Recycling Economic Information Project:
Final Report, April 1998

This report presents the recommendations of the Recycling Economic Information Project, undertaken by the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), with funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The project’s primary objective is to recommend to EPA a methodology for conducting a study of the U.S. recycling and reuse industries.

NERC undertook extensive research to develop the recommended methodology, including review of completed recycling economic impact studies, review of existing government and private sector sources of economic information, a survey of potential study users and interviews with dozens of technical experts, industry associations, government agencies, and other organizations whose support will be crucial to the study’s success.  This report is intended to guide implementation of the national study, and its extensive reference information and industry definitions will be useful to a variety of recycling industry researchers.  The methodology should be viewed as flexible and further refined during its implementation.

The document is posted in nine (9) pieces:

• Executive Summary
• Table of Contents
• Report
• Appendix A: Description of Recycling and Reuse Business Categories
• Appendix B: A Review of Potential Sources of Recyclng Economic Information
• Appendix C: Sources of Directories and Databases Listing Recycling and Reuse Businesses
• Appendix D: Summary of a Survey of Potential Study Users
• Appendix E: A Technical Report on Issues Associated with
  Determining Value-Added and the Economic Impacts of
  Recycling Industries in the United States
• Appendix F: Private Business Data Sources