What a difference a year can make to some local recycling programmes. With continued strong demand this year for metals, fibre, and various plastics, managers may be able to inch up capture rates through programme expansions. On the other hand, informal sector efforts to respond to better markets may leverage off existing formal collection programmes. Theft of recyclables, and the subsequent need for enforcement and penalties appears to be on the rise – a cycle many of us have seen in the past.
In my locale, for example, the recycling service provider has this year added kerbside pick-up for nearly all fibre (previously only newsprint was allowed for collection), two additional plastics, scrap metals and coloured glass. Textiles are being considered for addition. While these materials could be dropped off by residents on an individual basis to collection points here and there, capture rates are sure to rise when the 2008 data is released. I suspect similar trends are in place where such materials were not regularly collected.
The information we receive is not replete with data on theft of recyclables from collection programmes. It is not surprising to read recent stories of aluminum siding taken from houses, the theft of copper piping and telephone/utility wires, and the removal of catalytic converters from cars for precious metals. Small-scale, intermittent taking of an aluminum can from recycling bins is tolerated, and such taking from a waste bin is likely encouraged.
However, large-scale theft of materials from kerbside and drop-off type recycling programmes is a dilemma for programme managers and service providers. Detection can be difficult because of the difficulty in establishing the origin of materials. In some jurisdictions, the ownership of municipal waste and recyclables can be a matter of timing and placement, or not clearly defined at all. As a result, the taking of what I may think of as a valuable commodity may not be considered a significant crime. Such thefts result in loss of revenue from solid waste management programmes, coupled with the need for assistance from the public and law enforcement departments. Perhaps more stringent penalties for the culprits may be needed as well.
If the predictors are correct, prices for commodities recovered from the waste stream may remain strong for the near and intermediate terms. Our industry is likely to benefit from this trend while having to contend with the related consequences. A leading commandment in our industry – ‘one shall not steal materials from recycling programmes’ – will need to be communicated through more education and perhaps bigger sticks.
Greg Vogt is Managing Director of ISWA and ISWA Editor of Waste Management World
