Although curbside pickup accounts for nearly all U.S. recycling, over half of households participate. At a time when there appears to be room for expansion, this rate of urban recycling is becoming less viable.
Changes in Chinese policies, which previously led the country to purchase a large amount of U.S. recycled materials, have affected the marketplace for salvaged products and left lawmakers and recyclers alike looking for new alternatives. To reduce the amount of waste in landfills, lawmakers should take a page from economics by creating recycling incentives.
Published in its entirety in Inside Sources.