ISRI Scrap Yearbook 2015 provides insight into the recycling industry

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) recently released its fourth annual ISRI Scrap Yearbook, providing the most comprehensive information and statistical look at U.S. scrap recycling, as well as a detailed look at the global nature of recycling, how it has evolved and operates, and the scope of economic and environmental benefits recycling provides.

“Looking back, 2014 was a year of uncertainty in the recycling industry, with extremely challenging conditions both at home and abroad,” said Joe Pickard, ISRI’s chief economist. “The ISRI Scrap Yearbook 2015 shows in detail how the industry continues to evolve in the face of disconnected markets and global imbalances. It contains a wealth of information and provides a larger context that stands to benefit both industry veterans and those just starting out as market participants try to make sense of today’s tough market conditions.”

Statistical highlights from the Yearbook include:

More than 130 million tons of scrap metal, paper, plastics, electronics textiles, glass, and rubber processed;
Nearly 323,000 jobs directly and indirectly supported by the industry;
Nearly $106 billion in economic activity generated; and
More than $10 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue collected.

In addition, the Yearbook breaks down data by commodity and provides historical information on production, recovery and consumption; scrap trade flows; and scrap prices indexes.

“The Scrap Yearbook contains key information about global scrap flows, fast-growing segments of the industry such as electronics, and more,” said Pickard. “The Yearbook is designed to give a wide range of audiences including policymakers, industry leaders, the press, and the general public a better understanding not only of how the scrap industry functions, but also what scrap is, where it comes from, how it is processed, and who uses it.”