Hey, folks, it’s Philipp, and we’re talkin’ trash. This week’s episode concerns an important but often overlooked element of solid waste management: the myths and realities of recycling.
Recycling is one of the central elements in the quest for a circular economy, and it has a significant impact today. According to a recent USEPA study, recycling supported 681,000 jobs, paid $37.8 billion in wages, and accounted for $5.5 billion in taxes in the United States. It’s also important because it keeps materials out of the landfill, it reduces the need for virgin materials, and it encourages changes in the way things are made. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
In spite of these benefits, recycling rates remain very low, according to a recent study by the Recycling Partnership. A three-year study of 9,000 waste collection programs in the US found that the national recycling rate is about 21%, and that about 75% of what could be recycled ends up in the trash. Why the disconnect?
The realities of recycling are complicated. Most solid waste management programs offer recycling collection, usually in a single bin. The “recyclables” are collected and taken to a sorting facility, where both machines and workers separate the material into marketable categories (paper, glass, scrap metals, and so on). The sorted materials are then offered to companies that recycle them.
There are several problems with this model. First, the use of a single bin for all recyclables causes cross-contamination, rendering some of the materials unfit. Second, the requirement that all recyclable materials be collected in one bin leads to the inclusion of items such as plastic bags, wire, and other items that can harm the sorting equipment or cause injury to the workers. These problems are well known and have persisted for years, due to economics. Since the companies that buy the recycled products demand high quality, the contaminated material has little value, and ends up in the landfill.
To have recycling be an effective and meaningful part of an integrated waste management system, two changes are necessary. First and foremost, the public must be educated, not only as to why recycling is part of a cheaper and more beneficial system, but as to what materials can be recycled and the proper way to recycle them. Second, the single bin collection system must be replaced, to increase the quantity and quality of the recyclable materials. Source separation, coupled with drop-off locations for items such as electronics, will greatly improve the quality, and quantity, of recycled materials.
Until next time, keep talkin’ trash!