EPA America Recycles Day Steel Highlights Recycling Leadership

WASHINGTON, DC – Government and industry representatives gathered today to recognize America Recycles Day at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as the North American steel industry reaffirmed its commitment to continue to work to improve the nation’s recycling system.

Thomas J. Gibson, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) who participated in the EPA Recycling Summit this afternoon, said, “The steel industry is a leader in the recycling arena. Steel recycling is inherent to the steelmaking process, as steel has magnetic attraction — meaning it can easily be separated from other, less recyclable materials. All steel manufacturers in the U.S. use significant amounts of recycled steel scrap. When you buy products made from North American steel, you always buy recycled.”

Gibson signed the America Recycles Pledge to “build on our existing efforts to address the challenges facing our nation’s recycling system and to identify solutions that create a more resilient materials economy and protect the environment.”

Gibson noted that domestic steel mills recycle their own steel scrap, as well as scrap from downstream product manufacturing processes and end-of-life products, to conserve energy, emissions and natural resources.

“Steel’s durable characteristics enable many common products to be recycled and be reused – extending product life and conserving resources. Today’s steel products will become tomorrow’s cans, trains, bridges or buildings,” he said.

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Contact: Lisa Harrison
202.452.7115 / lharrison@www.steel.org

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 18 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and approximately 120 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s website at www.steel.org. Follow AISI on Facebook or Twitter (@AISISteel).