Increase in recycling collection fatalities in the USA

United States – The number of deaths among recyclable materials collectors in the USA increased last year to 33 from 22 in 2014, according to latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Refuse and recyclable materials collection is the fifth most dangerous job in the USA, concludes the federal agency.

In 2015, 24 of the fatalities were in the private sector while nine occurred in the public sector. Nine people were killed at private landfills and three were fatally injured at private materials recovery facilities, according to the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA).

Both the NWRA and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) have urged companies to make safety a top priority. ‘With our Safety Matters webpage and frequent workshops across the country, our goal is to provide the helpful and necessary resources to contribute to reducing accidents and injuries in the industry,’ stresses SWANA’s ceo David Biderman. ‘Nothing we do is more important.’

NWRA’s interim ceo Kevin Kraushaar echoes: ‘Safety is a top priority for NWRA and, with that, our members are committed to sharing best practices and working together on a road map that we expect will save lives, reduce injuries and lower incident rates.’