The National Waste & Recycling Association is encouraged to see the waste and recycling industry move from fourth to fifth among the most dangerous occupations in the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics fatality data. Any workplace fatality is one too many, movement in the right direction reflects the continued commitment of our industry to strengthen safety practices, invest in training, and protect the men and women who serve our communities every day.
We remain focused on ensuring that fatality data accurately reflects the real-world work performed in our industry. We are currently awaiting the release of the supporting data behind the latest figures, and we have engaged independent researchers to conduct a comprehensive 20-year review of waste and recycling industry fatality data.
That report, which should be released later this year, will provide additional context and long-term trend analysis to help guide safety policy, industry practices, and advocacy efforts. Safety is not a ranking—it is a responsibility. NWRA and its members remain fully committed to continued improvement and helping ensure that all waste and recycling employees make it home safely to their families every night.
Learn more about NWRA’s commitment to safety here.
