The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources has released a new study showing growth in recycling-related jobs in the state. Private sector jobs in the recycling industry have increased by about 5 percent since 2008 according to the study. Sherry Yarkosky with the state Recycling Business Assistance Center says the study reinforces that recycling helps not just the environment.
"If you recycle your material you can send it off to a company in North Carolina that needs that material. If businesses can decrease their expenses for making their products, then they can make things cheaper and be more competitive in the global marketplace and that’s good for everybody. And you just help create jobs in North Carolina, which is what this is all about.”
The study finds 25 percent of businesses surveyed report manufacturing a product using recycled materials.