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.
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.
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.
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.
PurchaseRecycling 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 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
- 2018 Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling — US EPA
- New international requirements for the export and import of plastic recyclables and waste — US EPA
- Federal lawmakers pass Save Our Seas 2.0 — Plastics Recycling Update
- US and Canada approve pact as Basel restrictions near — Plastics Recycling Update
- China confirms expanded import ban starting Jan. 1 — Resource Recycling
- EPA sets 2030 national recycling goal, stakeholders call for more federal action — Waste Dive
- US officials lay out Basel impact for plastic exporters — Plastics Recycling Update
- U.S. generates more plastic trash than any other nation, report finds — National Geographic
- EPA National Recycling Strategy Includes Assessment of State, Local Policies — Route Fifty
- OECD countries split on Basel plastics decision — Plastics Recycling Update
- Recycling sector shows positive financial outlook — Resource Recycling
- Data Corner: Export vs. domestic processing for post-consumer plastic — Resource Recycling
- Don’t Give Up on Recycling Plastic — Bloomberg
- EPA National Recycling Strategy Includes Assessment of State, Local Policies — Route Fifty
- Alupro: Recycling Industry Showing Resilience in Face of Virus — Waste Management World
- 2020 could be the year of legislative boom — or bust — for national recycling policy — Waste Dive
SWANA and Recycling in the News
- Online shopping has shifted recycling responsibilities to consumers – Jan 7, 2021, The Verge
- How local waste and recycling leaders are grappling with coronavirus-driven budget pressures – Dec 22, 2020, Waste Dive
- Baltimore City recycling pickup to resume in January, Mayor Brandon Scott says – Dec 15, 2020, The Baltimore Sun
- Why more online spending could cause a cardboard overload – Nov 30, 2020, ABC 10
- EPA sets 2030 national recycling goal, stakeholders call for more federal action – Nov 19, 2020, Waste Dive
- US waste and recycling sector faces mounting risks and opportunities from climate change – Nov 19, 2020, Waste Dive
- 2020 MRF summit tone optimistic in the face of ongoing challenges – Nov 19, 2020, Recycling Product News
- All Those Used Delivery Boxes Are a Hot Commodity – Nov 17, 2020, Wall Street Journal
- 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
- Recycling meets reality – Oct 1, 2020, Knowable Magazine
- Waste disposal industry talks trash, and how to recycle better – Sep 16, 2020, WABI TV
- The recycling dilemma, and how we can do better – Aug 31, 2020, Discover Magazine
- Senate hearing revives federal recycling discussion with little consensus – Jun 17, 2020, Waste Dive
- The coronavirus has given us a new kind of plastic waste. Where does it go? – Jun 17, 2020, Tampa Bay Times
- 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
SWANA Submits Comments on National Recycling Strategy
December 07, 2020
SWANA Participates in America Recycles: Summit and Innovation Fair
November 16, 2020
Media Advisory: Recycling in the United States
November 05, 2020
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
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