Dive Brief:
- Officials in Sioux City, IA are concerned about low numbers of households participating in a free curbside recycling program.
- Data released by the waste collection service department shows that only 18% of residents requested a recycling bin. In fact, a substantial number of homeowners are not even aware such a program exists.
- The city has been distributing the bins since 2010. Four years into the program, the city is considering different ways to raise the recycling rate, such as adding a promotional insert to utility bills or by automatically including every resident in the program rather than having people sign up.
Dive Insight:
Officials in Sioux City could look to Sweden for suggestions on how to reduce waste. In 1975, Sweden’s recycling rate for household trash topped out at 38%. Fast-forward to 2014, and the country now recycles a whopping 99% of household waste.
The secret to Sweden’s success is multifaceted. Recycling centers are within close proximity -- no more than 300 meters away -- to residential areas, making it easier for people to discard their waste. Recycling in Sweden also carries fiscal incentives. Furthermore, the financial burden of bottle disposal rests solely on the shoulders of the companies that manufacture the beverages.
