Advocacy

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.

Issue Background

Increasing Usage – Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in consumer electronics, electric vehicles, e-bikes, and other uses due to their high energy density and long lifespan.
Safety Concerns – Lithium-ion batteries pose a safety risk of starting fires, especially as battery sizes and energy densities increase. Waste and resource management vehicles and facilities have experienced a drastic increase in fires in recent years.
Growing Incidents – Incidents of lithium-ion battery fires have been on the rise, leading to safety hazards, property damage, and environmental concerns.

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 Only

Recycling: 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.

Recycling myths versus facts - US Edition

Download US Factsheet

Recycling myths versus facts - Canadian Edition

Download Canada Factsheet

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

SWANA is a signatory to the US Plastics Pact.

2020 Baseline Report

Roadmap 2.0

SWANA is an implementation partner to the Canada Plastics Pact.

2022 Annual Report

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More Recycling Resources

Resources for everyone on how to #RecycleRight.

More Resources

SWANA and Recycling in the News

Paving the Path to Higher Recyclability: New Task Force Aims to Improve Strategic Packaging Recyclability – May 2, 2025, Packaging World
Miami-Dade, FL Innovation Authority Launches Fifth Public Innovation Challenge to Optimize Waste Diversion – Mar 14, 2025, Waste Advantage
Miami-Dade Innovation Authority Launches Fifth Public Innovation Challenge to Optimize Waste Diversion – Mar 14, 2025, Waste 360
MRF and collection worker deaths climbed in 2023 – Jan 7, 2025, Resource Recycling
Recycling's Best Hope? People Want to Do the 'Right Thing,' Expert Says – Dec 6, 2024, Newsweek
SWANA on board with EPA plastics strategy – Dec 5, 2024, Waste & Recycling Magazine
The Tire Recycling Foundation’s inaugural board of directors aims to raise funds for innovation initiatives – Dec 3, 2024, Recycling Product News
PFAS opportunities coming as Trump enters office, waste executives say – Dec 3, 2024, Waste Dive
The top recycling events, trade shows, and conferences of 2025 – Dec 3, 2024, Recycling Product News
EPA releases strategy against plastic pollution – Dec 3, 2024, A Resource Recycling
Industry Responds to EPA's Plastic Pollution Strategy Before Treaty Talks – Nov 24, 2024, Newsweek
EPA releases roadmap to reduce plastic waste in the environment – Nov 22, 2024, Recycling Product 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

Recycling Press Releases

SWANA Representative Appointed to ETTAC

December 12, 2024

SWANA's Senior Director of Public Policy & Communications, Kristyn Oldendorf, has been appointed to serve the Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee (ETTAC) advising the US Department of Commerce.

SWANA WELCOMES OVER 1,200 WASTE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS TO WASTECON® 2024 FOR KNOWLEDGE-SHARING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND UNIQUE NETWORKING FUN

October 22, 2024

Waste and resource management professionals from across the U.S. and seven countries are gathered in Grapevine, TX, for WASTECON®, an event featuring 1,200 attendees and 137 exhibitors.

SWANA Announces New Guiding Principles on EPR

SWANA Announces New Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

October 20, 2024

SWANA is excited to announce new guidelines and a Technical Policy on EPR, designed to enhance recycling and reuse systems while prioritizing safety.

SWANA Applauds the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee for Holding a Hearing on Efforts to Improve Reuse and Recycling

May 22, 2024

The letter acknowledges grant funding is enabling communities to implement reduction, reuse, and recycling programs. SWANA encouraged the committee to take actions to support ongoing federal funding for this needed infrastructure.

Jeremy O'Brien Committee Appointment - May 2024

Jeremy O’Brien Selected to Join National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee

May 21, 2024

Jeremy O’Brien joins NAS ad-hoc committee to examine operational and financial data from recycling programs for MSW across various levels of governance.

SWANA Leaders Approve New Container Deposit Return System Policy

February 12, 2024

The US and Canada have intensified focus on recycling refund programs, to foster responsible consumer behavior and minimize environmental impact.

Braille Garbage Cart Labels for the Visually Impaired

May 30, 2023

Beginning June 5, 2023, the City of Broken Arrow will be the first municipality in the area to offer recycling and garbage labels for each cart written in Braille.