Recycling challenges can be overcome with economic strategy

摘要

In the past year we've seen an editorial frenzy over the future of recycling. Skepticism and worry are expected in any innovative and healthy American industry, but recycling has received a disproportionate dose of it lately. Recycling rates have hit a plateau in the last few years. Data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that most of our recycling rates are flat, still far short of our full potential. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that there's $80 to $120 billion (in U.S. dollars) worth of uncaptured plastic globally-that's a 95% loss of plastics. But there are ways out of this temporary pickle, particularly if we follow the dollar. By analyzing the flow of money value throughout the recycling ecosystem, we can start to see positive opportunities emerge. But first, what are all the challenges within recycling economics that these editorialists and industry commentators speak of?