Recycled Materials Association

Name

Recycled Materials Association

Legal name

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.

Website

https://recycledmaterials.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recycled Materials Trade Association

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Waste Management and Remediation Services (562), Waste Collection (56211)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Papers & Allied Products (2600), Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)

akta.pro primary industry

Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) & Single-Stream Recycling Processing (IMAIAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Paper & Fiber Recovery Facilities (Old Corrugated Containers, Mixed Paper) (EUAIADAH), Single-Stream MRFs (Residential Curbside) (EUAIADAA), Specialty Materials Recovery (Carpet, Mattresses, Bulky Items) (EUAIADAL)

Keywords

• Recycled materials trade association
• Scrap recycling industry
• Recycling safety compliance
• Recycled commodities advocacy
• Recycling industry workforce

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: ReMA generates revenue through membership fees from 1,700 recycling companies across the supply chain including processors, brokers, consumers, and equipment and service providers.
2. Annual conventions and events: ReMA hosts major annual conventions including ReMA2027 (Nashville) and ReMA2026 (San Diego) attracting close to 7,000 industry professionals. Revenue comes from registration, sponsorships, and exhibitor fees.
3. SREA compliance reports: ReMA provides SREA (Superfund Recycling Equity Act) Reasonable Care Compliance reports through partner KERAMIDA. Pricing: $85 for members during Open Season, $100-$260 during Off Season, $400 for non-members.
4. Safety training and certifications: ReMA offers on-demand safety courses covering electric vehicles, lockout/tagout, forklift operation, and general safety best practices. Also provides facility training and new employee orientation programs.
5. Publications and yearbook: ReMA publishes the annual Recycled Materials Industry Yearbook, a comprehensive reference document with statistical data about the industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) is a nonprofit trade association that represents approximately 1,700 recycling companies across the U.S. supply chain. It provides membership services, federal and state advocacy, safety and compliance programs (including the SREA Reasonable Care Compliance Program), workforce development, an annual convention, the annual Recycled Materials Industry Yearbook, and educational/training resources for processors, brokers, consumers, and equipment/service providers in the recycled materials industry.

Product overview

The Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) is a trade association representing approximately 1,700 recycling companies. Rather than a single unified software product, ReMA's portfolio consists of membership services, annual conventions, educational and safety training programs, compliance tools, and sustainability resources. Core offerings include annual membership providing chapter-based networking, advocacy, and business resources; the annual ReMA convention (the world's largest recycling industry gathering); the Recycled Materials Industry Yearbook (annual statistical reference); the SREA Reasonable Care Compliance Program (Superfund liability defense through environmental due diligence reports via KERAMIDA); safety and compliance training including on-demand courses and the Circle of Safety Excellence (COSE) member initiative; workforce development through the ReMA Pathways Program and JASON Learning youth education curriculum; and sustainability tools including an ESG toolkit and the Fiber Recycling Readiness Tool. Additional brand extensions include ReMA Connect (iOS mobile app), ReMA Studios (video platform), ReMA Pro Shop (merchandise store), Materials Theft Alert, and RIOS Certification. ReMA does not offer a public or partner-facing API, and its technology stack does not include AI-powered product features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ReMA Membership Annual membership for recycling companies providing access to 18 chapters across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, advocacy representation, member directory, educational resources, safety/compliance programs, and affinity discount programs.
• ReMA Annual Convention The largest annual gathering of the recycled materials industry in the world, bringing together thousands of professionals for skills development, knowledge sharing, networking, and business growth. ReMA 2027 is scheduled for April 12-15 in Nashville, Tennessee; ReMA 2026 in San Diego.
• Recycled Materials Industry Yearbook An annual comprehensive reference document containing statistical data, economic impact figures, commodity data, and industry overview information about the recycled materials industry.
• SREA Reasonable Care Compliance Program Compliance program helping recyclable materials processors and brokers perform due diligence on consuming facilities' environmental compliance records as required by federal law, providing a defense against Superfund liability claims. Reports are sourced through environmental consulting firm KERAMIDA.
• Safety and Compliance Training On-demand and in-person safety courses covering high voltage electric vehicle technology, lockout/tagout, forklift operation, fire safety, general safety best practices, and OSHA-aligned training developed under the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program.
• ReMA Pathways Program Workforce management resources and programs designed to help ReMA members recruit people into careers in the recycled materials industry, spanning early introduction for students to experienced workers.
• Circle of Safety Excellence (COSE) A member-only initiative to improve worker, vehicle, and facility safety within the recycled materials industry. COSE members voluntarily share best practices for safety improvement.
• Sustainability & ESG Toolkit A toolkit helping ReMA members learn about sustainability strategy background, concepts, value, and implementation processes within the recycled materials industry, including ESG-focused resources.
• Youth Education Program (JASON Learning) ReMA-partnered recycling-based STEM curriculum for students in kindergarten through 12th grade through JASON Learning, including lesson plans, hands-on activities, and interactive web-based experiences.
• ReMA Connect (Mobile App) A mobile application providing members access to ReMA resources, industry information, and connectivity on iOS devices.

Quantifiable outcome

• The recycled materials industry generates $184 billion in total annual economic activity across the U.S. economy
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered innovation sponsor, women in recycling sponsor, safety sponsor, core and minor.

• ReSparKinnovation sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerInnovation Sponsor for ReMA, providing support for the association's innovation initiatives and programs.
• Valis Insightswomen in recycling sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen In Recycling Sponsor supporting ReMA's diversity and inclusion initiatives in the recycling industry.
• OmniSourcesafety sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerSafety Sponsor for ReMA events and safety programming, supporting ReMA's core value of safety in the recycled materials industry.
• JASON LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReMA has partnered with JASON Learning on recycling-based STEM curriculum to help students and educators understand the importance of recycling and the recycled materials industry. The partnership includes lesson plans, hands-on activities, and interactive web-based experiences for K-12 students.
• KERAMIDAcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEnvironmental consulting firm selected by ReMA to provide SREA Reports. KERAMIDA has 30 years of expertise in conducting environmental due diligence, access to over 1,200 federal, state, and local regulatory databases, and experience interpreting environmental regulations. Compiles comprehensive facility evaluations for Superfund liability defense.
• Materials Recycling Association of India (MRAI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReMA collaborates closely with MRAI on a range of activities supporting the flourishing scrap trade between the U.S. and India, including providing input to the Indian Government's development of a national recycling policy, consulting on new scrap import standards, and advising members on policies and regulations governing scrap trade. India is the U.S. recycling industry's largest growth market.
• National Association of ManufacturersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReMA worked alongside the National Association of Manufacturers to advocate for provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that promoted long-term economic growth, domestic manufacturing, and private sector investment.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS): PLASTICS is the U.S. trade association representing the entire plastics supply chain, including resin producers, converters, and recyclers. It is a broad incumbent in ReMA's orbit, with overlapping interests in plastic recycling, chemical recycling policy, and packaging sustainability, but with a wider scope than ReMA's processor/broker membership.
• American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA): AF&PA is the U.S. trade association for the paper and forest products industry, including major paper recyclers and mills. It is a broad incumbent peer to ReMA in the paper/fiber recycling segment, with advocacy, sustainability, and recovery programs that overlap with ReMA's paper and fiber member categories.

Others

• ISRI (historical entity): ReMA was formerly known as the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI); this is not a separate peer but historical context. Listed for completeness as the legacy brand that became ReMA.
• Resource Recycling, Inc. Resource Recycling publishes trade publications, conferences, and data products (e.g., the Recycling Markets Directory) serving the U.S. and Canadian recycling industry. It is an adjacent ecosystem player, providing content and events that complement ReMA's advocacy and convention offerings.

Emerging players

• Closed Loop Partners: Closed Loop Partners is an investment firm and accelerator focused on building the circular economy, including recycling infrastructure, reuse systems, and sustainable packaging. It is an emerging peer/adjacent player with overlapping stakeholders and a related mission to grow U.S. recycling capacity, though it operates more as a funder than an association.

Direct peers

• Bureau of International Recycling (BIR): BIR is the global federation of the recycling industry, headquartered in Brussels, representing national recycling associations and companies worldwide. It is the closest direct international peer to ReMA, with comparable advocacy, conventions, and trade policy missions across the same recycled materials categories.
• National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA): NWRA is the U.S. trade association representing private-sector waste and recycling haulers, processors, and disposal companies. It is a directly comparable peer to ReMA, with overlapping advocacy, safety, and convention programming, though its focus tilts more toward collection/haulers while ReMA tilts toward processors and brokers.
• Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA): SWANA is a professional association for the solid waste management industry, serving public and private sector members across North America. It is comparable to ReMA in providing advocacy, training, certification, and an annual conference, though SWANA's scope extends more to municipal solid waste and landfill operations.
• The Recycling Partnership: The Recycling Partnership is a U.S. nonprofit focused on improving recycling systems through funding, technical assistance, and public education. It is a peer nonprofit operating in the same recycled materials advocacy and infrastructure space, with overlapping corporate and government stakeholders.

Regional players

• Materials Recycling Association of India (MRAI): MRAI is the national trade body representing India's recycling industry and is a formal strategic partner of ReMA. It is a regional peer with a similar advocacy, training, and trade mission focused on the Indian market, and it directly engages with ReMA on cross-border scrap trade and policy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/WeAreReMA
• YouTubevideos.isri.org/home
• Facebookfacebook.com/recycledmaterialsassoc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wearerema
• Instagraminstagram.com/we_are_rema

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Recycled Materials Association