The experts at Governmental Advisory Associates maintain a comprehensive database of U.S. materials recovery facilities. The statistics below come from that firm’s ongoing research.
This article originally appeared in the July 2018 issue of Resource Recycling. Subscribe today for access to all print content.
RRS reviewed data from foam polystyrene plastic recycling programs in several communities that had received grants to target the material.
The numbers show a pattern of a sizable initial rise in foam collected per capita during the first year of the program, followed by more modest growth in subsequent years.
Programs built around multiple drop-off sites were able to collect more foam per capita than curbside programs or programs using a single drop-off site.
Data Corner is compiled monthly by recycling consultancy RRS.
This article originally appeared in the September 2018 issue of Resource Recycling. Subscribe today for access to all print content.
RRS tracked the environmental efforts described in the corporate social responsibility reports of the top 50 U.S. companies on the Fortune 500 list. Waste, recycling, energy and greenhouse gas emissions were some of the most common areas for corporate efforts.
Over half of the companies (28) reported on goals or progress metrics related to waste and recycling, though only four mentioned zero waste goals.
Meanwhile, 80 percent (40 companies) cited efforts related to either greenhouse gas reduction or renewable energy.
Data Corner is compiled monthly by recycling consultancy RRS.
This article originally appeared in the November 2018 issue of Resource Recycling. Subscribe today for access to all print content.
As communities and materials recovery facilities wrestle with challenging markets, some stakeholders are suggesting that programs should accept fewer materials for recycling.
Using EPA data, RRS estimated that removing glass and plastics other than PET and HDPE bottles would reduce the nation’s total tonnage recycled by 8 percent and lower the U.S. recycling rate by at least 2 percentage points.
These findings assume that participation and the materials still accepted would not be impacted, though in reality, program changes can cause confusion that can negatively impact collection of all materials. For perspective, the U.S. recycling rate (not including composting) only increased by 3.3 percentage points between 2005 and 2015.
Data Corner is compiled monthly by recycling consultancy RRS.
This article originally appeared in the December 2018 issue of Resource Recycling. Subscribe today for access to all print content.
Waste Management’s latest sustainability report delves into factors impacting the recycling industry as a whole, including fluctuating markets, sustainable materials management, technological advances and more.
Oregon’s environmental agency has released research that suggests several popular packaging attributes – including “recyclable” and “recycled content” – do not consistently result in lower-impact products.
Oregon and Colorado have very different recycling landscapes but are seeing a similar trend: stagnating recycling numbers.
A panel of experts discusses contamination during a plenary session at the 2018 Resource Recycling Conference.
Industry stakeholders from around the nation convened in St. Louis last week for the 2018 Resource Recycling Conference, where the hottest topics in materials recovery received attention over two days of educational sessions.
Waste Connections has provided a high-level look at its materials recovery division, detailing total tonnages over the past two years and outlining the percentages of different materials in the mix.
