Full order books, new name and a bit of nostalgia

ISRI 2024 was a show of mixed emotions. Certainly, the rebranding from the US Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries to the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) offers a new spirit the industry has been waiting for. But for some, change brings back memories of the ‘good old’ – and less complex – recycling past.

Even so, with a record 6 900 attendees and equipment suppliers seeing machinery sales skyrocketing, the Las Vegas convention and expo was a great success.

It had been all over the news: after 67 years the famous Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, once host to celebrities, criminals and 007, had closed its doors forever.

So, while in town, I decided to see for myself what the faded glory of Vegas hospitality looks like. On this early morning, the Tropicana neon signs still burn and even the billboards continue to announce Prince and Michael Jackson tribute shows ‘live every night’.

The show must on, or at least look like it does, even if the entrance is sealed off with a fence and maintenance has clearly stopped. Weeds are slowly but surely taking over while giant shears instead of guests’ cars occupy the parking lots alongside the hotel.

Soon the Tropicana will be demolished with explosives (another Vegas tradition) to be replaced by the city’s new attraction, a sports stadium, marking the end of ‘an icon of classic Sin City life’.

RECYCLING’S NEW ERA, TOO

Later that day, at the Mandalay Bay, a ten minute walk from the Tropicana, attendees of the ISRI 2024 Convention & Exposition witness their own historic moment when the US Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries officially rebrands as the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA).

The rebrand, new name and logo better reflect the evolution within the recycling industry and its member companies. ‘Who we are as an industry and association is not changing – but how we express our identity is,’ says outgoing ISRI chair Brian Henesey on Linkedin. He is wished all the best by one delegate who adds wittily: ‘You shall go down in history as the chair who killed ISRI’.

LOOK BEYOND THE YARD

According to Henesey, change is badly needed. ‘We must do more than run a good operation inside our own fences,’ he tells the conference. ‘We must help get a better understanding of what our industry does and make clear that our contribution, recycling, is crucial to the future of all.’

Henesey’s successor, Colin Kelly, in his role as the new ISRI (sorry: ReMA) chair, can only agree: ‘Let us embrace the opportunities that lie ahead…reimagining the future for generations to come. It’s not just about changing our name; it’s about changing the world.’

NOISE REDUCTION TOOLS

Meanwhile, in the expo hall of the Mandalay Bay, representatives of 370 recycling tech and equipment outfits are busy catching up with new and existing friends and customers.

Business is good and order books are full, says Rolf Schaffrath of ILG-International, provider of noise-reducing tools and systems. ILG has been very busy on the US market, especially with the trend to enclose shredder plants, which is mainly driven by ever-stricter environmental regulations.

‘For example, we’ve recently realised the complete encapsulation of a 8 000 HP facility in Minneapolis, along with dozens of other shredder operations, big and small, across the US.

In North America alone, ILG has ‘two years of new orders’ in the books already. Markets in Europe, Japan and Latin America are going well, too.

WANTED: US DEALER

For Italy’s Panizzolo Recycling Systems, North America is a relatively new but interesting and promising market. The company has recently sold a refining plant to a recycler in Quebec, Canada and the machine will be installed by September.

‘The problem is’, says Mauro Panizzolo over coffee, ‘we haven’t yet found a good dealer who can take care of after sales and maintenance. We simply cannot organise all that from Italy, you need a local company. In Mexico we have a dealer but to date we haven’t found one that’s fits our wishes for the US and Canada. So if anyone knows one, please get in touch.’

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