The Steel Recycling Institute announced this week that the recycling rate for the world's and America's most recycled material -- steel -- increased to 75.7 percent in the United States in 2005.

This reflects a five percentage point increase in the recycling rate and the highest rate ever recorded in the United States.

Seventy six million tons of domestic steel scrap was charged into furnaces, both in the United States and abroad, to make new steel products to be used by the steel industry's customers in satisfying consumers' needs.

"2005 continues the four-year expansion of steel recycling to new historic levels in the United States and the 75.7 percent rate established a new record for steel recycling," said Bill Heenan, president of the Steel Recycling Institute. "It is important to point out that the number one raw material consumed by the steel industry is steel scrap."

Recyclers across North America continue to experience increased revenue from their programs that collect steel, whether it is steel cans, appliances, construction and demolition ferrous debris, or America's most recycled product, the automobile. Steel, America's most recycled material, is the engine that drives these products out of the waste stream and into the recycling stream, resulting in numerous benefits, both environmental and financial.

Heenan continued, "As more and more industries are striving for sustainable development and consumers read about companies striving for sustainable development, it is important to point out that there is no better way to protect future generations' ability to meet their needs than through recycling today. Sustainable development is achievable by the consumer when he or she becomes actively involved in recycling. Through curbside and drop- off recycling programs, consumers can make a difference by making sure that their steel cans and other recyclables end up in their recycling program rather than in a refuge truck on the way to a landfill."

The Steel Recycling Institute is an industry association that promotes and sustains the recycling of all steel products. The SRI educates the solid waste industry, government, business and ultimately the consumer about the benefits of steel's infinite recycling cycle.

For more recycling information, visit SRI's website.

4/28/2006