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Frequent
Questions
This Web page provides answers to frequently
asked questions about market development and other related issues. Contact
us with any any additional questions.
- What is the connection between jobs and recycling?
- My organization or business is interested in contacting
agencies in our area that could assist us in incorporating recyclables
in our manufacturing process. Whom should I contact?
- What is recycling market development?
- What are some examples of other market development
programs?
- I am developing a recycled-content product. Where
can I find help getting it into production?
- What is the most effective method of approaching
the financial community?
- Why are recycling markets a crucial piece of the recycling puzzle?
What is the connection between jobs and recycling?
Across America, more individuals, organizations, businesses, and government agencies are collecting materials for recycling than ever before. The number of curbside recycling programs has grown 500 percent over the past 5 years. In fact, recycling is now helping to recover more than one quarter of all waste generated in the United States. But keeping valuable resources out of landfills is only part of the recycling story. Recycling also creates new businesses that haul, process, and broker recovered materials, as well as companies that manufacture and distribute products made with recycled content. These recycling businesses put people to work.
Recycling is estimated to create nearly five times as many jobs as landfilling. One study reported that 103,000 jobs, or 2.7 percent of all manufacturing jobs in the Northeast region of the United States, are attributed to recycling. The jobs created by recycling businesses draw from the full spectrum of the labor market (ranging from low- and semi-skilled jobs to highly skilled jobs). Materials sorters, dispatchers, truck drivers, brokers, sales representatives, process engineers, and chemists are just some of the jobs needed in the recycling industry. Recycling is actively contributing to America's economic vitality.
Additional information on the connection between jobs and recycling is offered in EPA's Recycling Means Business (PDF) (20 pp., 1,690 KB, About PDF) publication.
My organization or business is interested in contacting agencies in our area that could assist us in incorporating recyclables in our manufacturing process. Whom should I contact?
There are several possible contacts within EPA and your state. Begin by searching locations within other JTR Web pages:
- See the State and Tribal Profiles
page.
- Contact the EPA Regional JTR contact listed on the Regional Contact List.
What is recycling market development?
There are three stages to recycling-collecting recyclable materials, manufacturing recycled-content products, and selling those products. Market development means fostering businesses that manufacture and market recycled-content products and strengthening consumer demand for those products. Market development can include, for example, expanding the processing and remanufacturing capacity of recycling businesses to handle the increasing volume of collected recyclables.
For more information on market development, visit the Commodities pages.
What are some examples of other market development programs?
EPA and other governmental entities sponsor market development programs for business and industry. For additional information, click on any of the links below:
- America Recycles Day
(ARD)
ARD promotes recycling and builds markets for recyclables by encouraging the purchase of recycled-content products. ARD sponsors work throughout the year to organize thousands of promotional events nationwide.
- Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines
(CPG)
Through the CPG program, EPA designates recycled-content products for purchase by federal agencies and recommends recycled-content levels for those products.
- U.S.
Conference of Mayors Buy Recycled Training Institute
This program trains purchasing officers and recycling coordinators on how to buy recycled-content products and to implement buy-recycled purchasing ordinances. This helps to create markets for the recyclable materials collected by municipal recycling programs.
- WasteWise Program
WasteWise assists partners in designing their own solid waste reduction programs tailored to their individual business needs. WasteWise encourages the use of recycled feedstocks by manufacturers and the purchase of recycled-content products by all partners, benefiting their bottom line and the environment.
I am developing a recycled-content product. Where can I find help getting it into production?
There are many resources within the scope of the JTR program intended to assist businesses at this stage of development. Whether through a demonstration project, an investment forum, or direct business and financial assistance, JTR might be able to assist you or direct you to the most appropriate resources.
- See the State and Tribal Profiles
page for listings of recycling market development resources in your
state or region.
- Contact the EPA Regional JTR contact listed on the Regional
Contact List.
- See the Financing page for information
about funding assistance.
- See the Business Assistance and Commodities pages for information about technical resources.
What is the most effective method of approaching the financial community?
JTR grantees have utilized a number of approaches to gain the support of the financial community. Effective strategies include roundtable discussions, seminars and presentations to local/state financial trade organizations, partnering with a seed capital organization, and others. For more information on financial assistance, see the Financing page.
Why are recycling markets a crucial piece of the recycling puzzle?
Often symbolized by the chasing arrows logo, all three components of the recycling process must work effectively in order to close the recycling loop. The three arrows represent separating and collecting recyclable materials, manufacturing recycled-content products, and buying recycled-content products.
Creating markets for recycled materials—the third arrow—is critical to the success of the recycling process. Without a strong market for recycled materials, there is no incentive to collect recyclables and manufacture recycled-content products. For expanded information about recycling markets and recycling processes, see the Commodities pages.