Recycling: A Component of Strong Community Development

Strong community recycling programs can contribute to a healthy, united community. Some of the many benefits of recycling are the prevention of greenhouse ... Jumptomaincontent. Region4:MunicipalGovernmentToolkit Youarehere:EPAHome Region4 MGTK Recyling:AComponentofStrongCommunityDevelopment Recycling:AComponentofStrongCommunityDevelopment ClickheretoviewaprintableversionoftheRecycling: AComponentofStrongCommunityDevelopment(PDF)(6pp,62.5K,AboutPDF)factsheet. Strongcommunityrecyclingprogramscancontributetoahealthy,unitedcommunity. Someofthemanybenefitsofrecyclingarethepreventionofgreenhousegases(GHGs)and supportinglocaleconomiesbycreatingjobsandtaxrevenue.Recyclingprogramscanalso helptoimprovewaterandairqualityandarebuildingblocksforsustainablegrowingcommunities.Takealookat howrecyclingcanimpactyourcommunitywithtangibleimprovementstoyourqualityoflife. MoreLinksandResources Recycling: AComponentofStrongCommunityDevelopment(PDF)(6pp,62.5K,AboutPDF)factsheet CommunityDevelopmentandRecyclingLinksandResources Clickbelowforlinkstoclimatechangeandeconomicsresources: Source ReductionandRecycling:ARoleinPreventingGlobalClimateChange The EconomicsofRecyclingintheSoutheast:UnderstandingtheWholePicture CommunityandRecyclingTopics HealthyNeighborhoods SustainableGrowingCommunities RecyclingBringsaCommunityTogether InvestinginYourCommunity FosteringHealthy Neighborhoods Howdoesrecyclingpromoteahealthycommunity?Asmanufacturingactivitiesand jobscontinuetobeoutsourced,communitiesarestrugglingtoaddnew,high-payingjobs toboosttheirlocaleconomies.Totacklethisproblem,somelocalgovernmentsareshifting theirfocustodevelopingcreativeeconomiesinhopesthattheywillattractalternative, sustainableindustriestothearea. Onekeyindicatorofacreativeeconomyisrecycling.Acommunity’s commitmenttoacleanerenvironmentisoftenconsideredtoreflectits commitmenttoahigherqualityofliving.Recyclingalsoattracts companiesthatreprocessrecyclablesandthesupplierswhoreusethesematerials intheirproducts. AsEPA’sRecyclingEconomic InformationStudy(PDF)(158pp,1701K,AboutPDF)pointsout,recyclingindustriesnotonlyofferhigher payingjobsthanthenationalaverage,theyalsopreventcommunitiesfrom disposingofvaluablecommoditiesinlandfills. SmartGrowthStrategy:RecyclingattheCenter CitieslikeAtlanta,Georgiaareturningtosmartgrowthstrategiestomanage expectedpopulationgrowth.Smartgrowthstrategiesarebasedonprinciplesof sustainability—higherdensitymixed-usedevelopments,remediationandreuseof Brownfieldsites,integrationoftransportationinvestmentswithappropriatelanduse, andgreenbuilding.Atthecoreofgreenbuildingissustainabilityandinturn,recycling.Greenbuildingsrequiretheuseofproductsmadeofrecycledcontent(e.g.,insulation,carpet, pavers)andalsomakeuseofsalvageablematerials(e.g.,doors,windows,lumber)fromdemolition.Greendevelopments,suchasAtlanticStation,thenation’sfirstLEED™Silver-Core&Shellhigh-riseofficebuildingintheworld,catertoa“creativeclass”ofpeoplewithalive,work,andplayenvironmentallinoneplace.Thecommunitywasdesignedtoimprovethearea’swaterresourcesandregionalairqualityandtoserveasamodelforenvironmentalsustainabilityandsmartgrowth.StorageandcollectionofrecyclingisaprerequisiteforobtainingLEEDcertification.LEED,whichstandsforLeadershipinEnergyandEnvironmentalDesigniscertifiedbytheU.S.GreenBuildingCouncil. Fact:TheCurbside ValuePartnershipestimatesthat morethan$1.2billionworthofrecyclablesweredisposedaswasteinRegion4 statesin2006.Non-recycledfiber(e.g.,paper,cardboard)contributedthe mosttothelostvaluewithnearlyonebillionpoundslandfilledorincinerated. AccordingtoNorthCarolina’sRecyclingMeansBusiness(63pp,2671K,AboutPDF),recyclingemploysmorepeoplethanthestate’s bio-techindustry,aswellastheagriculturallivestockindustry.In addition,recyclingjobsasapercentageofthestate’stotalemploymenthave increased40%in10years. WashingtonCounty,Kentucky:TakingaRegionalApproachtoRecycling FarmingisawayoflifeinWashingtonCountyandwithrisingfuelcostsandconcerns aboutclimatechangeanditseffectsontheircommunity,recyclinghascapturedtheattention oflocalofficials.Thecountystartedrecyclingwithjustonetrailerandoneemployeein2002. Sincethen,theprogramhasexpandedwithcurbsideservicetoitsmaincity,Springfield. WashingtonCountyhasalsocollaboratedwithneighboringcountiestotakearegionalapproach tocollectingrecyclables.Approachingrecyclingregionallyhasallowedsixcountiesto participateinrecycling,providingrecyclingopportunitiestoruralareasthatotherwise wouldnotreceiveservice.WashingtonCountyreceivedover$252,000ingrantmoneyfrom theStateofKentuckytoexpandtheirrecyclinginitiativesthroughthesix-countyregionin2007. Thecountyprogramhasgrownfromrecyclingapproximately325,000poundsandmaking$2,464 inprofitin2004tomakingmorethan$10,000andrecyclingover1.3millionpoundsofmaterials in2006.Usingthegrantmoneyreceivedin2008andpartnershipswithfivecounties,Washington Countyhascollectedoveronemillionpoundsofrecycledmaterialsinthefirstsixmonthsof2008.WashingtonCountywasthefirstCertifiedCleanCountyinKentuckyandalsothefirstcountytoreceivegrantfundsforitsregionalapproachtorecycling.Recyclingisaddingeconomicvaluetothecommunityandprovidinganopportunityforresidentstotackleenvironmentalconcernsonalocallevel. Source:WashingtonCounty,Kentucky Andwhataboutairquality? Recyclingalso playsaroleinreducingGHGemissions,whichareassociatedwith chronichealthissuessuchasasthma. AccordingtotheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC),bothindoorand outdoorairpollutionposehazardstohumanhealthandareestimatedtoberesponsible fornearly5%oftheglobalburdenofdisease.Nearly2millionchildrenyounger thanfiveyearsofagedieeveryyearfromacuterespiratoryinfections.Effortscanbe madetoreduceenvironmentalpollutantsthatmaycontributetochronicillnessesthrough recyclingprogramsthatreduceenergyconsumption.Byrecycling,wastethatreleasesGHGsthroughanaerobicdecompositionisreduced.Recyclingalsoreducestheneedforraw materialsinmanufacturingprocesses,whichrequirelargeramountsofenergyforharvesting andthushavealargeradverseairqualityimpact.AccordingtoRE3.org,paperrecycling reducesairpollutionbyupto74%whencomparedtoproducingpaperfromrawmaterials. ImprovedWaterQualityaBy-ProductofRecycling Recyclingcanreducearangeofpollutantsfromenteringtherivers,streams, andotherwatersofourstatebyreducingdischargestotheenvironment.Recyclingatonofpaper savesasmuchas7,000gallonsofwaterandeliminatesthewastesthatwouldtypicallybe generatedduringmanufacturing. MississippiStateTaskForceonRecycling,2006 Finally,landfillingcanbeminimizedbyimplementingrecyclingprogramsanddedicatingtime andresourcestotheirdevelopmentandsuccess.Theplacementofproposedlandfillsoftenleads tostrongoppositioninthecommunity.Theattitudeof“notinmybackyard”typicallyprevails. Landfillplacementcanleadtodiminishedpropertyvaluesandthepotentialforreleasestothe environment.Theneedforlandfillsandtheconcernsthatcomewiththemsubsidewithhigher recyclingparticipationrates. FACT:TheWhiteHouseTaskForceprojectedthat195millioncubicyardsofmaterialswerepreventedfromenteringlandfillsin2005duetorecycling,anamountequivalenttothespaceof92largelandfills. Withefficientcurbsiderecyclingprograms,residentscantakeanactivepart inbeautifyingtheircommunity. Theplacementofrecyclingcontainers throughoutacommunitymakesrecyclingeasyandgivesresidentsanotherreason totakeprideintheplacetheycallhome. TopofPage FosteringSustainableGrowing Communities Makingwastereductionapriorityprovidesnewopportunitiesforsustainable communitygrowth. FromTrashtoCommodities:Developingadvancedrecyclingprograms createspathwaysforcollectedcommoditiestobesoldinthemarketplace.Comprehensive andefficientrecyclingprogramsoffermoreopportunitiesforthecommunitytobenefit financially,whileimprovingtheaestheticappealoftheirneighborhoods.Onewaythe recyclingindustrydoesthisisthroughboostingtaxrevenues—revenuesthatcangoback intocommunityprojectssuchaspublicparks,alternativetransportation,andeducationalgrants. Fact:TheFloridaRecyclingEconomicInformation Study,(68pp,1213K,AboutPDF)completedin2000,revealedthatFloridanetted$62millioninstate taxrevenuesasadirecteffectoftherecyclingandreuseindustry. The studyalsostatedthatrecyclingandreuseinFloridaemploysfivetimesthe numberofpeopleemployedinconveniencestoresandhasatotalpayroll10 timeslarger. Myth:RecyclingJustBecomesTrash Whileitistruethatcontaminationcanrendersomematerialsunfitforrecycling (suchasfoodresidueonpaperproducts),recyclingcorporationsworkhardtofindmarkets formaterialsthatarerecycled.Withnewtechnologytoseparateandsalvagematerials andemergingmarketsforthesematerials,recyclersoftenfinditfeasibletopartnerwiththeir enduserstoidentifyopportunitiesforreuse.Somematerialswilleventuallyfindtheirwayto thelandfillorincineratorsimplybecausetheyshouldnothavebeenrecycledinthefirstplace. Educatingconsumersaboutwhatcanandcannotberecycledwillhelpinreducingtheamountof materialsthateventuallymustbedisposedaswaste. FACT:In2007,theCityofKinston,NorthCarolina,wasabletosave$100,000dollarsinfuel andlaborcostsbyimplementinganewandimprovedrecyclingprogram.Thecitytransitioned from18-galloncontainersto95-gallonwheeledcartsandimplementedautomatedcollection. Notonlydidthecartscreateaddedconvenienceforresidents,theprogramcoordinatorssawa boostinparticipationaswell. Myth:RecycledBottlesJustGointoNewBottles Recycledmaterialsarereprocessedandturnedintoavarietyofnewproducts. Recycledplasticsareusedintheproductionoftoothbrushes,plasticconstructiontimber, andcarpets,tonameafew.Recyclingallowsforgreaterinnovationwhenitcomestothe manufacturingofnewproducts. Forexample,theCatawbaCountyEcoComplexinNorthCarolinaputstheconceptof“bio-mimicry”industrialdevelopmentintopractice.Thecomplexgeneratespowerfromlandfillmethaneandhousesapalletcompanywithmasterplanstohaveanintegratedofficeparkwhereeachindustrialby-productisusedbyanothercompanyortheofficeparkitself.Recyclingcanbemorethansimplyreusingonematerialoverandoverforthesamepurpose.Recyclingcanalsomeanusingwasteproductsforfuel,suchasscraptirerubberorleftoverwoodchips.By-productsynergyallowstheEcoComplextoachievecostsavingsbyusingwasteproductsforenergyandascomponentsinnewproducts.ItalsoprotectsthecommunitybypreventingthereleaseofunnecessaryGHGsthroughtransportationanddevelopmentofmaterialsfromvirginresources.EffortstodeveloprecyclingcommunitiesliketheEcoComplexoftenrequirepartnershipsbetweenlocalgovernmentandprivateindustry.Theresultisaclosed-loopfacilitythatturnswhatwouldotherwisebewasteintovaluablefeedstocks. DynamicJobs:Strongrecyclingprogramshavetheabilitytocreatejobs. Whiletrashdisposalsimplytransferswastetoitsgrave,recyclinggivesnewlifetosalvageable materials,thuscreatingopportunitiesfornewjobs.Themoretimesarecyclablematerialisused beforedisposal,thegreaterthenumberofjobsthatcanbecreated.Recyclingjobsrepresenta widerangeofsalaries.Thesejobsalsospanseveralindustriesandinvolvenumerousskillsets, suchasmarketingcommodities,sortingmaterials,andhandcraftingfurniture. Fact:AccordingtoTheEconomicImpactoftheRecycling IndustryinSouthCarolinapublishedin2006,onaverage,every1,000tons recycledfromlandfillsrepresents1.68additionaljobsinthestate. This numberalsorepresentsatotaleconomicimpactof$236,000,orthegenerationof $79,800inpersonalincome. Everyadditional1,000tonsrecycledgenerates $3,687inadditionaltaxrevenuestothestate. Myth:RecyclingisSmallChange Manypeoplefailtorecognizethegrowingimpactrecyclingwillhaveontheeconomic healthofourregion.Itisagrowingpartofoureconomybyaddingjobsandexpandingtax revenues.AreportfromNorthCarolinaentitledMadeinNorthCarolina:Recycled-ContentProducts HelpFueltheState'sEconomy,notesthatbetween1994and2004,recyclingjobshaveincreased from8,700to14,000.Incontrast,manufacturingjobsinthestatehavedeclinedfrom817,300 to577,400duringthesameten-yearperiod. SupportingSustainableIndustries:Recyclingindustrieshavebeenaround fordecades,withnewcompaniesemergingyearly.Theneedsintheindustryarediverse.Some corporationsrelyonrecycledplasticstoproducetheircarpetproducts,whileothersdependon donatedcomputersforrefurbishing.Somecompaniesareusingrecycledplasticinthe productionoftheirfleeceproducts.Thebottomlineisthatrecyclingfacilitiesareboundto beestablishedwheresuppliesareplenty.AccordingtoMarketsforAluminum(32pp,690K,AboutPDF),consumers tendtobuyscrapaluminumintheregionwheretheirplantsarelocated.Forinstance,a secondarysmelterwillgenerallylimititsscrappurchasestoaradiusof500miles. Fact:In2007,Coca-Cola announcedthatitwillbespending$60milliontoopena30-acreplasticrecyclingplantin Spartanburg,SC.Theplantwillbefullyoperationalin2009andisexpectedtorecycleabout 100millionpoundsofpolyethyleneterephthalate(PET)plasticannually,whichisequivalentto about2billion20-ouncebeveragebottles. Myth:RecyclingisHard Aslongasthecommunityisabletoprovideadequaterecyclingopportunitiesand accessibility,recyclingshouldnotbedifficultfortheconsumer.America’sBeverage Association’sRecycleItNowprogrambelievesthatrecyclingsuccesscanbeassimple asjustremindingpeopletodoit.Aspartoftheircampaign,theyprovidelargeplastic recyclingcontainersintheformofaplasticsodabottletoencourage recycling,andtoalsomakeiteasilyaccessible.Providingvisualsinthecommunitywill helpresidentsknowwhatcanberecycled. TopofPage RecyclingBringsaCommunity Together AfterthedevastationofHurricaneKatrina,HarrisonCounty,Mississippi,startedouton thelongroadtowardrecovery.Committedtorebuildingabetterandevenstrongercommunity,HarrisonCounty identifiedrecyclingasatoppriorityforthisseverelydamagedcommunity’srebirth.Immediately followingthehurricane,EPAarrivedtoaidthecountyinsettinguparecyclingcenterfor whitegoodsandothermaterialsthatcouldbesalvagedfromthedisaster.AccordingtoCindy SimmonsofHarrisonCounty,theprocesstooknearlysixmonthstocomplete. Sincethehurricane,HarrisonCountyhastakenfurtherstepstoimprovethecommunitybyrestoring curbsiderecyclingandimplementingahouseholdhazardouswastedriveeachyear.ThePhoneBookRecyclingCampaignwasalsocreatedasawaytobringthecommunitytogether. Toencourageschoolparticipation,schoolswererewardedwithfundsforeachphonebookdonated. Thecountycontinuestorebuildandislookingforopportunitiestofurtherimprovetheir electronicwasterecyclingprogram.Theyhaveproventhatrecyclingisanimportantcomponent ofahealthyandunitedcommunity. TopofPage SupportRecyclingandInvestinYour Community OnasunnydayinMay2004,OrlandoMayorBuddyDyerheldapressconference onthestepsofCityHalltokickoffaneweducationcampaigncalledTake ittotheCurb! Attheevent,themayorencouragedOrlandoresidents toincreaserecyclingby10percent. Toaccomplishthis,heurged residentswithoutbinstocontactthecitytogetone. Tohelppromotethe newcampaign,cityofficialscreatedrollingbillboardsbycoveringtheir existingfleetofrecyclingtruckswithnewcampaign-themedmessages. The mayoralsoparticipatedina“ride-along”followingthepressconferencewhere hehungdoor-hangersandtalkedtoarearesidentsabouttheirneeds. After thelaunchandsubsequentcity-widecommunicationscampaign,binrequests increased1,000%overtheyearprior,accordingtotheCurbsideValuePartnership. 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