professionals need this basic information to establish priorities for investments, evaluate potential market opportunities and, generally, to intelligently allocate the resources so important to the continued growth of recycling.

To address this information gap, NERC undertook the Recycling Economic Information Project. The project’s Final Report, published in April 1998, detailed a recommended methodology for obtaining economic information on the nation’s recycling and reuse industries. The report also provided a wealth of reference information on the economics of recycling, including SIC classifications of recycling and reuse businesses, a review of available data and descriptions of the 45 different business categories. Through a partnership with the National Recycling Coalition, NERC implemented the recommended information gathering methodology. This first-ever study of the U.S. recycling and reuse industries was implemented in two phases. Phase One targeted the ten Northeastern states and will test and refine the methodology. In Phase Two, the study was extended to cover the remainder of the nation.

Recycling Economic Information Project: Final Report, April 1998

Main Body of Report

Details a recommended methodology for obtaining economic statistics on the U.S. Recycling and Reuse Industries. Includes justifications for the types of information to be obtained, the types of recycling and reuse businesses covered and the recommended approaches to obtaining the information.

Appendix A: Descriptions of Recycling and Reuse Business Categories

Lists and describes 45 categories of recycling and reuse businesses, including associated Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes, and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes.

Appendix B: A Review of Potential Sources of Recycling Economic Information

Describes the availability of economic data on recycling and reuse businesses from federal and state agencies, recycling organizations, industry associations, periodicals, non-profits and universities and private sector financial data companies.

Appendix C: Sources of Directories and Databases Listing Recycling and Reuse Businesses

Lists contact information for 54 different directories, lists and databases of recycling and reuse businesses.

Appendix D: Summary of a Survey of Potential Study Users

Describes a survey of economic developers, private financiers and recycling professionals regarding the utility of various types of economic information.

Appendix E: Consultant Report: Issues Associated with Determining Value Added and the Economic Impacts of Recycling Industries in the U.S.

A report prepared by Ames Economic Research Associates regarding unique issues associated with estimated economic impacts of recycling and reuse businesses.

Appendix F: Private Business Data Sources

A report prepared by KirkWorks assessing the availability of economic data on recycling businesses from private business data sources such as Dunn & Bradstreet.

Other Recycling Economic Information Resources:

US EPA's Recycling Economic Information web page

State Review and Demonstration of a Model State Recycling Rate Measurement Methodology - Contract

During 1995 through 1998, NERC coordinated state input on the development of a uniform methodology for reporting state recycling data and calculating state recycling rates. The methodology was developed by Eastern Research Group, Inc., for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The methodology was designed to promote consistency in the way state governmental agencies collect and report recycling data. Through this project four states and the District of Columbia tested the methodology. The state demonstrations were completed in March 1998, and a final report on the project was submitted to EPA in August 1998. NERC's partner in the project was the Council of State Governments' Midwestern Office. Funding for NERC's work was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

See the Northeast States' Recycling Data Collection Programs to learn more.