Initiatives
Recycling
SWANA is recognized as a leading subject matter expert on recycling and materials recovery. SWANA works directly with local governments and their private sector partners in the United States and Canada to build individual and community awareness around recycling issues. SWANA is working with members, municipalities, and industry leaders to understand and respond to current recycling challenges.
Register Today for the 2020 MRF Summit
Registration includes real-time access to all sessions. In addition, sessions will be recorded and available to registered attendees for 60 days after the event.
Members $149 | Nonmembers: $299
Register Today!New SWANA White Paper
State of Plastic Waste Management in the United States and Canada
This white paper is a SWANA Member exclusive that provides solid waste and recycling managers and elected officials a snapshot of the status of plastic waste management in the municipal solid waste stream. It outlines the current state of plastic waste management in the United States and Canada, with a focus on containers and packaging.
Overcoming Recycling Challenges
At SWANApalooza 2020, recycling experts discussed how the solid waste industry is embracing new opportunities for managing recycling. That panel discussion is now available for purchase.
Recycling Legislation
Federal legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Congress to address some of the challenges facing recycling. The following bills are supported by SWANA with the approval of its Core Advocacy Group because they provide funding for recycling infrastructure improvement and public education.
RECOVER Act (H.R. 5115)
The RECOVER Act would allocate $500 million in matching federal grants to eligible states, local municipalities, and tribal governments to invest in improving their recycling infrastructure, programs, and education efforts. More…
RECYCLE Act (S. 2941)
The RECYCLE Act would authorize up to $15 million per year, over the course of five years, in grants to states, tribes, nonprofits, public partnerships, and local governments seeking to ramp up commercial and municipal recycling outreach and education. The legislation would also direct the EPA to develop a model recycling toolkit to bolster recycling participation and decrease contamination rates. More…
Save Our Seas 2.0 Act (S. 1982)
The Save Our Seas 2.0 Act addresses the issue of marine debris in a variety of ways, including via improvements in domestic solid waste infrastructure. The legislation establishes a post-consumer materials management infrastructure grant program that would receive $55,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025 and a trash-free water grants that would receive $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025. More…
Pledges and Commitments
SWANA recognizes the importance of collaboration to ensure a sustainable recycling system for all. For that reason, SWANA supports initiatives that work to advance from solid waste management to resource management.
SWANA is an endorser of the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment.
SWANA is a signatory to the U.S. Plastics Pact.
SWANA is a signatory to the EPA America Recycles Day 2018 Pledge.
Recycling in the Media
Recycling News
- Alupro: Recycling Industry Showing Resilience in Face of Virus — Waste Management World
- How Cities Can Revive Recycling — National League of Cities
- 2020 could be the year of legislative boom — or bust — for national recycling policy — Waste Dive
- Paper and plastic export numbers take historic dive — Resource Recycling
- Recycling Labels Don’t Reflect Reality for Local Governments— Route Fifty
- Key curbside plastics no longer ‘widely’ recyclable — Plastics Recycling Update
- Details on India’s mixed paper import crackdown — Resource Recycling
- Recycling is becoming so expensive that some towns don’t know what to do – Boston Globe
- Recycling is becoming so expensive that some towns don’t know what to do — Boston Globe
- Editor’s Analysis: Welcome to the year of recycling policy – Resource Recycling
- Changing the narrative – Recycling Today
SWANA and Recycling in the News
- Industry reps talk trash – Oct 10, 2020, The Ellsworth American
- 3 myths about recycling and what we're all doing wrong – Oct 2, 2020, TODAY
- Family Adventures, Last Mile Vehicles, COVID Waste, Mini Book Club, The Great Realization – Oct 1, 2020, The Lisa Show on BYU Radio
- The recycling dilemma, and how we can do better – Aug 31, 2020, Discover Magazine
- The coronavirus has given us a new kind of plastic waste. Where does it go? – Jun 17, 2020, Tampa Bay Times
- Senate hearing revives federal recycling discussion with little consensus – Jun 17, 2020, Waste Dive
- Plastic bags were finally being banned. Then came the pandemic. – May 20, 2020, Vox Media
- How Cities Can Revive Recycling – Apr 19, 2019, National League of Cities
- What does 'recycling' actually mean? – Apr 17, 2019, Waste Dive
SWANA’s Recycling Press Releases
White Paper Looks at the State of Plastic Waste Management
October 19, 2020
New Report Focuses on Curbside Recycling Options
October 07, 2020
SWANA and ISRI Join Together to Host MRF Summit
September 30, 2020
SWANA Signs U.S. Plastics Pact
August 26, 2020
SWANA Encourages All to Celebrate Waste and Recycling Workers Week
June 15, 2020
Solid Waste and Resource Management Industry Lauds Congressional Hearings on Recycling Programs
February 05, 2020
Recycling and Waste Management Advocates Commend Senate Passage of Save Our Seas Bill
January 28, 2020
Advertisement
China Waste Import Restrictions
Since China enacted sweeping waste import restrictions in 2017, SWANA helped lead North American recycling through the challenges this transition has created.
