STATEMENT OF THE INSTITUTE OF SCRAP IRON AND STEEL, INC. BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS UNITED STATES SENATE Solid Waste Legislation July 17, 1974 By Herschel Cutler Thomas H. Boggs, Jr. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INSTITUTE OF SCRAP IRON AND STEEL, INC. THE SENATE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE 1. Solid waste treatment and disposal centers receiving direct or indirect Federal assistance under the Act should be prohibited from acquiring for processing materials not collected in the normal garbage and waste collection process for the area served by that center. Such a provision would prevent the disposal center from diverting material which normally would flow to private industry. 2. An economic impact statement should be prepared prior to the grant of Federal funds for any treatment facility which would recover resources other than energy to consider such questions as the availability of new markets for the by-products of the project and the effect of the marketing of these by-products on existing industries. 3. The legislation should clarify whether solid waste disposal standards are to be promulgated (a) only for hazardous wastes, (b) for all solid waste sources, or (c) only for sites actually utilized primarily for waste, garbage and other non-usable discarded material disposal. If the final category is intended, the legislation should specify that industries whose principal activity is processing for recycling purposes are not included within the definition of a solid waste disposal site. 40-687 74 pt. 32 STATEMENT OF HERSCHEL CUTLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR This statement is submitted on behalf of the Institute of Scrap Iron and Steel, Inc. (ISIS), a national trade association representing approximately 1,300 member companies involved in the metallic scrap processing industry. Institute members process, ship or otherwise handle approximately 90% to 95% of the iron and steel scrap purchased in the United States and handle equally impressive percentages of other metallics which are recycled in our economy. The iron and steel scrap processing industry firmly believes that inadequate viable and continuing markets for ferrous scrap exist. For example, the reservoir of obsolete unprocessed ferrous scrap today is far in excess of 750-million tons. This reservoir cannot be marketed at a rate which will reduce substantially this backlog. Because of this lack of markets, the scrap processing industry naturally is concerned with the implications of adding to the available processed supply of metallic scrap the millions of tons that could emanate from the systems that might be implemented under the bills being considered. To be very direct, the industry I represent certainly supports the increased recycling. Recycling is "our business" and we have been doing it for a living for hundreds of years. We support the basic goal of recycling the desire to maximize the re-use - of valuable materials with the concomitant saving of limited July 17, 1974 natural resources. We also support the many other environ mental gains more fully described hereinafter with respect to increased recycling. (Appendix A summarizes many of these environmental savings associated with recycling vis-a-vis virgin material consumption.) Since we support the concept and goal, the thrust of our presentation this morning is to direct your attention to what the private recycling industry does - particularly and what we believe the metallic scrap processing industry the proper role of publicly supported waste management systems to be. In essence, we ask that you permit us to continue doing what we have been doing for years and that the proper concern with solid waste not be turned into a program that seriously impairs an existing industry and replaces it with a government subsidized program yielding less in public benefits at higher costs than the present system. 1. Beneficial Effects of Scrap Processing to Society The scrap processor provides a three-fold service Reclamation. Taking the cast to his community and nation: offs and leftovers of modern society, the scrap processor manufactures an essential raw material that can be used again and again by steel mills, foundries and refiners. The abandoned auto, worn-out appliances and metallic leftovers from the manufacturing process are transformed by the scrap processing plant into raw materials for the manufacture of new steel and other metals. July 17, 1974 Conservation. Scrap processors have been conserva tionists since the development of melting furnaces. By preparing metallic waste for reuse and recycling, the scrap processing industry helps extend the nation's and world's finite supply of natural resources. These irreplaceable minerals can be conserved while recyclable metallics take their place in the manufacturing process. One ton of scrap iron conserves one and one-half tons of iron ore, plus onethird ton of coal or coke needed in the steelmaking process. Not only does recycling metallic solid waste conserve natural resources, it also brings about enormous environmental benefits. The Environmental Protection Agency has reported that scrap iron and steel used in place of iron ore in the manufacture of one ton of new steel requires 84 percent less energy, reduces air pollution by 86 percent, water by 40 perc at and water pollution by 76 percent. It also reduces mining wastes and virgin materials use by 97 and 90 percent, respectively. With energy in short supply and pol lution under attack on many fronts, recycling scrap iron and steel becomes even more imperative. Beautification. Every day, as Americans discard the unwanted, they unconsciously contribute to environmental destruction. The scrap industry, by reclaiming metallics, reduces land pollution and helps restore the natural beauty of the land. |