At the 2023 ISRI National Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, John Sacco sits with Tom Bird, President of the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), to shed light on the obstacles the recycling industry is facing. While emphasizing the importance of navigating conflicts and trade regulations, Tom discusses the needed support for Ukrainian BIR members affected by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and highlights the importance of promoting recycling to achieve sustainability and address environmental concerns.

With a 125-year history, Alter Trading Corporation recently celebrated their anniversary in New Orleans, Louisiana. As fourth generation to head Alter Trading, Jeff, Rob and Rich Goldstein have managed to maintain a culture reflecting the traits of a small family business despite their growing success as a major corporation. During the celebration, the Goldstein brothers reflected on their upbringing, emphasizing how the company has evolved in maintaining core values that are rooted in honesty, integrity, respect and, most of all, family.

With a 125-year history, Alter Trading Corporation recently celebrated their anniversary in New Orleans, Louisiana. As fourth generation to head Alter Trading, Jeff, Rob and Rich Goldstein have managed to maintain a culture reflecting the traits of a small family business despite their growing success as a major corporation. During the celebration, the Goldstein brothers reflected on their upbringing, emphasizing how the company has evolved in maintaining core values that are rooted in honesty, integrity, respect and, most of all, family.

Jennifer Betts, now metal enthusiast, graduated from Indiana University as a major in finance. After stumbling upon the metals recycling industry at a job fair, the rest is history! Now, as a voice of metal recyclers everywhere, Jennifer has taken matters into her own hands to give the industry the recognition it deserves by sharing her experiences and stories on platforms like TikTok, hoping to excite and engage the younger generation about recycling in addition to creating a more diverse workforce within the industry.

Are you still using words like “scrap,” “junk,” or “waste” in your messaging? C’mon, get with the times… It’s 2023! For the first episode of the new year, John Sacco sits down to give us some insight into how the recycling industry touches our daily lives. Diving deep into the truths of specific recyclable metals and how they’re truly the first step into the manufacturing process, John advises we change our narrative when teaching regulators, policymakers and even children about the industry. After all, it’s not about what we say. It’s about what they hear.

The recycling industry has always had struggles with finding manual labor workers. But nowadays, as we’re living in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic, finding those willing to work outside their homes has hit an all-time low. Lizette Patterson, Founder and CEO of Cazador Consulting Group in Bakersfield, CA, joins the podcast with John Sacco to discuss some of the big questions circling the workforce. She tells us that although finding suitable candidates to employ is complex, the struggle also relies on being a good employer. More specific to recycling, Lizette says the pursuit of creating a more attractive image might help the industry in finding more success in the hiring process.

At the ScrapExpo event in Louisville, Kentucky, John Sacco is joined by President and CEO of Alter Trading Jay Robinovitz to discuss all the nuts and bolts of running a facility. The two talk topics across the board such as managing your business’s expenses, investing in spare parts, and preparing for environmental concerns later down the road. Jay and John are then joined by United Metals owner Brett Ekart to tell us how he’s stepped up to help change the narrative of this industry and the kind of motivation it takes to be successful.

Having over 30 years working with Recycling Today Media Group, Executive President Jim Keefe gives us sharp insight into what it’s like working as a content publisher for the recycling industry. At the ISRI Summer Meetings in D.C, John and Jim talk about the enormous evolution in technology that this generation has seen since the original forms of recycling back in the biblical era. Jim also mentions how many recyclers are primarily focused on their own industries rather than the societal obligation they have to the environment, and how that could be detrimental to changing the narrative on how industrial recycling shouldn’t be lumped under the same category as waste.

Ready to step up and lead the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), new ISRI Chairman Brian Henesey is prepared to get the ball rolling to change this industry. Brian and John Sacco sit down at the ISRI Summer Meetings in D.C. to discuss what it’s going to take to educate our youth and legislators about recycling, enlist community reinforcement, and create an innovative approach to acquire new ISRI members and better serve current ones. Overall, raising the bar and setting new goals for the trade association.

Brothers Joel and Craig Litman of Texas Recycling in Dallas, Texas, join John Sacco to chat about the supply of material made from virgin pulp and recycled fiber and the importance of companies following through with their word on creating more recyclable packaging. Over the years, the brothers have adapted to modern-day business operations but say they keep their late father Stan's "old school business" principles alive. With family businesses being the backbone of the recycling industry, Joel invites his daughter, Hillary, to join the conversation and discuss how they carry on the Texas Recycling legacy.