NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons Highlights Recycling’s Vital Role in Manufacturing at ReMA2025

On Wednesday, May 14, the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) hosted National Association of Manufacturing (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons as he addressed ReMA2025 attendees and provided remarks on the state of the manufacturing industry.

“Recycling is a vital part of manufacturing—and for manufacturing to prosper in the U.S., we need a comprehensive strategy from our nation’s leaders,” Timmons said. “That means locking in and enhancing the 2017 tax reforms, rebalancing regulations, securing energy dominance, implementing common sense trade policy and building the workforce of tomorrow. ReMA is an essential part of that vision, and partnerships like the one between the NAM and ReMA show what’s possible when we work together toward shared goals. The NAM will continue to advocate for manufacturers across the country through our Manufacturers for Sensible Regulation coalition, of which ReMA is a vital member.”

Following his address, Timmons was joined by ReMA President Robin Wiener and ReMA Chair Colin Kelly for a “Conversation Between Manufacturing and Recycled Materials.” The discussion explored the current state of manufacturing, its role in the global economy, and how critical recycled materials are to the manufacturing process.

“America’s manufacturers rely on recycled materials for a significant portion of their raw material needs,” Wiener said. “Our industry supplies the materials to produce everything from the copper wires that bring electricity into our homes, the steel beams that support the bridges we drive across, the cars we drive in, the batteries that power our cars and phones, and the boxes and packaging that bring consumer goods into our homes. It’s hard to go a day—or even an hour—without using a product manufactured in part with recycled materials.”

More than 70% of all the recycled material processed in the United States is sold to domestic manufacturers. Examples of the recycled materials supplying the manufacturing industry abound:

• The U.S. steel industry relies on recycled materials, with more than 70% of the steel manufactured in the U.S. made from recycled ferrous metal.
• More than 75% of U.S. paper mills depend upon recycled paper for daily production needs.
• In the U.S., 80% of aluminum production comes from recycled aluminum.
• Recycled copper accounts for more than one-third of all copper, brass, and bronze produced.