It has been widely claimed that 1.6 million people worldwide are active in the recycling industry, but the actual figure is likely to be many times higher. For example, it has also been estimated that, globally, around 20 million people are engaged in the informal recycling sector. Together, the recycling industry handles more than 600 million tonnes of recyclables every year.
In the USA alone, it has been calculated that well over 500,000 direct jobs are supported by the recycling industry, and that it contributes US$ 117 billion in annual economic benefit. The US industry processes more than 130 million tons of recyclables each year, including 66 million tonnes of iron and steel, 46 million tonnes of paper, 5.3 million tonnes of aluminium, 5 million tonnes of electronics, 2.5 million tonnes of post-consumer plastic, and 110 million tyres.
With an estimated annual turnover of around US$ 500 billion, the global recycling sector has already become a key driver for tomorrow’s sustainable development and for a global society now convinced that the future lies in a circular rather than in a linear economic approach. Around 10% of this turnover has been spent traditionally on new technologies, research and development which contribute to creating highly-skilled jobs and to making recycling ever more efficient and environmentally sound - something which benefits the entire planet and its people.
The recycling industry has become an integral part of modern society, not only due to its social and economic impact but also because it plays a vital role in the Earth’s future. The use of recycled materials directly translates into fewer natural resources being used and considerably less energy being consumed when compared to production processes using virgin materials.