Dive Brief:
- In Indiana, the recycling facilities in Owen and Greene counties have been losing money for the past four and five years, respectively. Both may see their money run out before this year ends.
- In the current market, recyclables are not worth as much as they used to be, with only cardboard generating some profits.
- Many counties cannot fit subsidizing recycling centers into its budgets. Centers are trying staying open as long as they can, but the climate is forcing the facilities to consider shuttering.
Dive Insight:
Some towns are turning to privatization, only to find that the costs for those services are higher than current costs. This is not a phenomenon unique to small town America alone. Last November, David Steiner, the CEO of Waste Management, made waves when he said that "recycling is not profitable." At that time, the waste and recycling giant had been losing money in the recycling segment of its business for one and a half years, according to Steiner.