Washington, D.C. –The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) has announced that the website for their 2012 convention, April 15-19 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas Nevada, can now be found at www.isriconvention.org.

 “Visitors to the 2012 Convention website can view the preliminary convention schedule, learn about our distinguished speakers, register for the convention and reserve a hotel room,” said Chuck Carr, ISRI’s Vice President of Member Services.  “ISRI invites all to join the more than 5,000 scrap recycling industry professionals this spring in Las Vegas to experience the many ways they can Be More with ISRI.”

 The 2012 convention will once again be the largest meeting of scrap recyclers in the world – a meeting filled with networking opportunities, equipment and service exhibits, and over 40 general sessions, spotlights, and workshops designed to help members of the scrap recycling industry take action to improve their companies and their industry. 

 Convention highlights include Commodity Spotlights, The Fourth Annual Recycling Research Foundation Charity Auction, and our distinguished speaker, the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. 

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 A Washington, D.C. based trade association; ISRI represents more than 1,600 private, for-profit companies operating at more than 7,000 facilities in the United States and 30 countries worldwide. ISRI members are processors, brokers and industrial consumers of scrap commodities, including ferrous and nonferrous metals, paper, electronics, rubber, plastics, glass and textiles. ISRI's associate members include both equipment and service providers for the scrap recycling industry.

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Washington, D.C. – Over 100 scrap recyclers joined their colleagues Wednesday at the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries’ seventh annual congressional fly-in.  The day began with a legislative breakfast where Rep. Chuck Fleischman of Tennessee spoke to ISRI members about the current state of play in Washington and how one-on-one visits are of vital importance to conveying their message to those who represent them on the Hill. 

Over 100 meetings with Congressmen, Congresswomen, Senators and staff were scheduled for the remainder of the day.  ISRI members had the opportunity to meet face to face with the men and women who could be determining the future of the scrap recycling industry here in the United States and abroad.
 
 “We must constantly remind policymakers about how much the scrap recycling industry does for the local, state, national, and international economies as well as how it protects the environment, conserves natural resources, creates jobs, and generates tax revenue. ISRI’s fly-in event offers one of the best forums for conveying those messages,” said ISRI Director of Political and Public Affairs, Billy Johnson. 

This year ISRI members focused their meetings on three legislative and regulatory proposals facing the industry that, if implemented, would change the scrap recycling business in fundamental ways. Firstly, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a rule that would affect the definition of scrap materials in the marketplace, subjecting the industry to new regulations and possibly removing the exclusion from solid waste rules that scrap metal has long enjoyed. Second, a federal legislative proposal would restrict exports of electronic scrap, limiting electronics recyclers’ access to international markets. And finally, they addressed the threat that members of Congress could introduce a federal materials-theft bill that would impose draconian measures on the scrap recycling industry instead of the criminals.
 
“If you aren’t out there speaking for yourself, someone else will speak for you—and not necessarily with your best interests in mind,” said Johnson.  “That is why it is important to meet with your Representatives and let them know what they can do to help you run a successful business and keep contributing to both the US and global economy.”

 
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Las Vegas, NV –The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) today presented Cascades Fine Papers Group with their annual Design for Recycling® Award.

In order to be considered for the Design for Recycling® Award, candidates must demonstrate progress towards ensuring that the products they build and create can be recycled safely and economically, using existing recycling technologies and methods; eliminating or significantly reducing materials that may impede recycling, including hazardous or toxic materials; increasing the yield of a product’s recyclable materials; and the increased use of recycled materials in manufacturing.

Cascades earned the recognition by developing and implementing a 100% Recycled and Recyclable Ream Wrapper for its fine paper that eliminates plastic contaminants, reduces waste, and turns waste that would have ended up in a landfill into a recyclable commodity.

ISRI is the force behind Design for Recycling®, a voluntary program that urges manufacturers to make products that can be recycled from the start. Such design benefits not only the environment, but the economy as well as shareholders and consumers recognize the benefits of designing a product that will have several lives.

“Most companies and design engineers are rightly concerned with things like consumer needs, production costs, energy efficiency, and safety,” said ISRI President Robin Wiener.  “But rarely do you find companies that put emphasis on what happens to their products when they have reached the end of their useful life.  It is evident that Cascades is one such company that is concerned with overall life cycle of their products and producer product responsibility.”

Cascades is always thinking of ways to reduce a product’s footprint. As stated by Julie Loyer, Communication and Sustainable Development Advisor at Cascades Specialty Products Group, “Having to discard the wrapper because it contaminated the paper recycling process was an issue for us. We created a multi-disciplinary team to find a solution and we created a packaging that is as environmentally friendly as the paper it wraps. We are proud of the result, and also being recognized for such by the Design for Recycling Award.”

ISRI created the concept of Design for Recycling® to encourage more companies like Cascades to help protect the environment and create a sustainable means for conserving natural resources. Design for Recycling® seeks to achieve two very basic goals: first, to eliminate or reduce the use of hazardous or toxic materials that may present a grave danger to the environment or put a recycler’s workforce in jeopardy, and second, to discourage the use of materials that are not recyclable or manufacturing techniques that make a product non-recyclable using current technologies. 

Past winner have included Wind Simplicity, Coca-Cola Recycling Company, The Herman Miller Company, the U.S. environmental Protection Agency, and Hewlett Packard.

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WASHINGTON - December 13, 2012 – The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI), the Voice of the Recycling Industry™, has released its first ISRI Scrap Yearbook, providing an overview of the industry and trends on recycled commodities. The first of its kind, this inclusive report allows ISRI to continue to provide its members and interested stakeholders with valuable insights into the benefits of scrap recycling.

“The Yearbook is an essential tool for anyone interested in the current trends and areas of growth within the scrap recycling industry here in the U.S. and globally,” said Robin K. Wiener, president of ISRI. “The information is presented in a concise yet comprehensive report that will be an invaluable resource for members of the scrap industry and related sectors as well as for those looking to learn more about our industry.”

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook 2012 highlights the U.S. scrap recycling market through data collected during 2011 by ISRI, industry partners, U.S. government associations and international organizations. The Yearbook details data about ferrous metal, aluminum, copper, nickel, stainless steel, lead, zinc, paper, plastics, rubber, glass, textiles and electronics. The report not only includes useful information about the economic and environmental benefits associated with scrap recycling, but also provides readers with commodity-specific overviews on how scrap is generated, processed, traded and used. In addition, the Yearbook contains practical examples of the life cycle and material flow of key recycled goods and commodities.

“The Yearbook is intended to be the most comprehensive publication on the scrap recycling industry in the United States and one that we can continue to enhance going forward,” said Joseph Pickard, chief economist and director of commodities for ISRI.

The report was compiled with help from the Bureau of International Recycling, the JASON Project, the International Copper Study Group, the American Forest & Paper Association, the Aluminum Association, the Can Manufacturers Institute, NAPCOR and the Council for Textile Recycling.

The inaugural edition of the ISRI Scrap Yearbook is available online at www.isri.org/isriyearbook.

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The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI)
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) is the Voice of the Recycling Industry™. ISRI represents more than 1,700 companies in 21 chapters nationwide that process, broker and industrially consume scrap commodities, including metals, paper, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics and textiles. With headquarters in Washington, D.C. the Institute provides education, advocacy, and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development. For more information about ISRI, visit www.ISRI.org.

Washington, D.C. – During the 2012 Institute of Scrap Recycling (ISRI) Convention held last week in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Association’s Board of Directors chose Jerry Simms, of Atlas Metal and Iron Corp. Denver, CO and previously ISRI’s Chair-Elect, to serve as the trade association’s new Chair through April of 2014.  Mr. Simms replaces John Sacco of Sierra Recycling and Demolition Inc., Bakersfield, CA, who has now completed his term as Chair and will continue to serve on ISRI’s Executive Committee as the Immediate Past Chair of the Association. 

“I am honored to serve this association as our board Chair and I look forward to building on the work that John and other past Chairs have done on behalf of the association and the industry,” said Simms.  “While our foundation is strong and our momentum is building, we continue to face challenges that threaten our industry.  I pledge to remain vigilant in protecting the scrap recycling industry and preserving our ability to create jobs, grow the economy and safeguard the environment.”

Simms is currently the corporate Executive Vice President of Atlas Metal & Iron Corp..  He has been employed at Atlas for the last 30 years, beginning in scrap purchasing and aluminum brokerage operations and more recently serving as the company’s Director of Environmental & Legislative Affairs and the General Manager of Atlas Metal Sales, the corporation’s nonferrous service center.
The election of Mr. Simms as ISRI Chair of ISRI’s Board of Directors caps a more than 25 year record of service to the association. Over the years, Simms has also been very active in the Copper and Brass Service Center (CBSA), serving as a director on its Board of Directors.  Mr. Simms is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated from Miami University (Oxford, OH) and subsequently attended the Cleveland State University, John Marshall College of Law. 

In addition to Mr. Simms, Douglas Kramer of Kramer Metals Inc., Los Angeles, CA, is the newly elected chair-elect, Mark Lewon of Utah Metal Works Inc., Salt Lake City, UT, will serve as the vice-chair, and Brian Shine of Manitoba Corp., Lancaster, NY, will join the ISRI Board as secretary-treasurer.  

“I’d like to be the first to congratulate Jerry and his fellow executive committee members on their elections and the commitment and hard work that they have already shown, and I wish them luck moving forward as we continue to work on behalf of our industry,” said Sacco.

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Washington, DC- September 4, 2012 –The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) announces its platinum sponsorship of the 2012 E-Scrap Conference. ISRI will serve as an exhibitor, session moderator and workshop presenter promoting the importance of R2/RIOS™ certification throughout the conference September 18-20, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas.

As demand for new technology continues to increase, so does the number of computers, LCD screens and cell phones piling up in recycling bins ready for processing. With the spike in amount of recyclable electronics available, the number of facilities processing these materials has exponentially grown over the last decade and electronics recycling has become a multi-billion dollar a year industry. With so much consumer data at stake, certification has become paramount for any company seeking to protect its information and responsibly recycle its electronics.

“With almost one in every ten Americans becoming victims of identity theft in the last five years, safeguarding personal information is critical in the recycling process,” said Robin Wiener, president of ISRI. “R2/RIOS™ ensures that electronics recyclers have the necessary equipment and procedures to protect the personal data of consumers and customers by properly and thoroughly destroying data.”

A primary concern within the industry, responsible recycling will be a theme throughout the conference, which brings electronics manufacturers and recyclers from home and abroad together to discuss pressing trends and technology.  R2/RIOS™ will lead the conversation by showcasing the benefits of certification through an exclusive educational session on Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and throughout the conference at the ISRI-sponsored exhibit booths.  Additionally, ISRI will discuss the expected changes to the market in the coming year as part of the plenary session on Thursday, September 20 at 8:30 a.m.  ISRI will also launch new branding of the RIOS™ and R2/RIOS™ certification programs at the conference.

See a full event schedule at http://www.e-scrapconference.com/schedule.html

The R2 portion of the R2/RIOS™ certification program is an international recycling certification program that was developed by a stakeholder group including the Environmental Protection Agency that: 

• Provides financial benefits: returning tested functional electronics equipment and commodity-grade raw materials back into the marketplace.
• Provides environmental benefits including a decreased amount of products sent to landfills resulting in resource conservation and sustainability benefits.
• Enhances a company’s corporate social responsibility and promotes its reputation as a brand dedicated to the highest standards for recycling electronics and IT assets.
• Integrates the best aspects of international quality, environmental and health & safety standards into a single certification.
• Encourages domestic and international trade with other responsible recyclers.

 R2/RIOS™ certified recycling facilities have experienced significant results, including new business opportunities, an increase in employee retention and an increased bottom line. To speak with certified electronics recyclers that have experienced success, please contact the media representative listed above.  For additional insight on R2/RIOS™ certification, visit www.isri.org/certifyme.

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI)
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) is the Voice of the Recycling Industry™. ISRI represents more than 1,700 companies in 21 chapters nationwide that process, broker and industrially consume scrap commodities, including metals, paper, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics and textiles. With headquarters in Washington, D.C. the Institute provides education, advocacy, and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development. For more information about ISRI, visit www.ISRI.org.

WASHINGTON - November 12, 2012 – The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI), the Voice of the Recycling Industry™, calls on businesses to become informed about their recycling choices and to demand responsible recycling practices. Thursday, November 15, 2012 is AMERICA RECYCLES DAYSM, and ISRI emphasizes that now, more than ever, companies can contribute significantly to the global recycling effort for a more sustainable economic environment.

On this annual celebration, ISRI reminds businesses that working with certified recycling facilities is one of the best ways to confirm that their materials are recycled in the most responsible manner and to the highest industry standards.

“We celebrate AMERICA RECYCLES DAYSM by applauding those organizations that are committed to recycling with the highest, most responsible standards, thereby protecting their employees, local communities and global partners,” said Robin K. Wiener, president of ISRI. “The recycling industry continues to grow because of commitments from consumers and businesses alike to protect our planet.”

ISRI Services, Inc. administers the RIOS™ certification program, a global recycling standard that combines quality, environmental, health and safety components in one integrated management system. R2/RIOS™ certification, designed specifically for electronics recyclers, requires recyclers to follow all environmental standards detailed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and data security procedures under various acts of Congress.   

Recycling provides great financial and environmental returns to communities around the nation and the world. Materials such as plastic, steel, aluminum, copper, electronics and even precious metals can be recycled, allowing for new product creation in the marketplace. Recycling is one of the fastest growing industries in the country, contributing more than $100 billion to the U.S. economy each year and employing nearly 138,000 people.

AMERICA RECYCLES DAYSM is a national program of Keep America Beautiful SM and is the only nationally recognized day and community-driven awareness event dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the U.S. To learn more, visit www.americarecyclesday.org.

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The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI)
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) is the Voice of the Recycling Industry™. ISRI represents more than 1,700 companies in 21 chapters nationwide that process, broker and industrially consume scrap commodities, including metals, paper, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics and textiles. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., the Institute provides education, advocacy, and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development. For more information about ISRI, visit www.ISRI.org.

RIOS™ and R2/RIOS™
Recyclers seeking certification can learn more online at www.isri.org/certifyme. Businesses, organizations and governments committed to working with a responsible recycler who meets the highest standards in quality, environment, health and safety, can locate a certified recycler by visiting www.isri.org/certifyme.

Washington, DC - September 24, 2012 – The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI), the voice of the recycling industry, applauds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its announcement of the Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge, “an initiative to make protective electronics refurbishing and recycling practices the industry standard.” Electronics companies participating in the challenge will commit to send 100 percent of the used electronics they collect to third-party certified refurbishers and recyclers.

The new EPA program is an effort that ISRI supports to establish benchmarks within the industry that ensure proper recycling practices. According to ISRI, three to four million tons of electronics are recycled each year. With so much consumer data at stake, responsible recycling and certification is paramount for any company seeking to protect sensitive data.

“We commend the EPA for creating this challenge and the forward-thinking companies participating in the initiative,” said Robin K. Wiener, president of ISRI. “Safeguarding consumer information and other sensitive data is a must-have component of the electronics recycling process, and certification is the answer to proper data protection and destruction. We are thrilled that EPA continues to support the R2 Standard as one of the premier gold standards in the industry.”

ISRI administers the R2/RIOS™ certification program, an international recycling standard that uniquely promotes quality products, environmental protection, the health and safety of workers and protects the personal data of consumers and customers at home and abroad. The benefits of R2/RIOS™ certification include:  

• Provides financial benefits: returning tested functional electronics equipment and commodity-grade raw materials back into the marketplace.
• Provides environmental benefits including a decreased amount of products sent to landfills resulting in resource conservation and sustainability benefits.
• Enhances a company’s corporate social responsibility and promotes its reputation as a brand dedicated to the highest standards for recycling electronics and IT assets.
• Integrates the best aspects of international quality, environmental and health & safety standards into a single certification.
• Encourages domestic and international trade with other responsible recyclers.

There are currently 275 certified R2 facilities. For additional insight on R2/RIOS™ certification, visit www.isri.org/certifyme.

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The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI)

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) is the Voice of the Recycling Industry™. ISRI represents more than 1,700 companies in 21 chapters nationwide that process, broker and industrially consume scrap commodities, including metals, paper, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics and textiles. With headquarters in Washington, D.C. the Institute provides education, advocacy, and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development. For more information about ISRI, visit www.ISRI.org. 

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