Recycling Needs Revisiting
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Recycling can be a cost-effective way of reducing the waste stream and recovering resources.
However, the volatility of commodity markets and lackluster demand for some recyclables have
made out-of-pocket costs for recycling programs an ongoing problem that needs careful
management. The fact is, with few exceptions, there can be little certainty that overall revenue from
the sale of recyclables will cover the cost of collecting and processing.
Smart Material Selection When designing residential recycling programs, best-practices communities take into account the six key factors that drive the cost--and benefit--of recycling a particular material.:
2. Processing. Does it present difficult processing challenges? Does its inclusion contaminate other recyclables in a way that downgrades the overall commodity value? 3. Participation. What percentage of program participants likely will regularly recycle it, versus the cost and resources needed to include it in the program? 4. Special hazards. Will including it create special risks for injuring employees or equipment? 5. Market demand. Is it consistently marketable? 6. Environmental benefit. To what extent is the cost increase that attends its addition offset by environmental benefits? Recycling Goals Mandates do not, by themselves, boost the actual amount of waste recycled. Nevertheless, localities can do many things to produce desirable recycling end results: They can Consider collection and processing efficiencies. In each marketplace, differences exist in the local processing capabilities for recyclables. Some processing facilities can only accept materials that have already been source separated. Others can accept materials that are co-mingled, as long as the mixing of the materials in the collection vehicle does not contaminate the individual components. As an example, economic efficiencies can often be gained by keeping glass out of recycling programs. This allows the remaining materials to be co-mingled, since broken glass is not contaminating the newspaper and plastics in the program. Also, communities can achieve control of recycling costs by cutting back on extra collections and focusing on core materials like clean newspaper, plastic beverage and detergent bottles, and aluminum and steel cans. Keeping the list of commodities simple can help lower the costs of collection and sorting and improve the overall economic viability of the recycling program. In this regard, increased waste-diversion rates are best accomplished by increasing the number of residents in the recycling program through awareness schemes. This is preferable to adding hard-to-process and hard-to-market materials like glass or junk mail to the community recycling program. Some studies suggest that up to 20 percent of residents never participate in their community's recycling program, and another 20 percent participate only occasionally. Ask for alternate pricing. A locality that wishes to better understand the difference in cost between a "core" recycling program and an "expanded" recycling program, can write bid specifications to obtain that information. This allows local officials to consider various programs and their costs and balance that information with funding availability and other local priorities. Buy Recycled! Recycling is not really recycling unless the materials diverted from disposal are put back into commerce. That takes solid markets for those materials. Communities and individuals can support those markets through the purchase of products with recycled content Reflect The future of recycling can continue to be guaranteed by taking common-sense steps now. In the last 10 years, we have learned a lot about recycling: what works, what doesn't, and what the true costs are. Yes, recycling costs money, but it also provides value. The task now is to redefine recycling in ways that ensure its long-term viability while providing environmental benefits. The foregoing article is based on a BFI position paper, "Recycling at Risk." More information on how to develop a cost-efficient recycling program is available from any local BFI public-sector representative Edited by Paul Hersch |