Part two: How Colorado is experiencing shifts in the recycling industry
Bryce Isaacson //January 16, 2019//
Part two: How Colorado is experiencing shifts in the recycling industry
Bryce Isaacson //January 16, 2019//
In part one of this series, we discussed the evolving recycling industry and the factors behind China’s new recycling specifications. Here, we highlight how these changes have impacted recycling locally in Colorado, as well as nationally and how we can overcome the new challenges.
Current recycling market gloominess has been caused by Chinese and other Asian nations' establishment of new specifications and quotas for imported recyclables, having a tremendous impact on the recycling industry, both nationally and locally.
NATIONAL IMPACT
LOCAL IMPACT
While Colorado (perhaps surprisingly) hasn’t been the greatest recycler, new restrictions imposed by China on contamination levels, mixed paper and plastics aren’t making things any easier. To date, there have not been any changes to programs across the state. For example, both Boulder County and the county’s recycle center operator, Eco-Cycle, have done a great job of processing and marketing local materials during this time of transition.
Eco-Cycle has been able to find markets for all materials even when others have not. The facility model does not produce a mixed paper product, but rather a sorted office paper product, which still has a strong market value. Additionally, they have not been plagued with the revenue loss or lack of market for paper that some other facilities have. Thanks to the efforts of local residents and businesses, the Boulder County Recycle Center boasts a contamination rate of less than 10 percent — or less than half the national average of 20 to 25 percent. Boulder County and other local Colorado communities are also fortunate to have Momentum Recycling located in Broomfield to process the glass fines from the state’s materials recovery facilities and Rocky Mountain Bottling in Golden to buy the glass cullet and bottles created for the manufacturing of new bottles. Many other markets and areas of the country do not have the advantage Colorado does for its glass.
Consumers in the United States, largely unaware of new regulations and developments, expect the materials they put in the recycle carts be recycled and have come to expect the service should be free. In fact, many consumers believe their recyclables are worth a lot of money, so any fees charged can feel unfair. The entire industry must work together to institute many necessary changes, including:
As recycled plastics, glass and mixed paper continue piling up at many recycling plants across the country and where they can’t make a profit by processing them for export or domestic markets, the ripples of China’s decision are being felt around the state and the country. While the global challenges the recycling industry is facing these days are without precedent, we all have a role to play in making recycling sustainable for the future.
Bryce Isaacson is vice president of Sales and Marketing for Western Disposal Services, Boulder County’s largest full-service waste management company for trash, recycling and compostable materials.