[GreenYes] Recycling economics

["Michele Raymond" <michele@raymond.com>]

Economics are difficult for recycling because landfilling is too cheap.

Either:
A. governments must see it as another service to be paid for
B. landfill costs must rise

Recycling is not a money-maker, unless your tip fees are high, or there is 
a big demand for the material.

If landfills were designed to truly NOT leak in the future, then tip fees 
would be closer to $100/ton and  recycling would be more economic.

In Europe, landfill tip fees are $100 - $300 a ton -- so even without the 
EPR mandates, there would be quite a bit of recycling, at least of the 
traditional materials and beverage containers.  Moreover, they have a 
landfill directive that will require a reduction of 75% of degradable waste 
going to landfills eventually -- pre-treatment will be required.

Of interest, the latest amendments to the packaging directive indicate 
there needs to be some economic incentive for companies to use recycled 
plastics, and that governments need to start purchasing recycled products 
-- issues the US has been working on for a long time -- without the big hammer.

Cheers
Michele Raymond

Michele Raymond
Publisher
Recycling Laws International/ State Recycling Laws Update
5111 Berwyn Rd. Ste 115 College Park, MD 20740)
301/345-4237   Fax 345-4768
http://www.raymond.com

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