Back and better than ever, the 2022 National ISRI Convention is, once again, a face-to-face event in Las Vegas, Nevada! As we all prepare for the biggest show in the recycling industry, ISRI President Robin Wiener discusses the victories ISRI has had over the past two years since the COVID-19 pandemic began and doubles down on what needs to change going forward. Although the organization is doing all it can to represent “responsible recycling,” initiate a change in verbiage to create a better narrative and provide resources to members to create a more sustainable and resilient planet, Robin says that ISRI can’t do it alone without the help of membership.

With how fast the economy changes, we’ve invited Jason Schenker, one of the most accurate financial forecasters and futurists in the world, back again for his third time on the podcast. Being so close-knit with the recycling industry, Jason gives us the full rundown on the labor market, what’s going on in the metal commodity sector, and issues such as shortages in manufacturing equipment. Jason also discusses some major talking points, such as the global debt and the Russian-Ukraine crisis and how these issues can slow growth for recyclers in 2022.

Looking back at 2021, John Sacco does a solo podcast to address today's most significant issues facing the recycling industry. With the government as our biggest competitor trying to label our commodities as waste and recyclers not making enough noise about it, we've begun to lose our voice. As John says, 2022 is the year we start standing up and advocating more for this industry, doing more for our communities, and educating the public on how the recycling industry operates. New year, new us.

The word “sustainability” has been a buzzword in the recycling industry lately. With many different interpretations of what the term means, Cheryl Coleman, ISRI’s Vice President of Sustainability, joins John Sacco on the podcast to clarify some confusion. The two discuss the importance of recycling profitably, how the packaging industry is a critical factor in furthering that push, and how ISRI has created a plan with brands to implement some protocols to execute it. As we sit down with Cheryl, we get some overall insight into what’s in store for this industry to keep sustainability intact.

John Sacco goes for a walk with a good friend and ISRI’s 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award winner David Borsuk. These two discuss topics across the board, including the negative connotation of the word “scrap,” environmental justice, the responsibility this industry has to our communities, and how legislators don’t understand a recycler’s role in the supply chain. Even while retired, David’s continued involvement in ISRI is due to how vital this industry is to him and the environment as a whole.

As the Co-Chair of ISRI’s Membership Committee and the Chair of the Investment Subcommittee, it’s clear that Neil Byce has a passion for this trade association. John and Neil meet up for a walk-and-talk episode in Washington, DC, to discuss how ISRI has supported their companies to grow into their success by providing education, networking, and advocacy. The two also touch on how recyclers' motivation and endless opportunities benefit from being a for-profit industry.

John is boots-on-the-ground in Washington, DC for ISRI’s Summer Board and Committee Meetings! John meets up with Andrew Lincoln, Vice President of Lincoln Recycling and member of ISRI’s Executive Committee, for a walk-and-talk episode. They discuss how ISRI is proactive in growing this industry and the importance of maintaining relationships with lobbyists and government officials, educating and promoting the recycling industry, and keeping the term “environmental justice” at the forefront of our minds.

As we commemorate Memorial Day, we acknowledge the brutal reality that each American service member faces. Jason Geis, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Portrait of a Warrior Gallery - Kern County and a veteran himself, gives John Sacco a heart-wrenching and surreal tour of the gallery to celebrate the twenty-seven men from Kern County who sacrificed their lives in combat post 9/11. By working directly with the men's Gold Star Families, the gallery keeps their memories alive through art and education. It holds their motto true when they say, “Always Remembered, Never Forgotten.”

Experts in recovering resources through recycling since 1994, Balcones Resources leads the charge for a cleaner recycling stream in Austin, Dallas, and Little Rock, Texas. CEO Kerry Getter and Vice President of Strategy, Richie Getter, discuss the multitude of changes needed to create a greener environment, including educating the public, increasing curbside programs, and adequately recycling small-format packaging. As Richie says, there’s a long way to go in North America, but getting a grasp on these significant issues is a tremendous start.

Recycling doesn’t stop at the recycling bin. As recyclers, we know that, but do consumers? After touring Sierra Recycling & Demolition, former NFL quarterback and current ESPN Analyst Mark Sanchez got valuable insight into the recycling industry, the common misconceptions, and steps consumers must take to recycle correctly. Sanchez then discusses the life-altering moments crucial to gaining the confidence he needed to become the sports icon he is today.