Its membership is made up of manufacturers and processors, brokers and industrial consumers of scrap commodities, including ferrous and nonferrous metals, paper, electronics, rubber, plastics, glass and textiles.
Manufacturers and sellers of equipment and services—such as shredders, balers, cranes, cargo transporters, computer systems and more—also promote the scrap recycling industry through their membership in ISRI.
The trade organization operates many regional chapters, policy and networking events and an annual convention and exposition, the largest gathering of recyclers in the world each year.
ISRI also educates the public about how the scrap recycling industry is uniquely positioned to meet the challenges of today’s world—a leading economic engine for the world providing real solutions that help protect and sustain the earth’s environment.
According to a study conducted by John Dunham and Associates for ISRI, U.S. scrap exports directly and indirectly support some 160,000 U.S. jobs while having generated an economic impact of $33.11 billion in 2019, helping the U.S. balance of trade.