The View from the Moon: Why the Future of Recycling is Brighter Than the Headlines

This article is adapted from a keynote address delivered by Emily Sanchez, ReMA Chief Economist, during ReMA2026 on April 15, 2026. In her address, Sanchez offered a powerful shift in perspective. Amidst a sea of turbulent headlines-inflation, tariffs, and geopolitical unrest-Sanchez invited attendees to look at the economy from "the Moon." From that distance, the weather of daily crises fades, revealing the climate of long-term structural growth.

Resilience Over Recession

Despite three years of dire predictions, the U.S. economy has remained remarkably resilient, maintaining steady growth. While the labor market is cooling, Sanchez emphasized that it is not breaking. With unemployment remaining below long-run averages, the fundamental engine of the economy continues to hum, defying the narrative of an imminent collapse.

The Power of the "Displacement Phase"

Sanchez addressed the elephant in the room: rising electricity and energy costs. From the lunar perspective, these aren't signs of a broken system, but symptoms of a massive industrial buildout. We are currently in the "displacement phase" of an AI and technological revolution. This era of data centers, grid modernization, and reshoring is hungry for resources-specifically metal.

A Tailwind for Recycled Materials

For the recycled materials industry, the news is overwhelmingly positive. The very trends driving today's economic shifts-decarbonization, electrification, and infrastructure renewal-all run directly through recycled materials.

• Steel Evolution: Electric arc furnaces, which rely on recycled steel, continue to gain ground.
• Policy Support: Recycled content remains the most accessible path for heavy industry to meet decarbonization goals.
• Market Demand: Every reshored factory represents both a new supplier and a new buyer for our industry.

"The noise falls away, and the patterns come into view," Sanchez concluded. While market hesitation is real, the long-term trajectory is unmistakable. The world being built today cannot exist without recycled materials. Don't let the noise convince you otherwise.

For more from Emily Sanchez on what's currently driving the dynamic recycling market, read her conversationopens in a new tab with Gage Edwards and Waste360.