Curbside Recycling Collection Options

Applied Research Foundation report now available free of charge to SWANA members

A new report from the SWANA Applied Research Foundation presents three curbside recycling options for recycling and sustainability program managers to consider in their efforts to reduce inbound contamination of recyclables and/or recyclables collection costs.

It has been estimated that 53 percent of the US population (about 158 million persons living in approximately 62.7 million households) has curbside recycling services provided automatically to their homes as a part of the residential solid waste management systems in their communities. Furthermore, almost 90 percent of these residents are provided with single-stream recyclables collection service.

The popularity of single-stream recycling is due to the utilization of large, wheeled, lidded carts that offer greater potential to maximize the quantities of materials collected and recycled, while providing greater operational efficiency and increased safety for recycling collection personnel. One downside of the growth in single-stream recycling systems has been the increase in contamination of discarded recyclables. In contrast, dual-stream recycling systems generally rely on smaller, unlidded containers that can be inspected before their contents are placed into the truck, thereby reducing contamination.

The report presents performance and cost data—as well as case studies—for both single-stream and dual-stream recycling options. Each option provides a way for communities to achieve cost savings that would more than cover the reduction in revenues due to the China National Sword policy implemented in 2018. 

The new report, Curbside Recycling Collection Options, is now available free of charge to SWANA members. Download the report here.

Be Sure to Read the Companion Report: Resetting Curbside Recycling Programs in the Wake of China

This 2019 ARF Recycling Group report gives information and guidance on how to reset curbside recycling programs in the wake of the China National Sword policy.

Download the report here.