75% recycling rate would create 1.5 million jobs

Report:

Nov. 14 -- Nearly 1.5 million more recycling jobs would be created if the national recycling rate reached 75%, according to a recent report.

"More Jobs, Less Pollution: Growing the Recycling Economy in the U.S.," released by Tellus Institute and Sound Resource Management, also said that the higher recycling rate would mean reduced pollution and improved public health, along with generating strong local economies with stable employment bases.

"While the vast majority of municipal solid waste can be readily recycled, re-used, or composted, only 33% is currently diverted from disposal," according to the report. "Most of our discards are still sent to landfills and incinerators."

According to the report, not only would reaching a 75% national recycling rate create nearly 1.5 million more jobs than in 2008, but it also would reduce CO2 emissions by 276 million metric tons by 2030. This is equivalent to 72 coal-fired power plants or taking 50 million cars off the road, the report said.

Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Shawn Wright at swright@crain.com or 313-446-0346.

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