2019 ISRI Annual Report

ISRI.ORG 7 2019 Annual Report Impact in a Year of Change ISRI fought back against Class 1 railroads’ unreasonable policies and excessive fees. ISRI and its members had numerous interactions with the Surface Transportation Board in 2019 to address issues including demurrage, rate reform, and revoking the commodity exemption for ferrous scrap. ISRI also educated members of Congress on how poor rail service and excessive demurrage charges are harming the scrap recycling industry. These meetings resulted in congressional support of the STB’s actions to help rail shippers. Further, the STB appointed an ISRI member to its Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council, giving us the opportunity to continue to educate board members about transportation problems and to submit supporting data. In 2019, ISRI’s efforts to refute bad science and negative media related to recycled rubber led to the creation of the Coalition for Better Fields and Surfaces. The Coalition developed master messaging documents, website content, a state legislature toolkit, social media graphics, and additional collateral to promote the benefits of recycled rubber and highlight industry facts. It also conducted proactive outreach to reporters. ISRI worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to issue a science-based report on crumb rubber used in athletic fields that would educate policy- makers and the public and provide a clear understanding of the facts with the proper context. Through our efforts, automobile shredder wear parts were excluded from the section 301 tariffs of 25% on Chinese imports, effective for year beginning April 18, 2019. Companies could apply for a refund of duties they had paid since July 2018, which will save the industry up to an estimated $20 million. Through member engagement with lawmakers, direct advocacy, and in coalition with other business groups, ISRI strongly advocated for the U.S. Congress to pass the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to support the more than 160,000 jobs and more than $7.7 billion in revenue related to U.S. scrap trade with those countries. ISRI joined with 26 other organizations urging minimum recycled content in plastic bags as part of effort to increase demand for film. As China continued to implement scrap import restrictions, ISRI submitted comments for U.S. government reports and to the Chinese government’s draft regulations defending the benefits of free and fair trade of scrap commodities. ISRI argued for the removal of scrap commodities from the Chinese waste framework and inclusion of them instead under the raw material designation. In late 2019, it became clear that China planned to reclassify certain nonferrous scrap grades as raw materials, a development we will work to leverage for other commodities and with other governments. When the crumb rubber infill issue arose, and our Tire & Rubber Division members were faced with a significant threat to the future of their businesses, ISRI stepped up. The financial and—more importantly—communications, lobbying, and technical support were critical to managing through an immediate crisis. Here we are five years later, still dealing with the fallout, and ISRI remains there with us in the battle. That is why we choose to be members of ISRI. –Kyle Eastman, Liberty Tire Recycling “