The ISRI Gulf Coast Region (GCR) has selected Joel Litman, president and co-owner of Texas Recycling Inc. (Dallas), as the recipient of its 2023 Israel Proler Award, which recognizes individuals for their outstanding leadership, achievements, and contributions to the recycling industry.
“Joel Litman exemplifies what it means to be a leader in the recycling industry,” said GCR President Nidhi Turakhia of Allied Alloys (Houston). “Not only has he built a successful recycling company with his family members over the past four decades, but every day he sets an example of what it means to operate with integrity and dedication to his family, team members, community, and industry.”
Joel Litman, 2023 Israel Proler Award Recipient
Litman entered the recycling business in 1984 when he began working with his father Stan at his paper and rag recycling company, Daltex Waste Material Co. In 1992, Joel, his brother Craig, and father Stan joined forces to found Texas Recycling, a paper recycling company. Since then, Litman has helped Texas Recycling grow from the three founding family members to almost 70 employees while expanding the company’s focus to include metals and plastics. Along the way, he also helped establish a related company — Action Shred of Texas — in the document destruction sector.
“I am humbled and honored to be recognized by my peers,” said Litman. “I’ve looked up to the current and past Gulf Coast Region officers as leaders in ISRI and the industry, and it is gratifying to have them honor me in this way.”
Throughout his career, Litman has been an active member and leader within ISRI national as well as GCR and ISRI’s Paper Stock Industries (PSI) Chapter. In addition to serving as a board member for ISRI national, GCR, PSI, and the Global Recycling Standards Organization (which oversees the Recycling Industry Operating Standard, or RIOS™), he was PSI president from 2012-2014 and ran as a candidate for the ISRI national secretary/treasurer position in 2022.
GCR will honor Litman with the award on Thursday, June 22, at its summer convention in Dallas. All ISRI chapter and/or region presidents are invited to attend, and GCR will cover the registration fee for the volunteer leader. For more information, please contact Region 2nd Vice President Alton Schaubhut.
