The threat of the waste industry controlling recycling is nil--they are
already retreating with their tails between their legs now that they
realize that recycling and waste disposal are two seperate businesses.
Some firms, mostly private, may do both sides of the waste stream well,
but these are few and far between. Since John Drury took over at WMX,
the national waste hauler sentiment towards recycling has cooled
considerably. He is on record as saying he will only provide recycling
services at a charge, and never for free. He walks the talk too--he shut
down the joint-venture recycling project WMX was running with Stone
Container.
As far as seperating recycling contracts from garbage contracts, I really
do not see the point. The real volume of material is in the industrial
and commercial accounts, and most of that market is already very
competitive and largely untouched by haulers.
Bill McGowan
UCSB History
Rincon Recycling