Zero waste nation

courtesy : Zero waste nation

Economic Impacts of Recycling at the State Level

More than a dozen states have reports on the economic benefits and job creation from recycling within the state. Here are a few highlights and resources for more information:

• South Carolina: The state’s investment in recycling businesses has been highly successful in driving job growth—from 2006 to 2014, the economic impact nearly doubled and job growth grew 44%. Recycling in SC now accounts for $13 billion in total economic impact, pays $329 million in state and local taxes, and provides 54,121 jobs.
• Minnesota: Almost 46,000 people are directly employed by the state’s reuse sector, which annually generates more than $4 billion in gross sales, amounting to 1.6% of Minnesota’s gross domestic product and employment base.
• Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania: Recycling and reuse drive a $35 billion per year industry in these 5 states with more than 11,000 recycling and reuse businesses that employ more than 100,000 individuals and pay over $4.2 billion in wages.

Use this tool to estimate the economic impact in your state and check out this summary report on the economic impacts of recycling in various states.

The US Could Create 1.1 Million New Jobs by Recycling 75% of Our Discards

Recycling, reuse, and manufacturing jobs are critical to meeting our local, state, and national goals to create more green jobs. Recycling creates strong job growth and opportunities for entry-level and mid-level workers, and can replace jobs lost in manufacturing. Jobs in the recycling industry typically have a low barrier to entry and offer an average of over $70,000 in wages and benefits.

To learn more, check out the report “More Jobs, Less Pollution: Growing the Recycling Economy in the U.S.,” which details how transforming the “waste” sector into a “materials management” sector will support the economy and the environment.

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