Jobs Through Recycling

EPA's "Jobs Through Recycling Initiative" is a multimillion dollar grant program aimed at increasing the use of collected materials by creating markets for those materials, stimulating economic development, and fostering the creation of new jobs in recycling industries. In addition to reducing the amount of waste requiring disposal, our nation's expanding recycling programs create new business opportunities for collecting, processing, and using recyclables in the manufacture of products. Growth in the recycling industry creates new job opportunities, ranging from low- and semi-skilled jobs in material sorting and processing to highly skilled jobs in the manufacturing sector and related fields. Building new processing plants creates jobs for construction workers, equipment suppliers, transportation companies, planners, and consultants. In urban areas, where large quantities of recyclables are generated, cities can supply both materials and labor to new recycling facilities, thereby addressing unemployment and solid waste problems simultaneously. (More information is available through the Jobs Through Recycling website).

Through this program, EPA funds have enabled a number of States and Tribes to establish "Recycling and Reuse Business Assistance Centers." These centers provide technical, business, financing, and marketing assistance to new and existing recycling enterprises. Other grantees have created "Recycling Economic Development Advocate" positions who promote recycling- based businesses to state economic development agencies. EPA has also funded specific Demonstration Projects designed to feature particular recycling technologies or processes, and Investment Forums that bring investors and economic development officials together with recycling entrepreneurs seeking capital.

States funded for Recycling & Reuse Business Assistance Centers:

• California
• Florida
• Minnesota
• New York
• North Carolina

States & Tribes funded for Recycling Economic Development Advocates:

• Arizona
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Hawaii
• Iowa
• Maryland
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Wyoming
• Siletz Tribe of Oregon

States, Tribes and Multi-state Organizations funded for Demonstration Projects:

• Alaska
• Connecticut
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Montana
• New Jersey
• Rhode Island

Southwest Public Recycling Association

• Tennessee
• Texas
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Grand Ronde Tribe
• Hualapai
• Quechan Tribe
• Sitka Tribe of Alaska

States and Multi-state Organizations funded for Investment Forums:

• Nebraska
• Northeast Recycling Council
• South Carolina