The Solid Waste Association of North America
Recycling Market Collapse
With the recent downturn in recycling markets, local governments responsible for waste and recyclable management in our area are faced with declining prices for collected materials and in some cases with no market at any price. Government and private sector collectors and processors are very reluctant to ask people to stop recycling for fear that this will totally undermine the recycling culture that has been built up. We are looking at the following options for the short term:
- stronger emphasis on waste reduction and reuse (a tough sell as we come into the Christmas season)
- storage until markets improve. Operators are running out of space. Fire hazards and quality deterioration. Abandonment of materials. Oversupply may delay market improvement.
- accept materials with no market for disposal but charge a premium disposal rate so that it remains more expensive to dispose rather than recycle.
- alternate uses. Combustables to industries as a substitute for fossil fuels (Cement manufacturing, forest products, etc.)
Are we missing anything?
- stronger emphasis on waste reduction and reuse (a tough sell as we come into the Christmas season)
- storage until markets improve. Operators are running out of space. Fire hazards and quality deterioration. Abandonment of materials. Oversupply may delay market improvement.
- accept materials with no market for disposal but charge a premium disposal rate so that it remains more expensive to dispose rather than recycle.
- alternate uses. Combustables to industries as a substitute for fossil fuels (Cement manufacturing, forest products, etc.)
Are we missing anything?
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