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US Recycling Crisis: Contamination Drains Funds
23 Jun
Summary
- One in four items in bins is misplaced, causing damage and costs.
- US needs $36.5-$43.4 billion by 2030 to modernize recycling infrastructure.
- Contamination leads to worker injuries and fires at recycling facilities.
Across the United States, wishcycling—the practice of misplacing non-recyclable items in recycling bins—is a significant problem. Roughly one in every four items placed in U.S. recycling bins is misplaced, leading to substantial issues. These include damage to sorting equipment, increased operational costs for recycling facilities, rejection of entire loads of materials, and injuries to workers.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in an August 2024 assessment, projected that $36.5 billion to $43.4 billion will be required by 2030 to modernize the nation's aging recycling infrastructure. This contamination rate can fluctuate significantly, with some single-stream programs experiencing rates below 10% and others exceeding 40%. Waste Management, a major player in the industry, reported a contamination rate of just over 17%.
Post-China's 2018 National Sword policy, U.S. recycling operations faced increased processing expenses and a higher likelihood of rejected material loads, resulting in more plastic being sent to landfills. Safety hazards, such as batteries, propane tanks, sharps, and plastic bags, pose risks of fires and injuries at material recovery facilities.
