Eleven states
united to
develop and
promote
sustainable
recycling
programs.
Together we
can boost
recycling in
the
Southeast.
Mission
SERDC has a direct mission:
Unite industry, government and
non-government organizations to
promote sustainable recycling in
the Southeast.
Purpose
REGIONAL COLLABORATION =
IMPROVED ACCESS TO MARKETS
Stronger local supply of material will allow
regional manufacturers to get the feedstock that
they depend upon to grow.
GOALS
 Increase collection and recovery of
quality recyclable materials
 Create a greater awareness of the
recycling industry’s impact
 Foster economic development via
recycling
 Improve communication among
stakeholders
Means
 Direct action to boost recovery.
 Workshops to educate recycling
officials.
 Outreach to communicate with elected
Decision Makers.
 Research and reporting to gauge the
current recycling market.
Target Audience
Elected Decision Makers
There are many tools to help the local recycling coordinator do
his/her job: Recycle Guys, etc.
SERDC plans to make sure the recycling coordinator gets the
support from the top down.
RECYCLING
-is good for the economy
 Jobs
 Investment
 Tax base
 Revenue
 Natural resources
Neighboring States
In Florida
SC Growth Data
Robust recycling industry in SC!
 Economic impact study in 2006 by Drs. Hefner and Blackwell
 325 businesses that broker, haul, process and/or manufacture recovered





materials
15,600 jobs. Jobs impact: 37,440, For every 1 job in recycling, economic
impact of 2.4 jobs.
Annual estimated income impact of $1.5 billion
Annual economic impact of $6.5 billion
$69 million state tax revenue
Growth in recycling businesses of 12.5% annually, expected economic
impact of $11 billion in 5 years
 Tourism growth of 3.9% annually (change from 06-08)
Tennessee
11 pulp and paper mills
 $1.4 billion payroll
 16,868 employees
 $5 billion sales
 $123 million in tax revenue
 12 steel and aluminum plants
 3,100 employees
 $3.1 billion sales
North Carolina
 14,490 recycling-related jobs
 Average hourly wage of $12.50
 $376.8 million annual payroll
 The largest PET recycling plant in North America,
Clear Path Recycling, is located in Fayetteville, North
Carolina.
Communication
Effective Communication Surrounding Pressing
Issues.
 Member updates
 Information sharing among our 600 contacts
 Direct communication with elected decision makers,
community leaders
Concrete & Unique Approaches
Using manufacturing case studies to express need
to elected officials
 Google-based interactive map of 206 manufacturers
 Talking points, fact sheets, economic information,
resources
 Presentations to and conversations with regional elected
decision makers about the importance of recycling
Industry Knowledge Sharing
Problem Solving Sessions for Recycling Officials
 2008 – Summit, Point Clear, AL
 2009 – 7 workshops in Alabama
 2009 – 2-day event in Kentucky
 2010 – 3 workshops in Mississippi
 2010 – Selma workshop
 2010 – Summit, Point Clear, AL
Expanding Upon Good Work
Support of State Recycling Organizations.
SERDC partnered and supported events with
Tennessee Recycling Coalition, Carolina Recycling
Association, and Georgia Recycling Coalition
benefiting over 800 participants.
Also affiliated with Alabama and Mississippi
Recycling Coalitions
Infrastructure Development
Bin Grants. Through a partnership
with Alcoa and our state partners, we are
helping to distribute bins to many
communities across the Southeast.
Mapping Project
 A summary of key Southeastern manufacturers who
look to recycled content feedstock to build their
consumer level goods.
 Two year SERDC effort
 With support from EPA, Region 4
 206 manufacturers identified
 47,500 jobs created
 $29.4 Billion in annual sales
Impact of Recycling
State
Jobs
Annual Sales
Manufacturers
Alabama
10,700
$6.6 billion
26
Arkansas
1,200
$0.4 billion
5
Florida
2,600
$1.5 billion
15
Georgia
7,000
$4.5 billion
31
Kentucky
4,300
$3.8 billion
17
Louisiana
2,900
$1.1 billion
10
525
$1.3 billion
3
North Carolina
2,800
$1.1 billion
30
South Carolina
5,300
$5.3 billion
24
Tennessee
6,500
$4.3 billion
30
Virginia
3,700
$3.6 billion
15
47,525
$29.4 billion
206
Mississippi
Region Totals
Georgia Manufacturers
RECYCLING:BIG BUSINESS IN THE
SOUTHEAST
 South Carolina – 37,440 jobs - $6.5 billion
 Projected 12% growth in the next five years
 North Carolina – 2005 figure – 14,000 jobs
 54% forecasted growth
Recovered Feedstock in Georgia
 The 2010 SERDC study determined that in Georgia
there are more than 31 manufacturers who
rely on recycled content feedstock .
 More than $4.5 billion in yearly sales
 Greater than 7,000 employees directly
employed in the manufacture of recycled
content products
ECONOMICS
 Southeast demand for material exceeds
supply
 Communities are investing in jobs
when collection programs are
implemented or expanded
RECYCLING:BIG BUSINESS IN
GEORGIA
 One-third of all the polyethylene PET plastic recovered in North
America is used by Georgia's carpet industry.
 Georgia is the second largest pulp and paper-producing state in the
nation, with 15 paper mills in the state using recycled fiber in their
production and nine mills relying completely on recycled content for
their operations.
 Atlanta is home to Novelis, the largest aluminum recycler in the world
that recently relocated its North American headquarters to Atlanta.
Demand Outweighs Supply
Mohawk Industries- Summerville, GA- one of the largest users
of PET in US
SP Newsprint Co. Dublin, GA-consumes more than 750,000
tons per year
Coca-Cola Recycling – Atlanta, Ga– goal to recover 100% of
their plastic packaging waste in this country.
Alcoa-Knoxville, TN – goal of increasing aluminum can
recycling rate from 52% to 75% by 2015
Recycling material lost
 12.9 million: tons of garbage sent to landfills 2008
 1.7 million: tons of out-of-state garbage sent to
landfills
 40 percent: amount of garbage that is commonly
recyclable materials (ie. plastic, glass, aluminum, etc.)
-Atlanta Journal Constitution 4/22/09
 Georgia estimates that each year it spends $100 million
to throw away $300 million worth of recyclables.
Where to start?
 EPA Toolkit
 Southeast Recycling Development Council
 Local SROs
Municipal Government Toolkit
(MGTK) for Recycling
http://www.epa.gov/region4/recycle
Follow the link to the Toolkit
The Summit
www.serdc.org
Construction and Demolition
www.serdc.org
will.sagar@serdc.org
(828) 507-0123