Changes on the Horizon in the US Recycling Industry
The world is producing more and more waste each year, so change is inevitable.
June 28, 2022
Industry Insights
It takes a lot of effort and energy to collect, sort, and breakdown recyclables to a point that they can be handled as a finished product. Over time, the recycling processes evolve, requiring the industry to be open to change. Change can be frightening for some and motivational for others.
The world is producing more and more waste each year, so change is inevitable. Currently, the US produces more than 254 million tons of waste before recycling, of which, approximately 35%, is recycled.
What does the future hold for recycling?
The Landscape is Changing
In 2018, the National Sword program came into full force as China began its initiative to no longer take in US exports of waste, which includes 99% of plastics. On top of that, India has followed suit and has also stopped accepting imported plastic waste. This proves difficult for the US as we relied on exporting recyclables to India after China began its initiative.
Business owners are left scratching their heads. Around half the world’s recyclables went to China, and as they work out better environmental standards for themselves, the issue is becoming “what do we do with the waste now?”
Some plastic waste is being diverted to Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, but they lack the well-developed waste management systems and infrastructure of China. Here in the US, some states are curtailing recyclables from their residents. Items such as black plastics and rigid No. 6 plastics (disposable cups), are being turned away. Philadelphia has taken to burning their recyclables as a means for restricting volume.
Cost Vs Value
You may be surprised to hear this, but as the oil market goes, so does plastic. With oil being priced as low as it is, it’s now cheaper to make plastic from scratch, than it is to use recyclables. For some, it’s also more feasible to send plastic waste out of the country rather than recycling.
Yet, the value of recycling is paramount to the success of overall waste management. Space is becoming more and more limited, and anything that can be reused and not placed in a landfill is worth value. Creating a positive environmental impact is a positive value.
Recycling Isn’t Going Anywhere
Like all commodities, people don’t bail on something just because there’s a hiccup in the market. You ride it out long term. Recycling is implemented within communities across the US. There’s a system in place that allows for the mass collection of recyclable materials.
Recycling is going through a change, and change can take time. Processes will adapt and become more streamlined as technologies will continue to advance, such as 3D printers that are already showing benefits from recycled materials. Recycling will continue growing.
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