Industrial Recycling Resources & Industry Links

Regulatory & Compliance

EPA: Sustainable Materials Management (SMM)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s central hub for material lifecycle analysis, landfill diversion goals, and circular economy principles. Includes tools for evaluating the environmental impacts of different waste management practices.

OSHA: Hazardous Waste Operations & Emergency Response (HAZWOPER)

Key federal regulations that govern the safe handling, storage, and transportation of hazardous industrial waste—critical for any recycling operation involving regulated materials.

Industry Associations

ISRI – Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries

The leading trade association for recycling companies across the U.S. Offers up-to-date news, safety standards, market data, and scrap specifications—especially valuable for those involved in metals and plastics recovery.

National Recycling Coalition (NRC)

A non-profit organization supporting waste reduction and recycling initiatives across the country. Offers legislative advocacy, education, and a national directory of programs.

Recycled Materials Association (ReMA)

A newer trade body representing the recycled materials supply chain. Formerly part of ISRI, this group provides resources focused on sustainable material management, policy, and economics.

Material-Specific Information

Aluminum Association – Recycling Section

Data and position papers on aluminum recycling, scrap specifications, and closed-loop systems. Useful for companies generating aluminum hydroxide or similar byproducts.

American Chemistry Council – Plastics Division

Covers innovations in plastics recycling, including chemical and mechanical processes relevant to industrial polymer waste like EPDM, LDPE, or ABS.

National Wooden Pallet & Container Association

The largest organization of wood packaging professionals in the world, with more than 800 company members in 40 countries who manufacture, repair and distribute pallets and wood packaging in unit-load solutions, or who supply products and services to the industry. They have a pallet recycling searchable database.

Tools & Calculators

EPA WARM Tool – Waste Reduction Model

Estimate the greenhouse gas emissions saved by diverting specific materials from landfill. Excellent for calculating sustainability report metrics for industrial recycling efforts.

Recycling Economic Information (REI) Report

Quantifies the jobs, wages, and economic impact generated by the U.S. recycling industry—ideal for building internal business cases.

Education & General Recycling Knowledge

Earth911 – Recycling Database

While focused on consumers, this tool provides insights into what materials are commonly accepted in recycling markets, which can inform industrial diversion strategies.

Recyclesaurus

Tracks general trends in the waste industry as well as a job board specifically for waste related jobs. The site also has a handy commodity tracker that provides a snapshot of the blended value of MRF related materials, primarily paper, OCC, and the major plastics.