PA Recycling Market Centers Study: Recycling Industries Support Over 319,000 Jobs; Contributes $130.5 Billion To The Economy - Over 3 Times That Of The Shale Gas Industry

On April 8, the Department of Environmental Protection, Armstrong World Industries, Inc., and the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center released the findings of the 2026 Economic Impact of Recycling in Pennsylvania Report, developed by the Pennsylvania RMC in cooperation with John Dunham Associates.

The study measures how the act of Pennsylvania’s recycling is a vital part of the economy in the Commonwealth, creating jobs, economic value, taxes, and salary within the borders of the Commonwealth. 

Key findings of the Recycling Economic Impact Study include-- 

-- The recycling industry in Pennsylvania is responsible for 319,628 full-time equivalent jobs in the state.

-- In total, the recycling industry is responsible for $130.5 billion of economic activity, or roughly 7.2% of the state's economic output.

-- The recycling industry directly accounts for nearly $76.9 billion in economic activity at firms or entities collecting and processing recycled materials, firms or entities promoting the reuse of goods and materials, and firms utilizing recycled materials as part of their production process.

[For a comparison, the recycling industry supports two and a half times the number of jobs as the shale gas industry-- 319,628 vs.123,000; is responsible for over three times the economic output-- $130.5 billion vs. $41 billion; and pays three and a half times the federal, state and local taxes-- $11.2 billion vs. $3.2 billion.]

“Recycling is more than just keeping waste out of landfills – it is also a huge economic engine, providing local jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “The aluminum can or cardboard box that goes into the recycling bin instead of the trash can helps keep Pennsylvania’s economy growing and reduces the need for raw natural resources.”

“Most people don’t realize that recycling is big business in Pennsylvania; your recycling is an ingredient in someone else’s new product,” said Robert J. Bylone, Jr., CEO, President of the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center. “Simply, recycling works – with real people, in real places.”

Many of these companies that contributed to the study, including Armstrong World Industries, a leader in the design and manufacture of innovative interior and exterior architectural applications, incorporate recycled content feedstocks into their manufacturing processes. 

Among other materials, including reclaimed ceiling panels, Armstrong manufactures many products from recycled newsprint and plastic bottles.

“Today sustainability is part of our culture,” said Amy Costello, Product Stewardship and Sustainability Manager at Armstrong. “Just like Armstrong did over 165 years ago, the company is still finding innovative ways to use recycled feedstocks in our product lines without sacrificing quality and while growing profit. It is circularity at its best.”

Click Here for a copy of the report. Click Here for a one page summary.

Visit the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center website to learn more about the recycling industry and the assistance available to reuse or recycle materials as part of your business.

Related Articles This Week:

-- Independence Conservancy To Hold 3 Waste Tire Collection Events In Allegheny, Beaver Counties Starting April 25  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- Inquirer: Philly’s Clean And Green Office Wants ‘Vast Network’ Of Surveillance Cameras To Catch Illegal Dumpers 

-- DailyLocal.com: ‘I Can’t Stand Litter:’ Chester County Employees Among Crew Cleaning Up ‘Filthy’ Caln Road

-- WHYY: Philadelphia Could Extend Controversial Chester Trash Incineration Contract Amid Criticism

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: DEP Holds Public Meeting On Proposed Waste Transfer Station In Hazleton

[Posted: April 9, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

Thursday PA Environment & Energy Articles - NewsClips: 4.9.26

“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.”

-- Article I, Section 27 Pennsylvania Constitution  [It’s Not A Suggestion]

House Voting Schedule

April 13, 14, 15, 27, 28, 29

May 4, 5, 6

June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

September 28, 29, 30

October 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21

November 9, 10

-- Committee Schedule

Senate Voting Schedule

April 20, 21, 22

May 4, 5, 6

June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events 

TODAY Noon: Virtual. DEP Webinar On Community Energy Development Program; Local Governments Can Apply For Assistance In Developing Energy Transition Plans Thru April 15. Noon.

April 10-- NEW. Virtual. PennFuture, Partners Host Webinar On PUC A.I. Data Centers Large Load Model Tariff .  12:30 to 2:00 p.m. 

April 13-- NEW. House Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill 2076 (Venkat-D- Allegheny, Williams-R-Chester), bipartisan legislation that would establish a regulatory framework for the generation of geothermal resources in the state. [draft amendment]; House Bill 2223 (Fiedler-D- Philadelphia) requiring electric utilities to evaluate the use of advanced transmission technologies when they file transmission line siting applications [draft amendment]; House Bill 2347 (Fiedler-D-Philadelphia) would update the duties of the PA Energy Development Authority and board membership [draft legislation].  Room 205 Ryan Building. 10:30 a.m. Click Here to watch online.  Read more here on the agenda.

April 13-- Virtual. Penn State Extension Webinar On Geothermal Energy Opportunities.  Noon to 1:00 p.m. 

April 14-- NEW. House Energy Committee holds a hearing on House Bill 2348 (Fiedler-D- Philadelphia) updating the state’s net metering policy related to renewable and other distributed energy resources.  Room 60 East Wing of the Main Capital. 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.

April 14-- Agenda Posted. Environmental Quality Board meeting. 9:00 a.m. Contact: Laura Griffin, Regulatory Coordinator, laurgriffi@pa.gov,  (717) 772-3277.

April 14-- Agenda Posted. DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. 12:30 p.m. Contact: Ian Irvin iirvin@pa.gov or 717-579-0329.  Read more here on agenda.

April 16-- DCED PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council meeting.  Penn State, State College.  10:00.  Contact: Adam Walters 717-214-6548 or adwalters@pa.gov. 

April 30-- DEP Oil & Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. 10:00 a.m. Contact: Todd M. Wallace twallace@pa.gov.  (formal notice)

-- DEP/Environmental Quality Board Withdraws Proposed Regulation Changing Notification Requirements For Spills, Releases Saying Technical Guidance Is More Appropriate  [PaEN]

-- PUC Raises Cost, Other Concerns With Proposed 222 Mile Kammer Juniata Electric Transmission Line Project Going Through 10 PA Counties [To Help Feed A.I. Data Center Demands In Eastern PA]  [PaEN] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: PUC Oppose Kammer Juniata Transmission Line Project Over Cost Recovery Terms

-- PA Solar Center, Partners Host April 17 Webinar On How Energy Storage, Solar Energy Create Resilient Communities Featuring DEP's Report On Microgrids, Energy Storage  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: Solar Energy Facility Planned In Swisshelm Park Would Power 4 Pittsburgh Public Schools 

-- TheDerrick.com: Oil City Hears From Solar Energy Company On Proposed Installation Near High School In Venango County

-- WESA/Allegheny Front: Shell Petrochemical Plant Draft Air Permit Finds Support, Opposition At DEP Hearing 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: DEP Hearing On Proposed Emission Limit Increases For Shell Petrochemical Plant A Temperature Check For Residents, Union Workers In Beaver County

-- TribLive - Joe Napsha: CNX Midstream Seeks To Tap Beaver Run Drinking Water Reservoir For Fracking Water In Westmoreland County  

-- Commonwealth Foundation Guest Essay: Pennsylvania LNG Natural Gas Key To American Energy Independence [Making Pennsylvanians Compete For Their Own Gas With High-Priced Overseas Markets] 

-- Powering PA Forward: Broad Coalition Forms To Champion Smart Energy Policies, Protect PA Jobs And Economic Growth [PaEN]

-- PA Extends Low-Income Energy Assistance Program Application Period To May 8; President Calls For Eliminating The Program Next Year  [PaEN] 

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation Joins Lawsuit Over Federal Repeal Of Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding  [PaEN] 

-- FOX43: Chesapeake Bay Foundation Gives Students Hands-On Education On The Conodoguinet Creek 

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Releases 2025 Annual Report Highlighting Data Center, Natural Gas Water Use, Climate Change, Road Salt Study, More  [PaEN] 

-- Post-Gazette: Sustainable Sip-Off Brings Together Regional Breweries For A Competition During Pittsburgh NFL Draft Week 

-- DailyLocal.com: ‘I Can’t Stand Litter:’ Chester County Employees Among Crew Cleaning Up ‘Filthy’ Caln Road

-- PennLive: From Cuddling Goats To Exploring Caves, Earth Day Events Bloom Across Central PA

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: DEP Holds Public Meeting On Proposed Waste Transfer Station In Hazleton

-- PA Bar Association Quarterly: Examining The Evolution Of The PA Environmental Rights Amendment Through A Municipal Lens

-- DCNR Resource News: Laurel Caverns State Park Opening; Volunteer Opportunities; Replace Invasive Plants, Much More! 

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Laurel Caverns Belongs To All Pennsylvanians

-- DCNR Grants News: McCahill Park Improves Recreation, Stormwater Management; Lumber Region Anniversary; Open Space A Catalyst For Community Impact Webinar

-- DCNR Linkedin:  Recognizing The Impact Of Conservation Volunteers On Pennsylvania’s Public Lands - By DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn  [PDF of Article]

-- ClearWater Conservancy Kicks Off 10th Season Of Centred Outdoors - Free Guided Outings, Wellness Programs, Adventure Hikes  [PaEN] 

-- FCFreePressPA.com: Buttonwood Nature Center Presents 35th Earth Day Celebration April 25 In Franklin County 

A.I. /Data Centers

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Luzerne County Planning Commission Continues A.I. Data Center Zoning Discussion 

-- Williamsport Sun: Panelists Compare Coming A.I. Data Centers To What Shale Gas Did To The Region; ‘This Isn’t Something That You Stop’ Said PPL President ‘It’s Something You Are Responsible With’ [PDF of Article] 

-- Utility Dive: Pennsylvania DEP Seeks Potential Fast-Track Energy Storage, Generation Projects In Response To PJM Expedited Interconnection Track

 

-- WHYY: Gov. Shapiro Calls PECO ‘s Proposed 12.5% Electric, 11.4% Natural Gas Increase ‘Pure Greed’ 

-- AP: President Promised To Cut Electric Bills In Half, Bills In Energy-Rich West Virginia Now Top Mortgages  

Today’s Oil & Gas Violations

-- DEP Hosts April 15 Webinar On How To Do Trenchless Pipeline Construction Safely After Major Incidents In 2025 Causing The Release Of 1.2 Million Gallons Of Drilling Fluids Into Abandoned Mine Voids In Washington County. 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

[Energy Independence Means Renewables]

-- April 9: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Didn’t Change From Yesterday, Now $1.08/Gallon Higher To $4.19 Since Feb. 27  [Warren County, PA Climbed To $4.37, Home Of Conventional Oil Industry]

-- April 9: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.16 Ohio- $3.93  PA- $4.19

-- Feb. 27: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $2.98  Ohio- $2.79  PA- $3.11

-- Bloomberg: Oil Rises After Biggest Drop Since 2020 As Hormuz Stays Blocked

-- AP: Ceasefire In The Iran War Teeters In The Face Of Disagreements Over Lebanon And Iran’s Closure Of The Strait Of Hormuz

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- AP: PA Supreme Court Ends Mandatory Use Of Life-Without-Parole For 2nd Degree Murder; But Did Not Address Whether It Overturns The Sentences Of 1,000 Inmates Already Serving The Now Illegal Jail Sentence  

-- WITF: PA’s Top Election Official Al Schmidt Thinks Fears Of Widespread Voting Fraud Are Overblown 

-- WESA: Special Election For Vacant Butler County PA House Seat Set For Aug. 18

-- Spotlight PA: Primary Election 2026: Your Guide To Candidate For Governor Josh Shapiro

-- Spotlight PA: Primary Election 2026: Your Guide To Candidate For Governor Stacy Garrity

-- The Hill: Shapiro Teases 2028 Presidential Run: ‘I’ll Be A Part Of That Conversation’

-- Bucks Courier Times: 1,000 On PA Sex Offender Registry Listed As Non-Compliant

-- PennLive: Harrisburg Area Community College To Cut Programs, Shrink Campuses Amid Declining Enrollment

-- TribLive: As Food Prices Continue To Rise, Western PA Food Banks See Climbing Demand 

-- Post-Gazette: PA Members Of Congress Deluzio, Lee Say President’s Rhetoric On Iran Makes Him Unfit For The Presidency

-- Post-Gazette Column: A President Shouldn’t Threaten To Kill Innocent People On Easter - By David Hills, Deputy Editorial Page Editor

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: The President Has No Clothes - By Maxwell King, former Editor Philadelphia Inquirer, President, Heinz Endowments

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[Posted: April 9, 2026]  PA Environment Digest