by Brenda Platt and Neil Seldman

About the authors: Brenda Platt is the director of materials recovery at ILSR. Neil Seldman is president of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR), a research organization that promotes environmentally safe economic development.

In the last decade and a half, waste prevention, reuse and recycling have made tremendous gains. The national municipal recycling rate has reached 28%, while many communities are surpassing 50% diversion from landfills and incinerators, and doing so cost-effectively. More than 9,300 communities had curbside recycling programs in 1998, up from 2,700 at the beginning of the decade. Reduction of private sector and industrial process wastes has similarly increased, with some businesses approaching 90% and higher waste reduction levels.

Recycling’s Benefits

The benefits of waste reduction are more far reaching than previously thought. Recycling reduces costs, creates jobs and businesses...