The Solid Waste Association of North America's (SWANA) Applied Research Foundation (ARF) has released a new report, Curbside Recycling Collection Options, which presents three curbside recycling options for recycling and sustainability program managers to consider in their efforts to reduce inbound contamination of recyclables and/or recyclables collection costs.
"Many people don't realize that collection represents the largest cost element of a residential recycling program," said Jeremy O'Brien, SWANA's Director of Applied Research. "This report documents the significant costs savings, as well as reductions in contamination, that can be achieved by implementing one of these recycling collection alternatives.
The report presents performance and cost data—as well as case studies—for each of these options. Each option provides a way for communities to achieve cost savings that would more than cover the reduction in revenues caused by the China National Sword policy implemented in 2018.
"SWANA would like to thank the six cities (Charlotte, NC; Clearwater, FL; Durham, NC; Pensacola, FL; Phoenix, AZ and Tucson, AZ) that identified this research topic and provided funding to support this research through their ARF subscriptions," O'Brien added.
