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17 June 2002

ISIC 4 questionnaire - Summary of responses C7

For each of these issues, please provide your views concerning the importance and relevance of the issue, as well as any reasons for the preferred solution. Please add any other cross-cutting issues you would like to see addressed in the revision. C. Content and boundary issues 7. In ISIC Rev.3, Division 37 was introduced for recycling activities. This division was narrowly defined and creates boundary problems with Manufacturing and Wholesale trade, and does not reflect the general notion of recycling for many policy issues. Should recycling be redefined or grouped with other activities? Are there more appropriate definitions for recycling activities?

Nearly all of the 35 countries answering this question agreed on the importance of recycling as a matter of interest, but most reported boundary problems with Manufacturing and - mainly - Wholesale trade. Many countries mentioned that recycling would be a minor activity within a producing enterprise (e.g. metal waste) or only one part of waste management, which comprises, in one definition, waste collection and (industrial) separation (termed "Recovering", with input as waste and output as sorted raw material) and recycling (defined as a transformation to a new "secondary" raw material). The proposals on how these difficulties could be overcome are quite diverse: some countries suggest complete deletion of Division 37 (classify as manufacturing or wholesale - if material is processed/unprocessed), others suggest having recycling as a sub-item of the respective industry within which the recycling takes place. A very large group prefers Division 37 to be maintained and suggests that the definition of recycling be re-formulated to overcome the boundary problems with other Divisions. One group of countries recommends a more detailed structure of CPC Division 37 for accommodating the widespread forms of recycling - either by classifying according to industries involved, by products or by the type of production process, or distinguishing between Recycling of Commercial/Industrial Waste and Non-Industrial/Domestic Waste. Several countries argue that Division 37 does not reflect the general concept of recycling and it should therefore be extended to include re-utilization of products (e.g. toner cartridges, separating computers etc.)