In 2003, Sims Metal Management, through Sims Municipal Recycling (SMR), expanded into curbside recycling in the United States. SMR has since become a cornerstone of New York City’s recycling system, processing and marketing approximately 500,000 tons of plastic, glass, metal and paper that New Yorkers put into recycling bins each year.
With greater restrictions on plastic imports into China, SMR has recently expanded its business of processing mixed plastics produced by other MRFs into sorted, saleable resins.Recycling rates nationwide have more than doubled in the last 15 years to 34.5%, due to the efforts of companies like Sims, increased global demand for commodities, and ever growing public awareness of environmental issues. In Europe, where Sims Metal Management operates numerous recycling facilities, recycling programs are even more ambitious than in the United States, and the recovery rate is closer to 60%.
Moving forward, Sims Municipal Recycling will make use of its resources and build on its experience to bring efficient and effective curbside recycling services to other municipalities across the US.