Because this waste may still be functional and wanted mostly by the poor, the poor may sell or use it at a greater efficiency than large recyclers.

ReCellular is the world's largest recycler and reseller of cell phones.

"That probably makes us one of the state's largest recyclers of ferrous," he said.

Umicore is the world's largest recycler of precious metals.

Nucor is North America's largest recycler of any material, recycling one ton of steel every two seconds.

During its time in operation, it was one of Canada's largest recyclers.

Atlas claims to be, at 40 tons a day, Manhattan's largest private recycler of paper.

He joined Safety-Kleen, a large recycler of cleaning fluids, in 1987.

Waste Management is North America's largest residential recycler, currently managing more than 8.5 million tons of materials, including metal, plastic, glass, electronics and paper at 128 facilities.

Under Shegerian's stewardship, ERI has fast become the largest and most efficient recycler of electronic waste in the world.