Dive Brief:
- The city of Philadelphia, PA has increased its recycling rate to triple what it was only six years ago.
- Officials announced the rate in 2014 grew to 21%, up from 2008 figures that showed a 8% rate.
- Volume grew to 128,000 tons of recycling, as compared to 55,000 tons in 2008.
Dive Insight:
Multiple factors led to the major increase included a range of changes and initiatives. The city started weekly recycling collections and implemented a single-stream system. The types of materials accepted began to expand, and it inked a deal with RecycleBank, a program that encourages residents to recycle. The incentives offered by Recyclebank was cited as a successful measure by the city, and helped push the diversion rate to just over 21%.
Another city enjoying a much-improved recycling rate is Albuquerque, NM. Earlier this month, the city disclosed that its latest recycling numbers have gone through the roof, hitting an astounding rate: the city recycled 70% more materials since it began using blue bins for weekly collections. It’s estimated that up to 80% of residents now participate in curbside pick-up. The volume of recycling increased to 31,000 tons by the end of the 2014 fiscal year, up from 18,000 tons collected the year before.