By Joe Heimlich, Ohio State University Extension Environmental Specialist
The "real costs" of recycling have been a focus of increased media coverage. Reports cite groups and individuals -- sometimes called the "anti-recycling" movement -- who criticize curbside recycling programs as more wasteful than helpful.
Studies reveal that the costs of curbside programs -- energy used and pollution generated -- often outweigh the savings. This is especially true in suburban, rural and less dense neighborhoods.
At the same time, there has been renewed pressure in many communities to improve or implement curbside recycling programs, because people are more likely to participate in recycling programs if there is a curbside collection.
The arguments for both positions have validity but avoid discussing the real issue. Recycling is not an alternative to waste management, it is a technology for handling what has become a waste product. The underlying issue is how much "stuff" we use and then discard.
Changing consumer behaviors -- that means all of us changing -- is very difficult, slow and goes against our economic view that consumption means a healthy economy. But, for long term change in our waste generation, we must ultimately change our individual consumption and waste generation patterns and not the technology used for managing waste.
Curbside recycling can easily become a variation on the theme "out-of-sight, out-of-mind." We can avoid this by making sure that recycling does not become an easy excuse for buying more, using more and discarding more. Consider this: many communities with curbside recycling collection have had an effective capture of up to 30 percent or more of the materials being discarded, but the amount of residential waste going to the landfill has remained the same!
Editor's Note: 'Beyond the Soundbite' is an editorial column that provides information related to environmental issues popular in today's media.
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