The Jobs Story: Recycling Is Good Industrial Policy
Published on July 18, 2026.
The Recycled Materials Association's 2024 study and federal initiatives reveal the economic and supply-chain significance of recycling, contributing to an estimated $184 billion in activity and 603,000 recycling jobs. The report suggests that processing and remanufacturing creates more positions per ton than disposal, with recycling remaining local as curbside collection cannot be outsourced. Factors such as rising landfill fees, high social costs from carbon and battery fires, persistent mineral import reliance, and lost repair trades as furniture waste grows. Policymakers are pushing for extended producer responsibility and critical minerals recycling, with Oregon's 2025 program launching with $200 million annually and the Department of Energy allocation of $500 million.
Related Articles
Xpeng debuted its flying car in Germany. It has 7,000 orders and a factory that can build 10,000 a year.
Xpeng debuted its modular Land Aircraft Carrier in Munich, securing over 7,000 orders and a planned 10,000-unit production line.
TSMC posted record $40 billion revenue. Its stock fell 4%. Investors are no longer buying the AI spending story on faith.
TSMC's shares fell 4% amid investor concerns over rising AI spending, despite record Q2 revenue and increased capital expenditure forecasts, despite the company's recent record.
The U.S. Wants to Turn Abandoned Oil Rigs Into Spaceports
The US government is considering converting abandoned oil rigs into rocket launch pads, sparking concerns from environmental groups about polluting the oceans.