Paper Recycling In Your Community

In 2007, 56 percent of the paper used in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. That’s an average of 360 pounds of paper recovered for recycling for each man, woman and child in the U.S. The U.S. paper industry set a new goal of a 60 percent recovery rate by 2012.

Today, 86 percent of Americans have access to community recycling programs. More than half of the U.S. population is served by more than 9,000 curbside collection programs, and another 165 million Americans have access to drop-off recycling programs. Community recycling programs play an essential part in educating residents about the importance of recycling and its environmental benefits.

Successful community recycling programs maximize the amount of paper recovered while minimizing the contaminants that lower its quality and value.

The following are excerpts from AF&PA’s Community Recycling Guide which is available in its entirety at www.paperrecycling.org.

Gather the facts.
Understand what’s in your community’s recycling stream. Obtain accurate, up-to-date information about the types of materials generated, the quantities, and how much can realistically be recycled. Determine what recyclables are abundant and most easily accessible. Common recyclables include newspaper, corrugated boxes, magazines, catalogs, office paper, and paperboard packaging.

Identify potential contaminants.
Ensure that your collection method produces material that meets end market requirements. The market value of recyclables is significantly reduced when they are contaminated by food, hazardous materials, dirt, broken glass, and other non-recyclables. Identify all the potential contaminants in your recycling stream and then determine how to work them out of the system, starting at the source of generation.

Work with commodity end markets. Existing markets for recycled commodities dictate the types of material that a community collects, whether a city operates its own recycling program or contracts for these services. Estimate the potential revenue and stability of markets and then decide what items to recycle. Lower quality materials may limit options for end markets and could lower the value of your recycling program.

Base collection decisions on a clear understanding of the recyclables market system:

• Price - Structure the program to be healthy when markets are high and when markets are low.

• Specifications - Have a clear understanding of how materials must be prepared.

• Contamination - Agree on the amount of contamination that is acceptable; develop open lines of communication and work closely with the brokers and mills that buy your materials.

• End market - Select an end market or buyer that matches your program’s output.

• Market fluctuations - Understand trends and changes in the domestic and foreign markets.

Recycling collection systems. Recycling collection systems vary according to a community’s budget, the size and scope of a collection area, resident expectations, and collection goals. While collection systems may differ, recyclables are commodities, so design a collection system that preserves their value. Also, it is wise to take into account the separation and processing technologies at the community’s materials recovery facilities (MRF) or other processing facility. Once you understand how the materials will be processed it is easier to determine how recyclables need to be collected to produce high value materials.

Consider the following when designing your collection program:
Collection containers.
Provide residents with collection containers to increase participation, improve the quality of materials collected, and streamline the collection process. Whether it’s one container or three, make sure containers match what you want to collect and how you want to have it picked up. Use signage on containers, as well as color and size, to help residents know what goes where. Frequency of collection as well as the amount and types of materials collected, determine the optimum container size and number of containers to provide residents.

Monitor collection.
Decisions about how residents prepare recyclables for pickup and the methods used to collect materials must be coordinated to achieve high quality recyclables. Clear communication about these procedures to collection teams and residents will help reduce the amount of contaminants in the recycling stream and will provide guidance regarding what the program will and won’t accept. Additionally, consider having recycling collection personnel leave a note explaining why contaminated recyclables were not picked up.

Equipment needs.
Choose equipment appropriate to the materials being collected, the collection logistics, and how materials need to arrive at the processing plant. Lighter compaction, less handling, and reduced distance help ensure the integrity of recyclables.

Never assume the public knows how to recycle. Use these tools to boost outreach to residents:
Budget to get the message out. While keeping costs low provides value to a recycling program, designate a budget for education and outreach.

Understand your audience.
Design an education program that speaks to your unique community. Conduct a resident survey to understand attitudes and knowledge about recycling. Target communications to reach specific populations, including those for whome English is a second language and senior citizens.

Educate residents about collection requirements and how contaminants impact the end product. Provide a recycling hotline or other method for residents to get help when they have a question or encounter a difficulty. Respond to resident feedback and try to address specific concerns. Use active language, visuals, and simple instructions to improve participation in your program.
Do it again. Don’t let up. Education is an ongoing process. Employ a variety of communications methods to target specific audiences and regularly promote the recycling message. Newspaper and magazine articles and ads, newsletters, and messages in utility bills work well for urban areas, while brochures and direct mail may be better in suburban and rural areas.

Budget conservatively.
For some communities, the cost of recycling can exceed revenue from the sale of recyclables. However, a combination of revenues, landfill tip fee savings, and extending the life of the landfill, may exceed the cost of running a recycling program and actually produce a profit. No matter how fees are structured, always budget conservatively. If market prices swing upward and produce a windfall, reinvest those resources into your program by paying off equipment, making capital improvements, or implementing other changes to increase the program’s cost effectiveness. Do not, however, count on favorable markets to always cover operating costs.

Transporting recyclables.
Costs to collect and transport recyclables represent a large portion of a community recycling program’s budget. To offset costs consider changing the number of collection days, employing different or fewer collection vehicles, or changing the method of collection. Recycling is most successful if the method of collecting recyclables mirrors the method of waste collection in terms of frequency.

Work with end markets.
Determine the most cost-effective quantities and methods for shipping collected recyclables. The cost to move recyclables from a transfer station or processing center to the buyer is a key element in a program’s cost effectiveness. The amount of materials shipped at one time also affects transportation costs.

Decrease residuals.
Residuals are materials that are not accepted by the program but are picked up during collection, also known as outthrows. Residuals also include recyclables that are too damaged or contaminated to be shipped to an end user. Asking residents to separate materials requires more effort but can result in cleaner materials and minimizes the amount of processing required. Communities may choose to collect mixed recyclables because it is simpler for residents and can increase participation, but it can increase contamination and the amount of residual materials land filled.

Track data to monitor program effectiveness.
While many communities track recovery results to ensure they meet specified diversion goals, results are also effective in showing the merits of recycling and motivating residents.

• Recovery rates - Gather data on the amount recovered for each material. Use a database or other system to record and store data.

• Participation - Monitor participation and use this information to help guide education and outreach efforts to residents.

• Program costs - Recycling adds collection and processing services that may increase costs. More material going to recycling rather than disposal, however, may lower overall recycling costs. Track these costs along with expenses to operate the program.

Tell residents how they’re doing.

• Provide feedback to residents on the effectiveness of the program and how their participation makes a difference.

• Announce recycling program results to the community. Provide regular updates about program success through media articles, community newsletters, websites, and local recycling events.

• Enter the community’s recycling program in a national competition to bring recognition to the program’s best practices and results.