Face challenges impeding recycling in US fearlessly

As concerns over climate change have elevated the public consciousness about the future survivability of our planet to new heights, this is no time to trash one of the most reliable, workable and convenient tools of environmental protection in place for decades.

But that’s what we fear could happen as a perfect storm of adverse conditions rolls in, taking aim squarely at consumer recycling.

Across the nation, more and more communities are downsizing or dumping their recycling programs, including the closing of drop-off sites and termination of regular curbside pickups.

Growing proportions of contaminated recyclable items coupled with skyrocketing costs for processing used paper, plastic and glass explain this disturbing trend of shrinkage in the recycling rate.

Such shrinkage must not be allowed to continue, and all of us must play a role in the economic recovery of recycling.

TOUGHER ANTI-POLLUTION STANDARDS

According to Waste Drive, which covers and analyzes the U.S. waste industry, the glut in the recyclables market has worsened considerably since a decision about one year ago by China, the world’s leading recyclables buyer, to enact more stringent anti-pollution standards.

It now accepts only recyclables that are 99.5 percent pure or uncontaminated. That’s a very high – some would say unattainable – standard to meet, particularly for many of us sloppy and lazy Americans.

Unlike earlier recycling programs, in which cans, bottles, papers, plastics and metals had be meticulously placed into separate containers, today’s single-stream method typically allows all of these recyclables to be tossed into one single bin. The system, while convenient for consumers, creates a veritable breeding ground for contamination.

Given the rising prices of collecting, sorting and processing recyclables, communities around the world have been forced to make some hard decisions. Some have chosen to end community recycling programs all together. Some have instituted strict controls on what can and cannot be recycled. Others have cut back operations at drop-off centers and curbside pickups.

It’s not surprising then that the Mahoning Valley finds itself struggling with questions over the future of this good-citizenship practice.

In Liberty Township, officials have discussed eliminating pickup service or changing the frequency to once per month in light of a proposed 6 percent increase in prices from Republic Services, the township’s recycling handler.

In Trumbull County, the Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District has implemented tough new standards to better cope with the double whammy of higher costs and lower rates of acceptable recyclables. No longer will plastic bags and glass be accepted.

In Mahoning County, commissioners have advertised for bids months before the June 14 expiration of its current recycling contract with Republic. Officials expect up to a 50 percent increase in fees in any new contract for the service that already ranks as the most expensive program of the Mahoning County Solid Waste Management District.

Overflowing with benefits

Despite these many conundrums surrounding recycling, America would be foolish to abandon the process. Recycling, after all, overflows with benefits. Well-managed and responsible programs:

Reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators.

Conserve natural resources such as timber, water and minerals.

Lessen pollution by cutting the need to collect new raw materials.

Clearly we can ill afford to allow recycling to die a slow and graceless death.

Part of the solutions for reinvigorating the industry will lie with recycling contractors and community leaders. They can require more responsible management of consumer recyclables from greater sorting and separation of materials to standardized labeling of bins.

In the final analysis, however, the ultimate responsibility for ensuring useless materials can be made useful again rests in the hands of the beholder.

Instead of tossing that glass bottle into the same grimy bin as plastic bags and condiment-stained sandwich wrappers, take the time needed to properly sort and manage all recyclables.