Recycling is Good Local Business
C&D recycling is profitable and in demand.
C&D recycling is an established industry. The EPA estimates that 59% of all C&D generated in 2003 was recycled and has set a goal of 65% by 2011. Unfortunately, recycling has not been made a priority in our area, and we lack the recycling infastructure to meet our goals. Ace Waste is working hard to meet local demand by opening facilities to process local C&D.
Recycling is good for the local economy.
Here are excerpts from a 2001 study by R.W. Beck for the National Recycling Coalition. (Full report available at www.epa.gov/jtr/econ/rei-rw/pdf/n_report.pdf)
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Recycling and Reuse Add Value to the U.S. Economy. According to the study, the recycling and reuse industry consists of approximately 56,000 establishments that employ over 1.1 million people, generate an annual payroll of nearly $37 billion, and gross over $236 billion in annual revenues. This represents a significant force in the U.S. economy and makes a vital contribution to job creation and economic development.
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Recycling is Competitive with Other Major Industries. As a driver of economic activity, the recycling industry compares favorably to other key industries, such as automobile manufacturing and mining. Especially significant is the finding that recycling far outpaces the waste management industry because recycling adds value to materials, contributing to a growing labor force. Recycling also provides a large number of jobs that generally pay above the average national wage.
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Local Recycling and Reuse Spur "Downstream" Economic Impacts. Investment in local recycling collection and processing, as well as strong government policies, spurs significant private sector investment in recycling manufacturing and promotes economic growth. The study tallied this "indirect" impact of recycling on support industries, such as accounting firms and office supply companies, for a total of 1.4 million jobs supported by the recycling and reuse industry. These jobs have a payroll of $52 billion and produce $173 billion in receipts. Spending by employees of the recycling and reuse industry also contributes indirectly and adds another 1.5 million jobs with a payroll of $41 billion and produces receipts of $146 billion. The recycling and reuse industry also generated roughly $12.9 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues, with 80 percent going to federal and state government.
Nationally and locally, recycling is a viable and thriving business.
Why does anyone use landfills?
Companies that are heavily invested in owning and operating landfills have little financial incentives to invest in recycling. Operating a successful C&D recycling business requires skills in operating sorting systems and marketing end materials – landfilling and recycling businesses are two entirely different business models.
More About Ace Waste Facilities
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- How Much Can We Recycle?