A conversation with Rich Christine of Easton Area Metal Recycling Inc.

Rich Christine is COO of Easton Area Metal Recycling Inc.

The company, which opened to the public in 2015, provides container pickup services with more than 200 containers in circulation through the Lehigh Valley.

Prior to joining the company he worked in the automotive industry for more than 30 years.

He is a lifelong resident of the Lehigh Valley and currently resides in Hellertown.

Outside of work he is a driving instructor for Porsche Club of America, and in the fall he guides hunting trips in Nebraska.

LVB: Recycling is imperative to maintaining a healthy environment and ecosystem. What strategies does Easton Area Metal Recycling Inc. implement in its business to ensure that waste is properly treated while being environmentally conscious?

Rich Christine: All materials are inspected prior to being accepted for recycling. We are not able to accept materials that are contaminated and that could be harmful to employees and/or the environment. We work closely with large industrial business in the Lehigh Valley, providing solutions to help them achieve zero-waste-to-landfill status.

Materials processed in our facility are shipped to foundries and repurposed to create new products, such as rebar, construction supplies and industrial equipment. It feels good to know that what I’m doing facilitates other companies’ manufacturing processes and keeps materials out of landfills.

LVB: Rules and regulations are constantly changing across all industries. What rules and regulations must Easton Area Metal Recycling Inc. adhere to regarding the Environmental Protection Agency, among others?

Christine: Easton Area Metal Recycling is subject to semiannual water testing with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. We employ best-management practices in managing water and monitor these controls daily to ensure that there is no runoff of sediment from our facility that could be harmful to waterways.

LVB: If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be?

Christine: I would like the public to have greater awareness of opportunities for recycling metals. It is estimated that only 70 percent of old U.S. steel and aluminum products are recycled. I would like to get the word out to residential customers about opportunities to recycle materials that they may now put out as garbage. I would also like to see an increase in domestic manufacturing, which would open opportunities for utilizing the scrap material that we process.