NERC in the News
NERC Updates Recycling and Reuse Industry Study
NERC Shows the Value of Recycling
 |
Resource Recycling; March 20, 2009
NERC has news for people who doubt recycling's contribution to the economy. According to a new study commissioned by the Northeast Recycling Council, recycling and re-use in Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania was a $35 billion industry in 2007. The Recycling Economic Information Study Update found that the region boasted over 11,000 recycling and reuse businesses, employing in excess of 100,000 people.
2007's survey methodology was modified to more accurately estimate the contribution of the recycling industry on the economy. For example, the study divides recycling into 26 categories, grouped into collection and material suppliers, manufacturers and re-use and refurbishment operations. Collectors and reclaimers were identified as being particularly beneficial to the economy, employing workers locally for the 7,300 businesses in the region. Additionally, reclaimers employ 43 percent more workers than raw material producers in the region, and pay them approximately 62 percent more.
Manufacturers of recycled products employed nearly 55,300 workers, or about four percent of the total number of manufacturing jobs in the five-state area. Re-use and refurbishment operations also put up impressive numbers, with 3,079 operations employing 17,765 people, and claiming a combined gross revenue of over $2 billion.
The study was prepared by DSM Environmental Services of Windsor, Vermont, and Mid-Atlantic Solid Waste Consultants of New Market, Maryland.
A thorough assessment of the NERC study will be featured in an upcoming issue of Resource Recycling.
