Wholesale Recycling: High Rates of Injuries and Illnesses

The U.S. wholesale recycling material industry consists of about 12,700 wholesale companies, providing an estimated 102,038 jobs [Siccode.com 2020]. Unlike recycling services that pick up empty cartons, cans, and bottles curbside from households, wholesale recycling merchants buy automotive scrap, electronic scrap, industrial scrap, or other recycling materials from manufacturers and resell it to businesses, government agencies, other wholesalers, or retailers. Tasks in these facilities include receiving, sorting, shredding, disassembly, refurbishing, and shipping. Wholesale recycling facilities are among the most dangerous workplaces. A recent publication featured on the NIOSH Science Blog reviewed the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) wholesale and retail trade