A Word About Recycling with Ollie Maier

Although it does not directly affect the items we recycle either through curbside recycling or our taking the recyclables to a drop-off site, the changing markets for the recycled materials does directly affect those collecting these items.

And since China, where a large majority of our recycled materials were previously exported to, put very significant restrictions on what they would take a couple of years ago, finding other overseas markets was a challenge for these companies.

A recent article in the Resource Recycling newsletter addressed a comparison of the 2017 and 2018 markets. And because China’s very restrictive policy took effect Jan. 1, 2018, the comparison helps show how China’s policy changed flow of recyclables.