Waste Diversion Means Jobs!

Compared to recycling, landfilling and incineration pale in comparison as far as job creation is concerned. In a 1994 study, the American Institute for Self-Reliance estimates that for every 15,000 tons of solid waste recycled, nine jobs are created, whereas for the same amount of solid waste, incineration only creates two jobs, and landfilling only creates one job.

In a two-year project, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and researched by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, the U.S. cities of Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia were analyzed to determine the potential for growth in recycling jobs and infrastructure. The 1995 report was entitled "Recycling Means Business".

It was found that for this tri-city area, recycling revenues totalled $2.1 billion annually, while waste disposal revenues were only $404 million. Over 5,100 people are employed in recycling, and only 1,100 jobs exist in waste disposal, despite four times as much material going to disposal.

According to research findings, 79 jobs are maintained for every 100,000 tons of materials processed for recovery, and another 162 jobs are sustained when those materials are made into end products. This is 241 jobs per 100,000 tons, as compared to only 23 jobs per 100,000 tonnes of incinerated or landfilled materials. Encouraging news for recycling proponents.

Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Biocycle Magazine.

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