September 8, 2025

US Department of Labor renews national alliance to enhance worker safety in recycling industry

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration renewed its alliance with the Recycled Materials Association with the shared objective of improving the safety and health of workers in the recycling industry.

During the two-year agreement, OSHA and ReMA aim to produce valuable resources, including educational articles, fact sheets, and toolkits designed to prevent and reduce workplace hazards. The Alliance intends to develop training resources and informational tools for employers and workers on industry safety and health hazards including transportation, musculoskeletal injuries, slips, trips and falls, needlestick injuries, lithium battery-related incidents, hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), and heat and cold stress.

Participants will share information at industry conferences and engage in discussions at forums and meetings. A significant focus of the Alliance's outreach efforts will be directed towards small- and medium-sized employers, ensuring that all businesses within the recycling industry have access to essential safety information and resources.

OSHA's Alliance Program helps the agency develop working relationships with organizations committed to workplace safety and health. This includes trade and professional associations, labor unions, educational institutions, community and faith-based groups, and government agencies.

Alliance participants work with OSHA to provide workers and employers with information, guidance, and resources to promote safety and health in workplaces. Alliances also ensure that workers know their rights and employers understand their responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Learn more about OSHA.