While city government and municipal budgets are still in a hiring freeze in most parts of the country, there is one area where employment growth is starting to heat up and generate opportunities  – recycling. From increases in curbside pick-up to the creation of composting facilities  this is one area where both local leaders and businesses are thinking outside the box and trying new systems that will ultimately save money in garbage disposal fees and landfill costs.

For example, the state of Florida has recently implemented a seventy five percent waste diversion rate, and in California new laws are going to effect which require both multi-unit residences and commercial business space to recycle.

Based on recent research conducted throughout the country, it is believed that if the nation’s waste recycling rate increased to seventy five percent, over one million jobs would be created in the recycling and waste disposal industry.

Current business practices have identified that processing recyclables requires two full-time positions per one thousand tons of recycled material. Organics waste and food scraps requires one half of a full-time position per one thousand tons of material. Trash disposal, on the other hand, only requires one tenth of a full-time position for the same amount of weight.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: When you and your business support the development of recycling facilities and the expansion of community wide recycling programs, you are not only supporting good environmental stewardship but you are also helping to create local jobs that strength the regional economy!