By the Numbers Webinar Recording: A Deep Dive into the State of Recycling Report

General Questions Around Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) 

Q: What is the impact of DRS and EPR? What are the differences? Have the potential impacts of RS been factored into your future research plans? 

A: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Deposit-Refund System (DRS) are policies expected to help transform recycling and achieve higher levels of material recovery, but in different ways. In simple terms, EPR will deliver the resources needed through fees on packaging and paper to foster universal access, consistent levels of education, and infrastructure improvements, while incentivizing companies to reduce the environmental impacts of packaging. DRS will incentivize beverage packaging consumers to return the packaging to recycling facilities, generally yielding higher-quality material for recycling. When implemented together, EPR and DRS give consumers the broadest possible access to recycling opportunities and create sustainably funded and convenient recycling systems. The Recycling Partnership includes estimates of residential material DRS recovery in its analysis. We will continue to track the development of DRS while exploring ways to bolster its projections of additional DRS recovery. 

Q: For states with EPR, how are multifamily recycling services managed and financed? 

A: EPR policies will differ in every state, but a key goal is to create universal recycling access that meets convenience standards (recycling access on par with garbage collection). A good example is the state of Colorado, where we expect a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) representing the companies subject to the EPR law to work with properties, haulers, local governments, and other stakeholders to not only establish new multifamily recycling access but also address the ongoing collection costs. Likely, the PRO will conduct collection services procurement processes (bids, requests for proposals, etc.) to meet this obligation. Service contracts will be financed through fees on packaging and paper covered by the EPR law and implemented by the PRO and member companies, including resource funding for multifamily resident education. As a result, individual property owners will not have to pay to provide recycling services at their multifamily properties. 

Q: Does eco-modulation affect EPR’s ability to finance recycling infrastructure and incentivize the shift to recyclable packaging? 

A: Under EPR policy, PROs must assess fees to adequately meet all financial obligations under the law, including payment to support all service and investment requirements and the regulatory functions of EPR implementation by the state agency and reserves. Eco-modulation of the base fees established to meet these obligations does not allow PROs to avoid the obligations; PROs must implement e-modulation in a way that still provides adequate resources. However, eco-modulation does shift the relative fees paid between different kinds of packaging, including within specific packaging formats (e.g., HDPE bottles with low v. high recycled content). Eco-modulation does not diminish the PRO’s ability to finance the system, but it does mean that fees will reflect specific environmental incentives. 

Questions on Policy 

Q: Would policy introduction to make recycling education mandatory in schools be something The Recycling Partnership supports? 

A: The Recycling Partnership supports robust recycling education and recognizes the importance of school-based programs. The Recycling Partnership has focused efforts on household education, as research shows only 43% of households participate in recycling. In the future, school-based efforts may become a priority for The Recycling Partnership. Several states have implemented excellent school curriculums and programs that serve as great examples for communities and other states nationwide. 

Questions on Access  

Q: How is “access” to recycling defined? (e.g. is it curbside or drop-off and does it mean containers are provided?) 

A: The Recycling Partnership categorizes residential households into access types: single-family curbside subscription, single-family drop-off, multifamily on-site, and none. Based on research The Partnership has conducted, access type is assigned to each community in the U.S.  

Single- Family 

• If single-family residents automatically receive recycling containers with their trash service, we assume those households all have curbside recycling access.  
• For curbside subscription programs, we figure that 30% of the residents in that community have signed up for the program and, therefore, have curbside access.  
• When a community does not offer universal or subscription curbside service but does offer a drop-off program, we assume that single-family households in that community have access to drop-off recycling. 

Multifamily 

• Multifamily on-site access is determined by whether the state or community has an ordinance requiring recycling for multifamily properties. If an ordinance is in place, we assume that 90% of multifamily households can access on-site recycling. If we see evidence that a community offers education and technical support for multifamily residents, we believe that 30% of those households have on-site access. 

For all other community types, we assume that 6% of multifamily households have on-site access. We did not include drop-off access for multifamily households because multifamily properties typically provide on-site garbage collection and, therefore, would indicate a minimal number of multifamily households driving recyclables to a drop-off site. 

Questions on MRFs and End Markets  

Q: What percentages of MRFs have WTE systems? 

A: To our knowledge, very few material recovery facilities (MRFs) have waste-to-energy (WTE) systems. Most MRFs in the U.S. are stand-alone facilities focused on processing commingled recycling streams separated from trash at collection. A few MRFs may be co-located at WTE plants (in Florida, for example) or at landfills. However, we are unaware of MRFs in the U.S. that are designed with WTE as an integrated component. MRFs try to maximize material recovery, leaving little material at the end of the process to justify the expense of WTE, let alone address potential environmental impacts.  

Q: What ways are there to invest in MRF infrastructure? 

A: Most MRFs are privately owned in the U.S. and have various pathways of capital investment, including equity, debt-based, and internal investment sources. Public MRFs generally receive investment through public financing – fees and tax-based sources, as well as bonds or other debt financing. Because functioning MRFs are an essential component of EPR implementation, MRFs in EPR states may receive investment directly from PROs in the form of grants or other investments. For instance, in Oregon, the PRO will pay MRFs two types of ongoing fees that will help the facilities modernize and achieve high levels of material capture and quality.  

The Recycling Partnership also invests in MRFs through grants from our Materials Coalitions and other sources, all designed to expand the capacity and capabilities of these facilities. Many states also invest in MRFs through grant programs.  

Q: How can residents better understand where all the materials are going after the MRFs? 

A: A better understanding of the recycling journey starts with community recycling programs, haulers, and other collection actors working alongside their MRFs to improve awareness of what happens to processed materials. Sharing the different kinds of markets, general locations of those markets, and end-users of the materials is a great way to increase resident trust and comprehension of the recycling process. Information sharing between these groups can be included in MRF service contracts. Community recycling programs can then share that information through public education resources (newsletters, social media, etc.) and, if feasible, make that information available to local media, encouraging stories that provide additional details to the public.  

Questions on Behavior & Education 

Q: How do we get residents to utilize drop-off recycling locations? 

A: Ensuring resident participation all starts with consistent education. Educating residents that drop-off locations are an option and providing information about operating hours and accepted materials is crucial. Regular outreach to residents can help reinforce the program’s availability and capture the attention of new residents. The Partnership’s Drop-Off Recycling Contamination Reduction Kit includes tested and proven processes that can be utilized by programs across the country, with worksheets, tools, and communication templates.   

We’ll be exploring this theme through a case study at The Center for Sustainable Behavior & Impact’s in-person workshop in Palo Alto, CA February 21-22, 2024. Participants will be able to apply behavior-centered design principles to uncover innovative solutions for increasing participation in drop-off programs. Please join us!    

Q: For communities that do not have the budget to put toward education, what other strategies can help decrease the loss of materials? 

A: Communities with limited budgets can utilize their existing outreach methods to incorporate educational messaging around recycling. Resources to support those efforts can be accessed through the Recycling Program Solutions Hub. The Recycling Partnership also provides grant funding for community recycling programs. We work with communities to improve access, collections, operations, and processing through a variety of grant and technical assistance opportunities.  

Questions on Resources 

Q: What resources does The Recycling Partnership offer to help communities apply the solutions mentioned in the State of Recycling Report? 

A: The Recycling Program Solutions Hub allows recycling coordinators access to The Recycling Partnership’s resources and templates, including toolkits, guides, the Campaign Builder, DIY signs, and more! All these resources are free, and many include customizable templates that are open-source and available to use.   

The Recycling Partnership also offers funding and technical assistance to help close recycling access gaps and improve communities’ recycling services, including multifamily recycling. We also provide assistance to MRFs to help improve material capture rates and expand material acceptance, which communities can then add to collection programs.  

Additional Data Requests 

Q: How does cart size and service frequency affect residential recycling? 

A: Cart size and service frequency go hand-in-hand with a recycling program. Standard recycling cart sizes include 35, 64, and 96 gallons. A 96-gallon cart is generally the best value for curbside recycling. The Recycling Partnership recommends programs with every-other-week collection provide 96-gallon carts. If collection is weekly, the consideration for a 64-gallon cart could be an option.  

Major Reports and Guides:   

• Overarching Knowledge Report 
• Equitable and Inclusive Recycling Education and Outreach 

Surveys & National Research:   

• 2022 Foundational Audience Segmentation Research  
• 2022 Recycling Confidence Index  
• In-Home Insights to Accelerate Behavior Change, Ethnographic Research  
• Consumer Insights on Packaging, Labels, and Claims for Recycling  
• 2021 Recycling Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Survey  

Example Pilot Projects & Case Studies:   

• Sarasota County, Florida  
• Cincinnati, Ohio  
• Reynoldsburg, Ohio