Bad economy could kick recycling programs to the curb

As politicians look to the green movement to jumpstart the economy, many recycling programs are gasping for breath.

The value of recyclable commodities has gone down the drain as a result of the current international downturn.

The trashy market has forced recycling yards to either sell their scraps for pennies on the dollar or stockpile the materials until prices rise. Some cities have actually been forced to pay to get rid of what used to bring in a profit.

“It’s challenging for everybody,” said Kerrin O’Brien, director of the Michigan Recycling Coalition. “This could put some small recycling upstarts to rest, but we certainly hope that is not the case.”

While few have folded so far, the current strain on recycling programs could force some cities to cut recycling budgets, according to Ed Skernolis, director of the National Recycling Coalition in Washington, D.C.

“The longer this goes, the more pressure it puts on community budgets – that’s probably my biggest concern,” Skernolis said.

In six months, the price of aluminum fell 45 percent, according to the International Monetary Fund. Other recyclables like plastic, cardboard and paper have been hit even harder.

Most American recyclables are shipped to Asian countries, where they are processed into new products and resold in the U.S.

Actually, Americans are the main reason commodities have less worth than a year ago. Because we have cut back on purchasing foreign goods, Asian reprocessing plants have less need for our recyclables.

Many U.S. municipalities and trash companies offer cheap or free recycling, assuming the market for the scrap will cover the bulk of the program’s cost, but it now seems that was a bad assumption.

If the U.S. is going to take recycling seriously, it can’t rely so heavily on foreign reprocessing companies. The economy is inevitably going to have rough spots, so the U.S. should take responsibility by having its own market for recyclable goods. We can’t force China to buy our old plastic tubs, but we should be able to develop industry to change plastics into usable goods like greenhouses and even clothing.

Until this happens, the government will have to bolster recycling programs. Skernolis said his coalition is still waiting to hear if stimulus package dollars will go toward recycling, but he believes it has enough support.

“I think community leaders and political leaders recognize that this is not something you take away from people lightly,” Skernolis said.

For now, though, all we can do is keep recycling and hope the stuff in our bins eventually gains a second life.