Robin Wiener has been serving as the President of ISRI since 1997. Having led it for the last 25 years, she has seen the industry grow and evolve, and ISRI has had to do the same. “I am proud of what we have done at ISRI to help our members along the way.  On the advocacy front, our successes over the years have included Superfund liability relief for recyclers, accelerated depreciation credits for purchasers of recycling equipment, steps towards shipping and rail reform, and authorization from EPA to recycle the plastics from ASR (this has been blocked prior to our efforts).”  ISRI’s safety programmes have helped bring down incidents and risks by members. The programme she is most proud of is the creation of ISRI’s youth outreach programme 10 years ago through its partnership with Jason Learning, which has resulted in its curriculum on recycling being used in schools around the U.S. “I can’t think of a better way to influence the next generation of policymakers, journalists, prospective employees and moms and dads!,” she notes.  

“Recycling and ISRI are in my blood!  I am also a mom of two beautiful daughters, who I love watching grow and evolve into young women who will live in a world where they will be able to choose whatever path they want to pursue for their future. Making sure that happens is a lot of what drives me,” says Wiener.  

When asked about why she chose the recycling industry, she says, “It chose me!”  Robin Wiener was working for an environmental consulting firm and starting law school at night when she needed to find a job closer to the law school.  ISRI was hiring and had an easy commute.  “I grabbed the job and fell in love with ISRI and the recycled materials industry.”

Challenges of being a woman in the industry

“Certainly, being the only woman in the room can sometimes be a challenge – and intimidating.  But I do see that changing.  And I am so excited by all the women I see coming up in the industry and starting to raise their voices.  We continue to get stronger as an industry as those voices emerge, and I can’t be any happier than I am to see that,” she adds.