Resources

For three decades, ILSR has researched and documented the economic development benefits of reuse and recycling, and how communities can attract recycling- and reuse-based businesses. The following ILSR resources can be ordered by downdoading our order form. Some are available online in whole or in part as PDF files

Government/Community Based Sources and Strategies for
Financing Recycling Enterprises
by Neil Seldman
1998, 48 pages
$15 ($10 for NRC members, incl. S&H) from the National Recycling Coalition (NRC), 1727
King Street, Suite 105, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 683-9025
Download PDF file
Prepared for the National Recycling Coalition by Self-Reliance Inc., this report discusses recent developments in community and small business financing, identifies barriers and current needs, and outlines steps for linking recycling-based community development and small business financing. Appendices list and survey prominent community development corporations and finance institutions.

Creating Wealth from Everyday Items
by Brenda Platt
1997, 47 pages
$15.00
ISBN 0-917582-95-0, LC 97-1338
View introduction
This report profiles six model reuse operations and seven programs that collect reusable goods from households. Each profile documents materials handled, marketing information, process and equipment utilized, costs, and replicability. The report also details job creation and other community benefits of reuse.

Plug into Electronics Reuse
by Brenda Platt and Jennifer Hyde
1997, 47 pages
$15.00
ISBN 0-917582-92-6, LC 97-97
View introduction
Because computers become obsolete so swiftly, they are often discarded with many or all working components. This report provides contact information on 150 computer recovery facilities as well as in-depth profiles of the operating experiences of 13 that focus on computer reuse. Operations profiled are all replicable and many are interested in starting similar enterprises in other cities. The report also documents job creation and the other community benefits of computer reuse.

Sustaining Businesses & Jobs through Pallet Repair & Reuse
by Brenda Platt and Jennifer Hyde
1997, 28 pages
$15.00
ISBN 0-917582-94-2, LC 97-1335
View introduction
While pallet repair businesses are becoming more common, many pallets are still discarded without repair or salvage. This report lists 31 pallet reuse businesses interested in expanding, and documents jobs through pallet recovery. Profiles of five enterprises detail sources of pallets, repair equipment and process, and more. An appendix lists 193 pallet recovery facilities.

Weaving Textile Reuse into Waste Reduction
by Brenda Platt
1997, 49 pages
$15.00
ISBN 0-917582-93-4, LC 97-3520
View introduction
By documenting 10 programs that collect discarded textiles from households, this reports shows how to integrate textiles into existing recycling programs. Key tips for replication (such as partnering with local charities) are highlighted. Appendices provide sample outreach materials and list companies accepting municipal textiles. The report includes data on the jobs sustained by textile recycling facilities.

Community Development Corporations and Reuse Operations: Four Case Studies of Working Relationships
by Michael Lewis, Russell Clark, and Jeffrey Vandall
1996, 20 pages
$8.00
This document profiles four reuse operations and the community development corpora-tions (CDCs) with which they work. New neighborhood jobs, low- and no-cost materials for CDC programs, and cost savings are examined. Prepared for the National Congress for Community Economic Development and the Economic Development Administration.

Reuse Operations: Community Development Through Redistribution of Used Goods
by Michael Lewis, Russell Clark,
Jeffrey Vandall, and Neil Seldman
1995, 60 pages
$12.00
ISBN 0-917582-95-0, LC 95-31168
This text surveys 67 reuse operations. The report covers materials targeted; warehouse, brokering, and listing services; warehouse and truck parameters; and employment practices. It also addresses financing reuse enterprises.

Financing Recycling-Related Ventures: Options for Community Development
by Michael Lewis, Jeffrey Vandall, Russell Clark, and Neil Seldman
1995, 31 pages
$12.00
ISBN 0-917582-94-2, LC 95-31169
This guide lists financing and funding institutions available for recycling-related ventures, and includes a glossary of financing terms. It profiles 18 specific sources of capital, their requirements, and contact information.

Manufacturing from Recyclables:
24 Case Studies of Successful Enterprises
by Michael Lewis, Timothy Swope, Bhushan Tuladhar, Daniel Sapon-Borson, Taraneh Stallings, and Tom Martin
1995, 115 pages, EPA-530-R-95-001
FREE (S&H not included)
This study presents 24 state-of-the-art U.S. manufacturers utilizing recycled materials as feedstock. Includes details on feedstocks, process, products, economics, and replicability. Valuable for those interested in attracting new businesses to their communities. Published by the U.S. EPA.

Recycling Means Business in Baltimore, D.C., and Richmond
by Brenda Platt, Henry Jeanes,
and Anne Kaufmann
1995, 86 pages
$12.00
This report documents the jobs and revenues created by recycling and disposal operations in three cities. Appendices detail each city's recycling activities and businesses

Recycling Means Business for the Baltimore, D.C., and Richmond Regions: Two Choices for the Future (poster)
by Brenda Platt, Henry Jeanes,
Anne Kaufmann, and Neil Seldman
1995, 32" x 22.5"
$6.00
This multi-color poster illustrates the economic growth and job potential for Baltimore, D.C., and Richmond during the next decade if recycling is maximized.

Recycling Economic Development Through Scrap-Based Manufacturing
by Michael Lewis
1994, 42 pages
$20.00
ISBN 0-917582-97-7, LC 94-5188
This report documents manufacturer use of scrap materials and associated jobs and value added. It lays out strategies for keeping these benefits in the community and establishing scrap-based industries. An excellent primer for those interested in recycling-based economic development.

Creating Local Recycling Markets
by Tom Martin
1994, 31 pages
$6.00
This booklet discusses how to develop local recycling-based production and manufacturing enterprises.

Preparing a Business Plan for a Small-Scale Recycling Related Venture
by Michael Lewis
1994, 8 pages
$6.00
This booklet describes how to develop a business plan for a recycling enterprise. A glossary defines some basic accounting and economic terms.

Expanding Scrap-based Manufacturing through the Community Joint-Venture Process
by Neil Seldman and Tom Martin
1994, 27 pages
$6.00
This booklet provides information to help community economic development organizations create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for their constituents through recycling. It focuses on using public-private joint ventures to attract and expand scrap-based manufacturing.

The Economic Benefits of Recycling (monograph)
by Brenda Platt and David Morris
1993, 15 pages
$10.00
This report discusses the efficiency of recycling, cost-effective programs, and the jobs and value added created through recycling. A valuable tool for those arguing the case for recycling.

States Close the Loop:
A Survey of Recycled Content Laws and Other Market Development Strategies
by Lauri Aunan
1993, 56 pages
$10.00
Are state recycled content laws effective? This report provides a comprehensive analysis of state recycled content laws, and documents the experiences of states that have enacted such laws. A collaborative project of the National Environmental Law Center, Californians Against Waste Foundation, and ILSR.

Salvaging the Future: Waste-Based Production
by Caroline Rennie and Alair MacLean
1989, 162 pages
$25.00
ISBN 0-917582-37-3, LC 89-11209
Using a hypothetical American city of one million people, this groundbreaking study on value added to discarded material presents a detailed forecast of the costs and benefits of recycling. Four common material commodities found in a city's waste stream are analyzed to determine their ability to maximize value added to the city's economy, and how each can satisfy a portion of the city's material needs.