Pennsylvania to require statewide recycling of solid wastes

Journal Article · Mon Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1988 · JAPCA, Int, J. Air Pollut. Control Waste Manage.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6005734

The new law, requiring trash recycling in 407 communities affecting 7.8 million Pennsylvanians, is a key component of the Casey administration's comprehensive environmental clean up plant. The new recycling law requires municipalities with more than 10,000 residents to start curb-side recycling programs within two years. Communities with 5000 to 10,000 residents must start recycling in three years. The goal is to reduce the state's volume of solid waste by 25 percent by 1997. Nine million tons of trash are generated each year in Pennsylvania, with 95 percent of it landfilled and only one percent recycled. Much of the state's solid waste must be transported over increasing distances at increasing costs to be disposed of. Average trash disposal costs have increased 150 percent in the past three years. The new law requires communities to recycle three of eight materials, including glass, colored glass, aluminum, steel and bimetallic cans, high-grade office paper, newsprint, corrugated paper and plastics. All communities must recycle leaf waste. The legislation shifts responsibility for planning solid waste disposal from municipalities to counties, reimbursing counties 80 percent of the cost of developing comprehensive recycling plans and 50 percent of the cost of hiring a recycling coordinator. The program will be self-supporting through a $2-per-ton fee on all garbage going to landfills and resource recovery.

• OSTI ID: 6005734
• Journal Information: JAPCA, Int, J. Air Pollut. Control Waste Manage.; (United States), Journal Name: JAPCA, Int, J. Air Pollut. Control Waste Manage.; (United States) Vol. 38:11; ISSN JIJME
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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