Your One-Stop Source for Community Recycling Program Data

The National Recycling Database, developed by The Recycling Partnership, is a first-of-its-kind resource offering detailed, localized recycling information from more than 9,000 unique community recycling programs across the U.S. This data empowers key participants — households, communities, brands, retailers, materials manufacturers, policymakers, and environmental organizations — by providing reliable data, more frequently on the U.S. recycling system.

          The database serves two purposes: 

1. 1. It characterizes the acceptance of packaging types and individual items in community programs.
   2. It helps inform the recycling industry (e.g. policymakers, waste management experts, material producers, nonprofits, retailers, and brands) about the acceptance rates of specific package types and materials across communities.

The U.S. residential recycling system handles billions of pounds of material annually, but with more than 9,000 local programs and differing guidelines, recycling rules vary widely. Understanding what each community accepts is essential for improving national recycling efforts and making informed decisions on packaging and infrastructure.

The database incorporates recycling data from communities with over 2,500 households (covering 99% of the U.S. population) and uses advanced systems that capture local recycling updates as they occur.

How the National Recycling Database Collects Data:

Data collection is key to accuracy and relevance. Here’s how it works:

• Direct input from community recycling program managers: Recycling program managers provide valuable input, which is reviewed by The Partnership staff before being published, through the following platforms:
  • Recycling Program Solutions Hub: Recycling program managers verify existing information and provide updates through the Recycling Program Solutions Hub.
  • Municipal Measurement Program: Recycling program managers submit input directly into the Municipal Measurement Program.
• Automated research using website scraping, informative screenshots, and data processing.
• State organization surveys of local communities, which collect program information typically on an annual basis.
• Manual research to verify that material acceptance, program details, and web resources are up to date.

Additionally, the data undergoes routine review for accuracy before being published. For a deeper dive into how the data is collected and maintained, explore the National Recycling Database Methodology Overview.

Key Features of the National Database:

• Clarity for Individuals: Reliable, local recycling acceptance guidelines for households.
• Community Updates: Tool empowering local recycling program managers to communicate accurate recycling information for their community recycling program.
• Retailer & Brand Insights: Packaging design insights based on localized and aggregated data.
• Material Producers: A resource for material producers to determine steps to overcome recyclability challenges.
• Policymaker Tools: Insights into state, national, and local level acceptance data to improve and inform recycling legislation.

What are Recycling Categories?

The Recycling Categories are the core data element of the Database, serving as subcategories of Material Guidelines commonly found in community recycling lists. They help communities and companies understand the recyclability of specific items or packaging formats, rather than relying on broad material groupings. These categories must be detailed enough to link specific packages to a single category and determine their acceptance in local programs.

Community Recycling Program Acceptance Data:

The Acceptance Data from the National Recycling Database is published twice a year to ensure that current information is available. With each release, communities, policymakers, and companies can refine recycling strategies for greater system-wide effectiveness. For more details on the latest data release and how it’s powered by the National Recycling Database, visit the Acceptance Data page.

In addition to the methodology outlined above, here are more related resources to help you explore the database and its framework in greater detail:

• National Recycling Database Community Recycling Program Acceptance Taxonomy Overview
• National Recycling Database and Community Recycling Program Acceptance Frequently Asked Questions

A Unified Approach to Diverse Recycling Programs:

The National Recycling Database is helping to transform the patchwork U.S. recycling system into a unified future by offering customized, local-level insights that can be used to inform state-wide, regional, and national action.

Explore our digital tools below, which harness the breadth and depth of the National Recycling Database to support the recycling efforts of multiple audiences.

• Recycle Check Chatbot – Our AI-powered chatbot is available to answer users’ questions about what items are accepted based on their community program’s specific guidelines, providing instant feedback.
• Recycle Check On-Pack Labels – Dynamic label offering for companies that connects community recycling program acceptance information with package-specific details to allow for localized recycling information on nationally distributed packaging that evolves with the changing landscape via a digital link or QR code.
• Recycling Program Solutions Hub – A digital resource hub where community recycling program managers can update their acceptance lists, access proven best practices, and utilize a wide range of tools to drive higher resident participation and program success.
• Circular Packaging Assessment Tool – A digital tool, featuring digitized industry design guides and a harmonized industry framework, that enables brands, retailers, and package designers to evaluate the full-system recyclability of their packaging from design to end market.