Survey Shows Recycling Rate Lower than Thought

With nine of the nation’s most “green” states reporting lower recycling rates for 1999-2000, a new state survey of recycling managers shows Americans may be recycling less than federal figures show. 

Details will be in the State Recycling Laws Update Year-End Edition 2001, to be published in September by Raymond Communications, College Park MD.

Based in figures given by states currently and in past years, they survey indicates that the U.S. recycling rate is between 25% and 26%, depending on which states are counted. EPA estimates the 1999 national recycling rate at 27.8%.

Many states do not count their rates, and some only estimate.  SRLU was able to obtain new figures from 20 states in 2002 for 1999-2000 period.  They were combined with past figures and estimates, and excluded the very high figures given when industrial waste is included. When averaged out, the average rate outside the “diversion” reporting states is just 24.2%.  When the five states reporting landfill diversion figures are added in, the rate increases to 26.2%

Significantly, the 2001  survey showed 12 states reporting increases in recovery, while nine indicated a drop for 1999-2000. Major recycling states, including Florida, Iowa, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia, have seen a decline in recovery rates.

While 27 states reported increases in curbside recycling programs, none had added more than one; several states reported some cities had dropped their program. Meanwhile, a record 19 states reported that glass had been dropped form one or more curbside programs in the last year.

Record Numbers of Bills

The state Legislatures continue to introduce record numbers of recycling-related bills, with nearly 400 new bills in 2001. Of these, 54 bills passed.

A record 48 new mercury-related bills were introduced in 2001, with 15 bills passing in six states between August 2000 and August 2001.

The electronics issue heated in 2001, with 20 bills in the hoppers – four passed.  While none posed major restrictions, the survey indicated this trend will continued in 2002.

The states also continued to introduce container deposit bills in 2001 – another 54 bills floated in 2002 (only two less than 1999), though only Hawaii saw any action on a bill.

“Our surveys indicate that recycling is starting to decline even in states with large financial and political commitments to the issue.  Only ten states are reaching their goals,” comments SRLU publisher Michele Raymond.

Meanwhile, Minnesota, which recycled 40%, claims claim waste is growing at more than 3%, higher than federal estimates.   Keeping up with waste growth and trash imports when recycling markets are down will make matters worse, she observes.

“If the recycling decline continues, many lawmakers may decide to try new legislation rather than see their original recycling promises head for the trash heap.”

But almost none of the policy options popular with state regulators are acceptable to industry. The SRLU survey showed that the vast majority of state officials personally favor the concept of “producer responsibility” – 25 of 26 responding said yes on the 2001 survey.

Moreover, when asked how governments should increase the flow of PET plastic bottles to meet the demand from fiber and bottle makers, the most frequent answer was container “deposits,” checked by 13 managers.  Public education was the other popular answer.

So while new deposits and mandated “EPR” may not be on the horizon in the near future because of opposition, recycling observers don’t put much faith in total voluntary solutions, given the state of consumer behavior.

“There may be hope for some national voluntary solutions on electronics – in part because industry appears to be more cooperative in this area,” she concludes. “However we still see no leadership in plastics recycling or resolution of the interstate waste ‘flow control’ issue.”

Details on the results of the state survey, and a complete update on 32 recycling issues, with an updated state wrap of laws is included in the new State Recycling Laws Update Year-End Edition, 2001, to be available early September. Raymond Communications.

For information, call 301-345-4237 or check the web site at http://www.raymond.com.