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Parting thought for morning recycling conversation: U.S. recycling system is in midst what many feel is a long overdue rethink, but it is resilient and not at risk of a nationwide collapse. The past month of coverage has overhyped that. Doesn't mean there aren't issues... 1/
.@WasteDive has been tracking these issues at a hyperlocal level across the country since fall 2017. It's true that many small-mid sized municipalities are changing or cutting their programs. Munis of all sizes seeing price increases in the near future if they haven't already. 2/
Amid the recent national attention, I don't think some of the vital local reporting has gotten enough appreciation. I rely on them greatly to help spot stories and trends for our 50 state page wastedive.com/news/what-chin… 3/
Here are some of the best examples from our latest update. @kjzzphoenix has covered how material from Nogales, Arizona is going to the landfill kjzz.org/content/764911…
The @EastBayTimes has had multiple good stories this year on recycling ripple effects/challenges in California. Including a surprising detail from one company that they're now selling material to Pakistan eastbaytimes.com/2019/02/08/chi…
I always appreciate the @dailycamera's reporting about what's going on in Colorado. They had a recent story about how Boulder County continues to invest in its MRF (I've been, it's nice) and weather market turbulence dailycamera.com/boulder-county…
Last month, @wamu885 had a great piece on challenges/solutions for recycling in the DC metro area. Really enjoyed their photos of common contaminants MRFs see on daily basis. wamu.org/story/19/02/12…
The national recycling crisis stories often mention Deltona, FL's program cancellation (and it's a good example) but local papers like @beacononline have been staying on what the story means for the broader region beacononlinenews.com/news/recycling…
If I want to know what's happening with recycling in Idaho, I can count on @twinfallstn to have the latest. They have stayed on the story about how Twin Falls may soon be sending more material to disposal magicvalley.com/news/local/twi…
This ongoing story out of Westland, MI about recycling getting disposed is especially interesting (and even attracted attention from Rep. Rashida Tlaib) but hasn't gotten much national coverage. @Hometownlife has the latest: hometownlife.com/story/news/loc…
The @NashuaTelegraph surprised me with this recent piece about how a city of approx 88K people (bigger than my little city at least) might have to suspend recycling until the end of the fiscal year nashuatelegraph.com/news/local-new…
It's not all bad news. I was intrigued to learn from the @LincolnTimes that Lincolnton, NC has found a way to actually bring its curbside recycling program back after canceling last year lincolntimesnews.com/news/city-coun…
In another positive development, York County, SC is working with the municipality of Tega Cay to help it keep recycling going and may do the same for others. Details from @RHHerald: heraldonline.com/news/politics-…
One other piece of goods news, Memphis is paying to open a new recycling drop-off center for residents after Republic Services decided to stop running its own. More from @3onyourside: wreg.com/2019/03/13/mid…
The good news and solutions stories don't mean recycling isn't still challenged. We're seeing new groups of cities have to decide what to keep recycling and how much to charge for it. Tacoma, WA is one of the latest: thenewstribune.com/news/local/new…
Suffice to say, there is a lot of nuance to the state of recycling in the U.S. right now. The paradigm has been upended, and likely time to overhaul many parts of the system, but it lives on. If you're interested in following along we've got all the latest on @WasteDive.
