Industry · Form 5500 business code 423930
Recyclable Materials: retirement plans
Plans whose sponsor entered this principal business activity code on Form 5500.
Form 5500 information is as filed by the plan administrator with the Department of Labor and may be amended. Figures reflect the plan year shown, not current balances. The business code is chosen by the filer from the list in the Form 5500 instructions.
For plan year 2024, 35 retirement plans in recyclable materials with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500: 32 defined contribution and 3 defined benefit. They reported 19,811 participant records and $835M in net assets, counting every plan on the form.
The median defined contribution plan held $31,540 per participant, well below the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $1,574 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $119 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $22.4M and participants $56.3M during the year, and the plans paid out $107M in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 27 plans with $275M; by 2024 it was 35 plans (up 30%) and $835M (up 204%). From plan year 2023 the 100-participant line counts participants with account balances, which moved many plans to the short form.
Medians compared with all US plans
| Median plan, plan year 2024 | Industry: DC | US: DC | Industry: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $31,540 | $53,031 | $33,381 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,574 | $2,174 | $17,607 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $119 | $123 | $254 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.41% | 0.26% | 0.75% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $119 | $116 | $530 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (31 DC and 3 DB plans with a Schedule H here). Fee medians cover plans reporting an amount. DC: defined contribution, such as 401(k) and 403(b). DB: defined benefit pension.
Distribution of DC plans
| Measure | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $17,730 | $31,540 | $53,985 | 31 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $670 | $1,574 | $2,361 | 28 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $53.55 | $119 | $159 | 29 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $37.13 | $119 | $147 | 31 |
Trend by plan year
| Plan year | Plans 100+ | Participants | Net assets | Employer contributions | Participant contributions | Median DC assets / participant | Median DC Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 35 | 19,811 | $835M | $22.4M | $56.3M | $31,540 | $119 |
| 2023 | 36 | 18,124 | $753M | $23.0M | $52.6M | $27,999 | $89.92 |
| 2022 | 48 | 18,179 | $641M | $20.1M | $44.9M | $24,425 | $99.25 |
| 2021 | 46 | 16,438 | $747M | $29.0M | $49.9M | $28,685 | $119 |
| 2020 | 43 | 18,031 | $935M | $22.3M | $40.8M | $28,090 | $91.97 |
| 2019 | 40 | 16,157 | $764M | $20.8M | $40.7M | $23,776 | $78.35 |
| 2018 | 38 | 17,020 | $656M | $21.2M | $37.3M | $19,884 | $53.38 |
| 2017 | 32 | 16,287 | $684M | $20.1M | $33.2M | $23,599 | $39.34 |
| 2016 | 32 | 15,484 | $578M | $17.8M | $30.2M | $19,355 | $36.17 |
| 2015 | 32 | 16,382 | $559M | $19.4M | $29.4M | $17,801 | $30.19 |
| 2014 | 36 | 17,650 | $571M | $16.5M | $27.9M | $18,803 | $27.83 |
| 2013 | 33 | 17,312 | $556M | $17.0M | $25.2M | $21,377 | $25.90 |
| 2012 | 28 | 16,382 | $472M | $15.7M | $25.2M | $19,877 | $21.60 |
| 2011 | 25 | 13,454 | $358M | $28.6M | $18.4M | $15,175 | $27.79 |
| 2010 | 25 | 11,605 | $309M | $8.7M | $16.1M | $16,688 | $27.11 |
| 2009 | 27 | 13,048 | $275M | $16.0M | $12.2M | $18,079 | $34.71 |
Plan year is the year in which the plan year began. The drop in large plans from 2023 follows a rule change: the 100-participant line now counts participants with account balances, so many plans moved to the short form.
Provider share
Service provider organisations named most often on the Schedule C of the 36 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 36 largest by participants of 36 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sims Group USA Holdings Corp. 401(k) Plan | Sims Group USA Holdings Corp. | IL | DC | 2,709 | $201M | $74,207 | $3,324 | $26.07 |
| Liberty Tire Services, LLC 401(k) Plan | Liberty Tire Services, LLC | PA | DC | 2,305 | $28.3M | $12,282 | $314 | $42.46 |
| Alter 401(k) Retirement Plan | Alter Companies, Inc. | MO | DC | 1,626 | $131M | $80,573 | $1,571 | $145 |
| Redwood Materials 401(k) Plan | Redwood Materials | NV | DC | 1,142 | $17.9M | $15,705 | — | $79.67 |
| Louis Padnos Iron & Metal Company Savings and Retirement Plan | Louis Padnos Iron & Metal Company | MI | DC | 1,131 | $103M | $91,083 | $2,165 | $124 |
| Pacific Hide & Fur Depot d/b/a Pacific Steel & Recycling 401(k) Plan | Pacific Hide & Fur Depot d/b/a Pacific Steel & Recycling | MT | DC | 1,047 | $45.0M | $42,933 | $1,874 | $53.32 |
| Marugame Udon USA LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan & Trust | Marugame Udon USA LLC | CA | DC | 980 | $1.2M | $1,247 | $131 | — |
| Eagle Corporation Employees Flexible Compensation Plan | Eagle Corporation | VA | DC | 930 | $71.3M | $76,708 | $2,334 | $56.92 |
| Strategic Materials Employee Retirement Plan | Strategic Materials | TX | DC | 835 | $20.5M | $24,554 | $1,336 | $128 |
| Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative 401(k) Plan | Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative | OR | DC | 536 | $17.5M | $32,625 | $1,117 | $6.16 |
| Tomra of North America, Inc. 401(k) SVGS & Profit Sharing Plan | Tomra of North America, Inc. | CT | DC | 529 | $34.7M | $65,561 | $1,576 | $171 |
| Packaging Matters, LLC 401(k) Plan | Packaging Matters, LLC | CA | DC | 495 | $10.4M | $20,968 | $438 | $119 |
| Local 422 Pension Trust Fund | Board of Trustees Local 422 Pension Trust Fund | OH | DB | 464 | $15.5M | $33,381 | — | $250 |
| Smart Metals Recycling LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan & Trust | Smart Metals Recycling LLC | NC | DC | 331 | $3.6M | $10,983 | $1,637 | $72.50 |
| Northstar Recycling Company, LLC 401(k) Plan | Northstar Recycling Company, LLC | MA | DC | 314 | $12.9M | $41,171 | $2,726 | $7.00 |
| Foss Auto Recycling, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Foss Recycling, Inc. | NC | DC | 301 | $6.2M | $20,497 | $1,169 | $148 |
| Tomra NY Recycling, LLC Union 294 401(k) Savings and Profit SH | Tomra NY Recycling, LLC | CT | DC | 288 | $2.2M | $7,756 | $3,262 | $31.41 |
| PGM of Texas Retirement Plan | PGM of Texas, LLC | TX | DC | 282 | $7.0M | $24,715 | $3,131 | $200 |
| Metalx, LLC 401(k) Plan | Metalx, LLC | IN | DC | 248 | $5.4M | $21,706 | $1,533 | $159 |
| CW Companies Retirement Plan | Crow Wing Recycling, Inc. | MN | DC | 239 | $5.0M | $20,883 | $2,009 | $73.84 |
| Tri Rinse, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Tri Rinse Inc. | MO | DC | 234 | $4.6M | $19,704 | $703 | $297 |
| Empire Recycling Corporation Employee Savings Plan | Empire Recycling Corporation | NY | DC | 222 | $8.6M | $38,581 | $2,163 | $109 |
| Better Earth Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust | Better Earth Inc. | CA | DC | 218 | $1.6M | $7,347 | — | — |
| Pioneer Industries International, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Pioneer Industries International, Inc. | MN | DC | 212 | $18.8M | $88,601 | $1,065 | $389 |
| Recycling/franklin 401(k) Employee Retirement Plan | Recycling Center Inc. | IN | DC | 198 | $11.1M | $56,012 | $219 | $310 |
| W. Silver Recycling, Inc. 401(k) Plan | W. Silver Recycling, Inc. | TX | DC | 196 | $3.1M | $15,756 | $571 | $129 |
| Canusa Hershman 401(k) Plan | Canusa Hershman Recycling, LLC | CT | DC | 183 | $22.7M | $123,933 | $2,868 | $350 |
| Polyflex Products, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Polyflex Products, Inc. | MI | DC | 176 | — | — | — | — |
| Green Planet 21, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Green Planet 21, Inc. | CA | DC | 176 | $5.6M | $31,540 | — | $132 |
| Byer Steel Group 401(k) Plan | Byer Steel Group | OH | DC | 148 | $5.5M | $37,092 | $2,526 | $13.89 |
| U's Again, LLC 401(k) Plan | U's Again, LLC | IL | DC | 144 | $1.7M | $11,904 | $394 | $106 |
| PNW Metal Recycling, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan | PNW Metal Recycling, Inc. | OR | DC | 143 | $7.4M | $51,958 | $2,442 | $322 |
| Loc 1139 Ue GRP Pen PL for Ees of Minneapolis Scrapyards | American Iron & Steel Company | MN | DB | 134 | $3.0M | $22,351 | $17,607 | $254 |
| The Isaac Corporation Pension Plan Mmi 98 | Metal Management, Inc. | IL | DB | 114 | $5.4M | $47,149 | — | $350 |
| Keywell Metals 401(k) Plan | Keywell Metals, LLC | NC | DC | 108 | $4.2M | $38,591 | $0 | $16.84 |
| The Kippur Corporation 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | The Kippur Corporation | AZ | DC | 100 | — | — | — | — |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in recyclable materials?
35 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 72 pension plans on the full form. Smaller plans file Form 5500-SF and are counted separately where shown.
What is the typical 401(k) balance in recyclable materials?
The median defined contribution plan reported $31,540 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $17,730 to $53,985); nationally it was $53,031. This is a plan-level average that includes former employees, not a typical person's balance.
What do employers contribute in recyclable materials?
The median defined contribution plan received $1,574 in employer contributions per active participant, against $2,174 nationally. Plans with no employer contribution are included at zero.
What are average 401(k) fees in recyclable materials?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $119 per participant and 0.41% of net assets (nationally $123 and 0.26%). Schedule C leaves out fund expense ratios and fees the employer pays, so it understates total cost.
Where does this come from?
Form 5500 annual reports in the EBSA research files, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Medians are computed by this site across plans with 100 or more participants.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 research files, public domain, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Totals count every pension plan on the full form; medians and the plan list cover plans with 100 or more participants. See the methodology.