Recycling in 1995: The lows after the highs
1995 was a mixed year for recyclers. The boom in prices that began in mid-1994 ended in mid-1995; numerous gleaming new mills and plants that fed on recovered paper and plastics opened, but a few outdated facilities closed; Congress agreed on little legislation that would affect recycling operations; and some states failed to meet recycling goals set for the end of the year. In short, 1995 was something of a sobering reality after the heady days of 1994, when market prices boomed, the US Supreme Court declared flow control statutes to be unconstitutional, and states and municipalities reported sizable increases in the amount of materials being diverted from landfills. How recycling will fare in 1996 is uncertain. Although more mills and plants that consume recovered materials are slated to open, recycling officials are mixed on whether the federal government or any state will pass legislation impacting the industry. Additionally, the ups and downs of the recycling markets in 1995 have left many recyclers and analysts shaking their heads, saying that it is all but impossible to predict the future health of an industry that is experiencing growing pains.
- OSTI ID:
- 205278
- Journal Information:
- Waste Age, Vol. 27, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: Mar 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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