Evaluating Curbside Collection & Processing Costs: Overview
Curbside collection costs are directly related to the setout requirements (separated vs. commingled materials), the number of participating households, and the collection frequency. Local governments can manage program costs by adjusting these factors.
Generally speaking, the cost of collecting recyclables varies in the following ways:
- Costs increase along with the number of separately segregated material types (glass, plastics, newspaper, etc.). Single-stream (commingled) collection is generally the least costly, followed by two-stream, and so-on.
- Costs increase with the frequency of collection. Collecting half as frequently (e.g., every other week instead of weekly) can reduce collection costs by approximately 25 percent, assuming traditional two-stream set outs.
- Costs decrease as more materials are collected by the program. If few households participate in the program and the program does not collect many commodities, the per household cost soars, as it is costly to drive a recycling truck past household after household that has not set out recyclables.
Curbside collection is only one aspect of an effective curbside recycling program. It is just as important to have material sorting and processing, and mechanisms to sell the resulting product in the marketplace.
The collection, reprocessing, marketing, and use of materials that were diverted or recovered from the solid waste stream.
