NWRA was one of only ten national organizations in a letter to members of Congress urging passage of the CHIPS Act, legislation that incentivizes domestic manufacturing of semiconductors. Semiconductors are needed to produce computer chips. “Technology in the waste industry is rapidly advancing,” said NWRA President and CEO Darrell Smith.” Our member companies depend on a reliable supply of computer chips for trucks and other equipment. We urge Congress to pass this important legislation quickly.”
Semiconductors are essential to nearly every sector of the economy, including waste and recycling, aerospace, automobiles, communications, clean energy, information technology and medical devices. Unfortunately, demand for semiconductors has outstripped supply, partly due to shifts arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. This has created a global chip shortage and resulted in backlogs for orders of new waste and recycling industry vehicles and equipment. The lost growth and jobs across all industries resulting from the shortage have, in turn, underscored the need for increased domestic manufacturing capacity that this legislation seeks to address.