As appeared in The Dallas Morning News (29 July 2016 08:00 AM), Why is some plastic recycling no longer cost-effective? Blame fracking by Jeffrey Weiss

Why is some plastic recycling no longer cost-effective? Blame fracking

But only a few years ago, there was plenty of cash in reselling that trash — paper, plastics and metal — to provide a nice profit for the recycling companies and give money back to the cities and companies producing the waste. No longer. And if that doesn’t turn around, it may mean some people will pay relatively more for trash pickup than if the market for recycling were better.

As appeared on Green is Good Radio Interview (JUNE 15, 2015), The Life of Recycled Paper by John Shegerian

The Life of Recycled Paper

John Shegerian: Welcome back to another edition of Green Is Good. We’re here in beautiful downtown Vancouver at the ISRI edition of Green Is Good. And when I say the ISRI edition, this is ISRI’s annual conference – here in Vancouver this year for the first time ever, and Green Is Good is broadcasting from the beautiful downtown convention center in Vancouver. We’re so excited and honored to have with us today Joel Litman. He is the president and CEO of Texas Recycling. And to learn more about Texas Recycling, go to www.texasrecycling.com. Welcome to Green Is Good, Joel.

Joel Litman: Thank you John. Glad to be here.

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As appeared in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (June 7, 2015 7:56 p.m. ET), U.S. Is Awash in Glut of Scrap Materials by James R. Hagerty and Bob Tita

U.S. Is Awash in Glut of Scrap Materials

Scrapper Bob ‘Hoop’ Hooper was making as much as $400 a day selling scrap just three years ago. ‘Now I’m doing $100 to $200,’ he says. American companies have complained for the past year that the headwinds of a strong dollar and a slowing Chinese economy are hurting their earnings. For sellers of scrap metal, used cardboard boxes, and other waste, those headwinds are more like a hurricane. Waste has long been a major U.S. export, providing material to be melted in foreign steel mills or made into new paper products. But the strength of the dollar has made American waste pricier abroad, cutting demand in China, Turkey and other markets. Bob Hooper scavenges dumpsters and roadsides around Pittsburgh looking for steel, aluminum and other metals. But he’s finding it harder to make a living

Channel 8 WFAA news clip (Oct 5, 2014) about Texas Recycling surviving and thriving in a down economy—tips for small businesses, featuring Joel Litman.

As appeared in Recycling Markets (October 8, 2012 Vol. 50, No. 19), An Interview With Joel Litman: PSI Veteran Leads The Way For Chapter by Anna Dutko Rowley

“Voice of the Industry”

It’s been a challenging year so far for Joel Litman. Besides dealing with the cyclical ups and downs
of the paper recycling business, Litman is busy wrapping up his first year as President of the Paper Stock Chapter (PSI) of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), a position once held by his father Stan Litman from 1994 to 1996. Litman is currently President of Dallas, Texas based Texas Recycling/Surplus, a scrap fiber processor. I recently interviewed Litman on his plans for the plans for the Paper Stock Industries Chapter and for his company.