New National Recycling Strategy to Continue into the New Year
Photo by Lara Jameson
In 2018, China refused to accept America's recyclable garbage, making it obvious to many that the US needed to change the way we run our recycling system. This year, the EPA released a brand new strategy for recycling in the nation on November 15, 2021. In the most general sense, the EPA's goal for this new strategy is to: "tackle major recycling challenges facing the nation and to create a stronger, more resilient, and cost-effective municipal solid waste recycling system," (EPA). Heading into the new year and beyond, the following steps will be taken in order to add to and improve the new system:
Improve markets for recycled commodities through market development, analysis, manufacturing, and research.
Increase collection of recyclable materials and improve recycling infrastructure through analysis, funding, product design, and processing efficiencies.
Reduce contamination in the recycled materials stream through outreach and education to the public on the value of proper recycling.
Enhance policies and programs to support recyclability and recycling through strengthened federal and international coordination, analysis, research on product pricing, and sharing of best practices.
Standardize measurement and increase data collection through coordinated recycling definitions, measures, targets, and performance indicators.
EPA will also focus on moving forward in the following areas:
Increasing Equitable Access for Overburdened Communities: EPA recognizes the burden that living near waste and waste-related facilities has on communities when waste is not properly managed, which can lead to higher levels of chronic health issues. The 2021 Strategy will increase equitable access to recycling services, reduce environmental impacts in communities, stimulate economic development, and ensure overburdened communities meaningfully participate during the strategy’s implementation.
Reducing Climate Impacts of Materials Management: The 2021 Strategy includes a commitment by EPA to create a new national goal to reduce the climate impacts from the production, consumption, use, and disposal of materials, which make up approximately 50 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations Environment Programme’s International Resource Panel. This new climate goal will help achieve President Biden’s commitment to achieve a 50-52-percent reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Managing Materials for a Circular Economy: While this initial 2021 Strategy focuses on the recycling of municipal solid waste, additional work is necessary to create a “circular economy” where materials (e.g., plastics, food waste, electronics, and industrial materials) are sustainably managed throughout their lifecycle. EPA, in coordination with other federal agencies and interested stakeholders, intends to release subsequent strategies that will encompass other activities beyond the recycling of MSW, reflecting the need for sustainable product design, reducing waste generation, and materials reuse activities critical to realizing circularity. Subsequent strategies will address other key materials, such as plastics, food, cement, and concrete, as well as electronics.
Below are two links to provide extra information: