Recycling-related companies among export honorees

A recycling and waste sector equipment provider and two trading firms that deal with recycled materials have been honored by the U.S. Department of Commerce with 2024 Presidential Awards for Export Achievements.

The Commerce Department and the U.S. Commercial Service agency of its International Trade Administration (ITA) have listed more than five dozen U.S. companies and organizations as having received “E” and “E Star” awards designed to recognize their contributions to increasing U.S. exports.

Among the E Award winners are Stellar Industries Inc., based in Garner, Iowa; and Pan American Zinc LLC, based in Miami.

Stellar makes hooklift trucks equipment commonly used in the waste and recycling hauling sectors, in addition to mechanic trucks, cranes, tire service trucks, trailers and service truck and van accessories. Although based in Garner, Stellar has grown to include five other locations in Iowa plus facilities in Nebraska and Pennsylvania.

Pan American Zinc helps customers market, source and recycle nonferrous metals around the globe. The company trades all nonferrous metals: primary ingots, industrial residues and scrap, specializing in aluminum, copper, lead and zinc*.

Also honored this year with an E Star Award is Sigma Recycling of Norcross, Georgia. Those awardees are recognized by the Commerce Department for having reported four years of additional export growth after receiving an initial E Award.

Sigma Recycling is a sourcing, inspection and supply chain management company for recyclable raw materials including plastic, metal, paper and rubber. Sigma is a U.S.-based business affiliated with Belgium-based Gemini Corp.

Originating in 1961 via a presidential executive order, the E Award was created to recognize U.S. companies that have grown their exports in overseas markets, along with companies or organizations that have facilitated the exports of others.

“Trade impacts the lives of every American worker, business and community,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo says. “I am proud to recognize this year’s president’s E and E Star award recipients for their efforts and contributions to increase economic prosperity across our country and further position the U.S. private sector as the partner of choice in markets around the globe.”

The 64 winners, who hailed from 32 different states, were recognized at a ceremony at the U.S. Department of Commerce Headquarters in Washington this spring.

*This item was updated to May 15 to delete the mention of a processing facility in Doral, Florida, which the company no longer operates.