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Recyclable exports on the rise, analysts sa~~ By Cheryl A. McMullen U.S. recyclers will increase the amount of recyclebles ex- ported to rebounding foreign markets in 2000 by signing long- term deals at good rates - something the 1999 markets didn't allow. Industry analysts have pre- dicted that exports of scrap metal and other recycled mate- rials will improve compared with 1999's downturn. Excluding the past year, the United States has been a net ex- porter of scrap metal. As the Asian markets pick up, more scrap metal will go overseas, and demand for recycled fiber exports will increase. Waste Management Inc., which hea held eteadfastin the top 10 of the Waste News Recy- cling Rankings, has changed its strategy and is putting more ef- fort into its recycling division. The recycling strategy includes a focus on exports, said Steve Ragiel, WMi vice president of re- cycling. The Houston-based company exported 500,000 tone of recy- clables in 1999. The amount is growing in 2000 and likely will continue to increase in the fu- ture, Ragiel said. Plastic ex- perts show promise as demand from Asia grows stronger, he said. High-grade paper also is in de- mand from European countries, Ragiel said, while Asia also of- fers opportunities for fibers. In addition to paper, WMI exported its first shipments of glass in 2000 to South America "The demand for raw materi- als for export from the U.S is def- initely growing;' Ragiel said. "Many exporters we've been working with have been more willing to contract with us with prices based in U.S. dollars, which baeicall,y eliminates cur- rency risk." A fair amount oC exporters are willing to do longer-term contracts with floor prices, which didn't happen in the past, Ragiel said. "It's a good sign for exports in general," he said. "There's a trend towards growth and a trend toward do- ing more contracting long-term. 1 see Lhose both as positives for a there l~.S. ~ a era v, m o '~ N ~ _~ O o recyclers will send their material in 2001 TO CANADA: °~ occ r Mlsed Paper ; ~ ; Serap Metal TO EUROPE Paper TO ASIA: OCC ~Mlsed paper TO MEXIC! `~~ OCC t9 Mlaed Paper TD SOUTH AMERICA: v-® I9 Serap Metal ; .~ Glass the industry." Capacity, too, is moving the in- dustry toward increased exports, said Celvi~Tigchelaer, president ~~~ Whatever success relation- Woost~in & Metal is finan- ships „nd service have brnu0hf cinlly ranc~•rvalivc. Sprrlar ti;iid. of Resources Management Cos., based in Naperville, Ill. Exports of most commodities arc selling at a good level, Tig- Wnsre Nltws, Ocfober2, 2000 ~f .t Plas c R occ chelaar said. There is a ma~o draw of material out of the Un ed States, and Lhat will coot nu for the neif.Year, he said. ^