Steel Recycling Institute Turns 25
A quarter century of promoting and
sustaining steel recycling
2013 marks the Steel Recycling Institute’s
25 Year Anniversary and a quarter century
of promoting the value and importance
of recycling. In that time, more than one
billion tons of steel have been recycled in
North America.
he Steel Recycling Institute (SRI) was established
in late 1988 as the Steel Can Recycling Institute, a
not-for-proit trade association with the mission
of promoting and sustaining steel can recycling.
With headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA, it was formed
by eight North American steel companies and
the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). he
Institute’s focus was a grassroots efort to implement
steel can recycling in communities across North
America. To facilitate this activity, regional oices
were established. Regional managers worked
directly with public recycling oices, private
recyclers, haulers, ferrous scrap dealers, end
markets and others who were involved in steel
recycling. he headquarters oice coordinated the
development of recycling operations, government
afairs, marketing and public relations. In 1992,
an oice was established in Washington, DC to
monitor federal legislation.
By spring of 1993, the organization expanded
its focus to encompass the recycling of all steel
products--taking on its current name.
SRI continues its grassroots eforts to work directly
with the pubic and private sectors to expand and
grow steel recycling and is an active business unit
of the AISI, building environmental preference
for steel through credibly communicating steel’s
sustainable advancements.
While recycling rates for steel products continue to
increase, the most impressive igure is the overall
steel recycling rate of 88 percent; this rate has
exceeded 50 percent for more than a half century.
SRI continues to support the vision of making steel
the material that augments the well being of people
and the planet.
During the 25 years SRI has promoted steel recycling in North America,
ONE BILLION TONS OF STEEL HAVE BEEN RECYCLED.
recycle-steel.org
412.922.2772
680 Andersen Dr., Pittsburgh, PA
Quick Facts
• Each year, more steel is recycled than aluminum,
paper, plastic and glass--combined.
• Steel is continuously recyclable—meaning it can be
recycled over and over without loss of quality.
• Every ton of steel recycled conserves 2,500 pounds
of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal and 120 pounds
of limestone.
• The nearly 20 billion cans recycled last year would
line the path to the moon and back seven times.
• Through recycling, the steel industry saves the
energy equivalent to power 20 million homes for
one year.
• The steel industry has reduced its energy intensity
by 27 percent and CO2 emissions by 33 percent per
ton of steel shipped since 1990.
Steel Recycling at a Glance
About the Steel Recycling
Institute
Steel is North America’s #1 recycled
material. Each year, more steel
is recycled than paper, plastic,
aluminum and glass—combined.
Steel is the engine that drives the
recycling of many consumer goods,
including cans, cars, appliances
and construction materials.
Recycling, along with process
innovation, has made steel a
leader in reducing energy intensity
from the steelmaking process
and correspondingly reducing
greenhouse gas emissions.
SRI is an industry association
dedicated to communicating the
sustainable efforts of the North
American steel industry. SRI
educates the solid waste industry,
government, business and ultimately
the consumer about the beneits of
steel’s recycling accomplishments
and advancements in sustainability.
For more information on the steel
industry’s sustainable efforts visit:
www.recycle-steel.org or
www.sustainable-steel.org. Or follow
SRI on Twitter @EnviroMetal.
Get More Information on
Steel: The EnviroMetal™
About the American Iron and
Steel Institute
AISI serves as the voice of the North
American steel industry in the
public policy arena and advances
the case for steel in the marketplace
as the preferred material of choice.
AISI also plays a lead role in the
development and application of new
steels and steelmaking technology.
AISI is comprised of 24 member
companies, including integrated and
electric furnace steelmakers, and 127
associate members who are suppliers
to or customers of the steel industry.
AISI’s member companies represent
over three quarters of both U.S.
and North American steel capacity.
For more news about steel and its
applications, visit: www.steel.org.
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recycle-steel.org
412.922.2772
680 Andersen Dr., Pittsburgh, PA