Municipal recycling performance: A public sector environmental success story

What was the solid waste recycling performance of cities during the 1990s? What policies distinguished cities with larger performance gains in recycling participation and diversion How did the costs of recycling compare to those for solid waste collection and disposal, and what policies characterized cities with more cost-efficient recycling operations? These questions are addressed in a panel study of cities experienced in recycling The levels of performance achieved suggest that recycling is the singular environmental success story of the decade. Although the casts of recycling programs have increased many cities were able to increase the efficiency of their recycling efforts to the point that, on average, they compared very favorably with the costs of solid waste collection and disposal. This study describes the management policies and practices that distinguished the higher performing recycling programs.