A study by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) finds that private sector recycling jobs in the state have increased by close to 12 percent since 2010 as recycling businesses in the state continue to grow and thrive.

“Recycling is an important initiative to support manufacturers and reduce our long-term dependence on landfills,” says Gov. Pat McCrory. “The continued, strong growth of recycling as an economic sector validates its value to our environment and its importance to our economy as a generator of jobs.”

The research, conducted by DENR’s Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service, is the latest in a series of studies spanning nearly two decades demonstrating the contribution of recycling to the state’s economic growth.

The study’s major findings include:

• North Carolina has more than 17,000 direct private sector recycling-related jobs.
• Private sector recycling jobs have increased by almost 12 percent since 2010.
• The total estimated annual payroll for North Carolina recycling businesses is $442 million.
• Forty-five percent of recycling businesses surveyed anticipate creating more jobs during the next two years.
• Eighty-one recycling businesses reported spending $79.6 million in equipment, facilities and land investments from 2011-13.
• Fifty-one percent of recycling businesses surveyed plan on investing $47.3 million in equipment, facilities or land in the next two years.
• Twenty-eight percent of businesses surveyed report manufacturing a product using a combined 2.3 million tons of recycled materials.
• Recycling businesses target a wide variety of recyclables for collection, processing or use in manufacturing. No single commodity dominates the state’s recycling economy.

In a move that Axion International says will add a significant new revenue stream through vertical integration, the New Providence, N.J.-based company has acquired Y City Recycling, headquartered in Zanesville, Ohio. Axion is a manufacturer of recycled plastics products, such as Ecotrax rail ties and Struxure building products. Following the acquisition, Axion has renamed the new operations Axion Recycled Plastics Inc.

Key employees and members of Y City Recycling’s management team have been hired by Axion Recycled Plastics. Axion acquired the assets by the assumption of bank debt. Three of Axion’s largest investors made a $3 million capital infusion for the repayment of certain liabilities, for the future purchase and maintenance of equipment needed for increasing capacity and for working capital. An additional $2.5 million revolving credit facility, which includes the availability of letters of credit, has been put in place.

“This acquisition creates value for Axion in three key ways. First, it gives us added revenue. Second, it eliminates steps in our material supply chain, thereby stabilizing our raw material costs. Third, it enhances our quality control as we now process our own material for production,” says Steve Silverman, Axion president and CEO.

“Through this upstream vertical integration, we believe we will enhance our consolidated gross margins and capture market share in the recycling business by positioning Axion Recycled Plastics as a significant regional recycled materials processor and supplier in the Midwest and Southwest,” Silverman adds.

Axion Recycled Plastics recycles postconsumer and postindustrial plastics including HDPE (high-density polytheylene), PP (polypropylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), TPO (thermoplastic olefin) and PS (polystyrene) in many forms. The newly acquired company sorts, grinds, washes, blends and pelletizes plastic for future use. In addition, the company offers toll recycling services.

Along with the Zanesville facility, Axion will continue to operate its facility in Waco, Texas, which will supply material to produce the Ecotrax and Struxure.

Hugo Neu Recycling (formerly WeRecycle!) has been designated as a certified B Corp. by the Wayne, Pa.-based organization that oversees that voluntary corporate standard.

The Mount Vernon, N.Y.-based electronic scrap recycling firm says it is now among more than 850 Certified B Corps. from 60 industries and 28 countries.

To be recognized as a Certified B Corp., Hugo Neu Recycling says it had to “meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance and legally expanded its corporate responsibilities to include consideration of stakeholder interests.”

Hugo Neu Recycling also is certified to e-Stewards, ISO 14001 and National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) standards at its Mount Vernon and in Meriden, Conn., plants. 

“This certification is aligned with our corporate values and our commitment to advancing responsible recycling,” says Wendy Neu, chair and CEO of Hugo Neu Recycling. “By standing up to be counted among the B Corp. ranks, we’re holding ourselves accountable for our own legacy and also supporting a movement inspiring business to leave the world a little bit better.”

Alan Ratner, president of Hugo Neu Recycling, adds, “The B Corp. certification reinforces what we have always believed to be our environmental and social mission and responsibility.”

As part of the certification process, Hugo Neu Recycling completed an assessment established by B Lab, Wayne, Pa. (the B Corp. certification body), that included disclosure of information relating to the company’s management and operations, including its governance, workplace culture and employee benefits, environmental practices and community engagement.