Let’s get straight to the point. 

If you own a waste management company and you're not making money from Secondary Raw Materials (SRMs), you're leaving a fortune on the table. 

And worse—you’re probably handing that fortune to your competitors or, even more disgraceful, to foreign markets.

I know the industry. I’ve seen the numbers. And I can tell you with absolute certainty: the future of waste management isn't just about collecting trash—it’s about selling gold. No, not the shiny metal—I'm talking about the real goldmine in our business: paper, plastic, aluminum, steel, and other SRMs that manufacturers are desperate to get their hands on.

For decades, American waste companies have been stuck in a rut. The game has been the same: collect waste, dump it, get paid, and repeat. But the rules have changed. Those who understand how to monetize SRMs will dominate the next decade. Those who don’t? Well, good luck staying afloat.

Let’s break this down.

[Download the eBook “Thriving With Waste”]

Why SRMs Are the Most Valuable Asset in Waste Management Today

Manufacturers across the U.S. are looking for alternatives to expensive, tariff-laden raw materials. And guess what? SRMs are the answer.

Forget the outdated idea that recycled materials are inferior. Today, technology has made secondary raw materials just as good—sometimes better—than virgin materials. And the best part? They’re cheaper for manufacturers, and they offer massive profit margins for those who control the supply.

Let’s look at the numbers:

• Aluminum: 80% of U.S. aluminum production already comes from recycled material. Virgin aluminum costs $2,400-$3,000 per ton, while recycled aluminum costs $1,500-$2,000 per ton. The demand for SRM aluminum is off the charts.

• Steel: The U.S. consumes over 80 million tons of steel annually. Scrap steel costs 40% less than virgin steel. Manufacturers will take as much of it as you can sell.

• Paper & Cardboard: The demand for recycled paper is skyrocketing. Companies like Amazon, FedEx, and Walmart need an endless supply for packaging.

• Plastic: Virgin plastic prices are climbing due to oil costs. Recycled PET and HDPE are now prized commodities.

If you're still dumping these materials instead of selling them, you're not in the waste management business—you’re in the business of burning money.

[Download the eBook “Thriving With Waste”]

The Financial Windfall: How Much Can You Really Make?

Now, let’s talk about the real money.

We’re not in this for feel-good stories—we’re in this for hard cash. And there’s a lot of it to be made.

1. Selling SRMs = Bigger Margins

If you run a waste company, you’re already handling materials like aluminum, steel, paper, and plastic. The only difference between a company making millions in SRM sales and one scraping by? Knowing how to extract and sell these materials the right way.

If you could divert just 30% of your collected waste into SRMs instead of dumping it, you could add an extra 25-50% in revenue—without increasing operational costs.

Let’s say you collect 100,000 tons of waste per year. If just 30% of that is valuable SRMs, that’s 30,000 tons of sellable material.
At even a modest $150 per ton, that’s $4.5 million in additional revenue. And that’s the low end.

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2. Eliminating the Duty Trap

Do you know why China and India dominate manufacturing? Because they don’t pay duties on their raw materials like American manufacturers do. The U.S. has tariffs on steel, aluminum, plastics, and other imports. But domestic SRMs dodge those tariffs completely.

This means that American manufacturers will gladly pay a premium for high-quality domestic SRMs—because it still saves them money compared to importing.

Waste companies that step into this role aren’t just making money—they’re becoming indispensable players in the U.S. manufacturing supply chain.

[Download the eBook “Thriving With Waste”]

3. Locking in Long-Term Buyers

Manufacturers hate uncertainty. Their biggest fear? Fluctuating material costs. If you can offer a consistent supply of quality SRMs, they will sign long-term contracts with you. That means predictable, recurring revenue for years.

Imagine having 5-10 industrial clients locked in at $500,000 per year each. That’s $5+ million in guaranteed revenue every year—from material you were probably throwing away.

[Download the eBook “Thriving With Waste”]

Why Most Waste Companies Will Never See This Money (And How You Can Win)

Here’s the cold truth: Most waste company owners won’t make this shift.
They’ll keep doing business the old way, complaining about landfill fees, rising fuel costs, and tighter margins.

Meanwhile, those who seize the SRM opportunity will dominate the industry.

Here’s how to make sure you’re one of the winners:

Step 1: Stop Thinking Like a Trash Hauler—Start Thinking Like a Supplier

You’re not in the waste business. You’re in the commodities business.
The second you start seeing your company as a supplier of raw materials instead of just a garbage collector, everything changes.

[Download the eBook “Thriving With Waste”]

Step 2: Identify the High-Value Materials You’re Already Collecting

Look at your waste stream. What percentage is aluminum, steel, cardboard, plastics?
The answer is probably more than you think. Start tracking it.

[Download the eBook “Thriving With Waste”]

Step 3: Set Up Direct Sales Channels

You don’t need to sell to middlemen. Go straight to manufacturers.
Call local packaging plants, steel foundries, or beverage companies. They want direct access to SRMs—and they’ll pay more for a reliable supplier.

[Download the eBook “Thriving With Waste”]

Step 4: Invest in Sorting & Processing

Even simple upgrades—like better sorting at your MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) or adding partnerships with local processing plants—can double or triple your material value.

[Download the eBook “Thriving With Waste”]

Step 5: Lock in Contracts

Waste collection is a race to the bottom. SRM supply is a race to the top.
Get manufacturing clients locked into annual contracts. That’s where the real money is.

[Download the eBook “Thriving With Waste”]

The Bottom Line: Waste Companies That Control SRMs Will Control the Future

Let me be crystal clear:
This is the single biggest financial opportunity in waste management today.

Manufacturers are hungry for materials. Duties on raw imports are only making SRMs more attractive.
And yet, most waste company owners are still blind to the profit sitting right under their noses.

Here’s the deal:
💰 More revenue.
💰 Higher margins.
💰 Long-term contracts.
💰 Lower operational costs.
💰 Less exposure to landfill fees.

It’s all there for the taking.

So, are you going to be the waste company that adapts, thrives, and dominates the future?
Or will you be the one left behind, watching your competitors cash in while you struggle to survive?

The choice is yours. But I’ll tell you this: the winners in this game are already making their moves. The question is—are you?

Ready to take your waste business to the next level? Let’s talk.

This market won’t wait. And neither should you.

To Your Success

Sam Barrili
The Waste Management Alchemist