Introduction
The way we manage solid waste is changing. Traditional systems often focus on collection and disposal, leading to reliance on landfills and resource loss. A circular approach transforms this model by viewing waste as a resource, creating closed loops where materials are reused, recycled, and reintegrated into production.
The Basic System
Where we have been
The solid waste industry is highly consolidated, with four major companies controlling about 80% of the market for hauling, recycling collection and sorting and landfill operations. Access to curbside recycling depends on municipal licensing or contracts, and in some cases, on hauler services offered directly to subscribers.
Who pays for the basic system?
- Residents pay directly to haulers through a subscription service, as do businesses and other entities that generate waste.
- Residents pay indirectly through taxes or add on to service bills from a municipality or county that contracts for disposal services.
What are the benefits of the basic system?
- A laissez-faire system of market competition, but overwhelming power for the big companies that also own landfills.
- More consumer choice, but little variability in services despite competitive opportunity.
- Residential and commercial trash is picked up regularly in a convenient manner.
- Some recyclable materials are recovered conveniently for residents.
What are the negatives of the basic system?
- Vertical integration of the industry has produced monopolies and no free market.
- Limited innovation in hauling options for single-source separated materials. Companies’ interests are limited to end-of-life activities.
- The private sector profits from landfills, transfer stations and hauling. It does not feel motivated to divert materials from landfills.
- The current regulatory system does not accommodate diversion activities at Transfer Stations.
- Highly dependent on the transportation system and cost for landfills that are increasingly farther away from communities.
Strengths
- Efficient removal of trash to landfills
- Reliable service and disposal
Weaknesses
- Few alternatives to landfilling
- Limited landfill space
- Cost is determined by the owners of the service with little competition.
Opportunities
- Recover the value
- Recover methane
- Reduce hauling distances with Transfer Stations
- Source separation of recyclables
Threats
- Increasing transportation costs
- Increasing demand for more landfills
- Increased cost to citizens
- Cost avoidance behavior – illegal dumping
Integrated system
Where we are
An integrated solid waste management system evaluates local needs and conditions, and then selects and combines the most appropriate waste management efforts. The goals are to prevent waste, minimize material generation, emphasize recycling and composting with an overall goal to reduce landfill disposal.
Who pays for the current system?
- Many municipalities and counties contract with haulers to streamline waste collection, minimize route overlap, and reduce the number of trucks on the road.
- More active role for municipalities/counties.
- Potential to include commercial, institutional and industrial generators to integrate into diversion efforts.
What are the benefits?
- There are models around the country with more robust diversion opportunities to enhance recycling and recovery.
- There is a role for not-for-profits and businesses in recovery, reuse and processing which will diversify stakeholders beyond the traditional solid waste industry.
- More aggressive recovery of recyclables from residents and businesses.
What are the negatives of an integrated system?
- Market consolidation (i.e., acquisition of service providers) has introduced greater complexity due to the frequent changes in participants
- Highly dependent on transportation with longer hauling distances.
- Local governments that contract have some control over the performance of haulers.
What is the role of local government?
- Some cities directly provide waste hauling services or contract with private haulers, managing billing and service coordination for residents.
- Participation in HHW programs helps divert toxic materials from landfills, prevents illegal dumping, and reduces improper disposal in sanitary sewers.
- Local governments increasingly support and host a variety of waste diversion options, such as:
- Drop-off locations for recyclables
- Large item pick-up programs for reuse
- Repair cafés and Freecycle-style reuse exchanges
- Community challenges like the Trex plastic film recycling initiative
- More cities are offering targeted collection services for items that are harmful or unsuitable for landfills, including:
- Batteries
- Electronics
- Appliances
- Vapes and other emerging waste streams
Strengths
- More local control
- Diversity of options
- Local innovation for material recovery
- Bundled services for yard waste, bulky items, food waste, recycling, etc.
Weaknesses
- No central control
- The responsibility for the system remains with local government.
Opportunities
- Data collection of diversion
- Increased access to services in remote locations.
Threats
- Local government disengaged from management and diversion.
- Lack of local education to the public about services.
Circular Material Recovery System
Where we want to be
A circular system focuses on keeping products and resources in circulation for as long as possible.
What are the benefits of a circular system?
- Already the standard in Europe and gaining traction in major U.S. cities.
- Extends the life cycle of materials through multiple uses.
- Encourages redesign and procurement of recyclable or returnable products via Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs.
- Promotes local collection, processing, and reuse as feedstock for local manufacturing.
- Reduces transportation needs by keeping end markets close to material sources.
- Drives economic growth through local services for collection, processing, recycling, remanufacturing, and production.
Challenges in the circular system
- Vertical integration in the solid waste industry has created monopolies, limiting free-market competition.
- Prevalence of single-use consumer goods, excessive packaging, and hazardous materials (e.g., batteries, electronics) entering the waste stream.
Who are the stakeholders in a circular system?
- Residents contribute through subscriptions or government contracts for trash and material collection.
- Producers are responsible for designing products that can be recovered and for managing their end-of-life recovery.
- Consumers play a role by extending product use and choosing recycling or other alternatives to landfilling.
- Local governments support the economic development of businesses that are part of the circular recovery, collection, reuse and manufacturing processes.
Strengths
- Offers opportunities throughout the region.
- Enhanced recovery of materials.
- Availability of materials locally.
- Local economic growth.
Weaknesses
- Little government control except for normal business permitting.
- Data collection too complex with materials moving through multiple steps of recovery/reuse.
- Legislation for Product Stewardship (EPR) is necessary.
Opportunities
- Energy capture
- Expanded layers of businesses developed to collect, sort, distribute, upcycle, repair, and manufacture.
- Onshoring of manufacturing.
- Regional capacity to be a destination for recovered materials in Central US
Threats
- Consolidation of the market in nearby regions that might compete for manufacturing and processing.
- Commitment to the old way of doing things.