The State of Recycling in 2020-21

2020 has definitely been a wild ride for all of us. Because of all of the distractions and concerns during the pandemic, something we might forget about prioritizing during this hectic time is protecting the environment. When our energies allow, it's important to not lose sight of our responsibilities to be good stewards of the earth. We can really all make a difference with little sacrifice by reducing, reusing, and recycling as much waste as possible. But what about recycling? We've all heard so much conflicting information about recycling lately, and how have the events of 2020 impacted the recycling industry?

Effects of the Pandemic

The coronavirus has increased overall waste by increasing the demand for non-recyclable items. The use of masks, takeout containers, and other plastic disposable items has increased. According to a 2017 study in the journal Science, we've created 6.3 billion tons of plastic waste since 1950. 91% of this waste has never been recycled. The recent increase in the use of plastic items that can't be recycled only adds to this alarming amount. Even more alarming is the massive funding of virgin, or new, plastic. According to a September study by Carbon Tracker, over the next five years, the oil and gas industry plans to spend about $400 billion on plants to make raw materials for new plastic. That's because virgin plastic is significantly more affordable for companies to use than recycled plastic -- it's often half the price of the most common recycled plastic material.

Unfortunately, most of this plastic isn't recycled either. And what happens to plastic that doesn't get recycled? It heads to the landfill, where it will inevitably contribute to climate change and potentially cause other harmful effects. These effects include clogging drains, polluting water, smothering marine wildlife, and even releasing chemicals that cause hormonal disruption and cancer.

The pandemic has negatively impacted recycling in other ways. Worldwide recyclers told Reuters that their businesses have decreased over 20% in Europe, 50% in Asia, and 60% for some U.S.-based firms. In the Philippines, Vietnam, and India, up to 80% of the recycling industry closed operations during the pandemic’s peak. Along with the closing of recycling businesses, demand for recycled plastics has decreased. Demand for recycled plastics dropped 50% on average across South and Southeast Asia according to Circulate Capital.

Other Current Issues

Besides the pandemic, international restrictions on imports of recyclable material significantly reduce the U.S.'s exports. For example, China, previously a large consumer of the U.S.'s recyclable materials, has essentially eliminated imports of recyclable materials. India, too, imposes restrictions on imports of recyclable material. These restrictions lead to an abundance of recyclable materials with few customers.

Recycling gathers heavy tolls on the local scale, too. Households often mix recyclable material with garbage. More labor is required to separate garbage from recyclable materials, which increases recycling prices and makes it harder for local governments to provide recycling services. Cities across the U.S. face a dilemma between rising recycling costs and more affordable options, like incineration of recyclable material, at the price of environmental damage. For example, in Yadkin County, recycling costs about $40,000 more than sending the material to a landfill.

Even Shreveport faces recycling difficulties. Shreveport’s contract with Republic Services, our previous recycling company, ended on October 10. Currently, Shreveport requests proposals for the collection and disposal of recyclable material. Until Shreveport can create a new recycling contract, the Public Works Solid Waste Department collects all recyclable materials as trash. For more information about recycling in Shreveport, visit this article at WasteDive. Greens Club sponsor Mrs. Dionne Procell-Brown is also reaching out to a new local provider of curbside recycling services, CFG Recycling, to learn where CFG is selling their aluminum, paper/cardboard, and plastic and will update this post with information from CFG owner Billy Weatherall.

Things We Can Do

So what now? The challenges facing the recycling industry and the influx of new plastic into our waste stream means that now more than ever it is important to reduce our use of plastic in any way that we feasibly can. For example, you can switch to more eco-friendly laundry detergent that uses sustainable packaging (my family has just switched to using laundry sheets that are mailed to you each month - no plastic waste), you can switch the bar soaps or refill your soap dispensers from one bulk container, you can stop buying plastic water bottles and utensils (one of my favorite gifts from a friend is a foldable stainless steel spork that comes in a little sleeve and attaches to my keychain - I rinse it off and keep dishwashing liquid in a little container near my work space).

While currently, the future of recycling looks pretty bleak, there are still other ways we can recycle some of our waste until our city is able to find another partner in reducing our landfill usage. One way to still recycle some items is through innovative businesses like TerraCycle who present an alternative to traditional recycling. TerraCycle recycles typically non-recyclable items through national platforms. If your family has the means to do so, you can buy a recycle box or enroll in some Tetracycle programs and directly send your qualifying waste to Tetracycle. According to the TerraCycle website, TerraCycle’s new Loop platform “aims to change the way the world shops with favorite brands in refillable packaging offered with convenience and style.” Over 200 million people have participated in TerraCycle’s recycling programs, and TerraCycle has recycled over 7.7 billion items and raised over $44 million for charity. Through both old and newer, more innovative methods, we stand a chance to combat environmental damage through recycling.

Works Cited

Brock, Joe. “Special Report: Plastic Pandemic - COVID-19 Trashed the Recycling Dream.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 5 Oct. 2020, www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-plastic-recycling-spe-idUSKBN26Q1LO.

Ferrell, Jeff. “Starting over with Recycling in Shreveport.” Https://Www.ksla.com, 7 Oct. 2020, www.ksla.com/2020/10/07/starting-over-with-recycling-shreveport/.

Hinkle, Drew. “The Rising Cost of Recycling.” Yadkin Ripple, 5 May 2019, www.yadkinripple.com/news/13701/the-rising-cost-of-recycling.

“Hold on to Blue Cans. Shreveport Suspends Curbside Recycling until New Company Is Selected.” Shreveport Times, Shreveport Times, 6 Oct. 2020, www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2020/10/06/shreveport-suspends-curbside-recycling-until-finding-new-company/5902967002/.

“Recycle Everything with TerraCycle®.” TerraCycle, www.terracycle.com/en-US/.