North Carolinians can do something simple every day to help get the state’s economy on track – recycle.
A recently completed study by the N.C. Division of Environmental Assistance and Outreach (found online at http://www.p2pays.org/ref/53/52107.pdf) shows that recycling continues to be a driver of economic activity and job growth in North Carolina. Successive studies from 1994 – 2010 have shown consistent increases in recycling employment in the Tar Heel state. And the latest study documents that - despite the deepest recession in decades - recycling jobs in North Carolina grew by nearly five percent in the last two years.
With more than 15,000 people employed statewide and an annual payroll of at least $395 million, the recycling industry is a steady contributor to our state’s overall economic strength and competitiveness.
North Carolina’s “recycling economy” is diverse and dynamic. Our state is home to some of the largest recyclers of steel and plastics in the world, with Nucor’s headquarters in Charlotte and the new Clear Path recycling facility in Fayetteville – an $80 million plant that will recycle 160 million pounds of soda and water bottles each year. Last year we welcomed both the arrival of a major catalytic converter recycler in Morganton and a large-scale computer monitor processing facility in Creedmoor. Unifi, a leading textile producer, also announced in 2010 its intention to consume more plastic bottle-based resin for its Repreve textile line. And on the other end of the spectrum, dozens of small to medium-sized companies in North Carolina made investments last year in new or expanded capacity to recycle everything from pallets to shingles to carpet.
In the meantime, small recycling collection companies are popping up all over the state and they are all looking for new customers. We all know there are considerable environmental reasons to recycle, since using materials over and over again instead of placing them in a deep, dark landfill conserves resources, saves energy and prevents air and water pollution. But the economic reasons to recycle are just as important, especially given our need for employment growth in the state. The jobs study data shows that diverting materials from disposal delivers economic opportunity to thousands of our fellow citizens.
North Carolinians who want to do your part to put folks back on a payroll can help with one simple daily act – recycling.