ISRI reached record-high attendance at its annual Roundtables event in Chicago. The ISRI Roundtables is the largest event in the country for traders, processors, and consumers of recycled commodities. It is known as the premiere deal-making, networking venue that directs commodities deals for the upcoming year. The two-and-a-half-day event was held Wednesday Sept. 14 to Friday Sept. 16 in Chicago. “The success of the 2022 ISRI Roundtables is indicative of the industry’s vital role as the key supplier of sustainable raw materials and driver of economic growth in the United States and around the world,” said ISRI Chief Joe Pickard.
Among the spectrum of market issues covered by analysts at the educational sessions, this year’s Roundtables featured a general session on electric vehicles (EVs) and battery recycling, an emerging topic of interest for the industry. Sandy Pierce, commodity trader at PADNOS, spoke at the Future of EV/Battery Recycling panel. “Recyclers have the agility to adopt to changes and help future generations grow in the business,” she said.
In addition to the networking opportunities and expert-led sessions, the Roundtables included a live tour of Sipi Metals Corporation on Sept. 15. Attendees of the sold-out tour received an inside look at an environmentally responsible precious metals recovery operation spanning the manufacturing process, mining operations, and electronics recycling process. ISRI Roundtables also hosted its first virtual press briefing on the current state of the economy and recycled materials industry, which was hosted by Pickard. “ISRI’s Roundtables 2022 provided a vast array of knowledge and networking opportunities for market participants across all segments of the recycled materials industry, and we look forward to building on this year’s success in 2023” Pickard added.