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.
Recycling Legislation
Federal legislation has been introduced in the US 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.
SWANA/National League of Cities Support RECOVER & RECYCLE Acts…
Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act
The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act would establish a pilot recycling program to award grants to states, local municipalities, tribal governments, and public-private partnerships for improving recycling accessibility. The goal is to significantly improve access to recycling systems in underserved communities through the use of a hub-and-spoke model for recycling infrastructure development.
Save Our Seas 2.0 Act (S. 1982)
Passed into law December 18, 2020
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…
RECYCLE Act (S. 923)
Passed into law November 15, 2021 as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
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…
Bill info…
SWANA White Paper
State of Plastic Waste Management in the United States and Canada
This white paper 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.
Download — Members OnlyRecycling: Myths vs. Facts
Is recycling in trouble? Is recycling even worth the effort? Find out with the SWANA Recycling: Myths vs. Facts factsheet — customized for Canada and the United States.
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 Ellen MacArthur Foundation New Plastics Economy Global Commitment.
Annual Reports and Resources
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SWANA and Recycling in the News
- Trade groups urge U.S. House to pass recycling infrastructure, data bills – Nov 20, 2024, Waste Dive
- SWANA Joins Forces with Canada Plastics Pact – Jul 8, 2024, ChemAnalyst
- EcoTank Canada and SWANA join Canada Plastics Pact – Jul 8, 2024, Packaging Gateway
- New Partnerships Strengthen Canada Plastics Pact's Efforts To Eliminate Plastic Waste – Jul 8, 2024, Goderich Signal Star
- EcoTank Canada and SWANA join Canada Plastics Pact – Jul 8, 2024, GlobalData
- SWANA joins Canada Plastics Pact – Jun 28, 2024, Recycling Today
- SWANA joins Canada Plastics Pact – Jun 28, 2024, Waste Today
- SWANA Approves New Container Deposit Return System Policy – Mar 4, 2024, American Recycler
- SWANA comments on U.S. draft food waste reduction strategy – Feb 9, 2024, Recycling Product News
- SWANA Responds to Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics – Feb 8, 2024, Waste 360
Recycling Press Releases
October 22, 2024
SWANA Announces New Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
October 20, 2024
May 22, 2024
Jeremy O’Brien Selected to Join National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee
May 21, 2024
SWANA Leaders Approve New Container Deposit Return System Policy
February 12, 2024
Braille Garbage Cart Labels for the Visually Impaired
May 30, 2023
EPA Opens Applications for Federal Recycling Grant Programs
November 16, 2022
