From the Environmental Protection Agency

Residential recycling programs can be difficult to sustain. However, communities across the country have developed successful strategies for maintaining and expanding residential recycling programs, and some communities have even turned these programs into cost-saving operations. These Web pages are designed to help local governments and community leaders learn how to make recycling work in their area. Topics on these pages include:

Related Links

Recycle on the Go

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

What You Can Do

• Basic Information — Provides an overview of the challenge in making recycling programs cost-effective and an introduction to the benefits of recycling.
• Improving Recycling’s Economic Profile — Describes how to make curbside recycling more economically-feasible by reducing collection costs and processing costs.
• Evaluating Recycling Program Costs — Provides an online calculator to help local governments analyze current recycling program costs and test the effectiveness of implementing various program changes on the bottom line.
• Community Recycling Success Stories — Learn how real communities have developed successful strategies for maintaining and expanding their recycling programs.
• Outreach Materials — Provides various materials that can be adapted for your community to help increase participation in your recycling program.
• Communicating the Benefits of Recycling — Describes the significant environmental and economic benefits associated with recycling to help you make the case for recycling in your community.
• Resources for Recycling in Specific Sectors — Provides resources to help local governments work with organizations in various sectors to reduce waste and increase recycling, as well as innovative approaches for increasing participation in residential programs.
• Other Resources — Offers a wealth of information and links to various resources.